But Burke was already thinking three steps ahead. He knew Logan would go for the body, the biggest target. Burke shifted just enough to let Logan’s blow crease the outer edge of his ribs.
This negotiation was almost over. Burke shot out with his right fist, shoving Logan’s shoulder. “Did Lucas set fire to the barn?”
“He didn’t know what we were planning, but he told us a good time to strike. Then the old fool raised the alarm.”
Burke ducked another flailing blow and responded with a pop to Logan’s face, hard enough to break his handsome nose.
“Where’s Nicole?”
“Don’t know.” Logan wailed. “You busted my nose.”
Burke moved closer. “Last chance for you to get out of this. Where is she?”
“If I knew, I’d tell.”
Burke believed him. Logan had been double-crossed by his own men. They had taken Nicole to make a big score for themselves. He spun Logan around and cuffed him. “Sam Logan, you’re under arrest for the murder of Barbara Ayers. And for illegal smuggling.”
Smith ran up beside him. “I have bad news, Burke.”
“Now what?”
“Carolyn called Corelli. She’s delivering the ransom. At La Rana.”
Cold dread gripped his heart. There was no more time for strategy or tactics. Carolyn was in danger.
THE STRAP OF THE BACKPACK rubbed against the bruise where Carolyn had been shot. The pain reminded her that Logan wanted her dead. Even though she’d remembered to bring a gun this time, she didn’t feel safe. His men had already tried to kill her once; she’d be crazy to ride into the center of the feeding pasture. Sitting erect in the saddle, she couldn’t hide.
Throughout her ride from the house, she stayed low, leaning over her horse’s neck. At the gate, she slipped to the ground and removed the heavy pack holding a million dollars.
Burke was going to be angry when he found out what she was doing. Oh, Burke, I’m sorry. If I ever see you again, I’ll make it up to you.
On horseback, Carolyn could have easily maneuvered her way through the herd. But she assumed the kidnapper was close: she had to proceed on foot. She unlatched the gate and stepped inside the enclosure.
She couldn’t turn back. Nicole’s life was at stake.
Carolyn unlatched the gate and stepped inside. The musky scent from three hundred head of cattle didn’t bother her; she’d grown up with that odor. Plenty of hay was strewn across the packed earth; she couldn’t worry about where she was stepping or what she was stepping in. The dim moonlight shone on the fat rock formation that looked like a squatting frog. La Rana.
The herd seemed to sense that something was wrong. These were mature cattle, nine hundred pounds and up. Restlessly, they stamped their hooves and made nervous noises as if to warn each other of danger.
Using the cattle for cover, she crept closer to the rocks with the pack slung over her good right shoulder and her gun in hand. She didn’t want to shoot; the noise could set off a stampede.
She heard a horseman approaching. He yelled, “Carolyn. Where the hell are you?”
Lucas. He’d almost admitted that he was the traitor. But was he the kidnapper? Was he here to collect the ransom?
She ducked down and said nothing.
“Damn it all,” Lucas barked. “I’m on your side. I’m here to help you out.”
Help me out of one million dollars? She didn’t trust him. Not anymore.
He rode through the gate.
Though she tried to be invisible, he spotted her and approached. She dropped the ransom. Without hesitation, she aimed at the center of his chest. “I don’t want to shoot you. Just take the money. And bring Nicole back to us.”
“You got it wrong,” he said. “When I hooked up with Logan, I thought I was just making some extra cash for letting him play harmless pranks. I didn’t know—”
“Kidnapping isn’t a prank. It’s a federal offense.”
“I’d never hurt Nicole. Don’t you know that?”
She wanted to believe him. “How did you know to come here?”
“I followed you. When I saw you toting that backpack, I guessed what was going on. That’s the ransom, ain’t it? What are you fixing to do with it?”
“The instruction was to leave it at La Rana.”
“Hand it over to me. I’ll do it for you.”
Or he could ride off with the backpack. If Lucas wasn’t the kidnapper, he could botch the ransom delivery. “If you really want to help me, back off.”
“At least let me clear a path through these steers.”
He rode past her, expertly using his horse to