Bear tossed his head and whinnied.
With a laugh, Grace straightened and walked toward the barn. Bear followed.
Inside, she opened the stall door. Bear trotted in.
She removed Bears bridle and was surprised to find Caveman beside her loosening the leather strap holding the girth around the horses middle. I can take care of that, she assured him.
I know my way around horses, he said, and pulled the saddle from Bears back. Tack room?
At the back of the barn. I can handle the rest. I just want to get him situated before we leave.
No problem. He took the saddle and carried it to the tack room. Caveman reappeared outside the stall. Ill be right back.
Im leaving as soon as Im done here.
Understood. He took off at a jog out of the barn.
With her self-appointed protector gone, Grace suddenly had a feeling of being exposed. Shrugging off the insecurity, she went to work, giving the horse food and water, and then closed the stall.
From another stall, she rolled her four-wheeler out into the open. She hadnt ridden it in a month and the last time she had, it had been slow to start. Shed had to charge the battery and probably needed to buy a new one, but she didnt have time now. Shed promised to meet the sheriff in fifteen minutes. Already five had passed.
The next five minutes, she did everything she knew to start the vehicle and it refused.
Just when she was about to give up and call the sheriff, a small engines roar sounded outside the barn.
She walked out and shook her head.
Caveman sat on a newer-model ATV. Ready?
Where did you get that?
My boss dropped it off. He checked the instruments, revved the throttle and looked up. I thought youd be gone by now.
I cant get mine to start, and were supposed to be there in five minutes.
Let me take a look. He killed the engine and entered the barn.
Okay, so she wasnt that knowledgeable about mechanics. She knew Wally, who had a small-engine repair shop in his barn. He fixed anything she had issues with. That didnt mean she couldnt take care of herself.
Your battery is dead. Caveman glanced around. You got another handy?
She shook her head. No. Fresh out.
Got a helmet?
She nodded. Yeah, but I wont need it if I cant get my ATV started.
He spun and headed for the barn door. You can ride on the back of mine, he called out over his shoulder.
Graces heart fluttered at the thought riding behind Caveman, holding him around the waist to keep from falling off. No, thanks. Those trails are dangerous. She suspected the danger was more in how her pulse quickened around the man than the possibility of plunging over the edge of a drop-off.
I grew up riding horses and four-wheelers on rugged mountain trails. I wont let you fall off a cliff. He held up a hand. Promise.
She frowned. But she knew she only had a few minutes to get to the meeting location and relented, sighing. Okay. I guess Ill put my life in your hands. She followed him out of the barn and closed the door behind her. Although I dont know why I should trust you. I dont even know you.
Chapter Three
Caveman settled on the seat of the ATV and tipped his head toward the rear. Hop on.
Grace fitted her helmet on her head and buckled the strap beneath her chin. Wouldnt it make more sense for me to drive, since I know the way?
Actually, it does. He grinned, scooted to the back of the seat and glanced toward her, raising his brows in challenge.
Still, Grace hesitated for a moment, gnawing on her bottom lip.
God, when she did that, Cavemans groin clenched and he fought the urge to kiss that worried lip and suck it into his mouth. The woman probably had no clue how crazy she could make a man. And he was no exception.
Finally, she slid onto the seat in front of Caveman. Hold on. She thumbed the throttle and the four-wheeler leaped forward.
Caveman wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his chest to her back. Oh, yeah, this was much better than driving.
Grace aimed for the back gate to the pasture, blew through and followed a dirt road up into the hills, zigzagging through fields and gullies until she crossed a highway and ended up on the road leading to Khaligs truck and trailer. Another truck and trailer stood beside the original, this one marked with the county sheriff logo. Sheriff Scott and Deputy Pierce were mounted on four-wheelers.
Grace nodded as she passed them, leading the way up the side of a mountain, the trail narrowing significantly. There was no way a full-size truck or even an SUV could navigate the trajectories. Barely wide enough for the four-wheeler, the path clung to the side of a bluff. The downhill side was so steep it might as well be considered a drop-off. Anyone who fell over the edge wouldnt stop until they hit the bottom a hundred or more feet below.
Now not so sure hed chosen the right position, Caveman wished he had control of steering the ATV. He tightened his arms around Graces slim waist, wondering if she had the strength to keep them both on the vehicle if they hit a really big bump.
Caveman vowed to be the driver on the way back down the mountain. In the meantime, he concentrated on leaning into the curves and staying on the ATV.
As they neared the top of a steep hill, Grace slowed and rolled to a stop. This is where I tied off my horse.
The sheriff and deputy pulled up beside them. Everyone dismounted.
Fighting the urge to drop to a prone position on the ground and kiss the earth, Caveman stood and pretended the ride up the treacherous trail hadnt been a big deal at all. You rode your horse down that trail?
She nodded. Normally, I take it slowly. But I had a gunman taking shots at me. I let Bear have his head. I have to admit, I wanted to close my eyes several times on the way down.
The sheriff nodded toward the ridgeline. Was that your vantage point?
She nodded, but didnt move toward the top. The shooter was on the ridge to the north.
Sheriff Scott and the deputy drew their weapons and climbed. As they neared the top, they dropped to their bellies and low-crawled the rest of the way. The sheriff lifted binoculars to his eyes.
Caveman stayed with Grace in case the shooter was watching for her.
A couple minutes later, Sheriff Scott waved. All clear. Grace, I need you to show me what you were talking about.
Grace frowned, scrambled up to the top and squatted beside the sheriff.
Caveman followed, his gaze taking in the valley below and the ridge to the north. Nothing moved and nothing stood out as not belonging.
Grace pointed to the opposite hilltop. The shooter was over there. Then she glanced down at the valley, her frown deepening. The man he shot was in the valley just to the right of that pine.
The sheriff raised his binoculars to his eyes again. Hes not there.
What? She held out her hand. Let me see.
Sheriff Scott handed her the binoculars. Grace adjusted them and stared down at the valley below. I dont understand. He was in that valley. Hell, his truck and trailer are still parked back at the road. Where could he have gone? She handed the binoculars back to the sheriff. Do you think he was only wounded and crawled beneath a bush or something? She was on her feet and headed back to the ATV. We need to get down there. If that man is still alive, he could be in a bad way.