“What about the Dunbars?”
She needed to give him as much information as possible. “Caleb tried to fight, and the three of them beat him pretty badly. He’s tied up in the bedroom. Jenny and the kids are in here with me, andthey’re okay.”
Vince jerked the phone out of her hand and pressed the button ending the call. “You better hope Bridger keeps his cool and doesn’tcall the cops.”
“He won’t.” At least Libby didn’t think he would. But Sam wouldn’t sit around waiting for something to happen. He would be taking action to try to resolve the situation. She trusted Sam. Libby just wished she knew what he wasplanning to do.
Chapter Fifteen
Sam paced the living room. Libby had relayed valuable information. Deacon Mitchell was in the cabin with Vince and Max, and Caleb was hurt and unable to give him any help. Across the room, Clara sat on the sofa while Big John stood next tothe fireplace.
“We have todosomething!” Clara said, breaking into the silence.
“I plan to,” Sam said. “I’m going to try to get Vince to release the Dunbars in exchange for me.”
Clara leaped up from the sofa. “No, Sam, you can’t do that. It’s too dangerous. Surely there’s another way.”
A sharp knock at the door drew everyone’s attention. Sam walked over and checked the peephole, saw Kade Logan standing on the porch. A dark brown Stetson rode low on his forehead. There had been no engine noise to signal his arrival.
Sam pulled open the door. “How the hell didyou get here?”
“The old-fashioned way,” Kade said, taking his hat off as he walked into the house. “I rode my horse. Clara called and gave me a rundown. Now tell me what the hell is going on.”
Kade was a few years older than Sam, just as tall with the same hard-muscled build. He had short dark hair, dark eyes, and a square-jawed, ruggedly handsome face women seemed unable to resist.
“We’ve got a hostage situation, a young woman named Libby Hale and the Dunbar family: mother, father, and their two kids. Three armed men in the cabin: Vince Nolan, Max Stoddard, and a guy named Deacon Mitchell. They’re bank robbers, Kade. Killed a guard and put another inthe hospital.”
Kade’s jaw tightened. “Whatdo they want?”
“They want Libby to arrange a jet so they can escape.”
“She can do that?”
“It’s a long story, butyes, she can.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“I’m going to try to exchange myself for the family. I’m responsible for the people who stay here, and I want them safe. Aside from that, Vince is obsessed with Libby. I need to be there to protect her as much as I can, but I’ve got to have someone to run a rescue operation from here.”
Kade assessed him shrewdly, probably guessing Sam’s interest in Libby ran deeper than he was saying. His friend was right. Sam loved her. He’d do anything tokeep her safe.
“Just tell me what you need,” Kade said.
Sam scrubbed a hand over his jaw. He sighed. “Even if Libby gets them a jet, there’s no way they’re letting her go—and I’m not letting them take her. I’m thinking we arrange a little party to stop them somewhere along the road to the airport.”
Kade mulled the idea over, seemed to approve. He flashed a glance at BigJohn. “You in?”
John grunted. “You couldn’t keep me out.”
Kade nodded. He knew Big John was former military, some kind of undercover reconnaissance, though John had never actually said. Kade knew theman had skills.
“Anyone else we can bring in on this?” Kade asked.
“Dare Landon was a marine,” Big John said. “He will help if we ask.”
Sam had already considered it. He shook his head. “We can’t risk too many people knowing. If Vince gets wind of it, they might kill someone just to make a point. We need to handle this ourselves.”
Big John started nodding. “You are right. With scum like these, the three of us should be enough.”
