The camp was quiet when Libby crawled into her tent. A few minutes later, the flap lifted and Sam appearedin the opening.
“I was starting to worry,” he said.
She hoped her voice didn’t tremble. “I was...umm...stargazing,” she lied, hoping he wouldn’t see the moisture in her eyes.
Sam lingered in the doorway, and she thought for a moment he might come inside. It was what she wanted most and the very last thing she wanted.
“Goodnight,Sam,” she said.
A long moment passed. “Goodnight, Libby.” Sam left the tent, zippingit behind him.
Libby could hear his soft footfalls as he returned to his tent. Then everything went quiet.
Tears burned her eyes. If Big John hadn’t shown up when he did, Vince would have raped her. More tears welled and spilled over onto her cheeks. She muffled her sobs with the sleeping bag.
As the hours slipped past and sleep wouldn’t come, Libby thought of Sam and wishedhe had stayed.
Chapter Eleven
Something was wrong. Sam could feel it in his bones. He’d spent a lousy night in the tent, sleeping off and on, worried and not sure why.
He climbed out of bed well before dawn and packed up his things for the trip back down the mountain. Big John would be tending the livestock, getting the horses and mules watered, fed, and ready for the journey. Sam felt anxious and unsettled, eager to get back home. He needed to start breakfast, get everyone fed, make sandwiches for lunch on the trail, then get the guests on their way.
He looked over at Libby’s tent. She’d been up early every morning, but no sign of her yet today. He headed in her direction, paused as he heard movement inside the canvas walls. The zipper went up, and Libby stumbled out.
She looked up at him, and there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes. “Sam,” she said as he walked toward her. “Sam...” Libby burst into tears and threw herselfinto his arms.
“I knew it!” Sam pulled her closer. “I goddamned knew it!” His heart slammed hard inside his chest. Libby was trembling. Sam didn’t let go. “What’s happened? What’s going on?”
Libby clung to him a few seconds more, then eased away to look into his face. “I-Is Big John back? Is he okay?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet this morning.” He drew her over to a fallen log, sat down and pulled her down beside him. “Tell mewhat happened.”
Libby dragged in a shaky breath. “I wanted to tell you last night, but I...I knew it was the wrong thing to do.” She leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm aroundher shoulders.
“Tell me, baby. What’s going on?”
A slow breath whispered out. “Vince followed me last night. He was waiting in the forest. He had a knife. He tried...he tried to rape me, Sam. Big John came...and...and he stopped Vince before hecould hurt me.”
Sam felt a wave of fury unlike anything he had ever known. If he’d had Vince Nolan’s knife in his hand, he would have killed the son of a bitch right there.
“Tell me the rest,” he softly commanded, forcing himselfunder control.
“Big John hit Vince hard enough to knock him down. Then Max showed up, and Big John gave the men an ultimatum. Leave right then, ride down the mountain last night, or face the sheriff when we got back. The men left, and Big John followed them to make sure they didn’t cause trouble at the ranch.” Libby slid her arms around his neck and leaned into him. “I’m afraidfor him, Sam.”
Sam kissed her temple. Libby was worried about Big John Coolwater. This petite woman who’d been attacked and nearly raped was worried about a man three times her size with skills Sam couldn’t begin to match. It made his chest feel tight.
“I’ve known John Coolwater for years,” he said. “The man has skills you wouldn’t believe. He may have followed them, but they would never know he was there—not unless he wanted them to. And if something happened, he could handle it.I promise you.”
She wiped tears from her cheeks. “He said he’d be backthis morning.”
“It’s a helluva ride down and all the way back, but if Big John says he’ll be here, he will be.” He stood up from the log and drew Libby up beside him, had to force himself not to pull her back into his arms. “Are you sure Vince didn’t hurt you?”
Libby rubbed her forehead. “I head-butted him. I learned it in self-defense class. The teacher forgot to mention howbad it hurts.”
Sam hadn’t noticed before, but there was a bump near her hairline the size of an egg.“Jesus, honey.”
“I took some Tylenol.I’ll be okay.”
