Page 44 of Cowboy Peril

“I don’t have it.”

“Don’t lie to me. You never go anywhere without that thing.”

She pulled her phone from her back pocket. “Now what?”

“Show me your bank balance. Then, I’ll tell you where to transfer the money.”

“My father put a limit on how much I can withdraw or transfer.” Which wasn’t a lie. She hadn’t changed anything yet since his death.

“Show me.” He growled.

She held up her phone. “No service in this barn.” Her hand trembled.

Mark cursed and started to pace.

“I’m starting to rethink my plans to volunteer out here,” Susan said loud enough for Parker to hear. “I love the horses and the atmosphere, but this ranch is trouble.”

“No more so than Misty Hollow, from what I’ve heard.” Parker set her phone on a nearby three-legged stool in case Mark ordered her to check it again. She took another look at Colt, this time their eyes locking. “What?” she mouthed.

He jerked his head toward the shovel the kids used to dig a hole. Then, he motioned at Mark.

Colt wanted her to go after the man with a shovel? Parker wasn’t the physical type and, since the school had specified no guns around the students, she’d left her revolver in her house.

“Enough of this. Parker, get over here. Now,” Mark growled.

One more glance at Colt, then she slid off the bale.

Mark pulled her close to his chest, , his left arm around her middle, and his right hand holding the gun to her head. “We’re going to walk out that front door. If anyone tries anything, including you, I shoot you first, then one of the kids. Got it?”

“Yes.” Her gaze locked with Colt’s tortured one. She had so many things she wanted to say to him. How much she loved him. For him not to worry, that she’d be fine. She’d find a way to break free. He should remember and take comfort in the knowledge that she was resourceful.

His soulful eyes locked on hers.Please don’t look at me that way. You didn’t fail.. Mark had known how Colt would act. That’s why he’d shot him. She mouthed the words, “I love you,” as Mark pushed her toward the front doors.

Chapter Nineteen

Colton’s biggest fearand greatest love walked out the front door of the barn. Through the opening, he could see the rest of the ranch hands part like the Red Sea as Mark held the gun to Parker’s head and passed through.

“Let me look at your leg.” Susan crawled to his side.

“Tend the kids. They’re scared.” He brushed her hand aside and struggled to get to his feet. Once upright, he staggered toward the door and leaned heavily on the frame in time to see Mark shove Parker inside a van.

Five cowboys aimed their guns in that direction.

“No!” Colton held up his hands. “He’ll kill her for sure if you start shooting.”

River lowered his weapon and came to Colton’s aid, propping his shoulder under Colton’s arm. “Call an ambulance, somebody.”

Willy whipped out his cell phone while Dylan barged into the barn.

“Thank God, no one is hurt.” Colton limped to the porch assisted by River.

“You’ve been shot, dude.”

“I meant the kids. They’re shook up but unharmed. Collins shot me first thing. He meant to kill me, but I dove out of the way…kind of.” He closed his eyes and leaned against the railing. “Tell me there’s a tracker of Parker’s phone.”

“There is. We did so at the first sign of trouble, same as always, but she must’ve left it in the barn because that’s where the signal is coming from.”

How would he find her now?

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