Page 62 of Rawhide and Ransom

She was seriously in love with the new greenhouse. It had an aluminum frame and high-grade polycarbonate wall panels, complete with two large vents in the ceiling. It was going to significantly extend the growing season of her favorite plants.

To her surprise, both the door and ceiling panels were shut, even though she’d left the ceiling panels cracked open for ventilation. Maybe one of the kids in the park had snuck inside to play with the controls, the little stinkers!

She opened the door and stepped inside, leaving it ajar until she could re-establish some air movement. The moment she reached for the control panel, however, she heard the door shut behind her.

“Hey, Running Bear!” She spun around joyously and stopped short. Running Bear wasn’t the one standing there.

It was Rosamund.

Her heart sank. She hadn’t been aware that Ace’s widow was planning on showing up, nor was she the least bit dressed for a memorial service. Rosamund was wearing a strange mask over her face that made it look like she was about to go snorkeling. The rest of her was encased in a white jumpsuit.

“What are you doing in the greenhouse?”Ugh!Nausea slammed into Annalee so strongly that she bent over double. Her head started to ache, and a wave of dizziness dropped her to her knees.

“Spraying carbon monoxide.” Rosamund gave a muffled cackle from behind her mask. “It’ll all be over soon, and your daughter will be next.” She was holding the nozzle of a hose that was attached to a machine resembling a pressure washer. Except it wasn’t pumping water, apparently. It was pumping out carbon monoxide.

Her mother-in-law was trying to kill her.

Again.

Had she written the note, pretending to be Running Bear? If so, where in the world was Running Bear?

Annalee’s survival instincts kicked in. She lowered her face to the ground, trying to find a patch of cleaner air to inhale. “Running Bear?” She no longer seemed to be capable of speaking in full sentences.

“He won’t be interfering in any more last wills and testaments, if that’s what you’re asking.” Rosamund laughed again, a purely evil sound. She enjoyed inflicting misery on others.

“What…did…you…?” Annalee started to dry heave before she could finish her question.

“What did I do to Running Bear? What did I do to your husband? What did I do to everyone else who got in my way?” Rosamund waved the nozzle of her hose in the air, spraying the poisonous gas liberally into the small enclosed space. “Exactly what I’m doing to you, my dearest daughter-in-law. It won’t leave a trace after you slip into cardiac arrest.”

Her face went out of focus as Annalee drifted toward unconsciousness. “I warned you, did I not, that I was taking your life as a ransom? After your vicious little twin destroyed my son’s life, we lost everything. Our home, my job, my marriage… The way I see it, you owe me. All of you Gilberts owe me!” Her voice rose on a shriek of madness.

Annalee wanted to remind Rosamund that she had no proof Mirabelle had anything to do with Edward’s injuries. She wanted to inform her that spending the last thirty-two years blaming a three-year-old for a criminal assault was ludicrous, unfair, and wrong on every level.

But I’ll never get to say another word, because I’m dying.

As her eyes started to close, the door to the greenhouse burst open, and several people entered. They had shirts and various other cloths tied around their mouths and noses. One of them made a beeline for Annalee and scooped her up.

If she hadn’t been so busy gagging, she would’ve wept with relief. She could feel Hawk’s strong arms around her, carrying her away from the madness of her would-be killer.

He laid her outside on the clean grass, yanked the cloth off his face, and started performing CPR on her.

The oddest thing about it was she hadn’t even realized she’d stopped breathing.

She could hear him calling her name, but his voice sounded like it was coming from really far away. It was crazy since he was right there —close enough to reach out and touch if she’d had the energy to do so.

Then everything went black.

* * *

Annalee’s eyelids popped open,and she found herself squinting through a much brighter world than the overcast one she’d left behind. She soon realized it was because she was lying beneath a set of fluorescent lights.

She groaned and tried to sit up, but a wave of lightheadedness kept her on her back. Good, clean air was puffing into her nose and mouth. Her blasting headache from earlier was nearly gone. So was most of her nausea. The best part of all was that she was breathing on her own again.

Hawk’s tanned features appeared above her. He looked so haggard that she reached for him, cupping his face in an effort to soothe him.

He bent over her, resting his forehead against hers. “I thought I’d lost you.” Emotion made his voice hoarse.

She pushed the oxygen mask aside so she could speak. “I’m starting to get the feeling that God still has plans for me. For us.”

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