Page 49 of Cowboy Peril

“Yes.” Her legs threatened to buckle after having sat for so long, but she forced them to straighten as they moved toward the gas station doors. She spotted the sign for the bathrooms and nudged Mark.

“I’ll be waiting right outside.” His features hardened.

Unfortunately, the bathroom had one toilet and no window or other means of escape. Nobody could help her once she was back in the van. She quickly took care of business and washed her face and hands. When she’d stalled enough, and Mark pounded on the door, she stepped out.

“A hotdog and a bottle of water, please.”

“Fine. Remember what I told you.” He pinched her waist, then pasted on a grin. “Two hot dogs, one water, and the tallest coffee you got.”

“Coffee is self-serve,” the cashier said. “So are the hot dogs. Condiments next to them.” The young man barely glanced up.

Mark huffed, then pulled Parker to the hot dogs. “Get two. Onions and mustard on mine. I’ll get my coffee.”

She raised her eyebrows. He was releasing his hold on her?Thank you, God.

Without a backward glance, she darted for the door. “Call the police! I’ve been kidnapped.” She slammed the door behind her and ran across the lot toward the interstate. If she were lucky, she could get a truck driver to stop and give her a ride.

“Hey!” Mark shouted behind her.

Parker glanced over her shoulder and stumbled.

Cars whipped between them, one stopping to block his way, then speeding ahead when Mark aimed his gun.

It gave Parker a few seconds’ lead.

Horns blared as she dashed onto the shoulder of the interstate. Seeing Mark gaining ground, she dove into the ditch, then scrambled into a thick stand of trees and under a barbed-wire fence. Her small size gave her an advantage—she could easily scoot under places he would have to struggle to get through.

She emerged from the pasture by skirting under another portion of barbed-wire fence and onto a less-traveled highway. Help would be slim this time of the evening. She needed to make her way back to the interstate. Colt and the sheriff wouldn’t find her on a side road.

She stopped to catch her breath, holding a hand to the stitch in her side, and listened for the sounds of traffic. The screech of brakes had her turning left. Using the fence to guide her throughthe quickly falling night, she ran as fast as she could back toward the sounds of traffic.

Where was Mark? Her heart pounded in her throat. He could hide and shoot her as she passed, and she wouldn’t know until the bullet pierced her skin.

Poor Colton. He would never get over her death or his failure to protect her. Parker had to survive for his sake and for her own. She hadn’t told him of her plans for their future. All she could do was hope and pray she survived and that he wanted the same future she did.

A rustling in the brush made her freeze in place. Her heart rate increased, then slowed as a black cow poked his head out.

“You scared me, silly girl,” Parker whispered. “Don’t give me away, okay?”

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she’d left her supper behind. Why couldn’t she have at least fled with the bottle of water? Continuing on her way, she pushed aside her lightheadedness at not having drunk anything for hours.

Her legs grew heavy. The ditch between her and the interstate seemed insurmountable. But, she couldn’t stop. Not until she reached freedom. She struggled up the steep incline, pausing for a moment at the top, her breath coming in loud gasps.

Far ahead of her, lights flashed. Help was on its way!

Parker found energy from deep inside herself and started to run.

“I will shoot you, Parker Wells! I don’t care about the money anymore. All I want is every Wells family member dead.”

She glanced back to see Mark climbing up the embankment mere yards behind her. He was too far away to make an accurate shot with a handgun. Tossing a prayer heavenward, she pulled on the last of her resources and increased her speed.

~

Colt’s heart almost stopped at the sight of Parker sprinting down the shoulder of the interstate. “Pull over!”

“I see her.” The sheriff cut across the median, causing cars and trucks to honk and swerve, and stopped a few yards from Parker. “Collins is catching up fast.” He shoved his gun open. “Get your woman. I’ll take care of him.”

Colt took a deep breath and struggled to his feet. Leaning heavily on the hood of the car, he pushed away and stumbled toward Parker.

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