Liam called out, “you can’t have a fire here. It’s dangerous.”
There was no response. Did she really have a gun? He called out to her again. “This isn’t a sanctioned camping area.”
“Are you a park ranger?”
He rested his hand against the trunk of a ponderosa pine and peered toward the sound of her voice. Though he couldn’t see her, she appeared to be hiding behind three lichen-covered boulders. “I’m with CCC.”
“Colorado Crime Consultants.” Rain had heard of them. CCC was a volunteer group, and she knew intuitively that they were the good guys. If he was telling the truth, she could trust him. “What kind of work are you doing for CCC?”
“I’m looking for two missing persons.”
“Who?”
“Their names are Wayne Silverman and Kate Carradine.”
“Kate, huh?” The name resonated through her brain. She heard the faint echo of voices calling that name. Her name? “I suppose that’s short for Katherine.”
“Probably.”
“Katherine Carradine. That’s a long name,” she said. Though familiar, she wasn’t ready to accept that identity. “Six syllables. You’d think a person would remember a name that long.”
“Ma’am? Is anybody here with you?”
Why did he want to know? Though she’d watched him approach alone, others might be with him.
The hairs on her nape prickled. Her head swiveled, trying to see in all directions at once.
Returning her attention to the tall man, her thumb twitched on the handle of the Glock automatic, and her trigger finger tightened as she kept her aim steady. Though she didn’t want to shoot anybody, she might not have a choice. He could be lying to her. He could be one of the hunters.
“What about you?” she shouted, keeping the tremor from her voice. “Is anybody here with you?”
“I’m alone.”
“You came in a plane,” she said. “I heard you buzz the field. You scared the wildlife.”
He took a step toward the rocks where she was hiding. “Have you got a name?”
“You can call me Rain. One syllable.”
“Nice to meet you, Rain. I’m Liam.”
When he took another step, she growled, “Didn’t you hear me? I have a gun, and I shoot trespassers. Now, back off. Walk away.”
“It’s not safe for you to have a fire out here.”
As if he cared. If he was one of the hunters, he would burn her alive. Panic crashed inside her head. “I told you to stop moving.”
“It’s okay.” He took another step toward her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Like hell he wasn’t. She aimed high and pulled the trigger. The gunshot exploded.
Chapter Two
Liam hit the dirt. This crazy woman was shooting at him! He sure as hell hadn’t bargained for this.
“Hey, mister,” she called out. “Liam? Are you all right?”
Cautiously, he raised his head and looked up. She stood on top of the boulders, only twenty feet away from him. A bizarre sight. She was skinny as a bone. Her jeans were torn at both knees, and she wore a baggy black T-shirt over a blouse with a blue collar. Blue silk? Her blond hair with dark roots stood out in wild spikes. Her face was darkly tanned, emphasizing her blue eyes. There was something about those eyes. A clarity. A steadiness that told him she wasn’t really crazy after all.
She squatted on her rock perch, limber as a gymnast. “I couldn’t have hit you. I aimed high.”
“I’m okay.” As he rose to his feet and brushed off his jeans, he continued to study her. Though she barely resembled the woman in the photograph, Liam knew he’d found Kate Carradine.
“It’s you,” he said. “You’re Kate.”
“I’m not. I already told you my name.”
“Rain.” It suited her. She was wild as a lightning storm across the Rockies. He couldn’t believe Kate Carradine had managed to survive in the wilderness. This was tough, rugged country, and she’d been here almost a month.
Finding her alive was some kind of miracle, and he was determined that he wouldn’t leave without her. Though she looked wiry and strong, she might have been injured. Must have been. Why else would she stay here?
His first obvious step was to gain her trust so she’d allow him to come closer. If he could get her talking, he could convince her to leave. Feigning nonchalance, he said, “You’re cooking something.”
“I caught a fish.” She sounded proud of herself. “That’s my dinner.”
“I’m hungry, too. Maybe we could share.”
A frown creased her forehead. “I suppose I should offer my hospitality. That’s the proper thing to do, to share whatever is mine.”
“You’re right,” he said. “That’s proper.”
But when he took a step closer, she raised her gun again. Her attitude changed. “Normal rules don’t apply out here.” Her voice was firm. “I advise you not to come any closer.”
Looking down the barrel of her handgun, he planted his feet and took root. “I’m not moving.”
Her gaze darted as though searching for something. “I don’t want to shoot you, but I will.”
Approaching her was like trying to get close to a wounded mountain lion. She needed his help but refused to take it. She was scared. And, therefore, dangerous.
“I don’t mean any harm.” He needed to convince her that he was a friend. Reaching into the pocket of his flannel shirt, he took out the candy bar and held it up so she could see. “I’ll make you a deal—put down the gun, and you can have this.”
“Chocolate,” she whispered. “Oh, how I’ve missed chocolate.”
Her mouth watered. Her stomach growled. Never in her life had Rain wanted anything more than she wanted that candy bar. She wanted to inhale the sugary cocoa fragrance, to feel the gooey texture as it melted on her tongue.
This man—Liam—held the candy bar toward her. He was calm, unaware of the treasure in his hands. She swallowed hard, remembering her father and the candy bars he’d carried.
But she wasn’t ready to entrust her hard-won safety to Liam. Though he said he was alone and worked for CCC, she didn’t know for sure. He could be one of the hunters.
Still keeping
