Park rangers facing deadly foes…

Two tales of danger in the Grand Canyon

In Canyon Under Siege by Valerie Hansen, hostages’ lives hang in the balance as FBI agent Holly Forbes works with her former crush, park ranger Gabe McClelland, to outwit dangerous criminals. And in Jodie Bailey’s Missing in the Wilderness, a rescue mission turns into a race for pure survival when a killer begins stalking park ranger Morgan Dunham and her military ex-husband, Eric Larson.

Valerie Hansen, USA TODAY Bestselling Author

VALERIE HANSEN was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. She now lives in a renovated farmhouse on the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark Plateau of Arkansas and is privileged to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart for Love Inspired. Life doesn’t get much better than that!

JODIE BAILEY writes novels about freedom and the heroes who fight for it. Her novel Crossfire won a 2015 RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is convinced a camping trip to the beach with her family, a good cup of coffee and a great book can cure all ills. Jodie lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter and two dogs.

Canyon Standoff

Canyon Under Siege

Valerie Hansen

Missing in the Wilderness

Jodie Bailey

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90670-2

CANYON STANDOFF

Canyon Under Siege © 2020 Valerie Whisenand Missing in the Wilderness © 2020 Jodie Bailey

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“I wouldn’t be here if I had another option.”

Eric lifted his gaze to meet Morgan’s briefly.

“I know.” She puffed out the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Rounding the desk, she laid a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your car. Rest today and get geared up. You’re no good to your sister if you land yourself in the hospital.”

Without a word, he stood and let her usher him out the door and into the lobby. At the exterior door, Morgan called over her shoulder to another ranger, “Be back in a minute.”

He waved her away with a quick glance. Yeah, nobody knew that, to her, Eric was so much more than a grieving family member.

They stepped into the warmth of a May morning, and Morgan ushered him to the end of the sidewalk near the parking lot. “Where’s your car?”

Eric aimed the key fob at a gunmetal-gray Jeep Wrangler near the end of the first row, pressing the key fob.

And the world exploded.

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Canyon Under Siege

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

EPILOGUE

Missing in the Wilderness

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

PROLOGUE

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

Extract

Extract

About the Publisher

Canyon Under Siege

Valerie Hansen

Dear Reader,

I’ve visited most of our national parks except for those in Hawaii, and each has its own unique beauty. The Grand Canyon is famous, yes, but there is so much more to it than what you see standing on the edge looking down.

Likewise, there is much more to the job of a National Park Ranger than what you might see on the surface. Researching for this novella really taught me a lot and opened my eyes to the trials as well as heroic actions of men and women who are, for the most part, underestimated by the general public. I will never look at someone wearing that uniform or the Smoky Bear hat in the same way again.

As Holly learned, divine forgiveness is waiting for you regardless of what mistakes you might have made in the past. Turn your regrets over to the Lord and He will help you forgive yourself, too.

Blessings,

Valerie Hansen

Email: val@valeriehansen.com

From the end of the earth I will cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

—Psalm 61:2–3

To national park rangers, the brave men and women who stand ready to pull the rest of us back from the brink when we get into trouble after ignoring their sensible advice. God bless ’em all.

ONE

Storm clouds darkened the north rim of the Grand Canyon, casting ominous shadows into the abyss. Pounding desert rain was threatening to sweep across the miles of open canyon and deluge the south rim helipad before rangers of the Search and Rescue team could fully mobilize.

Holly trembled with trepidation. She knew what was going to happen when Gabe realized who she was. And then there he was, jogging toward her. The one person who set her nerves on edge while also bringing assurance of safety, even while dangling from a rope suspended below a helicopter or rappelling down a cliff. Except she was no teenage novice seasonal volunteer anymore, she was Agent Holly Forbes of the FBI. And she was there for one purpose: to do her job, not because she’d once had a foolish crush on National Park Ranger Gabe McClellan.

Wind was picking up, whipping strands of her long, dark hair across her face and stinging her cheeks, but that was the least of her worries. She stood tall and still, expecting some kind of reaction when Gabe recognized her. Instead, he passed by as if she were simply in his way and began shouting orders to his men—and one woman—as they stowed their gear aboard the chopper.

The vibration of her cell phone startled her. Pressing it to her ear, she tried to shelter it from the wind with her body. “What? I can’t hear you!”

A firm hand grasped her elbow. Her eyes locked with Gabe’s for an instant before he tapped the side of his flight helmet and shouted, “I just got the full report by radio, Agent Forbes. Let’s go.”

“Are you sure?”

His dark eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded but that was the only sign he was perturbed. If she hadn’t known him so well in the past she’d have missed the reaction.

“Yes.” Keeping temporary hold, he urged her toward the chopper. “I’ll give you a headset and brief everybody once we’re in the air. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a storm brewing.”

“Well, yeah.” Holly had to hustle to keep pace with him. “It’ll be safer below the rim.”

“Usually is.” Gabe handed her up to two other rangers, who hoisted her aboard and made room for her. “Belt in.”

Still, he’d given no indication that he remembered her, whereas she would have been able to pick him out of a crowd of thousands. So much for the way he’d made her feel so special when she’d worked in the park. Their brief summer acquaintance had obviously meant a lot more to her than it had to him.

The whomp of the blades sped up until the sound was a deafening roar. They were airborne. Holly felt an imaginary hole in the pit of her stomach and grabbed the edge of the seat as the pilot banked to the left before straightening out. Then the loaded chopper passed over the edge and dropped into the magnificent canyon.

She’d often wondered how something so beautiful could claim so many lives, and she’d come to the conclusion survival depended on respect. If hikers or other visitors to Grand Canyon National Park paid attention to the rangers, stayed on the trails and were properly equipped and hydrated during the blazing summers, they lived.

She shivered. Disregard the warnings or wander from safe trails and the canyon was apt to swallow you up. She’d seen it happen. And she never wanted to witness that kind of pointless death again.

Her gaze darted from the scenery outside to Gabe’s face. Stoic and fully in control, he epitomized the perfect park ranger. How he could work Search and Rescue and keep his cool despite the fact they couldn’t hope to save everyone was more than amazing to Holly—it was terribly, terribly sad.

Gabe tried to stay focused on the task at hand, yet something about the serious FBI agent kept niggling at his subconscious. The park was very attractive to athletic young people looking for a challenge or just unwinding after rough college finals, so there was a chance this agent reminded him of one of those green kids. It had surprised him when she hadn’t balked at climbing aboard the chopper with his team. It would have pleased him more to have made this rescue without extra baggage but that couldn’t be helped this time. Orders to include her had come from above.

Gabe tapped the side of his helmet again and began talking to his SAR team. “The latest news from Spirit Ranch Station is bad. We have one ranger down and two missing.” He had to hold up his hand to stop questions. “I haven’t been given particulars that make a lot of sense. We have conflicting reports, at best.”

“What are our plans?” someone asked.

“Rescue, above all.” He eyed the FBI agent. “After that, maybe our ride-along FBI agent can fill us in.”

“Armed and dangerous to begin with,” Holly reported. “At least three men plus their driver fled Las Vegas after a drug cartel meeting went bad.” She paused and sobered even more. “They took out two of my fellow agents. One of them is clinging to life in a hospital right now.”

“How did they end up here?”

“That’s unknown. It’s believed they commandeered a boat and were into the canyon before they realized their mistake. We were setting up to capture them, as you probably heard, when they went ashore at Spirit Ranch Station and took hostages.”

“I’m glad your bosses were smart enough to pull the FBI and sheriff’s helicopters out when they did,” Gabe said sagely. “A pilot who isn’t familiar with air currents and the heat index inside the canyon is a real risk.”

“I know.” A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Recognition dawned on Gabe as she said, “You can thank me for that one.”

“That is where I know you from!” Gabe grinned over at her. “People, Agent Forbes was one of our summer interns.” Her first name remained elusive, so he paused in the hope she’d provide it.

“My nickname was Christmas when I worked here. You can all call me Holly if you want.”

“That’s right. Holly Forbes, aka Christmas.” How could he have forgotten? Perhaps it was less a matter of forgetting than of not recognizing the woman she had become. The laughing, lighthearted temp he’d met nine, maybe ten years ago bore only a faint resemblance to the somber person she was now. Had life hardened her that much? he wondered. It was possible. It was also possible she was the kind of agent who could focus so well on the job at hand she was able to set aside personal feelings. That could be a valuable asset.

Gabe was jarred from his thoughts by a sudden banking of the chopper. The pilot yelled, “Taking fire!”

Holly instinctively ducked while the armed rangers went into action. Rifles appeared. Men took up positions at the open side door, waiting for their pilot to give them a target. She, too, was armed but not with anything that would reach the ground accurately. Considering the evasive action the helo was taking, she doubted anybody was going to be able to successfully return fire.

Gabe shouldered her away from the door. “Stay back.”

“I am.” She eyed him critically. “Anybody who takes his safety harness off at a time like this is a fool.”

Scowling, he broadcast, “Anybody hit?”

A garbled chorus of assurance was a relief. Holly took a second to assess herself. She’d been slightly wounded several times in the line of duty and knew the shock of a bullet could dull the pain enough that an injured person might not realize damage had been done right away.

“How about you, FBI?” Gabe asked.

“I’m in one piece as far as I know.”

There was no need to tell the veteran chopper jockey what to do. He was already taking his passengers higher and wider to get out of range. Bright sun from directly overhead glinted off something below. A rifle barrel? She grabbed at Gabe and pointed. “Look!”

“Where?”

“Down there. I know I saw a flash of light, like a reflection.” Holly made a face of disgust and then sighed. “It’s gone. Sorry.”

“All right,” Gabe shouted into his mic. “Plan B. We put down a few men in the canyon as close as we can without getting shot.”

“Brilliant. Now we know how you got to be senior ranger,” someone quipped.

Gabe huffed. “Right. Law enforcement only.” He pointed. “Hough and Broadstreet are trained medics, too. What about you, FBI?”

“Fully trained,” Holly assured him. “I know how to rappel, too.”

“Good, because I’d hate to have you hanging on the end of a rope like a panicked kid afraid to drop into a swimming hole.”

“If you really remembered me, you’d know I don’t panic,” she countered.

“I hope you’re better at taking orders than you used to be,” he said. “If memory serves, you almost drowned trying to rescue a kid from some rapids because you failed to secure yourself before diving in.”

“Yes, and I learned my lesson,” Holly said, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt. “You gave me the lecture of my life in front of all my peers.”

“Let’s hope it took,” Gabe said. “Challenging nature can get you killed.”

Holly quirked a smile and glanced out as they rose above reddish rock cliffs and deep crevasses. “The only nature that scares me is human nature.”

Another bright flash in the canyon below was followed by the sound of another rifle shot.

Pressing her back tight to her seat Holly added, “Especially when somebody is shooting at me!”

TWO

Rain fell in sheets as Holly, Gabe, the medics and several others shouldered their packs and started to hike downriver toward the besieged ranger station. Gabe had sent their chopper back to the south rim to wait. Hovering over the unforgiving canyon wasn’t wise, particularly during a storm, and by the time he needed an airlift the worst of the weather should be over.

As the thump of the rotors faded, Holly spoke to the group. “One advantage we have is that these men we’re after aren’t outdoorsmen. They’re the business-suit type. Totally out of their element here. As soon as we get under cover, I’ll show you the enhanced photos from the casino security cams.”

“You’re sure of who they are?”

“Reasonably sure, although we’re still working on positive IDs. How far are we from Spirit? I wouldn’t want them to slip in among regular tourists and get away.”

“In this weather?” Gabe wiped his wet face with one hand. “Even the mules are smart enough to refuse to go outside.”

She laughed softly. “What does that say about us?”

“That we picked challenging jobs.”

“Understatement.”

“I hope that jacket is waterproof,” he commented, eyeing her.

“I doubt anything would keep me dry in this monsoon. At least it’s a lot warmer down here than it was up on the rim.”

“We’ll all be sorry about that soon enough unless we get the job done and evacuate.”

“Yeah.”

Gabe trekked for another fifteen minutes before he halted and drew his group into a huddle. “The valley’s widening out. We’ll be able to see Spirit Station soon. That means they’ll also be able to see us, particularly now that the rain has stopped. We need to split up, make separate targets.” Pausing, he looked deliberately at Holly. “Except for you, FBI. You’ll stay with me.”

When she rolled her eyes, he knew he was in for trouble. Hoping she’d follow orders if he ignored her reaction, he signaled to the medics to go right while he and Holly tended left and a small group headed straight in. His satisfaction with her compliance was short-lived. Although she did start out with him, her path kept drifting further and further afield.

Considering the likelihood that a shout would echo and might be overheard, Gabe carried on instead. His main concern had to be his injured colleagues and any innocent bystanders who had been harmed or were otherwise in jeopardy. What he had to remember, if he expected to stay focused, was that Holly Forbes was no novice. She’d arrived properly outfitted and had hiked these trails before. Diverting his attention could cost him dearly.

“Which is exactly what I’m going to tell her, first chance I get,” Gabe muttered. Thoughts of her caused him to glance to the side. His jaw dropped open. Not only was the agent in full view, she was waving her arms overhead and jumping up and down. She might as well announce their presence with a loudspeaker!

Red mud splashed as Gabe jogged toward her, furious. At least she wasn’t screaming. That was something.

Gruff and angry, he grabbed her shoulders to still her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting your attention,” she said, breathless.

“If you’d stayed with me the way I told you to, you wouldn’t have to jump around like you had scorpions in your boots.”

“Hush! Listen. Somebody’s calling for help.”

“I don’t hear a thing.”

“Well, I do. I did. It came from over that way. Maybe on the Kaibab Trail.”

Gabe released her. “Not from the direction of the station? Okay. I’ll radio the rim and have a second search team stand by to respond when we give the all clear.”

“That’ll take too long. The voice sounded like a woman or a child. If they really need help, somebody should go to them immediately.”

“Nobody else is coming down here until we’re sure the area is secure. Period. It would be crazy to add any more people to the bunch we already have to worry about.”

“Fine. I get it. I do. But…”

“Tell you what,” Gabe said. “Suppose you check out the noise you heard and I’ll keep my team with me. You can radio us if you locate a victim, and we’ll calculate their position based on yours. If I can send help at that time, I will.”

He understood how torn she was. Not only did it show in her face, he wasn’t feeling good about splitting forces. If he’d trained with Holly recently, he might be making a different decision, but the way he saw it, sending her off on her own might be for the best. She’d perform a necessary service and not be underfoot while he and his rangers tried to liberate Spirit Station. Plus, she had enough experience at the Grand Canyon to stay out of trouble as long as she thought with her brain and not her heart.

As she turned away he said, “Holly, wait.” The words were out of his mouth before he’d taken time to think through what he wanted to tell her.

“Yes?”

“I don’t have time to go over all the safety rules so I hope you remember them.”

“You mean like ‘don’t dive into any raging rivers without a rope anchoring me to shore’?”

“Yeah. Like that.” His radio crackled. The others were almost in position and not seeing any activity in or around the station. “Look, I’ve gotta go. If you hear the code word, vacation, that means change radio frequencies to confuse the crooks. I don’t have the list with me but you can find us if you scan.” Concern welled within him. He started to pat her shoulder, then thought better of it.

“One promise?” she asked.

“What?”

“Let’s keep this little side trip to ourselves. I wasn’t sent here to rescue lost hikers. I was sent to capture fugitives. The only reason I’m not going with you right now is because you have them cornered and I’m really not necessary. Yet.”

“Agreed. If I get the drop on them before you get back, I’ll hold them for you so you get all the credit. No extra charge.”

Smiling, she offered her right hand. Gabe took it, meaning only to shake the way he would to seal any bargain.

A tingle raced up his arm the moment their hands joined, leaving a wake of surprising warmth and awareness. He didn’t have to ask if she felt it, too. Her dark eyes were wide, lashes damp with rain, and she seemed as startled as he was.

A tug freed his hold and she took off, breaking into an easy lope along the more even ground of the canyon bottom. Gabe turned to face the besieged ranger station. He could see knots of tourists in the distance. Some summer volunteers and river concessionaires were holding back crowds as best they could and a couple of leathery-faced mule skinners had mounted up and positioned themselves along the broader approaches and the footbridge entrance in order to limit public access.

“This is going to work,” Gabe told himself, adding “Thank You, God” to his earlier prayers.

He was reaching for his radio to coordinate with his team when there was a loud bang followed by the characteristic whine of a bullet. His head whipped around. He scanned for the shooter, saw no one, then turned toward the place he’d last seen Holly.

She’d disappeared!

THREE

Holly had hit the dirt on her stomach the instant she’d realized shots were being fired. Heart racing, pulse pounding in her ears, she waited for the next bullet. It didn’t come.

Slowly, cautiously, she rose, keeping her loaded backpack between her and the general direction of the ranger station, where she thought the noise had originated. With the echoes up and down the canyon, it was hard to be certain, but given the drama currently unfolding at Spirit Ranch and the station nearby, it made sense.

She wiped muddy, sandy hands on her jeans and held her breath to listen, wondering if her wisest move would be to try to return to Gabe. The rain was moving on and the air was clear. Clean. Except for her continued hammering heartbeats, the canyon was silent.

And then she heard it. A call for help. And another. The voice was high and reedy. She’d been right! This victim was a woman or a child. Or one of each. Were they lost? Injured? Only a personal investigation would tell.

Her radio crackled. She grabbed it, noticing that her hand was shaking slightly. “Forbes.”

“You okay, FBI?”

“Yeah. Muddy but fine. I ducked, just in case. You?”

“Same. I’m going to need a vacation when this is over.”

“Me, too. I can still hear the lost hiker calling for help. I’m headed that way.”

“Copy. Take care.”

“Always,” Holly replied.

Gabe had given the code word. There was no telling how often the rangers were going to change their radio signals so she’d wait until she needed to talk to them before fiddling with the settings on her radio. She knew from experience that even the strongest satellite signals could be unreliable inside the canyon and using cell phones was impossible. When park visitors meant to get back to nature, they had no trouble doing it in the bottom of the 277-mile-long Grand Canyon.

If they had been John Muir or John Wesley Powell, they’d have come prepared the way she and the rangers had. The problem was, many vacationers disregarded sensible warnings because they thought they were smarter or more physically fit than average. That was when the canyon took its toll, sometimes fatally.

Fan-shaped soil and rock deposited by erosion at the base of a narrow slot canyon slowed Holly’s progress while rock formations channeled the calls for help like a stone megaphone. Leaning into the climb, she pressed on, slipping on wet rocks, which caused her to slide here and there. No other footprints showed, but they wouldn’t after the hard rain.

Holly scanned overhead, checking for storm clouds. None were visible. That was a good sign, although the steep rise of the canyon side did block a lot of her view. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted up the steep-sided rift. “Hello? Anybody there?”

To her relief and delight, a woman called, “Yes! Up here. Help!”

“Hang on. I’m on my way. Can you come down to me?”

“No. I think my son has a broken leg.”

There was no point asking why the mother and child had left known trails and ventured off on their own. It happened all the time. It was as if the serpentine slits leading off the main canyon summoned hikers, promising to reveal marvelous secrets that obedient visitors might miss. Holly understood the appeal. She’d had her share of adventures as a teen, although she’d never needed to be helped to find her way back.

Sometimes she’d discovered hidden pools of rainwater that were a lot warmer for swimming than the icy river. Sometimes there were ancient rock markings made by Native Americans who had revered the canyon and treated it with utmost respect.

Holly continued to pull herself up, climbing water-smoothed, rippling rocks that were layered like the stacks of pancakes served in the Spirit Ranch lodge. Her stomach growled at the thought. She ignored it. Each corner she turned was one closer to the injured little boy. If he wasn’t too big, maybe she and his mother could carry him out once she’d splinted his leg, assuming it was actually broken. As soon as she had assessed the situation she’d radio Gabe and fill him in.

Grunting with the effort, she hoisted herself over a wide outcropping and finally saw them. The woman began to weep loudly. “Oh, thank you, Ranger.”

“I’m not a ranger,” Holly said, “but I used to work here as a volunteer.” She sidled past the mother to get to the child. His face was beet red, his breathing shallow.

“When was the last time you gave him water?” Holly asked, checking him over quickly.

“We ran out. I was sure I had enough but after he got hurt, we used it all up. I’ve been calling and calling. Where are all the day trippers?”

“It’s a long story.” Holly lowered her pack and got out one of her bottles of water, offering some to the child. “Here. Don’t drink it too fast or it might make you sick.”

She turned the job of dispensing sips of water over to the mother. “We need to get you and…”

The mother supplied names. “He’s Robert and I’m Renee.”

“I’m Holly. We need to get Robert and you out of here and back to the first aid station on the rim.”

“What about Robbie’s leg?”

“I don’t think it’s broken. But I’ll stabilize it just in case. Then you and I will pack him out.”

“I can’t carry him and climb. I tried. The rocks are too loose. I kept slipping.”

As frustrated as she was, Holly knew better than to argue with a frantic parent. What she needed was backup. What she wanted was Gabe McClellan. However, any muscle would do in a pinch. Too bad other park rangers had managed to stop most tourists from descending. The only visitors left were those who had begun their journey before the trail was blocked or inveterate hikers who had managed to sneak past the barricades.

Pebbles rained down on them from an upper trail, catching Holly by surprise. “Hey! Anybody up there? We need some help here,” she shouted.

Too close to the canyon walls to see very far above, she was happy to draw one man’s attention. He peered over the edge of the loop of trail directly above them.

“Can you join us and help? I need to rig a way for this child and his mother to be rescued.”

“Why me?”

She merely smiled and shrugged. “You’re handy. I really need some muscle and the rangers are busy.”

“They are, huh?”

“Yes, they are. Can we count on you?”

“How do I know you didn’t hurt the kid yourself? Maybe push him or something?”

“Because I’m an officer of the law,” Holly said, so fed up with this hiker she could scream.

“I suppose you can prove that?”

“Yes.” She pulled out her FBI identification. “Can you see this from up there?”

“Good enough. Why didn’t you call the rangers to rescue him? They do this kind of stuff all the time, right?”

“Because they’re dealing with a crisis of their own.”

“Okay, okay. How do I get there without falling off this cliff?”

“You should be able to sit down and slide to us. Just use your feet and hands as brakes so you don’t overshoot. Once you’re here, we can carry the boy out at the bottom and make an evacuation plan.”

His “Okay” sounded reluctant. “Step back so you’re not in my way in case I can’t stop.”

Holly was so relieved, she had little else on her mind. Moving the mother and child aside, she supported Robbie’s injured side and used her own back to shield him from pebbles that might be dislodged.

The stranger’s descent was noisy and would have been dusty, too, if the rain had not recently dampened the loose rock and sand.

He landed with a thud just behind her. She straightened, preparing to offer to shake his hand, then froze. Her supposed hiker was wearing dress shoes and slacks. There was no suit jacket over his soggy, dirty, long-sleeved shirt, but that hardly mattered. The instant she looked into his squinting eyes, she knew.

She’d seen his face in the grainy security footage.

She was in deep trouble.

FOUR

Gabe devoted his full attention to the planned siege until receiving orders from National Park Service headquarters to hold his position. A trained FBI negotiator was on the way and the powers that be wanted the rangers on scene to defer to him or her.

That suited Gabe just fine as long as the FBI hurried. He’d watched storm clouds pass his location and begin to shadow the craggy, mile-high walls, showing that it was still too soon to chance another flight. Until someone had actually stood in the bottom of the gorge the way he was now, it was impossible to fully appreciate the ruggedness and distance involved. Same went for the clouds swiftly crossing the rim and disappearing out of sight. Their actual positions over land could be very deceptive.

A niggling sense of impending disaster kept him on edge. Where was Holly? He switched his radio back to the original setting and called her. “Status report, Forbes.”

Nothing. The airwaves were silent. He tried again. “McClellan to Forbes. Report.”

Sounding breathless, she finally said, “I’m in a really cramped canyon offshoot of Kaibab Trail with a mother and child.”

“Narrow? How far up does it go?”

“That’s unknown.”

“Be advised. The storm is still over the south rim. I can see heavy rain falling. Watch for runoff.”

“Copy.”

Someone else broke in. “Flash flooding reported all along the rim, north and south. Evacuation recommended.”

That was enough for Gabe. He ran up to one of the familiar mule skinners and quickly explained his need for the animal.

No questions were asked. None were needed. The other man dismounted and passed him the reins. Gabe took control. He’d spent plenty of leisure hours with the mules, partly because he missed ranch life in Texas. Chosen for strong constitutions and docile temperaments, the mules were a lot more intelligent and athletic than they usually appeared. With the right rider aboard, a Grand Canyon National Park mule could be almost as fast as a good horse and a lot more sensible.

He tightened his knees and gave his mount an easy kick. Ears laid back, it bunched under him and sprang forward as if starting a race. Its running gait was a little choppier than that of most horses but Gabe needed its superior stamina.

He leaned into the wind, guiding the mule to retrace his own path to the place where he’d last seen Holly. As he had feared, there was no sign of her.

“Forbes!” he broadcast. “Did you hear the warning? Climb.”

Radio static set every nerve in his body tingling with apprehension. She must have heard. She had to have. Any other scenario was unacceptable.

Mule and rider took off through the rocks and brush. Gabe knew roughly where Holly was. That would have to do. The danger to her and the tourists would be brief, yet there was no escape from the rushing waters other than taking to higher ground. Outrunning the deluge was as impossible as trying to pace the special tourist train that came out of Williams. Once a flood started, it was unstoppable, gaining strength and gathering debris every second.

Gabe nudged the mule for more speed and shouted into the radio, “Holly! Climb!”

Part of Holly felt in charge of the situation despite the fact that the well-dressed thug had gotten the drop on her, now had possession of her sidearm and was waving his own gun around like a toy.

“Are you listening? Did you hear that?” she asked, surprised to hear so much command in her voice. “We can’t stand around down here until you decide what you’re going to do. We need to escape.”

“So you say. How do I know this isn’t a trick? You’re the expert, not me.” He gestured at the handheld radio. “Maybe you and your boyfriend worked this out just to nab me.”

“And planted an injured little boy in your path?” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure. Like I knew you were going to be on that exact branch of the trail.” Frowning, she paused. “How did you get up there anyway? I thought you and your buddies were holed up at the ranger station.” The minute those words were out of her mouth, she realized her error.

“You know who I am.”

“Everybody does.”

“I don’t think so, lady. I thought you were kidding when you said you were a cop. Give me that radio. And let me see your ID again.”

As she held out the radio and slowly reached for her badge wallet, she began issuing orders. “Okay. Here’s what’s going to happen—unless you want to bring the whole federal government down on your head. I’m going to pick up Robbie, and Renee and I are going to scale that wall. You’re going to let us, and if I were you, I’d come along.”

The thug was squinting at her FBI credentials and muttering to himself as if he wasn’t hearing anything she said.

Holly handed her backpack to the weeping woman, helped the child to his feet, bent low in front of him and said, “Put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist, like you’re my pack. Understand?”

“Uh-huh,” he whimpered. “My leg hurts.”

“We have to climb to higher ground. Like superheroes. Can you be really brave for me?”

She felt him nod. His grip tightened. Placing her boots carefully, she started up the slippery sides of the canyon, still urging everyone to follow. “Step where I do and look for handholds as you go, Renee. Don’t be too picky, just hurry.”

In the background she heard a hum becoming a roar. The acoustics of the narrow fissure where they were trapped amplified the sound, making it all the more terrifying.

“Climb! Faster!” Holly shouted. “It’s coming.”

A quick glance behind told her that Renee had found the courage to follow. Standing in the bottom of the rocky draw, the thug had her gun in one hand, her radio in his other, and was staring at the roiling flash flood waters as they tumbled toward him, a wall of red mud, rock and death.

Holly kept scrambling, praying all the way that they were high enough to escape being swept away by the torrent. Every step was punctuated by a fresh “Please, Jesus. Please…”

Gabe heard static on his radio, then a background roar, then a strangled scream. Every nerve in his body fired in response.

“Holly!”

Reacting to his rider’s panic, the mule kicked, nearly unseating Gabe. “Easy, boy. Easy.”

He regained control of both his emotions and his mount. They were almost there. A trickle of dirty, reddish-brown water marked the path. The mule tossed his head, took the bit in his teeth and literally leaped to the side.

Gabe hung on, knowing what was happening. Self-preservation had gripped the intelligent animal and it was fleeing impending death at breakneck speed, carrying him to higher ground whether he wanted to go or not.

His heart plummeted. “Oh, Holly, what have you done?”

As the mule reached a small plateau, it slowed. Its sides were heaving, its nostrils flared. Gabe trusted the wise equine. They were out of danger.

Below, where they had stood only moments before, the ground was alive with roiling, cascading mud. If Holly and the family she’d been trying to help hadn’t reached high ground in time, they’d surely have been swallowed by the flash flood waters.

It was over in mere minutes. Debris remained, as did knee-deep, slippery mud, but the terrifying movement had nearly ceased. He leaned down and patted the breathless mule’s neck. “Extra rations for you when we get back,” he said tenderly. “I just wish you’d been a few minutes faster.”

Heavyhearted, Gabe scanned the high, layered rocks around him, looking for people he didn’t expect to see. He knew Holly. If she couldn’t successfully rescue the hikers, she was likely to have remained with them, struggling until the last moment. That was just the kind of person she was.

His gaze misted so badly he had trouble focusing. Not only had he failed her, she maight have given her life on his watch. Yet how could he, in good conscience, have stopped her from going? She had the skills to help. The knowledge to lead everyone to safety. So had she succeeded? If only she’d answer his radio calls he’d know.

Perched on the side of a steep grade several hundred yards away, he spotted a blob of bright-colored clothing. Holly had been wearing green and gray, like the rest of his team, but perhaps these were the hikers she’d heard calling for aid.

Gabe straightened in the saddle, reins tightening, and began waving one arm.

An answering wave encouraged him.

He raised the radio so whoever was over there could see it. A second figure, this time in green, stepped up on a higher rock and waved with both arms. The signal was so familiar it nearly brought a sob of relief.

Praise God! Holly was alive!

FIVE

Breathless yet elated, Holly took off her damp jacket and used it to continue a broad wave at the man on the mule. It couldn’t be Gabe. He was up to his eyeballs in a siege at the ranger station. But that rider definitely reminded her of him.

She smiled to herself. Joy at having saved the lives of the boy and his mother was tempered by the loss of the foolish criminal. If only he had listened.

The man on the higher ground was waving something. It took her a few seconds to guess it might be a handheld radio. She spread both arms wide, palms up, hands empty, and shouted, “No radio!”

Had he heard her? Chances weren’t good. She cupped her hands around her mouth, filled her lungs and gave it all the power she had. “No! Radio!”

An echoing answer followed. “All okay?”

“Yes!”

That seemed to suffice. The rider turned the mule and began urging it down the hill into the gorge. Holly didn’t like him doing that but she also knew it was going to be hours before she and her companions would be safe trying to walk out. In her opinion, having help arrive on a sure-footed mule was a lot better than any knight in shining armor on a white horse would have been.

That silly image made her smile. So did the prospect of rescue. Later, a recovery team would have to start searching for the crook who had been buried beneath thousands of gallons of water and sediment. Most such victims were eventually located, particularly if there had been witnesses to the tragedy. In the case of this man, the authorities would definitely want to positively identify him, especially if he was associated with the criminals now holding rangers hostage, as she’d assumed.

The rider passed out of her sight below so she rejoined Renee and Robbie. “Somebody on a mule is coming for us.”

The woman acted as if she was in shock but the child brightened. “I get to ride? Mama wouldn’t let me before.”

“Yes, you get to ride,” Holly told him. “I don’t think we all will fit in the saddle but you definitely will.”

“Hooray!”

The innocence of youth made Holly smile again. This child lived in the present, eager for new challenges and open to the world, a lot like her poor sister had been. Thoughts of Ivy sobered her. Losing her only sibling at the hands of a killer had shaped the lives of their whole family from that day forward. Only she, Holly Forbes, had turned her grief into something positive. Other mourners close to Ivy, for instance their parents, had given up on life, divorced and gone their separate ways.

Pensive, she sighed. Hunting down criminals and making them pay was her reason for living. It was who she had become—the person she had created out of the ashes of loss—and that image was what kept her going. What made her so good at her job. It was also what had led her to break away from Gabe and the rangers to rescue these helpless folks. Her goal was to save as many lives as possible, even at the risk of her own. It didn’t matter that she had been told she was trying in vain to atone for not saving her sister. What if she was? The important fact was that she had already preserved many lives and had vowed to continue for as long as she was able. Period. Nothing else took precedence. Not even her own safety.

As Gabe urged the mule up the canyon, he allowed it to pick its own trail. Very seldom did it falter and it never went all the way down despite hidden hazards. If he’d been on foot, or even on horseback, he wouldn’t have attempted this climb.

He patted the mule’s lathered neck again. “Good boy. That’s it. Keep going. We’re almost there.”

The long grayish-brown ears were held forward, rotating like antennae in search of a stronger signal. They perked up even more when Gabe heard someone call, “Over here!”

He rounded a corner and looked up. Grinned. So happy he could hardly contain himself, he shouted, “Hello. Need a ride?”

“Gabe?” Holly’s jaw dropped, then snapped closed. “What are you…? What about the…?” She laughed. “Never mind. Just get us out of here.”

“Gladly.”

Maneuvering the stalwart mule into position, he waited while the others climbed down to him. “Where’s your radio?”

“It’s a long story,” Holly said. She lifted the child by his waist and handed him over. “He needs to ride with you.”

“You women can ride, too. I’ll walk.”

“Not if we ever expect to get back to Spirit Station. I’ve never driven a mule and neither have my new friends. I asked them. Looks like you’re in charge of transportation.”

“I can walk and lead him,” Gabe offered, settling the boy in front of him so he could more easily dismount.

“What about the problem in Spirit? Is it resolved already?”

He shook his head, assessing the civilians and wondering how much they knew. When his gaze met Holly’s and she nodded, he assumed she’d explained. “We’re still waiting for negotiators from Las Vegas. They were delayed by the storm but they should be on scene very soon.”

“Then you need to be there,” Holly said flatly. “I’ll hold on to the pack straps on the saddle and pull myself along behind. I’m already so muddy it won’t make any difference and we’ll make better time that way.”

Gabe eyed both women. “That might not be necessary. We just don’t want to overload the mule.” He bent over the boy. “What’s your name, little buddy?”

“Robbie.”

“Okay, Ranger Robbie. You sit really still while I help your mama and my friend Holly. Okay?”

“Okay!”

He reached down. “Give me your hand, ma’am.”

Renee didn’t look eager to board the mule. “I’m all dirty. I’ll get everything muddy.”

“Won’t be the first time.” His hand remained outstretched. “I need to get back to Spirit ASAP. Please?”

Lifting her and swinging her up behind him, Gabe frowned and studied Holly. “How much do you weigh?”

“I beg your pardon?”

He chuckled. “It’s not a personal question, Christmas. I was adding up the pounds to decide if you could ride, too. These guys carry heavy packs as well as people and they do it on narrow trails. If I don’t push him too hard, I think my big-eared friend can carry us all without hurting himself.”

She muttered a number. Gabe couldn’t resist commenting, “That much? Wow!”

She took a playful whack at his leg and spooked the mule enough that Gabe had to settle it again before she could mount.

“If you’re done scaring the livestock, Agent Forbes, I suggest we get a move on. I really do belong with my team.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Ranger. Sorry, Mr. Ranger. It won’t happen again.”

Laughing softly, he gave her a hand up behind him and Renee. “Okay, Robbie. You can help me hold the reins. Like this. Here we go.”

A light touch to the mule’s flanks was all it took. Gabe knew he and the other people weren’t the only ones glad to be going back to the settlement in the bottom of the canyon. All in all, he was feeling pretty satisfied until Holly spoke.

“Your radio and my gun are under all that fresh mud from the flash flood. One of the criminals we’ve been pursuing managed to slip by and start up the trail. I made the mistake of asking him for help before I saw how he was dressed. That was when I realized he was one of the men in the Vegas footage.”

It didn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out what she was trying to say but he needed to be certain. “You’re sure he was part of that cartel?”

“As sure as I can be until we get a crew in here to dig him out.” She paused as if having trouble continuing.

“You tried to save him, regardless. I know you did.”

There was a catch in her voice as she said, “Yes. I tried. He wouldn’t listen.” She sniffled. “I’m just thankful he didn’t force us all to stay in the bottom of that gorge with him.”

Gabe felt suddenly breathless. He nodded, stalling for time to regain his self-control before he sighed and said, “Yeah. Me, too.”

SIX

As the adrenaline drained out of Holly’s nervous system, she began to grow so weary she had to admit she probably couldn’t have walked all the way back. Not without a good nap halfway there. The steady gait of the mule helped lull her, too.

Renee, however, had yet to come down from the high caused by their harrowing morning. “How can you guys be so matter-of-fact about it? I mean, I’m still shaking and you two are making silly jokes.”

“I’m sorry if we offended you,” Holly said. “We have to try to lighten up as soon as possible to stay sane. It’s a coping mechanism. Rescuers and law enforcement officers do it because it works. Most of the time.”

“What happens when it doesn’t?” the other woman asked.

“You join the FBI,” Holly said. If she hadn’t been bone tired she might not have revealed so much. Now that she had, however, she saw no reason to stop explaining. “I was considering becoming a park ranger, like McClellan, here. I even spent a summer as a volunteer right here in the Grand Canyon.”

“Why did you change your mind? Too hard?”

Holly snorted a wry chuckle. “The job isn’t easy, particularly for the Search and Rescue teams and law enforcement rangers. But that’s not why I applied to the FBI instead.”

Thoughts and memories of losing Ivy covered her like a heavy wool blanket, weighing her down, body and soul. “It was because of my baby sister,” Holly explained. “After she was kidnapped and murdered, all I wanted to do was help catch whoever had done it. During the course of that investigation I met lots of detectives, and it was the FBI that most impressed me.”

She saw Gabe’s shoulders square. He didn’t turn to look at her but that didn’t matter. He’d taken it all in. She knew he had. Was he going to comment? Waiting, she heard nothing from any of her companions. That was just as well because the morning’s stress had weakened her tight hold on her emotions and she was afraid she’d cry if she had to talk about her sister much more.

The mule had made good time and they were within sight of Spirit Station when Gabe broke the silence. He merely said “I’m sorry, Holly” before using his radio to report their position and request a status report.

That hadn’t been a fluke, she realized. He had expressed empathy while saving her from having to reply. Not many people were that sensitive to the feelings of others, nor did they go out of their way to offer comfort. Oh, it happened. Of course it did. But this man, this senior ranger, wasn’t usually that tender when it came to disappointments. He’d always seemed to be the kind who expected others to power through, and get on with life no matter what.

And she had, in her own way, when she’d aced the courses at Quantico. Cities were her normal focus but she’d proved she could adapt to just about anything when this manhunt had led her back to Grand Canyon National Park.

It didn’t escape her notice that circumstances had also plunked her down in the territory patrolled by the extraordinary man who was in the process of rescuing her.

“Physically, not psychologically,” Holly muttered. She might have been knee-deep in mud in that rift and needed help getting out, but the rest of her life was laid out just the way she wanted it. Period.

There was a welcoming committee of rangers waiting when Gabe delivered his muddy cargo. He handed the boy to Broadstreet and helped the mother into Hough’s care. “Check them over. If there’s nothing that needs immediate attention, we’ll hold off on an evac until things settle down.”

Each man agreed and they escorted their patients out of sight and out of danger. Holly made a less-than-graceful exit over the mule’s rump and fortunately did not received a swift kick for her daring.

“Nice dismount, Forbes. Do they teach that technique in FBI classes?”

“Nope. That was strictly ad-lib.” She grinned. “I’m glad my legs held me up when I hit the ground. That is one big mule.”

“Ah, right,” Gabe teased. “You’re a city girl.”

“Hey! I know enough to handle myself out here,” she insisted.

Gabe shrugged. “Maybe. And maybe you know just enough to get yourself into big trouble.” He sobered. “You could have been killed in the flash flood. You know that, right?”

“I climbed instead of trying to outrun it, didn’t I?”

“That you did.”

Stretching and flexing like a dancer preparing to perform, Holly yawned. “Man, I’m beat. Dodging gunmen and floating boulders really takes a lot out of a person.” She smiled at the now-placid mule that had carried them all so ably. “So does bouncing up and down on his rear end.”

“Picky, picky, picky. If I’d commandeered a horse, you’d probably have had to walk. They aren’t built for hauling heavy loads the way my long-eared friend is.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’ve missed a few meals lately.”

“Hungry? Energy bars suit you?”

“Do you have any chocolate-flavored ones?”

Gabe rolled his eyes and shook his head, then began rooting through a nearby pack. “Didn’t you bring anything to eat?”

“Apparently it slipped my mind. I mean, this isn’t the wilderness. I know they sell food at the rim.”

“Spirit Ranch has a dining room, too, but it’s just for guests. They have to pack in everything they serve so they’re pretty stingy with it.” He offered her a choice of several energy bars. “We have a kitchen and storage pantry at the ranger station, of course, but I don’t recommend you knock on their door and ask for food right now.”

“What’s the latest on that situation?” Holly asked.

He noted that she was concentrating on opening her energy bar rather than looking him in the eye. That was understandable, particularly since her decision to go off on her own had taken him away from his regular duties. He wasn’t faulting her but didn’t doubt she was feeling guilty.

“We’re on hold, waiting for the negotiator to arrive.” He arched a brow. “Yes, it’s driving me up the wall, in case you were wondering.”

“Figures. I’m pretty antsy, too.” Saluting by raising her snack to him, she said, “Thanks. I don’t know if I’d have insisted on responding to the shouts I heard if I hadn’t been so primed to do something. Anything. I am sorry for causing you extra concern.”

Gabe huffed. “That’s one way to put it.” He took two steps closer and lightly touched her shoulder. “I’ve been in a lot of tough spots since I became a park ranger but I can’t recall ever being quite as scared as I was today when I learned about the flash flooding. And I didn’t even know you were mixed up with a crook at the time. When you get yourself into trouble, you do a bang-up job of it.”

She chewed and swallowed, then said, “I always try to outperform civilians. It impresses them.”

“Yeah, well, you got my attention, too. But from now on, no side trips or no going off alone. I made the mistake of not stopping you before. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Holly arched her eyebrows and tilted her head to one side while studying him. “In case you’re confused about this, McClellan, I don’t take orders from you.”

When he opened his mouth to speak she waved him to silence.

“Hold on. I’m not trying to take over this operation or tell you what to do. I’m just saying that I intend to look out for the interests of the FBI and do my job. As long as my goals mesh with yours, we won’t have any conflicts.”

“You think not?” He unscrewed the top on a fresh bottle of water and drank. “Seems to me you could have used my backup when that guy took your gun and radio.”

“He was armed to start with,” Holly said. “I wasn’t about to try to shoot him when he was aiming at the child.”

“Perfectly sensible.”

“Thank you.”

“I wonder if he was the one who shot at us before. I don’t suppose he told you how he managed to slip away or how many men are left at our station.”

“Unfortunately, no. He was alone on the trail and headed up so I assumed he was a hiker. That’s why I didn’t suspect him at first. If I’d been able to see his clothing before I asked for his help, I might have figured out who he was sooner and been better prepared.”

“Maybe we should require all criminals to rattle like a diamondback before they strike. Might cut down on crime.”

She made a silly face at him. “Very funny.”

“I thought so.” Gabe shrugged and drank more water. He had to keep their conversations as light as possible because every time he allowed himself to picture her being swept away by the flash flood, it tied him in knots. He’d tried to tell himself he felt the same about the loss of any life and quickly realized that wasn’t true. He was sorry for the drowned crook, sure, and would have been even more upset to lose tourists, but that wasn’t the same as what he was feeling in regard to Holly Forbes. He admired her beyond reason. Why he did was the critical question for which he currently had no answer.

Another thing Gabe refused to contemplate was what it would be like to bid her goodbye once this rescue and capture was over. The FBI was bound to send her away. Seeing each other again or having a chance to get well acquainted was not likely.

Thinking about that possibility was more than ridiculous, Gabe told himself. Forming a personal relationship would mean a total change of lifestyle for one or both of them and he was perfectly happy right where he was. He’d met and exceeded his goals and had no intention of ever being anything but a National Park Ranger.

“So get your head on straight and stop dreaming of a different future,” he told himself in disgust. “You worked too hard to get where you are to even consider throwing it all away for a pretty face.”

Except Agent Holly Forbes was so much more than that, his mind countered. She was courageous, intelligent, clever and more fun to match wits with than anyone he’d ever known. Given other circumstances he might have let himself fall for her.

His radio crackled. The negotiator had arrived at Lee’s Ferry and was being brought down to their location by boat because that was the fastest way.

Gabe’s eyes met Holly’s and saw a query there. “Our negotiator is on his way.”

“It’s a man, then?”

“Yes.”

“Where will he come ashore?”

“Over there. It’s not an official landing area but allowed in this case. Why?”

“Because I intend to be there to greet him,” she said flatly, “and ask why they decided to go over my head when I’m also trained to negotiate.”

“Maybe they figured men would respond best to other men.” The scowl she gave him left nothing to the imagination. She was furious.

“Men. They always assume a woman is less capable.”

Gabe decided to speak his mind. “Sometimes they are.”

“Oh, terrific. You, too?”

“Hear me out,” Gabe urged, lightly taking her arm to discourage her from storming off. “We’re generally stronger and larger, for one thing. And we tend to keep our emotions under control better than women do.” He arched an eyebrow and gave her a quirky grin. “Like now.”

She jerked her arm away but didn’t leave. “Point taken.”

“However,” he went on, “in the case of dealing with scared kids or being a crack shot or even having equal or more stamina, a woman can excel.”

Seeing her shoulders begin to relax told him he was on the right track. “You managed to rescue that woman and her son despite having little gear and no recent training here in the park. I consider that exemplary. Even if the higher-ups at the Bureau don’t fully appreciate you, I do.”

Holly’s wide eyes misted, reflecting the towering rocks in the distance and the sky above. Gabe didn’t tease her about being too emotional. He was pleased to have had the chance to offer moral support, especially considering what she’d revealed about losing her sister. If she hadn’t experienced such a dramatic event, perhaps she might even have become a ranger the way she’d once intended.

But she hadn’t. She wasn’t. And imagining working beside her all the time was idiotic. While she was here in the canyon, he’d look after her. Once she left, he’d put her out of his mind the way he had other women, other friends who came and went because they didn’t fit his lifestyle.

For the first time in recent memory, Gabe realized—and admitted—he was lonely.

SEVEN

Portions of the Colorado River were turbulent as it wended through the canyon. The wider area at Spirit Station was placid compared to the rapids. Just to the west of the settlement, two footbridges—Kaibab and Bright Angel—connected the North and South Kaibab Trails where Bright Angel Creek fed into the impressive river.

Holly stood in the center of the first bridge with Gabe, watching for the approach of the FBI agent’s raft. When she spotted a large one being manned by a crew of fit young men she asked, “Is that what we’re waiting for?”

“Yes. I recognize some of my rangers. They’re dressed as tourists but it’s them.”

“Good,” she said. “More muscle.”

She watched his expression until she saw him realize she was baiting him about male superiority. Then his eyes narrowed and he gave her a mock scowl. “Right.”

Holly laughed. “Took you long enough. I was beginning to wonder if you were paying attention.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

Sobering, she touched his forearm. “I know. Sorry. What’s the plan now?”

“We hold our observation positions and keep our fingers crossed.”

“A little praying probably wouldn’t hurt, either,” she offered.

“Absolutely. I just wish we knew how the injured ranger inside is doing and how many civilians are being held.”

“I suppose you’ve tried phoning and asking?”

When Gabe nodded, she was relieved he hadn’t taken her question as criticism. She knew he was good at his job. She’d seen plenty of examples in the past and he was even more impressive now. The problem for her was rooted in the psychological differences in the way men and women reasoned. Males tended to be linear thinkers while her mind bounced all over the place when she let it. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It sometimes produced ideas that were actually useful. Offbeat, maybe, but good nevertheless. That was one of the oddities that had not been on Gabe’s list of female assets. Before she left the canyon, she was going to make sure he understood how valuable her input could be.

The raft carrying the negotiator beached upriver about a hundred yards and began to offload passengers and cargo. Holly kept up with Gabe as he jogged to meet it and introduced himself.

The moment she recognized the older man the Bureau had sent, she gritted her teeth. Andrew “I Am Always Right” Summers. Terrific. She might as well go sit in the shade and eat another energy bar. That man was never going to listen to a thing she said. Gabe would have a better chance of being heard but even he was going to be surprised once Agent Summers started issuing orders as if he were the only voice of reason.

Squat, perspiring and looking uncomfortable in his khaki clothing and fabric hat with sun flaps, Summers awkwardly disembarked with help from the fit and agile rangers. He shook Gabe’s hand. “I was briefed on the way in, McClellan. Take me to your command post and then show me the closest vantage point. I’ll work from there.”

If Gabe was put off, he gave no indication of it. Holly fell into step behind the men. Talk about feeling like a third wheel. She might as well be invisible. Then again, maybe that wasn’t so bad. At least she’d escaped notice by Summers. Best to be thankful.

Pausing at the open-sided tent denoting his temporary command post, Gabe dispersed the relief crew to personally notify the others that help had arrived.

“Isn’t that the hard way?” Summers asked.

“We’re keeping radio communication to a minimum,” Gabe replied.

“That’s about to end.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Holly knew what was coming and wondered how her calm, self-controlled ranger friend was going to react. His opinion might not show but she was sure she’d be able to tell what he was really thinking.

“I’m going to need a good phone connection,” Summers said flatly.

“There are no telephone lines down here,” Gabe said.

The older man rolled his eyes. “Cell phones, man. Satellite. This is the twenty-first century.”

“No cell service, Agent Summers.” Holly saw Gabe stifle a smile as he continued. “The canyon is too deep and the angle is wrong.”

“Radios, then. Give me yours. And have somebody fetch my megaphone.”

Gabe stepped away far enough to use his radio without letting the agent grab it. Using the usual frequency, he ordered several of his rangers to bring the gear from the landing, then told them to take a vacation.

Covering her mouth, Holly smothered a chuckle. The astonished look on the other FBI agent’s face was priceless.

Summers held out a hand. “Radio, please.”

“I’ll get you one in a few minutes. This is mine.” Stepping out, he gestured. “Follow me. You, too, Agent Forbes.”

“Who?”

“Agent Holly Forbes. She’s been on this case since it began over in Vegas. Surely, you were informed.”

Summers waved a hand toward her. “Heard something about it.”

“Good, because she’s a valued advisor here in the park.”

Holly could have jumped for joy, thrown her arms around Gabe’s neck and kissed him. She did nothing of the kind, of course, except in her mind. That was enough to redden and warm her cheeks, particularly when Gabe caught her eye and winked.

She mouthed a silent thank-you and received a polite nod in return. If he’d been wearing his full uniform, she was sure he’d have tipped his Smoky Bear–style hat to her.

Bottom line, she reminded herself, they were all there to do the same job. That meant getting along. It also meant letting Summers do the talking, and praying he’d have success liberating the hostages and saving lives. She didn’t have to like him to respect his skills.

God willing, he’d help them accomplish their mutual goals before anyone else died. Having been shot at twice and almost smothered in mud and debris, she was more than ready to embrace an end to this standoff.

Seven of Gabe’s men had erected a makeshift barricade that faced the front of Spirit Station. Behind the station building was a rockfall with boulders the size of cars. Rubble along the sides precluded a clear passage to the river unless a person was skilled at scaling unstable rocks. That helped Gabe more than it did the criminals because he could concentrate most of his manpower along the most accessible side.

If he had known the type of man the FBI was sending, he would still have set up their barriers the way he had, but he might have moved the initial access point even farther away. It was a surprise that those nervous, twitchy crooks didn’t fire at Summers the moment he spoke with that megaphone.

“Attention in the ranger station. This is Special Agent Summers of the FBI. You’re surrounded. Put down your weapons. Come out with your hands up and no one will get hurt.”

Nothing happened. Gabe had figured it wouldn’t. He borrowed a spare radio from one of his men and passed it to the negotiator. “I think your first idea was better,” Gabe said. “Here.”

“About time.”

Staying crouched behind the electric farm carts and bales of hay from the mule barn that were piled in a curved line, Gabe worked his way over to Holly. “What’s with that guy?”

“Andrew has an overblown opinion of himself. I will say he’s accumulated a pretty impressive success record but that’s when he’s dealing with real criminals. These guys are different. They’re basically businessmen who got themselves into this mess by fronting the money to a gang for drugs, then running for their lives when the shooting started. I doubt they have the slightest idea how to get themselves out of trouble.”

“Surely he was briefed about all that.”

“If he listened. He tends to form an opinion quickly and hang on to it like a stubborn child with the last ice-cream cone.”

“Interesting analogy. You must be hungry again.”

“I hadn’t thought about it but I could be.”

He pretended to check his pockets. “Sorry. Fresh out of food. If you go back to the place we left the extra supplies, will you bring me a bottle of water and a snack, too? Please?”

“Sure. No problem since you asked nicely.” She eyed the back of the negotiator. “I’ll even bring something for him.”

Gabe quirked a smile. “Well, okay. Just don’t overdo it.”

“Not a chance.” She returned his grin. “Be careful and keep your head down while I’m gone, will you? No heroics.”

Gabe chuckled softly. “Absolutely. I can’t act like a hero again anyway. I gave back my trusty steed.”

“The mule?”

“Hey, a steed is a steed. Don’t knock the ones with long ears. They can outdo a horse, especially in country like this.”

“Same as you and your men are far better suited to this operation than our negotiator,” Holly remarked, squinting at the man’s back. “We’ll need to keep a close eye on him.”

“We?” Gabe felt his grin widening when he noted her reddened cheeks.

“Yes, we, Mr. Ranger, and don’t you forget it.”

He laughed aloud. “Never.”

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