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“Not me…Noah.” Distress quivered in her whispered words. “What if he goes after Noah?”
The thought of that bastard laying a hand on Noah enraged Colton the same as him hurting Kendra. “Joel’s with him,” he assured her, his voice raw. “He’s got plenty of experience, he’ll keep him safe.”
After a moment, she said, “I know you’re right—but let’s hurry.”
They continued back d
own the mountain. The trees were somewhat thinner in this area and light from the rising full moon made the going a little easier. Minutes later, the not so far off predatory cry of a mountain lion chilled his blood. The animal sounded a little too close for comfort. Ahead and slightly to their right.
Kendra pressed up against his back. Her arms stole around his waist as her body trembled against his. “W-what was that?”
“Cougar.”
Her arms tightened. More guilt assailed him as he realized he should’ve kept that little bit of information to himself. Worse, his body responded to the warmth of her against his backside.
She shivered against him. He stuck the gun in the waistband of his pants and shrugged out of his suit coat to drape it around her shoulders. “We’ll be fine, Kendra. We’re almost home.”
She pushed her arms into the sleeves. “How can you tell?”
“I saw the ranch lights on the last rise.”
A second blood curdling scream split the night air, this time, dead ahead through the underbrush. Colton froze. That was not a cougar.
A single gunshot echoed across the mountains. More human cries intermingled with vicious growls and snarls. Kendra gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide with renewed terror.
Colton hugged her close. Gut instinct told him it was Robert. The cat had probably scented blood and hunted him down. Another horrific scream spurred a decision. He hated the man for everything he’d done to Kendra, but God help him, he couldn’t stomach standing by while the cat ripped him apart.
He released Kendra and pulled the gun out to check the safety. Ready. His gaze caught hers in the shadowed moonlight. “I’m sorry, but I have to try and help him.”
Her fingers closed on his arm in a vice grip. “I’m not staying here by myself.”
“I won’t leave you alone,” he promised. “Just stay behind me. No matter what, okay?” He waited for her nod of agreement. Then he grasped her hand and continued their decent down the mountain, toward the terrible sounds.
With all the noise they made in the underbrush, he was shocked to confront a set of glowing eyes in the moonlight. The cougar remained in its crouch, a warning hiss and growl emanating from its open mouth. The body beneath the animal’s dark-stained face lay deathly still as blood dripped from the cat’s exposed fangs.
Kendra made a strangled noise at his side. “Robert.”
Another spine-tingling growl prompted Colton to raise the gun in his hand. He didn’t want to shoot the animal, but when it lunged toward them, he threw his body in front of Kendra’s and pulled the trigger.
The mountain lion’s muscled body jolted in the air and just clipped his shoulder before crumbling to the ground less than a foot beyond them.
He made sure the animal posed no further threat before turning back to find Kendra knelt over Robert’s body. Moonlight glinted off the tears on her cheeks. Colton dropped down beside her. Instinctively, he felt for a pulse, but the man’s throat was shredded.
“He’s dead,” he confirmed softly.
Kendra turned to him with a choked sob and he gathered her close. “I can’t believe it’s over. I-I feel guilty. I don’t know why, he wasn’t much of a brother…ever. But still, I didn’t wish him dead…and never this.”
“And that’s the important difference between you and him.” Colton helped her to her feet. “Come on, let’s go. Joel can send someone up here.”
Less than ten minutes later he found the riding trail that led to the ranch. Rounding a curve, they were blinded by a sudden flood of lights.
“Drop your weapon—now!”
Colton froze as he realized he still had Joel’s 45 in his hand. He stepped in front of Kendra, extended the gun off to the side and threw it away from them.
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” one of the officers instructed. “Both of you.”
Colton raised both hands about shoulder height, careful to keep between Kendra and the officers. “Easy man, I’m thinking we’re the ones you’re looking for.”
