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“Mmm.”
Egan must’ve fallen asleep, because the next thing he knew, his back was warm and he was uncomfortable. A raspy sound came from Rachel. He leaned over and touched her forehead. Damn! Her skin was red-hot. She had a fever. He jumped from the bed and gently shook her.
“Rachel, wake up. We have to go.”
“Is it morning?” she asked sleepily. “My head hurts and I feel funny.”
“I must’ve missed one of the scratches because you’re burning up with fever. You need medical attention, so we have to leave now. Can you put on your sneakers?”
“What?”
“Put on your shoes. I’m going outside for water.” He grabbed his hat and slammed it onto his head.
When he came back, Rachel was slumped over on the bed, asleep. He shook her awake. “Come on. You have to wake up.” He held the canteen to her lips. “Drink this.”
“Oh, it tastes wonderful.”
He ripped her ruined top into strips and soaked them in water. As he secured the wet cloth around her neck, she drew back. “What’s that?”
“Something cool to bring down your fever.”
“It feels good.”
He searched for her sneakers on the floor. The lantern was a few feet away, but he didn’t have time to light it. They had to go. He’d never put shoes on a woman before and found it a chore. “Help me here, and stop scrunching up your toes.”
“I can put them on myself,” she complained.
But he had them on her in seconds and laced them up. He helped her to her feet. “We have to start walking.”
“Didn’t you say we couldn’t walk in the dark?”
“We don’t have any option now. You need a doctor.”
He fished his phone out of the duster and shoved it into a pocket of his jeans. Grabbing his rifle, he ushered her to the door. He didn’t take anything else; it would only slow them down. Once they were outside, he closed the door. They never locked it. There wasn’t a lock, even if he’d wanted to. This far back in the woods, if anyone wanted to break in they’d find a way. Besides, there was nothing valuable in the cabin but memories.
He filled the canteen one more time and looped the strap over his neck and shoulder. “Stay right behind me,” he told her as they started off.
She didn’t answer.
“Rachel?”
“I’m so hot.”
“I know. That’s why we’re walking.”
It had to be about 5:00 a.m. and it was slow going. He’d cut a trail to the cabin a long time ago, but there were still some low-hanging branches and overgrown yaupons. Rachel stayed close behind him and he made sure none of the branches hit her.
The morning was cool. Soon birds began to chirp, so daylight wasn’t far away. Suddenly, Rachel fell into him, and Egan turned quickly to catch her before she injured herself further.
“Uh-oh.”
“It’s okay,” he said, holding her up.
“I’m dizzy and feel sick to my stomach,” she mumbled.
He lifted her into his arms and began to walk at a faster pace. He had to get help soon. As they reached the ridge, the morning sun peeped over the treetops like a golden angel flapping her wings. He began to run. Since he could see clearly, he wasn’t afraid of falling. But after a mile or so he dropped to his knees, needing to rest.
Placing Rachel on the green grass, he took a couple deep breaths and then reached for the canteen. He soaked the cloth and her body with it.
“My leg hurts.”
Her right leg was swollen at the calf. Damn! With his knife, he slit her jeans to ease the pressure. He immediately saw the infected red scratch. He’d missed it. He said another cuss word under his breath.
“I’m floating, Egan. Don’t let me float away.”
He stroked her sweat-soaked hair away from her face. “I won’t. Just hold on, sweet lady. We’re getting close.” Leaning back, he pulled out his phone and checked for a signal. There still wasn’t one.
“I like that.”
“What?”
“Sweet lady.”
He hadn’t even realized he’d called her that. It had just slipped out.
“I like ma’am, too,” she mumbled. “Some women don’t like it. They feel it insults them, but they’ve never heard you say it.”
She was delirious. A long sigh escaped Egan and he got to his feet with Rachel in his arms. The rifle he had to leave behind, because he could no longer carry it. He kept the phone in his hand. Soon he should get a signal. He had to.
* * *
HARDY HOLLISTER TIPTOED down the stairs, careful not to make a sound. The baby and Angie were finally asleep. In the kitchen, he made coffee. His cell buzzed and he started to ignore it, but he was the DA, so he pulled it from his robe. It was his friend Wyatt, the sheriff.
He clicked on. “This had better be good, Wyatt. We’ve been up most of the night with Trey.”
“I remember those days. I’m so glad J.W. sleeps through the night now. It’ll get better.”
“What’s up this early in the morning?”
“Is Rachel coming home for a visit?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I talked to her a few days ago and she didn’t say anything about coming home. Why?”
“I got a call from the highway patrol. A rental car was found at the back of Rebel Ranch, a deeply wooded area with not a house around for miles. The car was rented in Austin to Rachel Hollister on Friday. A suitcase with clothes was in the backseat. Her name is on the tags.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Judge Hollister walked into the kitchen, obviously looking for a cup of coffee. “Just a minute,” Hardy said to Wyatt. “Dad, have you talked to Rachel?”
The judge pulled out a chair and sat at the table, sipping the hot brew. “No. She’s mad at me because I chewed her out about not coming home. She probably won’t talk to me for a couple weeks.”
Hardy picked up his cell again. “Dad hasn’t heard from her, either. This doesn’t sound right and it’s not like Rachel to do something like that.”
“I hate to give you any more bad news, but there’s a witness who said he saw a man drag a woman from the car into the woods.”
Hardy’s hand tightened on the phone. “Can he identify the woman?”
“No, but he identified the man.”
“Who.”
“Egan Rebel.”
“Something’s not right, Wyatt. Egan’s a model citizen and I don’t think he knows Rachel.”
“Rachel?” The judge shot to his feet. “What about Rachel?”
“I’m coming in, Wyatt. I just have to get dressed.” Hardy laid his phone down and faced his dad. He told him exactly what Wyatt had said. It wasn’t a time to keep secrets. His father was a strong man.
“Egan Rebel. I sent him to prison years ago. He said he’d get even, and this could be his way of getting back at me. He better not hurt my daughter or he’ll never see the light of day again.”
“Calm down, Dad.” Hardy picked up his phone again. “I’ll call her apartment in New York. This has to be a big mistake. She would want us to know if she was coming home.”
It didn’t take long for Rachel’s roommate, Della, to answer the phone. From her sleepy voice, he knew he’d awakened her.
“I’m sorry to call so early. This is Hardy Hollister, Rachel’s brother. I’m trying to get in touch with her.”
“What? Rachel left on Friday to visit her family in Horseshoe.”
“Are you sure? She didn’t call to let us know.”
“She wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Thank you, Della. She never arrived and we’re worried. I’ll call you back as soon as I find out anything.”
“Please do.”
* * *
THE WIND PICKED UP and seemed to be pushing Egan backward, but he kept going. He punched the phone repeatedly, praying for it to light up. When it finally did, he almost tripped and fell. He sank to the ground, still holding Rachel, who was now completely limp.
“Egan...Egan...are you there?” It was Rico.
His body sagged as he answered. “Can you hear me?”
“Yeah. Man, where have you been? The whole family’s looking for you.”
“I’m west of the big coastal hay patch, in direct line to the barn where Jude makes his saddles. I have a casualty. She’s been attacked by dogs and needs to get to a hospital. Call 911 and bring a Polaris Ranger out here. I’ll keep walking until you get here. Do you hear me?”
“Got it.” The good thing about Rico was he never asked questions. Egan struggled to his feet and started walking again. Help was on the way. He relaxed just a little.
“Egan...” Rachel murmured. “Don’t let me float away.”
He held her a bit tighter, picked up his pace and then slowed when he saw the ranger speeding toward him. Sinking to his knees, Egan clutched Rachel in his arms.
“Help is on the way, sweet lady. We made it. Can you hear me?”
“E-gan...” Her flushed face rested against his chest, her lips barely moving.
His brothers Falcon and Quincy jumped from the ranger. Falcon was the oldest and had taken control of the ranch after their father’s death. He wasn’t quite the same after his wife had left him and their three-month-old daughter. He was strict and stern and gave no one any leeway, not even his little girl.
Quincy was the second son, with dark hair and eyes similar to Egan. He was the peacemaker in the family. He’d taken it upon his broad shoulders to keep unity among the brothers, which was not an easy task, since they seemed to have wildness branded onto their souls.
“Is an ambulance on the way?” Egan asked.
Falcon and Quincy squatted beside him, staring at Rachel. “What happened?” Falcon asked.
“Is an ambulance on the way?” Egan repeated.
“Rico’s waiting at the ranch entrance, but I talked to the dispatch lady and told her it might be best to send a medical helicopter, since you were so far out on the range.” His brow knotted. “She looks as if she’s been in a fight or something. What are those scratches from?”
“Help me get her in the ranger,” Egan said. “I’ll explain later.”
He stood once again with Rachel in his arms, but paused when he heard the sound of a chopper.
Quincy waved his arms, guiding the helicopter in. Things happened quickly after it landed in a whirlwind of dust. Two paramedics jumped out with a stretcher and Egan laid Rachel on it. They immediately began to assess her condition.
“What happened?” one of them asked.
“She was attacked by dogs. A scrape on her right calf is infected.”
The other paramedic talked on the phone and then glanced at Egan. “Do you know who owns the dogs?”
“Isadore McCray of Horseshoe.”
“Rabies is a concern, but we have to get her to the hospital now. Her temperature is 103.”
As they rolled the stretcher to the chopper, Rachel stirred. “Egan...”
He went to her. “Everything’s going to be okay. They’re taking you to the hospital and your family will meet you there.” Egan glanced at the paramedic. “Her name is Rachel Hollister and her father is Judge Hardison Hollister of Horseshoe. He shouldn’t be too difficult to locate.”
“E-gan...”
“Shh. You’re going to be fine.” He brushed wet hair from her forehead.
“Don’t let me float away.”
Egan’s throat closed up and he stood there in silence as they loaded her onto the chopper. The blades began to swirl, the force of the draft almost knocking him off his feet. His hat blew away and he let it go. He kept staring at the chopper as it lifted up and disappeared into the blue sky.
Just as quickly as she’d arrived in his life, Rachel was gone. He should feel relief, but what he was feeling he couldn’t describe. It had to be the tiredness that was pulling him down. When he could no longer see the helicopter, he whispered, “Goodbye, sweet lady.”
Chapter Five
Wyatt frowned as Hardy walked into his office.
“Did you locate Rachel?”
The sheriff stood, anger in every line of his tall body. “I’ve had other things to keep me occupied.” He picked up a piece of paper and slapped it onto the desk. “I have a warrant signed by Judge Henley for Egan Rebel’s arrest.”
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