Jacie reached the trail climbing out of the canyon first, urging DArtagnan faster. He stumbled, regained his footing and charged on.
Tracie wasnt far behind, her horse equally determined to make it out of the canyon alive and ahead of the ATVs.
Mr. Smith brought up the rear on Ginger.
As Jacie reached the top of the slope, she turned back, praying for Tracie to hurry.
Her sister had dropped behind, Aramis slipping in the loose rocks and gravel, distressed by the noise behind him. Just when Jacie thought the two were going to make it, shots rang out from the base of the canyon.
One of the ATVs had stopped, its rider aiming what appeared to be a high-powered rifle with a scope up at the riders on the trail.
Another shot rang out and Mr. Smith jerked in his saddle and fell off backward, sliding down the hill on his back.
His mount screamed and surged up the narrow trail past Tracie and Aramis.
Three of the ATVs raced up the path, bumping and slipping over the loose rocks.
From her vantage point at the top of the ridge, Jacie stood helpless as the horror unfolded.
Aramis reared, dumping Tracie off his back. She hit the ground and rolled, sliding down the slope back toward the base of the canyon.
Jacie yanked her rifle from its scabbard, slid out of her saddle and dropped to a kneeling position, aiming at the man at the base of the canyon.
The man was aiming at her.
Jacie held her breath, lined up the sights and pulled the trigger a second before he fired his gun.
His bullet hit the ground at her feet, kicking up dirt into her eyes.
For a second she couldnt see, but when her vision cleared, she saw the man shed aimed for lay on the ground beside his ATV, struggling to get up.
One down, three to go.
Ginger topped the rise, followed by Aramis, spooking DArtagnan. He pulled against the reins Jacie held on to tightly. She didnt let go, but she couldnt get another round off while he jerked her around.
When he settled, she aimed at the closest rider to her. He was halfway up the hill, headed straight for her.
She popped off a round, nicked him in the shoulder, sending him flying off the vehicle. The ATV slipped over the edge of the trail and tumbled to the bottom.
The other two riders were on their way up the hill. One split off and headed back down the side, straight for where Tracie lay sprawled against the slope, low crawling for her Glock that had slipped loose of its holster. The other rider raced toward Jacie.
Jacie aimed at the man headed for Tracie.
DArtagnan pulled against the reins, sending Jacies bullet flying wide of its target.
She didnt have time to adjust her aim for the rider nearing the top of the hill. He was too close and coming too fast.
Jacie let go of DArtagnans reins, flipped her rifle around and swung just as the rider topped the hill. She caught him in the chest with all the force of her swing and his upward movement. Jacie reeled backward landing hard on her butt, the wind knocked out of her.
The rider flew off the back of the vehicle and tumbled over the ridge.
Jacie scrambled to the edge and watched as the rider cartwheeled down the steep slope, over and over until he came to a crumpled stop, midway down.
The last rider standing had reached Tracie before she could get to her gun. He gathered her in his arms and stuck a pistol to her head. Pare o dispararé a mujer!
Even if she couldnt understand his demand, Jacie got the message. If she didnt stop, hed shoot her sister.
Two more ATVs arrived on the canyon floor.
Jacie had no choice. She didnt want to leave her sister in the hands of the thugs below, but she couldnt fight them when they held the trump cardher sister.
She eased away from the edge of the ridge and scoped her options.
DArtagnan and the other horses were long gone, headed back to the safety of the Big Elk Ranch barn.
The ATV shed knocked the rider off stood near the edge of the ridge. If she hoped to escape, she had to make a run for it.
Jacie ducked low and ran for the ATV, jumped onto the seat, pulled the crank cord and held her breath.
The two new ATV riders were on their way up the hill. The man holding Tracie fired off a shot, but his pistols range wasnt good enough to be accurate at that distance.
The ATV engine turned over and died.
Jacie pulled the cord again and the engine roared to life. She gave the vehicle gas and leaped forward, speeding toward the closest help she could find. The Raging Bull Ranch.
She had a good head start on the other two, but they didnt have to know where they were going; they only had to follow.
Jacie ripped the throttle wide open, bouncing hard over obstacles she could barely see in the failing light.
The sun had completely dipped below the horizon, the gray of dusk slipping over the land like a shroud. Until all the stars twinkled to life, Jacie could only hope she was headed in the right direction.
After thirty minutes of full-out racing across cactus, dodging clumps of saw palmetto, lights appeared ahead. Her heartbeat fluttered and tears threatened to blind her as she skidded up to a gate. She flung herself off the bike and fell to the ground, her legs shaking too badly to hold her up.
Dragging herself to her feet, she unlatched the gate and ran toward the house. Help! Help! Please, dear God, help!
As she neared the huge house, a shadow detached itself from the porch and ran toward her.
On her last leg, her strength giving out, Jacie flung herself into the mans arms. Please help me.
Chapter Two
Zach staggered back, the force with which the woman with the long brown ponytail hit him knocking him back several steps before he could get his balance. He wrapped his arm around her automatically, steadying her as her knees buckled and she slipped toward the floor.
Please help me, she sobbed.
Whats wrong? He scooped her into his arms and carried her through the open French doors into his bedroom and laid her on the bed.
Boots clattered on the wooden slats of the porch and more came running down the hallway. Two of Hanks security guards burst into Zachs room through the French doors at the same time Hank entered from the hallway.
The security guards stood with guns drawn, their black-clad bodies looking more like ninjas than billionaire bodyguards.
Its okay, I have everything under control, Zach said. Though he doubted seriously he had anything under control. He had no idea who this woman was or what shed meant by help me.
Hank burst through the bedroom door, his face drawn in tense lines. Whats going on? I heard the sound of an engine outside and shouting coming from this side of the house. He glanced at Zachs bed and the woman stirring against the comforter. What do we have here?
She pushed to a sitting position and blinked up at Zach. Where am I?
Youre on the Raging Bull Ranch.
Oh, dear God. She pushed to the edge of the bed and tried to stand. I have to get back. They have her. Oh, sweet Jesus, they have Tracie.
Zach slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him to keep her from falling flat on her face again. Where do you have to get back to? And whos Tracie?
Tracies my twin. We were leading a hunting party on the Big Elk. They shot, she fell, now they have her. The woman grabbed Zachs shirt with both fists. You have to help her.