Instead, he concentrated on the work he needed to do. He had a ranch to run. He didn’t have time to spend mooning over a woman.
It was check-out day for the current group of visitors. With group two arriving next week, it was amazing how quickly time passed. Which meant his time with Libby would soon come to an end.
The thought cast a dark pall over an otherwise spectacular day.
The weather was warm, heading toward hot, the heat nice for a change. Betty and Alice had already checked out, hugged him, vowed to come back next year, and driven off with a teary smile and a wave. The honeymooners were gone, too, thrilled with their stay in the Dove’s Nest and their adventures these past couple of weeks.
Sam had seen Libby earlier that morning, but not lately. He figured she would want to be there to say goodbye to Jenny, Caleb, Jordy, and Suzy.
His cell phone rang. He always felt a little guilty using it, but it was his job to run the place and keep everyone happy and safe.
“Bridger.”
“Sam, it’s Glen Carver. I’ve got some news you need to hear.”
“What is it?”
“Max Stoddard and Vince Nolan had another roommate. His name is Deacon Mitchell. Three weeks ago, Mitchell robbed a bank in Denver. Shot two security guards and got away with more than two hundred thousand dollars. One of the guards died, the other is in critical condition, but it looks like he’ll make it. There were three men involved in the robbery, but only Mitchell was identified. All three fled the scene.”
Dread formed a knot in his stomach. “You’re thinking Vince and Max are the other two men?”
“There’s no evidence at this point, but as I said, Mitchell was living in the apartment with them, and now they’re in the wind. We’ve got an arrest warrant out for Mitchell and a BOLO out on Stoddard and Nolan as persons of interest.”
“Anything else?”
“That’s it for now. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks, Glen.” Sam made a mental note to tell Big John, Julio, and the rest of the hands to be on the lookout for the men. They were likely miles from the area, but he didn’t like taking chances.
Shoving the phone back in his hip pocket, he headed for Cougar Cabin, where the Dunbars would be getting ready to leave. Sam stopped at the bottom of the porch steps when the door swung open, and everything inside him went cold.
Vince Nolan stood in the opening, his arm around Libby’s waist, holding her in front of him like a shield. A big semiautomatic pistol was pressed against the side of her head.
Vince’s lips curled into a smirk that was far from a smile. “I’ve got something that belongs to you, Bridger. You want her back—and the happy little family inside—you’ll do exactly what I tell you.”
The knot in Sam’s stomach tightened. “What do you want, Nolan? Name it and you’ve got it. Just let them go.”
The smirk faded. “You think I’m an idiot? We’ll let them go when we get what we came for.”
“And that is?”
“This rich bitch brings in the family jet to fly us the fuck out of here.”
How the hell did they know about Libby? But Libby and Jenny were friends. A memory stirred of the two of them sitting around the campfire talking about their families. He remembered Libby saying Martin Hale was her uncle. Either Vince or Max must have overheard.
Libby’s gaze met Sam’s across the distance between them. There was fear in her eyes but also determination. “I told Vince I could help them get away. I said I could arrange it if they would let the Dunbar family go.”
He should have known. It was exactly like Libby to risk herself to save the people she cared about.
“All right,” Sam said. “That sounds like it could work. You let the Dunbars go, and we’ll work out the details.”
Vince laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “I don’t think so. I think we all stick together till the jet’s on its way. We’ll leave the Dunbars here when we leave. We’re taking Libby with us to the airport.”
Sam wondered where they’d parked their old blue Ford. Too bad no one had spotted it.
“Once we’re on the plane and the pilot’s been told what to do,” Vince continued, “you can have her back.”
Sam clenched his jaw and fought to keep his hands from fisting. He could read the lie in Vince’s face. No way was he letting Libby go. He’d wanted her from the start.
“Why did you come back here, Vince?”
Vince smoothed a finger down Libby’s cheek. “The bitch and I have unfinished business.” He ran a hand over Libby’s breast, and Sam felt a fresh shot of rage.
Libby’s eyes slid closed, and Sam wanted to kill Vince Nolan.
Max Stoddard stepped up beside him in the doorway. “We figured Libby might be useful. Turns out we were right.”
Libby’s gaze met Sam’s. “I need my phone, Sam. All my contacts are in there.”
He didn’t want to leave her. He was afraid of what Vince might do while he was gone. He didn’t have any choice. “I’ll be right back.”
“One more thing.” Vince’s gun pressed more firmly against Libby’s head. “You call the cops, and we start shooting.”
Fear tightened Sam’s chest. He didn’t doubt Vince meant every word. “No cops,” Sam said, forcing himself to turn and walk back to the house.
Clara’s worried gaze met his as he stormed into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“Vince and Max are holding Libby and the Dunbars hostage. They’re bank robbers, Clara. They want Libby to arrange for a jet to pick them up and fly them somewhere safe.”
“Oh my God, Sam. What are we going to do?”
“We can’t call the police, or they’ll shoot someone.” He glanced toward the window. “See if you can make your way around back. Find Big John and tell him what’s going on.”
He started for the stairs, stopped and turned. “And call Kade Logan.” Kade owned the biggest spread in the region, the Diamond Bar Ranch, just down the road. Kade was Sam’s best friend. “Tell him we’re in trouble and explain the situation. Kade may be able to help.”
Clara nodded, her face as pale as glass.
“And tell him definitely not to call the sheriff.” Sam raced for the stairs.
* * * *
Libby sat next to Jenny on the sofa. Jordy sat close to Libby on one side, while Suzy sat curled up next to her mom. Caleb was lying on the floor in the bedroom, his ankles bound, his hands tied behind his back. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his right eye was swollen almost shut.