Sam almost smiled. “I need to get back out there. If the jet’s flying in from Denver, it could be here in an hour or two, maybe less. That gives us a little time, not much.”
“Leave it to Big John andme,” Kade said.
Sam gave him a nod and headed for the kitchen. He walked out the back door, making himself obvious to whoever was watching from Cougar Cabin. None of the hands were around. John would have made sure they stayed away.
Sam stopped in front of the cabin. “I need to talk to you, Nolan!” he called out. “I want to make a deal!”
Vince pulled open the door but didn’t step out on the porch. “Whatkind of deal?”
“Sooner or later, the kids and their parents are going to be a liability. They need to be fed and looked after. You let them go, and in their place, I’ll beyour hostage.”
Vince laughed. “No way. They leave here, they’llcall the cops.”
“No, they won’t. They can stay in the house with Clara until you’re safely on the jet and on your way.”
“What’s the matter, Bridger? You worried about your woman?” His lips curled in the smirk Sam hated. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, she’s going with us. She stays till we reach our destination—then you can have her back.” The smirk broadened. “She might be a little shopworn, but she’ll be alive.”
Sam fought down a surge of fury as Vince stepped back inside and closed the door.
Sam bitterly cursed.
For the next half hour, he, Kade, and Big John made plans. They decided to intercept the vehicle at a spot John suggested, a curve in the road where the vehicle would have to slow down. The trees were dense on one side of the road, and big granite boulders covered an area on the hill on theopposite side.
Sam would stay behind to orchestrate the men’s departure. At that point, the Dunbar family would be a burden rather than an asset. Sam believed the men would leave the family behind as they had promised. Libby was all they needed to insure their escape.
The knot returned to Sam’s stomach. Libby would be in the car when the trap was sprung.
The plan was for Kade, the best shot in Eagle County, to take a position in the rocks about fifty yards from the road, armed with his .243 hunting rifle, a smaller caliber weapon that was less likely to be heard with the windows up and the air conditioner running. Kade would shoot out the rear tire of the sedan, causing a blowout and forcing the vehicle to stop.
Sam would be following the Ford, staying as close as possible without being spotted. As soon as he reached the ambush spot, he would park out of sight and come up on the men from the rear. Big John would be somewhere among the trees while Kade moved down off the hill into a closer position.
If everything went as planned and luck was on their side, all three men would get out of the car to change the tire, and Sam, Kade, and Big John wouldtake them down.
If everything went as planned, Libby would stay safelyinside the car.
The problem was,everythingnever went as planned.
Sam silently cursed.
* * * *
On the coffee table in front of the sofa, Libby’s cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen. “It’s my attorney callingabout the jet.”
“Answer it,” Max demanded. He’d been getting more and more edgy. It seemed that dealing with Vince was bad enough, and now Max was asserting himself. “Putit on speaker.”
Libby pressed the button. “Hi, Bert. Did you get it done?”
“The jet’s on its way. It’s coming from Denver, so it won’t take long. The airport is an hour from the ranch—the plane will be there by the time you arrive.”
“Thanks, Bert. I’ll see you in New York.”
“Are you sure about this, Libby?”
“I’ve got to go, Bert. We’ll talk soon.”Unless she was dead.Because there was no way she was getting on a plane with Vince Nolan and his criminal friends. Vince jerked the phone from her hand and tossed it back down on the table.
Earlier she had overheard him and Max talking about the man who had come with them. Vince had said something about thebig haulthey scored and that Deke had brought the money. Now that they had a way to escape, they didn’t have to worry about the guy double-crossing them.
“Time to get rolling,” Max said. “Vince, you go get the car. We’ll be ready to leave when you get back.” He turned to Jenny. “Get your kids and go in the bedroom withyour husband.”
