21. Prayed
TWENTY-ONE
Prayed
WILLOW
The open house concluded, and the last visitor finally left right as the sun started to fade. Ash gathered all his men around in front of the barn, along with the Wylde sisters, me and Ro, and Dusty and Eli. All of us clapped and cheered after such a successful event.
In true leadership fashion, Ash gave a brilliant speech of recognition to everyone for their hard work, thanking each person there.
But the work wasn’t over. We had a bit of cleanup to do tonight, especially in the food areas so we wouldn’t attract critters—or bears.
The rest, like the stage and tables and such, could be dismantled in daylight tomorrow.
After giving orders, Ash’s eyes set on mine, appreciative and crinkled at the edges. He walked right up to me and brought me in for a hug, and Ro wrapped her arms around our legs, too. “Nice work today, you two.”
I was a little sad to see it end as everything had been perfect. We set out and accomplished exactly what we wanted to with this day and pulled it off. Mostly, I was happy for Ash, having impressed Chris so much. It never hurts to impress the owner.
“Why don’t you both head to the cabin? We can take care of things here,” he suggested. In my ear, he whispered, “And you can get ready for our little trip tonight.”
Ro jumped up and down. “But Knox says he’s having a bonfire with all the trash from today, and Dusty is helping Eli and me count our money. We’re splitting it fifty-fifty. I hope I have enough to buy a horse of my own.”
“What about Marshmallow?” Ash asked. He and I shared a humorous glance.
“I’ll be too old for him soon. I want a gigantic horse. One that I can race really fast around barrels. Daisy said she would teach me.”
“Oh, well, this sounds like something we should discuss another time,” I started, but then Ash got called away by Knox to deal with the bonfire issue.
“I need to go, but I’ll come find you both later.” He rushed off.
As I watched his cute ass scoot away—thank you bright lights on the barn roof so I could see despite the moonless night—a thrill shot down my spine.
If the day hadn’t been exciting enough, very soon I’d be in Ash’s arms on Rhodes Ridge, making love all night and claiming the start of our forever together.
Goosebumps travelled up my arms, but more likely because of the drop in temperature.
“Mom, come on. Dusty and Eli are waiting.” Ro tugged at my arm to follow her over to where they were waiting by the lemonade stand.
I realized she wore a thin black t-shirt with the ODRR brand on it that Ivy had made for her, but with the chilly air descending upon us, I wouldn’t want her to catch a cold.
“Ro, I’m going to get you a jacket. I’ll be right back.
Stay with Dusty.” I noticed Colt had just finished loading up the ATV with all the empty cookie trays.
Ash had said we’d store them away in the shed for the next time we have a community event.
From the sounds of things, Chris had suggested we do this every year.
“I can run those over to the cabin, Colt. I have to get jackets anyway,” I offered.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll go see if Ivy and her sisters need any help.” He nodded and was off. I chuckled. Such a sweet guy, and clearly infatuated with Ivy.
As I started out in the ATV, which Ash had given me a lesson in driving last week, I realized too late how dark it got the further away from the barn. Why didn’t I think earlier of turning some lights on in the cabin, and the porch lights too?
“Sure can get pitch black in the middle of Montana on a night like this,” I muttered to myself and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
It hit me that this may not have been the best idea, considering I thought I saw a bear last night.
But Ash’s crew had kept watch all day, and reported not seeing any sign of one.
It probably wouldn’t hurt to be careful, though, out alone like this away from anyone else. A nervous laugh escaped my lips, picturing me trying to outrun a bear in this ATV. How fast would this sucker go if I floored it?
“Okay, city girl, you need to get tougher and get used to mountain living,” I admonished myself.
I’d have to ask Ash if he could teach me how to be his mountain woman.
I should probably learn some basic survival skills.
The only survival skill drilled into me from living in California was to lock up everything.
Ro, too, could use some new rules for safety. She’d be our little mountain girl, and we’d be a family. We could be happy forever on this ranch .
I breathed a sigh of relief as I swung around to the front of the dark cabin, parking by the steps. Something out of place caught my eye at once. The passenger door of Ash’s truck sat open.
That was odd. But no sooner had I rounded the door to look inside and close it, when someone held a gun to my temple. I gasped and never even saw the man coming toward me until it was too late.
“Don’t scream or I’ll have to shoot, and you’re too pretty for that.” The man’s voice rasped.
I couldn’t find my voice at first, and when I did, it stuttered. “P-please. You can have the truck. Just don’t hurt me. I-I have a daughter who relies upon me.” I was not above using Ash’s truck as a bargaining chip.
“Well, isn’t that special? I have kids too. I’m trying to get home to them. Now get in.”
I strained my eyes to the side to get a better view of him. “Who are you?” Long dark hair and olive skin blurred with the gunmetal gray of the weapon.
“No one of consequence unless you do something you shouldn’t, like screaming. Then you’ll regret it.”
If I stalled long enough, maybe someone would find me. Poppy would be here soon to babysit for us. Ash would come looking, wouldn’t he?
Would I even make it to see another day with Ash?
“Get in, I said.” The man with the gun grabbed my arm and shoved me inside. He followed, pushing me to the driver’s side. I reached for the handle to launch myself out, but that darn gun was pointed at me. He cocked it ready to use.
I shrunk against the door and cowered with my arms up. That’s when I recognized him. Cold spread across my skin. He was the fugitive on the poster I saw at Ivy’s shop.
“Gary, is it? Wanted for murder?”
The man eyed me coldly. “Shut up and start it up.”
Of course, the keys were right where Ash had left them—in the ignition. Dammit. I didn’t see any other choice. The truck roared to life.
“Get out onto the main road. Head West,” the man snapped, keeping the muzzle of his gun trained at my side. “Try anything stupid, and you’ll regret it.”
I had to do something. Instincts kicked in that at some point my usefulness would expire. I’d end up the loser in this situation. It came down to whether it would happen here or further down the road.
As I approached the end of the driveway, I gunned the engine, tires spinning in the gravel as I turned onto the main road. I hoped someone would hear the noise and come looking for me.
That pissed off Gary. He hit me with the full weight of the butt end of the gun, smacking it into my shoulder. I screamed, and pain shot out, radiating up and down my limb and across my chest. I could hardly control the steering wheel. My mind whirled, and tears burned my eyes.
“I warned you,” the man seethed. “Next time it’s your face.”
“Please let me go. You don’t need me. Just take the truck,” I cried, my heart palpitating.
“You’re exactly the insurance I need. Now shut up and drive.”
How could I get away from him now? The ranch got smaller in the rearview mirror. My life and my loves left behind.
In the middle of all the madness in my racing mind was the image of Ro, my sweet baby girl.
At least if I didn’t make it out of this, she had Ash to take care of her.
He loved her like a daughter now. They’d have each other and be safe, which brought some relief, but I wouldn’t go down without a fight.
A quick side-eye glance at Gary showed his steely eyes staring at me.
“Don’t even think about trying anything foolish, missy.”
What I needed was luck and divine intervention.
Or a bear?
Suddenly, the headlights exposed a huge grizzly in the road, roaring with its two paws up in the air ready to battle with the truck.
I shrieked, “Bear!” And slammed on the brakes.
My unsteady arms couldn’t control the truck, and we swerved. I didn’t think we had hit it until a loud thud cracked the back end of the truck.
My entire world flipped once, maybe twice. I lost count until we landed upside down in the ditch beside the road.
Save for the radiator hissing, the aftermath of the accident was quiet.
It almost made me believe it was all over.
But in a daze, the overpowering stench of gasoline refreshed the panic in my chest. I could hardly breathe; the fumes were too strong.
I tried to move, but every muscle and bone, even my skin, ached up and down my body.
Glass shards lay everywhere. To my left, my driver’s side window had crunched in, too small of a space to get out. But in front of me, the windshield busted out, providing a possible escape route.
With a shaky breath, I forced a glance at the fugitive, scared of what I’d find. His eyes were closed, blood seeping from a head wound. If not for his groaning, I would think him dead.
With whatever strength I could muster, I forced myself to move through the pain. I needed to get out and away from him and the truck. Carefully and slowly, I squeezed through the windshield, crying at every cut and scrape along my knees, arms, and back.
It was a race against time. With each inch, I pictured Ro and Ash. For them, I kept going. I had to fight to live. My baby girl had already lost one parent. She couldn’t lose another.
Finally, with grass and dirt beneath me, I stood on shaky legs, leaning on the truck.
“Thank you, God,” I breathed at last—only to hear a low, guttural growl behind me.
My heart leapt out of my chest.
Shaking, I slowly turned my head, just enough to see the bear about ten feet away. An angry bear, too, bloodied from a gash across its face.
Just my luck. I escaped the fugitive, but now the bear…
I came all the way to Montana so Ro would know her uncle. So I could have the pleasure of Ash’s love at long last. But how cruel was fate, taking me away from both of them too soon?
This was it. The end. I shut my eyes and tried to send a message out. Please, Ash, take care of my daughter.
Only my prayers were interrupted by sudden loud noises of tree limbs crashing down and shrubs breaking from the forest along the road. They distracted the bear too. It grunted and sniffed and eyed the tree line, waiting for whatever was lurking in the darkness to reveal itself.
I fell back against the truck, never expecting a horse to jump toward us as it broke through the last of the greenery.
“Juniper!” I screamed. Oh God, please don’t let the bear harm my horse.