“We’ve got a hostage situation, a young woman named Libby Hale and the Dunbar family: mother, father, and their two kids. Three armed men in the cabin: Vince Nolan, Max Stoddard, and a guy named Deacon Mitchell. They’re bank robbers, Kade. Killed a guard and put another in the hospital.”
Kade’s jaw tightened. “What do they want?”
“They want Libby to arrange a jet so they can escape.”
“She can do that?”
“It’s a long story, but yes, she can.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“I’m going to try to exchange myself for the family. I’m responsible for the people who stay here, and I want them safe. Aside from that, Vince is obsessed with Libby. I need to be there to protect her as much as I can, but I’ve got to have someone to run a rescue operation from here.”
Kade assessed him shrewdly, probably guessing Sam’s interest in Libby ran deeper than he was saying. His friend was right. Sam loved her. He’d do anything to keep her safe.
“Just tell me what you need,” Kade said.
Sam scrubbed a hand over his jaw. He sighed. “Even if Libby gets them a jet, there’s no way they’re letting her go—and I’m not letting them take her. I’m thinking we arrange a little party to stop them somewhere along the road to the airport.”
Kade mulled the idea over, seemed to approve. He flashed a glance at Big John. “You in?”
John grunted. “You couldn’t keep me out.”
Kade nodded. He knew Big John was former military, some kind of undercover reconnaissance, though John had never actually said. Kade knew the man had skills.
“Anyone else we can bring in on this?” Kade asked.
“Dare Landon was a marine,” Big John said. “He will help if we ask.”
Sam had already considered it. He shook his head. “We can’t risk too many people knowing. If Vince gets wind of it, they might kill someone just to make a point. We need to handle this ourselves.”
Big John started nodding. “You are right. With scum like these, the three of us should be enough.”
Sam almost smiled. “I need to get back out there. If the jet’s flying in from Denver, it could be here in an hour or two, maybe less. That gives us a little time, not much.”
“Leave it to Big John and me,” Kade said.
Sam gave him a nod and headed for the kitchen. He walked out the back door, making himself obvious to whoever was watching from Cougar Cabin. None of the hands were around. John would have made sure they stayed away.
Sam stopped in front of the cabin. “I need to talk to you, Nolan!” he called out. “I want to make a deal!”
Vince pulled open the door but didn’t step out on the porch. “What kind of deal?”
“Sooner or later, the kids and their parents are going to be a liability. They need to be fed and looked after. You let them go, and in their place, I’ll be your hostage.”
Vince laughed. “No way. They leave here, they’ll call the cops.”
“No, they won’t. They can stay in the house with Clara until you’re safely on the jet and on your way.”
“What’s the matter, Bridger? You worried about your woman?” His lips curled in the smirk Sam hated. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, she’s going with us. She stays till we reach our destination—then you can have her back.” The smirk broadened. “She might be a little shopworn, but she’ll be alive.”
Sam fought down a surge of fury as Vince stepped back inside and closed the door.
Sam bitterly cursed.
For the next half hour, he, Kade, and Big John made plans. They decided to intercept the vehicle at a spot John suggested, a curve in the road where the vehicle would have to slow down. The trees were dense on one side of the road, and big granite boulders covered an area on the hill on the opposite side.
Sam would stay behind to orchestrate the men’s departure. At that point, the Dunbar family would be a burden rather than an asset. Sam believed the men would leave the family behind as they had promised. Libby was all they needed to insure their escape.
The knot returned to Sam’s stomach. Libby would be in the car when the trap was sprung.
The plan was for Kade, the best shot in Eagle County, to take a position in the rocks about fifty yards from the road, armed with his .243 hunting rifle, a smaller caliber weapon that was less likely to be heard with the windows up and the air conditioner running. Kade would shoot out the rear tire of the sedan, causing a blowout and forcing the vehicle to stop.
Sam would be following the Ford, staying as close as possible without being spotted. As soon as he reached the ambush spot, he would park out of sight and come up on the men from the rear. Big John would be somewhere among the trees while Kade moved down off the hill into a closer position.
If everything went as planned and luck was on their side, all three men would get out of the car to change the tire, and Sam, Kade, and Big John would take them down.
If everything went as planned, Libby would stay safely inside the car.
The problem was, everything never went as planned.
Sam silently cursed.
* * * *
On the coffee table in front of the sofa, Libby’s cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen. “It’s my attorney calling about the jet.”
“Answer it,” Max demanded. He’d been getting more and more edgy. It seemed that dealing with Vince was bad enough, and now Max was asserting himself. “Put it on speaker.”
Libby pressed the button. “Hi, Bert. Did you get it done?”
“The jet’s on its way. It’s coming from Denver, so it won’t take long. The airport is an hour from the ranch—the plane will be there by the time you arrive.”
“Thanks, Bert. I’ll see you in New York.”
“Are you sure about this, Libby?”
“I’ve got to go, Bert. We’ll talk soon.” Unless she was dead. Because there was no way she was getting on a plane with Vince Nolan and his criminal friends. Vince jerked the phone from her hand and tossed it back down on the table.
Earlier she had overheard him and Max talking about the man who had come with them. Vince had said something about the big haul they scored and that Deke had brought the money. Now that they had a way to escape, they didn’t have to worry about the guy double-crossing them.
“Time to get rolling,” Max said. “Vince, you go get the car. We’ll be ready to leave when you get back.” He turned to Jenny. “Get your kids and go in the bedroom with your husband.”