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No!
Lauren nearly stumbled, but caught herself and froze, flattening herself against the sheer rock wall. Fear clawed its way down her spine and she started to hyperventilate.
Don’t go there! You can do this! You can!
The baying rose, louder and louder through the caverns, sending shivers down her spine as the deep thud of hooves resounded, then stopped abruptly.
She glanced up, to a point where the ledge extended further over the canyon and she saw him: a tall man astride a dark horse, his silhouette just visible in the night.
Her heart twisted.
She didn’t dare breathe, couldn’t move.
Don’t panic! Do NOT–
Another rider appeared to rein up next to the first.
Oh, no…
A third horseman joined the other two.
She was doomed. And the dogs, their excited yips and bays sounded closer!
Lauren, don’t give up… do not give up! You are so damned close… just ease your way to the end of the ledge. Don’t make any quick movements. That’s it. Easy does it.
Hugging the cliff face, she forced herself toward the space in the rocks where she knew the deer trail was.
Five more feet.
Four!
Only three!
For a sweet second she thought she had made it.
The forest was her salvation.
She let out her breath as she was within a foot of the far side of the span and knowing it was a mistake, risked one last glance overhead and saw the glint of moonlight on his rifle, already poised at his shoulder, aimed straight at her.
Bastard!
He wouldn’t… couldn’t!
Craaaack!
The rifle’s report resounded through the wilderness.
The dogs went crazy, bellowing and baying.
Just over her head, the bullet hit, pebbles flying, dirt spraying onto her head.
Desperate, she gambled, flinging herself toward the end of the ledge.
Blam!
The rifle blasted again.
She flinched as the bullet struck the canyon wall, inches from her head.
