And dangerous.
The crazed woman twisted around so she was facing Hannah, her pale eyes wild in her face. “You’re going to wish you’d died with your sister, bitch. By the time I’m through with you, you’ll be begging me.”
She lurched toward Hannah, only to be pulled back by Hudson, who had her tied up. She fell to her knees. “I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you for taking what’s mine.”
Owen finally joined in the fray. “Leave my sister alone, you bastard,” he yelled at Hudson.
He had his knife out and was thrusting it toward the other ranch hands around them. Cutting Amber loose, he grabbed her arm. “Amber, let’s go. If the rest of you are smart, you’ll forget this ever happened.”
Then he hauled Amber toward the truck, his hunting knife still extended menacingly. The men around them gave them space, and then Owen and Amber were in the truck, speeding down the main road, kicking up enough dust to cloud the yard.
Mr. Montgomery was the first to reach her. “Hannah, are you all right?”
Her legs suddenly felt rubbery, and she was shaking so much, but she nodded. “I didn’t believe she’d gotten this bad.”
“I’ve never seen her this violent.” He patted her then, like he didn’t know what else to do, before asking, “Where’s Cooper?”
“Neil has him inside,” she said.
Charlie was striding up the steps with Reba hovering in the yard on the phone. “I’m mighty sorry about that, Hannah. We had no idea Owen had her hiding in the back seat of his cab. Thank God Reba had the presence of mind to video it. She’s sending it to Logan now.”
Mr. Montgomery’s mouth flattened. “You can bet Paul Kincaid will hear about this. Owen’s banned from the Triple M for life. So is Amber if I have anything to say about it. Now I’d better go call Ben.”
“Reba already did,” Charlie told him. “She’s on the phone with Logan now.”
Mr. Montgomery nodded and turned to Hannah. “Will you come with me? I’m not…Cooper needs a woman’s touch.”
When they found Cooper and Neil, the little boy was wearing Neil’s noise-canceling headphones and sitting in Neil’s lap along with Tank. Neil’s mouth was grim when helooked up, but it was Cooper’s tearstained face that tore at her heart.
He ripped off the headphones, blue eyes frantic, lip wobbling. “Where’s Mama?”
Mr. Montgomery came forward and slowly lowered to one knee beside the boy. “Cooper, your mother isn’t well, and she said some things that she shouldn’t. We had to ask her to leave.”
After giving a brave little nod, he pressed his face into Tank’s fur and started sobbing. Wordlessly, Neil shifted so she could hold him.
“Come here, sweet boy. We’ve got you,” she murmured, kissing the top of his head.
“H-Hannah…I’m-m scared,” Cooper cried brokenly.
Oh, this poor little boy.
When did Amber become so…evil?
She was still soothing Cooper when Ben charged in.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
WouldAmber’s destruction never end?
Ben stared down at the thin dark hair on his son’s head as he ran a comforting hand up and down his back while holding him on his bed. He couldn’t hold him tight enough.
He was doing this much too often, dammit. His boy and his woman—in danger today because of Amber. His fault.
God, he wished he could be holding Hannah the same way, but his boy needed him more right now. When he’d received the emergency call, he’d galloped back as fast as Flame could ride.
That Owen would help his sister come onto the ranch knowing what she planned shouldn’t have surprised anyone, he supposed. He had a mean streak as wide as his sister’s. Theyshouldhave suspected the Good Samaritan lumber delivery, except Paul had sent it, according to the conversation his father had with Paul when he called to tell him what had happened.
Ben still hadn’t fully dealt with his rage.Amber had threatened to kill Hannah.Logan had arrived to take statements. Thank God Reba was good on her feet, taking the video, asper policy, even though he’d seen she was shaken up when he’d arrived.
