Elizabeth Goddard - Fugitive Trail

A killer’s out for vengeance…

unless this K-9 sniffs him out first.

When a plane carrying dangerous convicts crashes in the Colorado Rockies, Deputy Sierra Young and her search-and-rescue K-9, Samson, race to help—and discover they’re after her ! With one survivor vowing revenge, Sierra’s former coworker turned PI, Bryce Elliott, is determined to protect her. But can Bryce, Sierra and Samson track down the fugitive before he succeeds in taking their lives?

K-9 Mountain Guardians

ELIZABETH GODDARDis the award-winning author of more than thirty novels and novellas. A 2011 Carol Award winner, she was a double finalist in the 2016 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, and a 2016 Carol Award finalist. Elizabeth graduated with a computer science degree and worked in high-level software sales before retiring to write full-time.

Also By Elizabeth Goddard

Fugitive Trail

Mount Shasta Secrets

Deadly Evidence

Coldwater Bay Intrigue

Thread of Revenge

Stormy Haven

Distress Signal

Running Target

Texas Ranger Holidays

Texas Christmas Defender

Wilderness, Inc.

Targeted for Murder

Undercover Protector

False Security

Wilderness Reunion

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Fugitive Trail

Elizabeth Goddard

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90636-8

FUGITIVE TRAIL

© 2020 Elizabeth Goddard

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“I’m going to check it out…”

“Hier,” Sierra commanded her dog. Here. The dog whined then moved close to Sierra.

Sierra grabbed Bryce’s arm and squeezed, tugging him back. “Bryce, be careful.”

Her tone was intense, and something else in her voice told him she did still care deeply about him.

But neither of them would act on that, each having their own reasons.

Gunfire exploded.

The bullet whizzed by his ear even as he shoved Sierra to the ground. She held firm to her dog.

“Nein!” They crept behind a van they could use for a temporary barrier.

“Cover me.” Bryce prepared to dash across the street.

“No, wait!” Sierra whispered. “Don’t go out there.”

“This is our chance to get him, Sierra.”

“You’re not law enforcement anymore, Bryce. Remember? You can’t arrest that guy—Raul or anyone else—even if you catch him.”

They’d have to work together then.

Because as much as he didn’t want her in the line of fire, he knew she wasn’t going to back down…

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Fugitive Trail ! Some of you might recognize the scenery—the ice climbing park and festival—as what takes place in the small town of Ouray, Colorado. I changed the name and county so I didn’t have to worry too much about the exact details but rather could have fun writing my story—you know, artistic license and all that! The toy store is loosely modeled after the real store there in Ouray—O’Toys, which is owned by my brother and sister-in-law! I had hoped to write a story that would include their store and the opportunity came when my editor contacted me about writing a story in Colorado. I love it when that happens!

I also love to hear from my readers. Please hop on over to my new website at elizabethgoddard.comto find ways to connect with me and sign up for my newsletter.

Blessings!

Elizabeth Goddard

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.

—2 Samuel 22:3

Dedicated to all those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us—both two-legged and four-legged creatures.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to my new editor, Shana Asaro, for asking me to write a K-9 mountain rescue story! I’ve always loved these stories from LIS and this gave me a chance to showcase my own dog (though not a K-9)—an English mastiff named Solomon. As always, I so appreciate the encouragement and support from my writing friends—we’ve journeyed long and hard to get here! All my gratitude to my agent, Steve Laube, for believing in me. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway—thank you, Dan, Christopher, Jonathan, Andrew and Rachel for your patience with this novel-writing mom.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

Extract

About the Publisher

Southwest Rocky Mountains,

Colorado

The wind picked up and whipped big snowflakes around Deputy Sierra Young’s head as she followed Samson, her K-9 mountain rescue English mastiff, up the densely wooded incline. She maintained a steady pace but her heart rate increased along with her breathing.

She hoped the small plane hadn’t crashed too high in the San Juan Mountains. That could make it impossible for her and Samson, as well as the SAR—search and rescue—volunteers, to reach the site before nightfall or the snowstorm grew worse. But they had to find the plane before they could rescue anyone.