Heartbreaker Read online

  He frowned. If this was a simple kidnapping... “What were they looking for?”

  She shook her head. “They found her phone.”

  “Her phone?”

  “My phone. I told you my head hurts. Anyway, Baker pocketed it, and then the two came over to the bed to help hold me down so Wesley could inject me with some kind of drug.”

  Thorn could imagine the fight she’d put up. He was well aware of how she acted when cornered.

  “Were you conscious before the plane crashed?”

  She nodded. “Kyle was asleep in the back with me, but he woke up to lean forward to see what was going on. The pilot said he was lost and the plane’s fuel was running low. I saw Kyle’s gun sticking out of his jacket pocket. My wrists were bound together with duct tape, but I managed to take it without him being the wiser. I hid it from his view, planning to use it when we landed.”

  He couldn’t help but raise a brow. “You were going to shoot them?”

  “Only if they forced me to.”

  This young woman was no shrinking violet. Far from it. “That was clever of you. When did you realize the plane was going to crash?”

  “I overheard the pilot talking even though I pretended to still be knocked out. Then I braced for the crash.” She took another bite of the jerky.

  “When did the one kidnapper bail?”

  “Baker? I thought everyone was dead, but then I felt him move in the seat in front of me. He said Kyle’s name, then, thinking everyone was dead, he opened the door and jumped out before taking off through the trees. He seemed...scared.”

  Thorn would imagine so. He had to know that the plane would be found. He glanced over at her. “You must have been scared too.”

  She either didn’t hear him or ignored that as she continued, as if lost in her story. “I was about to get out of the plane as well when Kyle came to. I thought I was going to have to shoot him, but a tree limb had punctured the side of the fuselage and pinned him to his seat.” She hesitated a moment, then looked away, adding, “He died, I got out and not long after that, there you were.”

  She’d left out only one thing. “I thought I heard something right before the plane exploded.” She said nothing. “Odd, if the plane was running low on fuel that it would explode—not on impact, but later.”

  “You think someone purposely blew it up?” Her voice wavered as if realization of how close she’d come to dying was finally starting to sink in.

  “Why would anyone want to blow up the plane knowing you were inside?” he asked more to himself than to her. Wouldn’t the kidnappers need her for the exchange? Why kill her and the men who’d abducted her?

  Her eyes widened as if she was wondering the same thing. He looked into all that blue, feeling as if he were on a slippery slope above a tropical bottomless pool. She looked even more wary. “I thought we were in a hurry to get out of these mountains?”

  He put the rest of the jerky away. “Look, I didn’t come all the way back into these mountains to harm you. If that were true, I would have broken your neck and left you beside the plane and no one would have been the wiser.”

  * * *

  JJ HID HER real shudder with an exaggerated pretend one. “And you keep trying to convince me that you’re one of the good guys.” She shook her head. “You’ve killed people before.” When he didn’t respond, she continued. “If any of this were legit, there would be cops, Feds and FAA crawling all over this mountain. Not some—” she waved her jerky in his direction as if not sure what to call him “—cowboy coming for me with two horses and a mule.”

  “Easy, you don’t want to hurt Gertrude’s feelings. You could still end up on that mule.” He spurred his horse, pulling hers and the mule along with him, as he started down through the pines.

  He’d asked her a lot of questions. She thought she deserved some answers, as well. Rehashing what had happened to her had felt like she was talking about someone else being kidnapped. The irony of that wasn’t wasted on her. If she hadn’t been in that bed last night... While all of this had a surreal feel to it, she worried it was going to get painfully real before it was over.

  “So who are you?” she asked as her horse trotted alongside his.

  “I told you. My name’s Thorn.”

  “No last name?”

  “None that you need.”

  “What do you do?”

  “Do?”

  “For a living?”

  “I’m retired.”

  She shot him a look. “Retired? How old are you? Forty?”

  He smiled. “Not quite.”

  “Are you married?”

  JJ didn’t miss the way the muscle in his jaw bunched. He looked away. “Not anymore. If you still have to go to the bathroom—”

  “I’m fine. Divorced?”

  “Widowed.” He spurred his horse so hers dropped back. Clearly, he didn’t want to talk about it. She was surprised she’d gotten as much information out of him as she had. She thought she had a lot to hide, but apparently she wasn’t the only one.

  They continued down through the pines, back into the cool shadows and then out again. Ahead she could see the roof of a cabin.

  He slowed their horses. She watched him looking around warily. Did he think Baker might be here waiting for them? To what? Ambush them?

  Everything must have looked just as he’d left it because he spurred his horse and led hers and Gertrude the mule toward the cabin.

  He’d said he hadn’t wanted to come up into the mountains after her. She wondered what he’d been offered. Obviously, something he couldn’t refuse. She could tell that he was anxious to turn her over to Franklin Davenport. And get back to what? she wondered as she looked around.

  But she had to admit, she felt relieved. The man had told the truth about the cabin at least, she thought as he led her toward the barn. The newer log cabin was small, the barn and outbuildings old. She saw an ancient pickup parked off to one side. She didn’t see another vehicle.

  It made her wonder what he did here. Surely he didn’t live here year-round. But if not, what did he do the rest of the time?

  She glanced at the road out of his mountain retreat. The land fell away toward the river far below. She saw a familiar arch in the distance, and suddenly she knew where she was. The Roosevelt Arch was located at Yellowstone Park’s north entrance. That meant that the small town of Gardiner wasn’t far away.

  So the kidnappers had flown her from Big Fork all the way here before the plane had gone down. There was probably a landing strip somewhere near Gardiner. Was that where the pilot had been headed and had just gotten turned around?

  She thought about what he’d said about someone blowing up the plane. Had there been explosives on board the whole time? But why would someone want to kill Geneva Davenport?

  When she looked in Thorn’s direction, she realized that he’d been studying her again. She was sure her relieved expression had shown on her face. She’d been afraid that his cabin would be miles from civilization. Now that she knew it wasn’t, she was relieved.

  He dismounted and started to help her down from her horse. His gaze met hers. “I’d like to untie you.”

  “Please do.”

  “I could ask you to behave.”

  She smiled. “But what would be the point, right?”

  With a laugh, he grabbed her waist in his two large hands and lifted her, slowly lowering her to the ground. She held out her wrists for him to untie the rope.

  For a moment, he merely studied her. The man wasn’t stupid.

  “I’m through fighting you, okay? I just want to go...home.” The word stuck in her throat. She hadn’t had a home in so long, let alone anyone to go home to, that it wasn’t a word she used. Her stomach growled at even the thought of a well-stocked refrigerator and a stove to cook on.

  He must have heard
the anguish in her voice as well as the rumble of her stomach because his expression softened. “You must be hungry.”

  “I’m starved,” she said honestly. All the piece of jerky had done was whet her appetite. “I didn’t have much to eat yesterday.”

  “Let me put the stock away and if there’s time, I’ll make you something to eat.”

  “If there is time before what?” she asked, suspicion tingeing her tone.

  He sighed. “Before I take you to your grandfather.”

  She stood at the entrance of the barn and watched him put the animals away. Even if she’d had the energy to run, she couldn’t. She needed food. She also needed his trust—and his pickup. It was her only chance. She had to escape before he turned her over to Franklin Davenport and the authorities. Once they realized she wasn’t Geneva Davenport, that she hadn’t had permission to be sleeping in the woman’s house last night and that she had a criminal record...

  Exhaustion threatened. She leaned against the doorway to the barn, surprised by Thorn’s gentleness with the animals. She lowered herself onto a bale of hay by the open door.

  She liked watching his big, sun-browned hands. They were the hands of a man who worked outside, who knew hard manual labor. They stirred something in her she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

  A shaft of summer sun cut through a hole in the roof. He stepped into it, the light accentuating the angles of his face. He was strikingly attractive even with the full beard, she thought with a jolt. She saw now why he was so strong. He’d taken off his jacket and wore only a T-shirt. His muscled arms bunched as he lifted off the saddles and packs. His T-shirt rode up as he hung up the tack, exposing his washboard abs, his skin a warm tanned brown even though it was early summer. She looked away, the heat of the sun, the rich smell of hay, the man making all of this feel too intimate.

  She must have dozed off, coming awake with a start when she felt someone touch her arm. Her eyes flew open. Off balance, she shot to her feet, confused as to where she was for the moment. He grabbed her arm to steady her.

  “It’s okay,” he said softly. “You’re okay.”

  She didn’t feel okay. She could feel the clock ticking. How long did she have before he turned her over to Franklin Davenport and the questions began?

  As they walked down to the cabin, she wiped a hand across her face. It came away blackened, no doubt from the explosion earlier. “Is there any chance I could get cleaned up before we leave?” She did need to wash, but she also wanted to put off the inevitable as long as she could.

  “I need to make a phone call first,” he said, making her heart drop.

  Once he talked to whoever had sent him to find her, he’d know the truth because by now someone would have found her duffel bag on the floor of Geneva’s bedroom with her purse and phone inside—not to mention her car was parked in Geneva’s three-car garage on the lower floor of the house. Or the real Geneva Davenport could have surfaced by now.

  Either way, she was screwed.

  CHAPTER SIX

  THORN PUSHED OPEN the door to his home, took a quick glance inside to make sure it was empty and motioned JJ in. He watched her expression as she looked around the small cabin, taking in the fireplace, chair and bookshelf that made up his living room. She glanced at the bed and the chest of drawers next to it before peeking around the low partition into the kitchen, which was similarly simple: sink, stove, just enough butcher-block counter to cut meat, refrigerator and freezer.

  He figured she’d grown up in boundless space and luxury. He hated to think what she thought of his cabin since everything was basically all in one room.

  It had served his purposes just fine, but now he was seeing it through her eyes. He’d bet her bedroom was larger than his entire cabin.

  “Tell me about her.”

  “I beg your pardon?” he asked behind her.

  “The woman who broke your heart so bad you swore never to love again and moved here.” She made a sweep of her arm, taking in the interior of his cabin in a way that made it clear what she thought of it.

  He clamped his jaw shut, feeling his teeth grind. “She was my wife. She was killed. It was my fault.”

  JJ turned to face him, shock and sympathy in her expression. “I’m sorry.”

  “Right. You think you have me all figured out. You don’t.”

  She nodded, but she’d seen right through him—right to the heart of it even without any details. This was why he kept the world at arm’s length.

  “How long were you married?”

  He stared at her. She wasn’t going to give up? “Really, you want all the gory details?”

  Hands on her hips, she sighed. “Maybe I just want to know more about the man who...rescued me. After all, you’re supposed to be the only thing standing between me and the people who want me dead. So yes, I’d like to know who I’m dealing with. I want to know about the woman you’ve never been able to get over.”

  He groaned inwardly. “Doesn’t it worry you that I just told you I got her killed?”

  She looked at him, waiting, as if they were talking about the weather instead of the biggest heartbreak of his life. “What was her name?”

  “Bethany.” His throat threatened to close. It had been so long since he’d spoken her name out loud.

  JJ nodded and looked toward the kitchen. “You said you might have something to eat here?”

  The sudden change of topic threw him for a moment. “I have elk steaks and frozen vegetables from last summer’s garden.”

  “Pretty self-sufficient, huh?”

  “I try to be. Aren’t you going to ask me how I got her killed?”

  She shook her head. “You’ll tell me when you’re ready. That’s if I’m still around.” With that she limped into his tiny kitchen.

  “You know how to cook?” he said after her.

  She laughed. It seemed to fill the cabin with sunshine.

  He shook his head as he followed her.

  “The bathroom is outside?” JJ asked as she squinted out the back-door window. He had stepped to the sink to fill kettles with water and get them on the stove to heat.

  “I’ll take you.” He finished what he was doing.

  “Seriously?” She shot him a disbelieving look. “I can see the outhouse from here. I think I can find my way there.”

  “It’s finding your way back that worries me,” he said as he stepped past her to open the back door. She sighed, clearly aggravated with him. Too bad. She’d given him no reason to trust her even as far as he could throw her.

  She stepped out, and he let her lead the way through the sunshine toward the outhouse, looking around as he went. Unlike her, apparently, he hadn’t forgotten about the missing kidnapper. She didn’t seem as concerned, which caused him even more worry. Everything about her attitude seemed...off. She wasn’t acting like a woman who’d been kidnapped and was anxious to go home. She hadn’t even mentioned calling her grandfather.

  He scanned the mountainside. The view was so familiar; he knew every tree, every rock, every bush. He saw nothing unfamiliar. No movement.

  She scoffed at his concern for her safety. As she reached the outhouse, she stopped. Wind lifted the strands of blond hair that had escaped her ponytail. “Tell me you aren’t going inside with me.”

  Thorn opened the door, his pistol still strapped at his side. The small building was empty. Had he really thought the kidnapper might have been hiding there? JJ gave him an amused look as if to say he was being ridiculous. Probably. Which made him want her out of his care as soon as possible.

  “What did you think was in there? Baker, the missing kidnapper?”

  Without answering, he held the door open for her and she stepped inside, grabbed the door out of his hand and slammed it. There wasn’t a lock. He heard her let out an exasperated sound from inside and smiled as he stepped around
to the side. He was glad to exasperate her a little since she certainly had him.

  He saw that dark clouds had gathered off to the west. The thunderstorm the forecasters had predicted looked as if it was on its way. Right now, though, there wasn’t a cloud above him, but he could feel the breeze freshening as the day wore on.

  Stepping just far enough away from the outhouse as to give her some privacy and himself some, as well, he pulled out his cell phone and made the call, keeping his voice down.

  “I found the plane,” he said into the phone when the judge answered.

  “Is she...?”

  “I have her.” He quickly filled him in on what she’d told him about the kidnapping and plane crash.

  He heard the relief in the old judge’s voice. “Any problems?”

  “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

  “In that case, I guess I’d better ask what kind of shape she’s in.”

  “She cut her leg but it should heal okay. Has a bump on her head. I had to tie her up to keep her from killing me, but other than that...”

  “Really?” Landusky sounded as surprised as Thorn had been.

  He thought of the woman in his outhouse. “She’s...something else.”

  “I have no idea what that means. But as long as she is alive and safe, that’s all I need to know for now. I’ll notify Franklin and get back to you.”

  “Make it quick,” he said into the phone, but the judge had already disconnected.

  He heard the outhouse door start to creak open and was beside JJ in a few long strides.

  “Aren’t you being a little overly protective?” she asked as he walked her back to the cabin.

  He didn’t bother to answer. Maybe she felt safe here, but he knew better. Until her kidnappers were caught, she was in danger. He reminded himself none of that would be his problem soon. All he had to do was deliver her. After that, the judge and her grandfather could decide what to do next.

  “I made a call,” he said once they were inside the cabin. “Your grandfather is being notified that I found you and that you’re safe. Once my contact calls back, I’ll take you to him.”