Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) by Rita Herron Read Free Book Online Page B

hysterical cry as she faced him. “I’ll get the horses ready.”
    Not without him, she wouldn’t.  “Then let’s go.”
    “I thought you wanted to run those background checks first.”
    “Now Jones has found you, I’m not going to let you out of my sight for a minute.”
    A deep wariness darkened her eyes, but she didn’t argue. “Okay, let’s go look for him.”
    He followed her outside, his senses alert as he scanned the area. It would be just like the bastard to stay close and watch Mia.
    As they descended the porch, he scanned the area for evidence as to how Jones had reached the cabin. “No tire prints,” he said. “The son of a bitch must have parked off the road and hiked in.” He glanced at Mia. “Does he ride?”
    She shook her head.  “No, he doesn’t like animals. Too dirty.”
    “He could have borrowed or stolen one of the ranch hand’s horses. Do they keep them in the barn near you?”
    “No,” Mia said. “There’s another stable near the bunk houses for the workers. The ones I exercise are being groomed to sell.”
    They crossed the pasture and entered the stable together, and she headed into the tack room for saddles. 
    He saddled one horse while she saddled the other, and in minutes, they were prepared to ride. Alex snapped his reins and led the way across the pasture toward the hill where she thought she’d seen someone earlier. As they rode, he searched the ground for hoof prints. Boot prints. Any sign of Jones.
    When they made it to the top of the hill, he paused, dismounted and studied the ground.  A partial boot print marred the dirt, the horses hoof prints muddying the soil. “Someone was here,” he said.
    Mia’s face looked pained.  “There’s a petal from one of the lilies,” she said in a haunted tone.
    Suddenly a shot rang out, the horses bucked and whinnied and Alex shouted for Mia to get down.

C HAPTER S IX

     
     
    Mia dove from the horse, then hit the ground on her hands and knees. Who the hell was shooting at them?
    A gun wasn’t Geoff’s style.
    But he was desperate and would do anything to get back at her for destroying his life.
    And exposing him for the monster he was.
    “Stay low,” Alex murmured as he covered her head with his body.
    She nodded, her breath rasping out.
    Alex pulled his gun, lifted his head from their perch on the ground, scanning the area where the shot had come from. To the right, not far from them. Near the woods.
    He pointed toward a cluster of rocks a few feet away. “Take cover there. I’m going after the son of a bitch.”
    She caught his arm. “Be careful, Alex.”
    He squeezed her hand in reassurance, then led her to the rocks. The two of them stayed low, Alex covering them by firing a round at the woods.
    When she’d crouched behind the boulder, he shocked her by dropping a kiss into her hair. “As soon as I’m gone, ride back to the McCauley’s. If I’m not back in half an hour, call the local sheriff. I’ve already talked to him. He knows what’s going on. He’ll get in touch with my chief.”
    Fear nearly choked her. “Alex –“
    “Just do it,” he said. Then he was gone. Diving on his horse and racing in the direction of the shooter.
    She held her breath, anxiety warring with guilt. Alex had been the only one to protect her, to listen to her cries at night during those first few weeks after the arrest.
    The only person she’d connected with.
    And that had terrified her.
    So when the trial had ended and Geoff was locked away, she’d cut all ties to the handsome Ranger for her own sake.
    Ironic that now he might die to protect her from the one man who claimed he loved her.
    At one time she’d been thrilled to have that love. A happily-ever-after in a dreamland that he’d created for her.
    Now she didn’t believe that happily-ever-after existed. At least not for her.
    The loss of her unborn child was proof of that.
    Her fingernails dug into the rocks. Why was God punishing her? What had she done so