in his arms. The rifle he had to leave behind, because he could no longer carry it. He kept the phone in his hand. Soon he should get a signal. He had to.
* * *
HARDY HOLLISTER TIPTOED down the stairs, careful not to make a sound. The baby and Angie were finally asleep. In the kitchen, he made coffee. His cell buzzed and he started to ignore it, but he was the DA, so he pulled it from his robe. It was his friend Wyatt, the sheriff.
He clicked on. “This had better be good, Wyatt. We’ve been up most of the night with Trey.”
“I remember those days. I’m so glad J.W. sleeps through the night now. It’ll get better.”
“What’s up this early in the morning?”
“Is Rachel coming home for a visit?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I talked to her a few days ago and she didn’t say anything about coming home. Why?”
“I got a call from the highway patrol. A rental car was found at the back of Rebel Ranch, a deeply wooded area with not a house around for miles. The car was rented in Austin to Rachel Hollister on Friday. A suitcase with clothes was in the backseat. Her name is on the tags.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Judge Hollister walked into the kitchen, obviously looking for a cup of coffee. “Just a minute,” Hardy said to Wyatt. “Dad, have you talked to Rachel?”
The judge pulled out a chair and sat at the table, sipping the hot brew. “No. She’s mad at me because I chewed her out about not coming home. She probably won’t talk to me for a couple weeks.”
Hardy picked up his cell again. “Dad hasn’t heard from her, either. This doesn’t sound right and it’s not like Rachel to do something like that.”
“I hate to give you any more bad news, but there’s a witness who said he saw a man drag a woman from the car into the woods.”
Hardy’s hand tightened on the phone. “Can he identify the woman?”
“No, but he identified the man.”
“Who.”
“Egan Rebel.”
“Something’s not right, Wyatt. Egan’s a model citizen and I don’t think he knows Rachel.”
“Rachel?” The judge shot to his feet. “What about Rachel?”
“I’m coming in, Wyatt. I just have to get dressed.” Hardy laid his phone down and faced his dad. He told him exactly what Wyatt had said. It wasn’t a time to keep secrets. His father was a strong man.
“Egan Rebel. I sent him to prison years ago. He said he’d get even, and this could be his way of getting back at me. He better not hurt my daughter or he’ll never see the light of day again.”
“Calm down, Dad.” Hardy picked up his phone again. “I’ll call her apartment in New York. This has to be a big mistake. She would want us to know if she was coming home.”
It didn’t take long for Rachel’s roommate, Della, to answer the phone. From her sleepy voice, he knew he’d awakened her.
“I’m sorry to call so early. This is Hardy Hollister, Rachel’s brother. I’m trying to get in touch with her.”
“What? Rachel left on Friday to visit her family in Horseshoe.”
“Are you sure? She didn’t call to let us know.”
“She wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Thank you, Della. She never arrived and we’re worried. I’ll call you back as soon as I find out anything.”
“Please do.”
* * *
THE WIND PICKED UP and seemed to be pushing Egan backward, but he kept going. He punched the phone repeatedly, praying for it to light up. When it finally did, he almost tripped and fell. He sank to the ground, still holding Rachel, who was now completely limp.
“Egan...Egan...are you there?” It was Rico.
His body sagged as he answered. “Can you hear me?”
“Yeah. Man, where have you been? The whole family’s looking for you.”
“I’m west of the big coastal hay patch, in direct line to the barn where Jude makes his saddles. I have a casualty. She’s been attacked by dogs and needs to get to a hospital. Call 911 and bring a Polaris Ranger out here. I’ll keep walking until you get here. Do you hear me?”
“Got it.” The good thing about Rico was he never asked questions. Egan struggled to his feet and started walking again. Help was on the way. He relaxed just a little.
“Egan...” Rachel murmured. “Don’t let me float away.”
He held her a bit tighter, picked up his pace and then slowed when he saw the ranger speeding toward him. Sinking to his knees, Egan clutched Rachel in his arms.
“Help is on the way, sweet lady. We made it. Can you hear me?”
“E-gan...” Her flushed face rested against his chest, her lips barely moving.
His brothers Falcon and Quincy jumped from the ranger. Falcon was the oldest and had taken control of the ranch after their father’s death. He wasn’t quite the same after his wife had left him and their three-month-old daughter. He was strict and stern and gave no one any leeway, not even his little girl.
Quincy was the second son, with dark hair and eyes similar to Egan. He was the peacemaker in the family. He’d taken it upon his broad shoulders to keep unity among the brothers, which was not an easy task, since they seemed to have wildness branded onto their souls.
“Is an ambulance on the way?” Egan asked.
Falcon and Quincy squatted beside him, staring at Rachel. “What happened?” Falcon asked.
“Is an ambulance on the way?” Egan repeated.
“Rico’s waiting at the ranch entrance, but I talked to the dispatch lady and told her it might be best to send a medical helicopter, since you were so far out on the range.” His brow knotted. “She looks as if she’s been in a fight or something. What are those scratches from?”
“Help me get her in the ranger,” Egan said. “I’ll explain later.”
He stood once again with Rachel in his arms, but paused when he heard the sound of a chopper.
Quincy waved his arms, guiding the helicopter in. Things happened quickly after it landed in a whirlwind of dust. Two paramedics jumped out with a stretcher and Egan laid Rachel on it. They immediately began to assess her condition.
“What happened?” one of them asked.
“She was attacked by dogs. A scrape on her right calf is infected.”
