Chapter Twenty-Five

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

B IRDIE LAY IN Brand's arms, spent and smiling as the shadows in the room grew longer and darker.

"Are you all right?" he asked, snuggling closer.

She could feel his breath on her neck and shoulder, along with the stubble of a day's growth of beard. It made her think of his mouth on her, all over her, the slight roughness of his tongue, the rougher feel of his beard on her skin.

"I've never been better." She was still in that wonderful euphoric cloud, her body tingling. Brand had proved to be a generous lover. Not that she had a lot of experience in that area, she had to admit.

They'd both explored each other's bodies, finding the sexy sensitive spots, learning about each other through touch and taste.

"Glad you didn't end up in my brother Ryder's shower." They both laughed. "Seriously, Birdie, what are you really doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" He rolled her over to face him.

"I know you better than that," Brand said. "Not that I'm complaining. Being with you...is incredible." His gaze locked with hers. "You still scare me, though."

She smiled. "I think that's a good thing. I'd hate to become commonplace with you."

"I'd always be aware of you, intensely so, I suspect."

Her smile couldn't help itself. It broadened. "I did have something else on my mind before I climbed in your window and stepped into your shower. I certainly hadn't been expecting this kind of reception, though. But it was definitely an added bonus."

He glanced toward the window, cool fresh air blowing into the room where she'd left it open. He shook his head in amusement. "I didn't even question how you got in. You know you could have knocked and used the front door. No one's home but me. It's not like you haven't walked in before."

"I wanted to surprise you," she said.

"You certainly did that." She could feel him studying her. "You just do whatever pops into your head, don't you."

It wasn't really a question, but still, she thought about that for a moment as she ran a finger over his shoulder and down his bare chest. "I'm not afraid to take a risk. It's not such a bad thing sometimes, don't you think? When I find a naked cowboy in a warm shower..." She shrugged. "You could have thrown me out."

He chuckled. "Not a chance. Anyway, I wouldn't change a thing about you."

That made her laugh. "You're a terrible liar."

"Birdie, I still have to ask. What was your plan when you climbed in my window?"

She pushed up on one elbow to meet his gaze. "This," she said. "You and me. It's wonderful, but I still need to find out who killed my father and I'm still worried about Holly Jo. I wish we had found her."

He pulled her to him. "I know," he whispered. "I do, too."

She drew back a little. "I did find out something about my father—and possibly yours. As much as I hate to admit it, I think it's possible that your mother is innocent. She might not have killed my father."

T HE SHERIFF HAD been waiting at the crossroads for the ransom drop for twenty minutes. He'd arrived early, hoping to get this over with. Finally. He'd brought the second briefcase. He was determined to make the exchange and take Holly Jo.

His cell phone rang with a call from the FBI tech who'd been trying to track Darius Reed's phone. Because of the sketchy cell phone cover in this part of the state and the kidnapper remembering to turn off his phone after he used it, there had been little luck in locating him.

"Your kidnapper just turned his phone back on," the tech said excitedly. "I was able to triangulate his burner between cell phone towers because he was passing through Powder Crossing, headed south on the county road."

Stuart swore. "You're sure? I'm at the ransom drop. He's supposed to be here in about ten minutes."

"If he still has the phone he used to call you, he's no longer in your area."

That meant that no way was he getting to the ransom drop in ten minutes.

"He must have realized that he left his phone on. I've lost him," the tech said.

"Keep me posted," he told the tech. He disconnected and looked at the time, unsure what to do. He could see all the roads leading into the crossroads stop. There was no sign of the white pickup. No sign of Darius Reed.

Was this a test to see if Stuart followed the phone and hung around to make the ransom exchange? Or was Darius making a run for it?

Stuart had put out a BOLO on Darius and the pickup, expecting that if the man made a run for it, he would head out of the area one of three ways—west to hit the interstate and get out of Montana, east to North Dakota and all points beyond, or north toward Canada and a lot of open prairie and few people.

He'd never expected him to take the county road south, because he would have to go right through town. Why take a chance by going anywhere near Powder Crossing? Why head south? Toward Wyoming?

Unless... He felt his pulse bump up with a jolt. Unless he was headed for the McKenna Ranch. Did Darius not know that Holden wasn't there? That the rancher was still in the hospital?

He told himself he could be wrong. But what if this ransom drop had been a ruse, as he was beginning to suspect? Then Darius was making a run for it, trying to get as far away from the Powder River Basin as possible. He already had a million dollars. Why take a chance of getting caught?

Or maybe Darius wasn't finished with Holden. Because it had never been about the money?

He felt his heart spasm at the thought. She'd been alive—at least earlier, when Darius had called. She'd sounded terrified. Stuart had been so sure he was going to get her back, he'd quickly agreed to the trade, even though it meant a long drive out here to this desolate spot.

He'd never completely trusted his instincts and feared doing so now. It was a good twenty-minute drive back to town and another fifteen to the McKenna Ranch. Did he dare act on a hunch? Did he dare not?

T HE STRONG SMELL of gas made Holly Jo's eyes burn as the man who called himself Darius Reed half dragged her inside the house. Earlier he'd awakened as it was getting dark. "It's time," he'd said and had started the pickup.

He'd had a gun lying within his reach in case they came across anyone as he drove into the ranch. But no one seemed to be around. She'd seen at once that Elaine's SUV was gone. HH's was in the drive, though, and she knew there had to be some ranch hands way down at the bunkhouse.

She looked for the ranch manager to come up from the stables, but no one appeared as her kidnapper parked. They'd sat in the pickup cab, waiting for a few minutes. Nothing moved. No one came outside from the house. No one walked up from the stables or the bunkhouse. Everyone was gone or hadn't heard them. How was this possible?

"Guess they're all at the hospital, waiting to see if Holden pulls through," Darius said and laughed. "Won't they be surprised when they come back to find everything burned to the ground. Come on." He'd untied her from the grab handle above the passenger-side door, but left her hands bound as he'd gotten out and pulled her after him.

Once inside the house, he'd taken her into the dining room and tied her in a chair, attaching the chair to one of the large legs of the massive table. "So you can watch," he said before going back outside and returning with one of the large gas cans.

He'd wandered around through the empty house with the gas can. She could hear him muttering to himself as she heard the splashing sound. The gas fumes grew stronger. "Must be nice living in a place like this," he said as he passed through on the way to another part of the house. "My sister could have lived here. Terrible shame to burn it down. Ashes to ashes, you know, and karma is a bitch, isn't it, Holden McKenna."

She could hear him getting angrier before he threw down the empty gas can and went out to get another. Her eyes burned from the gas, from fresh tears. She wanted desperately to believe he would untie her. He wouldn't leave her here to burn alive.

But when she saw his expression as he returned with the second gas can, she knew that was exactly what he planned to do. He disappeared down the hallway to the kitchen wing of the house. She heard him banging around over the sound of a vehicle. She felt her breath catch, her heart pounding with hope. Someone was coming.