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  She shook her head in disbelief. “No. Mom would’ve told me—she never would’ve kept something like that from me.”

  “You really didn’t know the bitch very well.”

  “Stop calling her that,” Kendra protested. Confusion bombarded in her mind. Was it true? Or was he trying to hurt her because he hated her so much?

  “I call it like it is,” Robert sneered. “How the hell do you think I found you? It was easy to trace your brother Joel once I located Vivian’s ex.”

  Her mother’s ex-husband—Joel’s father. Suddenly it wasn’t so unbelievable. Maybe she’d figured a previous marriage and an unknown brother was the most Kendra could handle. Or maybe she’d been too much of a coward to reveal the full extent of her lies. One tiny little part of her could understand that.

  He shifted his stance and she focused on the here and now.

  “You see,” he gloated, “you’re not entitled to a single penny of my father’s money. I’m taking what’s rightfully mine—what would’ve been mine if it weren’t for your whore of a mother and the fact that you and that snot-nosed kid were always his favorites.”

  His laugh bordered on maniacal and chilled her blood. So did the smile that stretched his cruel mouth. “Imagine what Dad would have said if he’d known. He would’ve killed her…like I’m about to kill you.” He thrust the gun forward and stepped closer.

  She stumbled back. “You can’t shoot me—there’ll be an investigation.”

  “Oh, Kendra, I’m not stupid.”

  Her gaze flicked to the gun before meeting his once more.

  “Leverage,” he explained with a smug grin. “Guns are persuasive—back up.” He jabbed the weapon forward and she instinctively retreated from the danger. Another chilling laugh erupted.

  “You’ll never get away with this.”

  “Oh, but I will. See? There’s no proof I was here.” He waved one gloved hand in a wide arc, as if performing a magical disappearing act.

  Another step forward for him, one backward for her.

  She wished she’d hugged Noah tighter before leaving for the courthouse this morning. Taken a moment to see the rest of her family.

  And Colton…God, she wished—

  “This is all an unfortunate accident,” Robert interrupted her somber thoughts in a voice void of all emotion. “Too bad you went hiking all alone…too bad you got lost…”

  She glanced back, alarmed at how close she’d gotten to the edge. Robert’s voice droned on as her boot heel caught on a rock, and she flailed her arms to catch her balance.

  “Too bad you accidentally fell off a cliff.”

  ****

  Colton paused and held his labored breath, straining for any sound outside the natural order of the mountains. Finally, he heard it—a voice that carried above the wind rustling the Aspen leaves and pine branches.

  He pushed on, holding the gun in front of him as he crept forward and eased around the edge of a large boulder. His heart thumped at the sight of Kendra on her hands and knees about thirty yards away, on the edge of a ravine that he knew dropped over a hundred feet.

  “Robert, please—I’ll give you the money. You can have it all!”

  The terror in Kendra’s voice sent a chill down his spine. Robert simply laughed and rage curled inside Colton’s gut.

  Resisting the urge to rush straight in, his mind kicked into overdrive as he tried to figure out what to do. The guy had a gun in his hand. Colton wished he were more confident in handling his own weapon. He did have the element of surprise, but only from a distance. He worried any shot he may fire from here would put Kendra in more danger. If he tried to get much closer, the snap of leaves and twigs beneath his shoes would give him away.

  “You’d say anything right now to save your ass,” Robert said in response to Kendra’s offer.

  “No—you don’t understand. I don’t—”

  “I understand perfectly. With you gone, it’s all mine.”

  Colton didn’t trust Robert’s increased confidence even with Kendra working to stall him. He inched as close as he dared, watching each movement of his feet, insuring silence.

  “I got married today,” Kendra blurted. Colton jerked his head up.

  Robert went completely still as he glared down at her. “You’re lying.”

  “Everything’s changed. My Trust. Noah’s. You won’t see a penny unless you let me go.”

  “You bitch. You got a copy of the Will.”

  Robert paced a few feet in one direction, his profile visible to Colton for a moment. The rage contorting the man’s features wound his nerves even tighter.

  “Yes I did,” Kendra confirmed. “But I’ll give you the money back. I promise—you can have it all. Just take me back to the ranch and—”

  “Shut. Up.”

  His abrupt spin back to Kendra sent Colton’s heart into his throat.

  “You’re as stupid as your mother if you think I’ll buy that load of crap. You’d have the cops on me before I could even blink. Sorry sis, but it’s over. And you’ve got no one to blame but yourself.”

  Colton was out of time. He raised his gun, aimed high in Robert’s direction and squeezed the trigger.

  It didn’t move.

  “Robert, please,” Kendra begged.

  Colton’s grip tightened on the gun as he pulled harder on the trigger. His pulse thundered in his ears when it still didn’t fire.

  The safety!

  Robert drew his foot back. Colton flicked the safety latch and got off a shot as Robert’s boot connected with Kendra’s shoulder. The sharp report of gunfire, her scream, and the ricochet echoed in unison into the ravine below, bounced off the walls of rock and returned to the scene ten-fold.

  Robert’s body spun around. He fell back onto the ground with a cry of pain. In the moment it took for Colton to recover from the kick of the gun, Robert shoved to his feet and took off into the trees at a dead run down the mountain. He fired after him twice more, if for nothing else than to keep the bastard running.

  Gunfire echoes faded to eerie silence as he rushed across the small clearing to the edge of the cliff. Kendra.

  His chest clenched so tight he couldn’t breathe. The bastard had pushed her over, and he hadn’t been able to stop him.

  Colton hated himself at that moment, as if he were receiving the call about his father all over again.

  Every fiber of his being screamed against looking over the edge, but he knew he had to. He had to face the fact that he’d again failed someone he loved.

  Chapter Twenty

  Kendra struggled for the air that’d rushed from her lungs with the force of her landing. A moan escaped once she could breathe again. Gingerly, she moved her arms and legs to see if anything had been broken or if she’d been shot. Now that the initial shock of pain from her fall had subsided, she realized her body hurt, but was otherwise okay.

  I’m still alive!

  She turned her head and nearly screamed again. Her life-saving landing was nothing more than a small rock ledge jutting out from the wall of the ravine.

  “Kendra.”

  Colton? She stared up in amazement. His handsome face, some thirty feet above, blurred from her tears of relief.

  “Kendra, answer me! Are you okay?” His voice was rough, as if his throat was coated with sandpaper.

  “I-I think so.”

  He mumbled something under his breath, then his voice cleared again as he rapidly asked, “Is anything broken? Do you hurt anywhere?”

  She shook her head in the gathering twilight. “No, I—oh, God! Where’s Robert? Colton—”

  “It’s okay. He took off when I shot at him.”

  “You? I thought it was him shooting. I thought I was dead for sure.” With that terrifying thought came another. “What if he comes back?”

  Renewed alarm had her shoving into a sitting position on the ledge. Pebbles and debris shifted under her, and one foot slipped over the edge. Heart lodged in her throat, she scrambled back to p
ress her spine against the wall of rock.

  “Careful!” Colton exclaimed. “Don’t worry about him, I’m watching. Besides, I’m pretty sure I hit him in the shoulder.”

  She twisted her head to look up and saw him cast an anxious glance around before focusing back on her.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  How did one define okay in this situation? Her brother—stepbrother—had kicked her over the edge of a cliff and now she was trapped on a rock ledge, only a foot or so from plunging to her death a hundred feet below. Was she okay?

  No.

  On the other hand, the rock ledge had saved her from plunging to her death and Colton was here to rescue her. Was she okay? “Yeah, I think so.”

  “Good,” he said briskly. “Now, you’re going to have to climb.”

  Kendra leaned forward slightly and stared up. “I’m going to have to what?”

  “Climb up. Now. We need to get moving.”

  He was nuts. “Colton, I can’t—”

  “Yes, you can—you have to.” He glanced around again. A sheer wall of rock rose above her. He was crazy if he thought she could climb it. She’d fall for sure.

  “Kendra, look at me,” Colton commanded.

  Her gaze met his. Even with dusk descending, his green eyes held her captive with an intensity that was both terrifying, and strengthening.

  “There’s no time for me to get help,” he said. “I know you can do this. You’re stronger than you know. Just stand up real slow, keep your body pressed against the rock and use your hands to feel for a secure hold, same with your feet. Don’t transfer your weight until you’re sure. Keep doing that until I can reach and pull you up. And don’t look down,” he added firmly.

  She inched to her feet, her stomach churning. This was almost worse than facing Robert. Almost, but not quite, she acknowledged, tentatively reaching above to feel around the face of the cliff until she located a one-inch indent. Brushing it free of pebbles, she reached higher with her right hand. Hand and footholds located, she hesitated.

  “What if I fall?” Her voice sounded foreign, high and uncertain…and scared to death.

  “You won’t.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Kendra, we’re sitting ducks here. Move. Now.”

  He was right. She had to do this because neither of them would be safe until she climbed up, and even then…

  Testing the foothold one final time, she pulled up with her arms and shifted her weight off the ledge. It was up to her now—no one else. She swallowed, took a deep breath and felt with her right foot for the next toehold.

  “That’s it,” Colton encouraged from above. “You’re doing great.”

  He helped her with each step. Every vote of confidence he expressed sent strength straight through her body, bringing her ever closer to the top. Her arms shook with the effort to pull herself each inch higher, but she ignored the strain and focused on Colton’s voice.

  She didn’t look down once. Not even when a foothold gave out beneath her boot and she slid three terrifying feet before catching herself.

  Colton’s sharp gasp and barked command to hug the wall revealed he wasn’t as calm as his voice implied. When she conquered the tingling adrenaline rush, she began to climb again. Only ten feet from the top, Colton knelt to pull her up. She extended her arm, trying in vain to stretch her fingers within his grasp.

  “Don’t reach for me,” he snapped. “Focus on the rock.”

  His tone frayed her nerves even more. “Don’t yell at me.”

  He blew out a breath. “Sorry. You’re doing great. Just a little further, that’s it, one more and I’ll be able to grab you.”

  And then his strong hands encircled her wrists and hauled her over the edge of the cliff in one swift motion. She found herself crushed against his chest.

  “Thank God,” he murmured into her hair.

  His heart hammered madly under her cheek, and his arms threatened to rob her of air.

  She drew strength from the security of his embrace until it became necessary for her to obtain some oxygen. “Colton…I can’t breathe.”

  His arms relaxed but didn’t release. She raised her face to his as they knelt together on the cool ground. His hand came up to cup her chin and he turned her head to peer at her cheek. Aware of a stinging sensation, she lifted her hand to test the scrape. His thumb beat her to it—brushing lightly over the tender skin and somehow managing to soothe the pain.

  The anguish and guilt in his expression shocked her, but before she could wonder about the emotions, his head lowered and he kissed her, hard.

  Immediately, his mouth gentled, sweeping her up in a rush of sensation. His hand pushed through her tangled curls. She tilted her head to a more accessible angle and lost herself in the life-affirming joy of his mouth on hers. After the courthouse, she’d never expected to experience the pure pleasure of kissing him again.

  Unfortunately, that thought brought a reminder of Robert. She stiffened in Colton’s arms. He stilled, then swiveled his head to sweep his gaze over the area while bending to scoop up the gun near his knee. A firm grasp on her elbow assisted her to her feet as he was suddenly all business.

  “Let’s go.”

  He led her into the darkened forest, holding the gun ready in front of him. For the first time, Kendra noticed he was still dressed in the clothes he’d worn for their wedding, even his suit coat.

  “I can’t believe you came.”

  Colton’s step faltered and he felt Kendra bump up against his back. Had she really thought he wouldn’t? “Of course I came.”

  “I—I just meant…I hoped, but…I wasn’t sure you’d figure out what happened. Or even be around…especially after…”

  “You left great clues,” he said shortly.

  Much as he longed to hold her tight and reassure her he’d always be there for her, he was acutely aware Robert still lurked amidst the trees; still armed and still dangerous. He hoped the coward hadn’t decided to circle around while injured, but couldn’t rule out the possibility. The man knew, at this point, he had nothing left to lose.

  His heart still hadn’t settled down from when Kendra had slipped while climbing. Helplessness had left him weak in the knees until she’d reached the point where he could grab hold of her wrists and pull her up into his arms. Then the guilt had taken over.

  The full moon was on the rise, but not much light filtered through the trees above just yet. She took his lead and stayed silent as they made their way through the dark shadows. Even though he understood the need to be as quiet as possible, Colton had to bite his tongue numerous times to keep from saying things he had no business saying. Things like, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and I love you.

  But what did he have to offer her? He knew she planned to return to New York now that she had her millions, she’d never said anything to the contrary. He on the other hand was in debt up to his eyeballs and probably would be for life, especially since he had no plans to accept her million dollar marriage bribe.

  So what if he loved her? He didn’t deserve her; didn’t deserve to be happy when his mother had no chance of ever being happy like that again. But it all made him angry, too.

  “Colton?”

  The fear vibrating in her quiet voice halted him in his tracks. “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you think Robert will go back to the ranch?”

  His chest tightened, and he cursed his selfish distraction while fuming inwardly that this brother of hers could do this to her. “He won’t hurt you again, Kendra, I promise.”

  “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.