Dana Mentink - Danger On The Ranch

I have his son.

“I was pregnant,” she said, so low he almost didn’t hear it. “At the time...when things began to come out. I...I didn’t love Wade, hadn’t for a long time, when I began to notice things about him, scary things.” Her gulped breath made something inside him tense. “I was making secret plans to get away, which I’m sure you don’t believe.” Flames crackled as she threw another twig on the fire. “I was only four weeks along when the police came to arrest Wade. Two months at the time of the trial.”

“And he didn’t know?”

“No, but I was terrified he’d guess. I moved away and changed my identity. Wade found my hiding place two days ago, but I was out at the time and I got away.”

“Why’d he come for you, then, if you aren’t his accomplice?”

He saw a shudder pass through her. “He told me we’d always be together. I think he believes I belong to him and I’d help him.”

The starkness in her tone was convincing, but he’d heard a lot of convincing liars before. “Where’s the kid?”

She flinched. “Somewhere close. Safe.”

He yanked around to look at her. “Where?”

Her eyes flashed silver fire at him. “Somewhere safe,” she repeated, the words hard and clipped. Then she cleared her throat. “Ben is not even three yet, so he doesn’t understand any of this.”

“You need to tell me where he is.”

Her chin went up. “I don’t need to tell you anything.”

He stepped closer, staring her down. “If Wade suspects, he’ll get to your boy, no matter what kind of hiding place you’ve found.”

Her chin trembled, or maybe it was a trick of the firelight. “You don’t think I know that?”

“Then tell the cops. They’ll protect you.”

Her laugh was filled with bitterness. “The cops didn’t keep Wade in prison. They didn’t prevent people from sending me death threats and vandalizing my house. No one protected me.”

“Because you and your husband killed three women and almost a fourth if she hadn’t gotten away.”

She jerked as if he’d slapped her, then wrapped her arms around her middle and stared at him. “I...didn’t...know.” The lines around her mouth were hard, and every muscle in her frame was taut. “I didn’t know.” She moved quickly, snatched up a stick and cracked it in two. “You’ll never believe me. Think what you want, but...” Her voice broke. She cleared her throat and restarted. “My son, my little boy, does not deserve to pay the price for his father’s crimes. Please.” She was still on her knees, crouched in front of the meager fire. “Please help me. I have no one else.”

No one else.

He rubbed a hand through his hair, but it ignited a trail of pain, so he stopped. “I’m not your guy.”

“I saved your life.”

“I didn’t ask you to.” His harsh tone bounced back to him.

She stood now. “I’m not asking for myself. This isn’t about my life. It’s about my son’s.”

Silence grew between them, interrupted only by the pop and hiss of the fire.

“Right now we have to figure out how to get out of this cave without getting shot. That’s all.” He turned his back on her again and surveyed the cove. The fog had thinned a bit after the sun sank into the choppy waters. It was almost fully dark. The only way they were going to survive was to retreat from the cave back up to the trail that loped along the cliff top.

“Gonna climb up to the trail. Rosie will get us back to my place.”

“Who’s Rosie?”

“My horse.”

“I saw her run away.”

“She’s somewhere, waiting for my signal.”

“How do you know?”

He didn’t answer. “You can warm up and I’ll give you some clothes. I’ll take you to the police when it’s safe.”

“So you won’t help me yourself?”

He tossed another twig into the fire. “We’ll leave it burning. If Wade is watching, might be a diversion.”

“Do you think Wade’s given up by now?”

“Do you?”

Her gaze became uncertain, dropped away. “No.” She paused. “Soon after we were married, a couple of teenage boys snuck onto our property and had a little party. They didn’t damage anything, just left some bottles and a bag from their snacks. Wade hid there every night for five weeks until they came back, and then he scared them so badly they never returned.” She shivered, and he suspected it wasn’t from the cold. “Every single night for five weeks.”

She knew just as well as he.

Wade hadn’t given up, and he never would. Their best and only chance was to use darkness to conceal their escape.

But Wade knew how to use the darkness, too.

Like the monster hiding in the shadows, waiting for the kill.

* * *

They crawled out of the cave, and every inch of Jane’s body screamed in protest. Cold air whipped her mercilessly and she felt powerless against the elements, to the threat that was waiting out there. Mitch startled her by gripping her shoulder. His hands were massive, but his touch was surprisingly light.

“Stay low. Keep a couple of feet back from me so you have time to get away if he starts shooting.”

And what was she supposed to do if Mitch got shot again? She decided to keep that thought to herself. One foot in front of the other, Jane. It took her feet and her clawed fingers to cling to the slippery rocks. Mitch tried to keep them in cover as best he could, and she hoped the fog was enough to conceal them further. Still, her skin prickled both from the cold and the knowledge that Wade was out there.

Did he know it was her?

Who’s that shooting at me?

He probably did not blame her for her testimony—she had in fact known nothing about his crimes—but the divorce papers he’d been served in prison had been another matter. He’d never signed, and she’d had to withstand the interminable statutory waiting period before the marriage was dissolved without his consent.

I’ll never let you go.

She thought for the millionth time about what kind of a man he’d seemed to be, charming, sweet, thoughtful, intelligent. And he’d used those charms to lure young women, abduct them and force them to deplete their bank accounts. Then he’d imprisoned each for some sick, twisted thrill only he understood before he killed them. How had she not known? Not seen? Not heard anything from the underground bunker in the woods where he’d kept them chained?

And why hadn’t he done the same to her?

As soon as he discovered she’d gone to his brother, he’d come after her with the full force of his evil. And if somehow he found out about Ben... The thought made her move quicker, edging closer to Mitch as they climbed up the cliff side.

When she thought she could stand no more, when her palms were shredded and her muscles aching, they made it over the top. They lay panting in a grassy field, peppered with clumps of trees and scrubby bushes.

Mitch got to his feet first, put his fingers to his lips and whistled. It barely carried over the sound of the wind. She struggled to her feet and looked for any sign of Mitch’s horse. Seconds ticked into minutes.

“Which way is your place?” She found she had to bend over to continue sucking in deep lungfuls of air. “We’ll have to hike.”

The ground vibrated under her feet, and a big mare trotted up, reins trailing.

For the first time, she saw Mitch Whitehorse smile. He ran his hands over the animal’s sides. “You were scared, weren’t you, Rosie girl? It’s okay now. I’m here.”

What tender words from a man who had about as much give as granite. Nonetheless, she was so happy to see that horse show up, she might have kissed both of them on the spot.

He leaned his forehead against the horse’s neck and she thought at first it was a sign of affection, until she realized Mitch looked unsteady on his feet.