She remembered checking herself for injuries. Her father had been a doctor, and she knew that head injuries could be dangerous. If she’d had a concussion, it was minor. “We left the Circle M almost immediately. My hands were tied in front of me. I was blindfolded and gagged.”
“How were you transported?” Burke asked.
“On horseback. There were two guys. Richter and Thurgood. Much as I hate to give those kidnappers credit for anything, Butch Thurgood was a good horseman. He held me in front of him on the saddle.”
“He was a former rodeo star,” Carolyn informed her.
“Well, he did a good job of controlling me and his horse at the same time. We headed up the Indian trail that starts near the south pasture and leads to the pass.”
“And they took you to a cave,” Carolyn prompted.
“That’s right.”
“Carolyn,” Dylan said in a warning tone. “This is Nicole’s story. Let her talk.”
Nicole continued, “We stopped at a high cave overlooking the trail. I was hoping and praying that nobody would come after us. Butch and Richter had the perfect vantage point. I could tell they’d been there before when they set up camp. I figured it was something to do with the Sons of Freedom.”
She paused, realizing that she’d missed a lot while she’d been held captive. “What happened to the SOF, anyway? When Nate took me to the Circle M, we were alone.”
Burke explained, “The SOF was part of a network of survivalist groups that was smuggling guns and drugs. We mounted a major FBI operation to take them out. All the women and children were rescued. The men are in custody, including Sam Logan.”
“What about their horses?” she asked. “They had eight or ten at the Circle M. And two Arabians.”
“We’ll make sure they’re taken care of,” Dylan said. “I’ll send a couple of hands over in the morning.”
Her kidnapping had set off a wide-ranging course of events. A major FBI operation? Women and children rescued? “When did all this happen?”
Dylan leaned toward her. “Everything happened at the same time. Nate must have planned it that way for maximum confusion.”
“How did he know the timing?” she asked.
“He had an informant. Someone who betrayed us,” Dylan said darkly. “So while the FBI closed in on the SOF, Carolyn and I had our instructions. She went to deliver the ransom, and I rode to meet you at the creek.”
She glanced toward him, half expecting to see reproach. Instead, his gaze was steady and calm. For once in his life, Dylan seemed completely nonjudgmental. He wouldn’t growl and tell her that she’d made a mess of things.
He was her anchor. Lacing her fingers through his, she clung to him.
“I’m confused,” Carolyn said. “You were abducted by the guys from the SOF. How did you end up with Nate Miller?”
“At the cave.” She continued to gaze into Dylan’s cool green eyes. “They fell asleep, and I tried to escape. My hands were still tied, but I managed to get the ropes off my ankles. I climbed down the side of the cliff. And I ran right into the waiting arms of Nate Miller.”
“Ouch,” Carolyn said. “Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire.”
“I thought he’d help me. He was wearing a black ski mask, which I thought was a little strange, but the night was chilly.”
“How did you know it was Nate?” Burke asked.
“I know how,” Dylan said. “She recognized his horse.”
She nodded. “I’m a vet. I know livestock better than people. I’ve never treated Nate’s horse, but I’ve seen him plenty of times in that little corral in Riverton. I worried that the animal wasn’t getting enough exercise.”
“You went quietly with Nate,” Burke said.
“That’s right. I climbed up on the saddle and rode with him. I didn’t bother with untying my hands because I wanted to put distance between us and the kidnappers.”
“And you rode to Fiona Grant’s property,” Burke said.
“Nate told me we were supposed to wait inside the barn. That’s when he took out his gun.”
And she’d realized how foolish she’d been to trust him. “He ordered me to climb down into a little room hidden under the floor. He left my hands tied and used a shackle on my ankle to tether me to the bed frame. Then he left. I was alone.”
No one could help me. That little cell under the barn floor wasn’t badly furnished. The single bed was fairly comfortable. There was light from a lamp beside the bed. The walls and ceiling were insulated, so it was fairly warm. “That’s when it hit me. I might not get out of this mess alive. I had time to think. And I was scared.”
Dylan reached toward her, but she pulled away. Part of her wanted to curl up in his arms and sob. She wanted the warm reassurance of his love. But not right now. “I need to keep going, Dylan. I might remember something useful, something that will help catch Nate.”
“Did he talk to you?” Burke asked.
She nodded. “He used a whispery voice. As if I didn’t already know who he was. I played along. It seemed prudent to pretend I didn’t know his identity.”
“Smart move,” Burke said. “It might have saved your life. Did he mention any specifics?”
She concentrated, trying to recall through the miasma of fear and frustration that colored her time in captivity. “Mostly he talked about how much he hated the Carlisles. He blames us for every bad thing that’s happened to him. Losing his herd. The failure of his marriage.”
“Sounds like he’s obsessed,” Burke said.
“Exactly.” She nodded. “If he catches the sniffles, he’s pretty sure that the Carlisles infected him.”
“What else do you remember?”
“Threats. He told me that if I didn’t cooperate, he’d destroy everything I cared about. He’d wreak havoc. Kill the people and the animals I love. Burn down the buildings.” An involuntary shudder rippled through her. “And he sounded like he’d relish every minute.”
“His hatred gives him a reason to stay in this area,” Burke said. “The rational course of action would be to run.”
“He’s not rational.” But he was exceedingly clever. Though he hadn’t planned the kidnapping, he’d taken advantage of the situation. He must have followed Butch and Richter when they took her to the cave. As soon as their backs were turned, he’d grabbed her.
“Tell us about when he made those proof-of-life videotapes.”
She turned to Dylan. “I tried to signal you with a clue to his identity. I kept making the sign of the Circle M—Nate’s ranch.”
