Carol Finch (18 page)

So how did that translate in her dealings with Grady? he asked himself. She’d fight him tooth and nail unless he kept her sedated. Which he would, Fletch predicted. When he got his hands on Grady’s stash of chloroform, he’d stuff that damn bottle up his nose and leave him in a senseless daze indefinitely.

Casting aside the spiteful thought Fletch clamped his dagger between his teeth and clutched his pearl-handled Peacemaker in his right fist. His left hand was free to disable whatever booby trap Grady might’ve devised to catch his expected guests off guard.

With nothing but a half moon and stars to light the way, Hawk crept toward the tent beside the creek. He hoped like hell that Savanna was here. Better that he found Savanna rather than Fletch—in case something bad had already happened to her. Although Fletch wouldn’t admit it, Hawk knew he had tender feelings for the dark-eyed beauty who’d become a pawn in a deadly game. It was in Fletch’s eyes when thoughts of her filled his head. It was in his voice when he spoke her name.

Hawk well remembered the fear and unnerving apprehension that had bombarded him when Grady, Frank Mills and Morton DeVol had whisked Shiloh off five years earlier. He knew Fletch was suffering the same feelings of anger and desperation.

Grabbing his dagger, Hawk crept toward the back of the tent. He scooped up a heavy piece of driftwood then stood off to the side of the tent. He tossed the log ten feet in front of the tent flap then wheeled to slash a vertical cut in the back wall of the tent. As he expected, the area had been booby-trapped. The bouncing log set off
the crossfire of pistols that had been trip-wired and secured to trees.

“Damn it,” Hawk muttered as he burst into the tent to find quilts fashioned to resemble a human body lying on a pallet.

The fact that neither Savanna nor Grady was in the tent confirmed his worst fear. This site was a decoy and the gunshots signaled an intrusion—as well as an attempt to injure one of the Hawk brothers.

When Fletch heard gunfire, he would wonder what happened and Grady would know an attack was imminent. Still swearing profusely Hawk burst from the tent and sprinted toward his horse. If he didn’t reach the shack quickly, he wouldn’t be of help to Savanna or Fletch.

Fletch scowled when he heard the distant gunfire. Since he was too far away to hear a howl, he had no way of knowing if the loud report of a rifle was an all-clear signal or a bushwhacking. Hawk might’ve been shot or he could be the one doing the shooting. But if it was a signal, Grady would be ready and waiting when Fletch barreled into the shack.

The vision of Savanna swinging from a rope swamped him again, as it had several times the past few hours. What if she wasn’t in the shack? Maybe it was a booby trap to trip up Fletch. Savanna could be out there somewhere in the dark, sitting on horseback with a noose around her neck, waiting for Grady to send the mount thundering off, leaving her swinging lifelessly from a tree branch.

Grimacing at the ugly picture in his mind, Fletch focused on the task at hand. If he didn’t keep a clear head, Savanna could end up dead.

She might anyway. Elaina certainly had.

Fletch banished the disparaging thought and moved swiftly around the shack. Moonlight glinted off the trailing end of a rope that had been strung over the open windowsill and through the grass. The rope had been secured to a tree and Fletch figured trip wires were ready and waiting in the grass.

Hurriedly, Fletch darted to the west side of the shack. He glanced up at the roof, searching for an alternate route. Grabbing the eave, he hoisted himself up. He used a dead tree branch that lay atop of the roof to thrust into the window opening. Since no shots were fired, he wondered if the shack was the decoy and the action had already taken place at the tent.

The howl of a coyote alerted him that Hawk was nearby. Fletch returned the call, then saw his brother appear at the edge of the clearing.

“Booby traps and trip wires,” Hawk said in Apache.

“Same here. I’m not going through the front door, in case the latch is tied to a rope that is rigged to pull a chair out from under Savanna.”

He could well imagine Grady getting a wicked thrill from setting up Fletch to become Savanna’s executioner. Grady had a perverted sense of humor.

“If he’s trying to set us up to hang Savanna there won’t be enough left of that bastard to stand trial. I’ll cut him to bite-size pieces and feed him to the wolves,” Hawk snarled.

“You’ll have to get in line,” Fletch muttered.

He tucked away his pistol then contorted his body to slide through the window. He swore mightily when he saw the effigy hanging from the rafters. Sure enough, the rope stretched from the door latch to a chair beneath the effigy
that was dressed in the widow’s digs Savanna had stashed in her satchel.

“Come in through the front door,” Fletch shouted to Hawk.

When Hawk entered, the chair tipped sideways and the effigy swung from the rafters.

Hawk cursed. “Does that bastard think his scare tactics are going to rattle us?”

“They might be working.” Fletch scowled as he stormed across the shack. “He wants us angry and reckless when we finally confront him. He’s maneuvering for a mental and emotional edge.”

“Maybe I should continue this manhunt alone,” Hawk suggested. “Just in case things go from bad to wor—”

“No,” Fletch interrupted as he wheeled toward his brother. “
I
made the mistake of sending Savanna back to untie Natalie.
I
sent her into Grady’s hands and
I’m
going to deal with that insufferable son of a bitch!”

Pent-up fury roiled through Fletch as he stalked outside to retrieve his horse. He’d had a belly full of Grady’s twisted mind games. But he vowed not to become so outraged by the cat-and-mouse ploys that he became careless and impatient. Savanna’s life depended on his unerring logic.
If
she was still alive…

Fletch discarded the pessimistic thought. But deep down inside, he was tormented by the incident that led to Elaina’s untimely demise. Grady wanted Fletch’s worst fears to wear on him so he’d make a crucial mistake.

Fletch promised himself, right there and then, that no matter what happened, Grady Mills would pay ten times over for his murdering, thieving and betrayal. A hanging would be too quick for the likes of that crafty bastard.

S
avanna moaned groggily and struggled to clear her senses after being unconscious. The last thing she remembered was explosive pain when Grady knocked her out while she was tied to the corner post of the shack.

She shifted uncomfortably, realizing that she was still restrained, but in a different position. Something thick and abrasive entangled her neck. Her hands were pinned behind her to such extremes that her arms tingled painfully.

Difficult though it was, Savanna pried open her eyes to meet the piercing morning light. She glanced down to note there was a horse beneath her and that her satchels were strapped behind the saddle. A feeling of icy dread trickled through her when she glanced up to see that the rope encircling her neck had been strung diagonally to a thick tree branch. Worse, the horse stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking a deep, tree-choked ravine. If her horse took off, Savanna would not only be swinging by her neck but she’d be doing it above a forty-foot drop that ended in tree branches and boulders.

“Good morning,” Grady said cheerily as he lounged
against the tree trunk. “Fine day for a hanging, don’cha think?”

“No. I’d prefer gloomy and dreary to fit the scheduled event,” she rasped.

He grinned fiendishly. “I find it amusing that Draper paid me to dispose of you so he wouldn’t have to dirty his hands. But in the end, he’ll wind up in the penitentiary for it, despite all the power and wealth he’s acquired.”

Savanna stared down at the burly brute who considered himself such a clever wizard. While it was true that he’d played Oliver Draper for a fool, she knew Fletch and Hawk would make
him
pay for his various and sundry crimes.

She was disappointed, however, that she probably wouldn’t survive to see Grady receive his just deserts.

Neither had Elaina and Willow, she reminded herself.

Grady canted his frizzy head to look at the angle of the sun. “Lover boy and his brother should be along soon. Then we’ll get this show on the road.”

“Don’t rush through this on my account,” Savanna chirped. The rope that formed a three-strand necklace around her throat made it difficult to swallow.

“Sassy to the end, I see.” Grady smirked. “You’re a lot like Hawk’s wife, Shiloh. She taught me not to take a woman for granted, even if she looks dainty and delicate. She’s as feisty as you are.” He snickered devilishly. “
She
might have survived, but
you
won’t. This time I won’t have to make a fast getaway like I did that night in Texas.”

“You ran for your life like the selfish coward you are?” she flung back. “That comes as no surprise.”

“Shut up, bitch!” Grady growled as he hurled a stick at her horse. The steed shifted sideways, putting pressure on the noose. Savanna choked for breath.

“This ain’t a good time to antagonize me, hellcat.” He sneered. “I’d hate to ruin this fine performance for the Hawk brothers’ benefit, but the result will be the same if Fletch sees you swinging over the ravine and can’t get to you in time. In fact, that’s a fine plan.” He brightened at the thought. “Fletch and his brother can waste valuable time trying to retrieve your lifeless carcass while I take potshots at them.”

Savanna inwardly grimaced. Grady kept painting frightening pictures with words. She had to force herself to shrug them off.

His grin widened, making his ruddy face crinkle with evil amusement. “Dead or alive, you’ll still serve your purpose.”

“Not if it’s evident that I’m long past saving,” Savanna countered hoarsely. “I wouldn’t waste my time on a lost cause. I’d go after you with a vengeance.”

Grady’s smile faltered. Clearly he didn’t want to confront Fletch or Hawk unless he had the upper hand. “Too bad you won’t be alive to go after anybody,” he taunted. “You’ll be blowing in the wind until someone cuts you down so you can crash through the trees and bounce off a few boulders in the ravine.”

Savanna tried her damnedest not to react to the gory picture. She wasn’t going out of this world simpering and squealing. That was for pigs like Grady Mills and Roark Draper. She’d do the Cantrells proud, she vowed. Her only regret was that she hadn’t worked up the nerve to tell Fletch that she had fallen in love with him. He probably wouldn’t want to hear it anyway, though. The secret confession would be a burden on his heart since he was tied eternally to Elaina. The sad part was that Savanna couldn’t work up a dislike for the woman
because her selfless deed made it possible for Savanna to know what love was. She loved Fletch as devotedly as Elaina had…

Her thoughts trailed off when a brawny figure appeared on the hill to the east. She squinted, blinded by the glaring sunlight. Relief streamed through her when she recognized Fletch’s tall, muscular physique.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Grady Mills. Long time no see.” Fletch’s baritone voice boomed in the stillness of early morning. “You’ve set up an impressive stage for your performance. But then, Hawk and I already predicted you couldn’t pass up the irony of a hanging.”

Savanna glanced down at Grady, noting he was having the same trouble getting a clear view of Fletch because of the blinding sunlight. Never let it be said that Fletch didn’t take advantage of every detail in a difficult situation. Standing at a sideways angle, with the sun at his left shoulder, he presented a narrow target, and he could see clearly. Grady, however, had to squint into the sun and he had to deal with a much larger margin of error in a gunfight.

“You’re earlier than expected.” Grady shifted to shield himself behind the broad tree trunk. “Where’s your brother? It’d be a shame if a bullet from one of my booby traps incapacitated him.”

“Unfortunately it did,” Fletch lied convincingly.

It took all the restraint he could muster to stand there nonchalantly—while Savanna was trussed up and waiting for her horse to run out from under her. Damn Grady to hell and back! He had located the perfect site for a hanging. If the horse bolted unexpectedly, Savanna would swing over the ravine. Rescuing her would be difficult if not impossible.

“I really have to hand it to you, Grady, this is well thought
out…especially for a man who has no more brain power at his disposal than you do,” Fletch conceded insultingly.

“Sticks and stones.” Grady sniggered. “I learned a lot of tricks from you and it’s kept me a few steps ahead of you for five years.” He glanced this way and that. “Now, where’s Hawk? Injured or not, I suspect he’s out there somewhere.”

Fletch waited for his brother, who had fashioned a sling for his right arm—and the concealed pistol in his fist—to appear on the west side of the tree. Hawk had tucked another spare pistol into his right holster so Grady would assume all his weapons were displayed in plain sight.

“Been looking forward to seeing you again,” Hawk declared. “I’ve wanted to shoot you a few times for causing Shiloh distress.” He gestured his dark head toward his feigned injury. “The crossfire in front of the tent was a clever touch. I didn’t see that coming. Luckily I’ve learned to withstand pain so catching a bullet didn’t slow me down all that much.”

“So…how do you want to play this out?” Fletch asked.

His gaze darted discreetly to Savanna. Although frustration was eating him alive, pride for her courage swelled inside him. Savanna was a rare breed of woman who faced danger without flinching. She didn’t whimper, wail or beg for mercy. Not that it would do one whit of good with Grady, Fletch reminded himself. Ruthless cutthroats like Grady didn’t waste time on sympathy and compassion.

“It’s simple,” Grady said, still hiding behind the tree. “I ride away unscathed and you do your best to retrieve Savanna before she strangles or breaks her neck.”

Fletch shook his head. “There’s just one hitch in that plan.”

“What’s that?” Grady smirked.

Before Grady had time to blink, Fletch drew his pistol and fired off two quick shots. The rope stretching between Savanna’s neck and the tree branch frayed then broke in two. Grady swore ripely as he grabbed his pistol. First, he thrust his weapon through the tree bough to aim at Fletch who dived to the ground and rolled through the grass. Swearing foully, Grady turned his fury on Savanna.

“No!” Fletch roared when he realized Grady’s intentions.

Fletch stared in tormented horror as Grady aimed at Savanna’s chest. She guided the horse sideways with her knees so she could race directly toward Grady—instead of trying to outrun the imminent threat—like she was supposed to do.

Fletch bounded to his feet and took off at a dead run. With every step he cursed Savanna for calling attention to herself and practically inviting Grady to shoot her at close range. He really hated it when this daredevil female used herself as a diversion. Damn it, if she didn’t get herself killed he was going to shoot her for launching him into an emotional tailspin that was reminiscent of the ordeal that took Elaina’s life.

While Fletch was cursing Savanna for driving him crazy with her daring stunt, she thrust out her foot to kick at the pistol in Grady’s hand. It misfired and plugged into a tree branch above her head. Savanna tried to wedge the vicious galoot between the horse and the tree trunk, but he clawed his way onto the horse’s back and jerked roughly on the rope that dangled over her shoulder.

“Back off!” Grady bellowed at Fletch and Hawk as he reached around Savanna to take control of the reins.

Savanna’s attention shifted to Fletch whose view of Grady was blocked partially by the broad tree trunk. Then
she looked at Hawk who seemed hesitant to shoot for fear of hitting her. She refused to let this showdown become a stalemate, refused to let Grady use her as his shield while he rode off unscathed.

She was taking a stand, here and now. She wanted revenge for Willow and, by damn, she’d have it—or die trying!

She threw herself sideways abruptly, defying the gun Grady held to her head with one hand and the noose he held tightly in the other. She figured that if he shot her then Hawk and Fletch would fill him full of lead before he escaped.

Her thoughts scattered and everything happened at once as she dropped her head against Grady’s thigh. The gunshot roared past her skull—barely—and her ears rang. The smell of gunpowder filled her nostrils.

Grady spouted several crude oaths as he jerked on the rope, cutting off her air supply. Savanna hung precariously on the side of the horse, her hands still tied behind her back. But she managed to thrust out her foot and dig her heel into Grady’s soft underbelly. He cursed mightily as he resituated himself on the horse.

While she hung there, her throat constricted, she continued to kick Grady for all she was worth. She watched his eyes narrow into angry slits as he twisted the rope tighter and aimed the pistol right between her eyes. She had become his entire focus after she’d fouled up his plans.

She was going to die, just as Elaina had, she thought as she stared at the spitting end of his pistol. At least she wasn’t taking a bullet meant for Fletch. He had made her promise she would never do that.

Savanna met Grady’s vicious snarl with defiance and thrust out her leg in a last-ditch effort to unseat him before he
choked her down completely. The pistol discharged, but she redirected the bullet by jabbing his shoulder with her foot.

In the distance, she heard a furious roar. And suddenly she caught sight of a body flying through the air. Fletch had launched himself at Grady, knocking her sideways in the process. She plunged to the ground, grimacing when she landed on her shoulder.

Grady’s pained howl exploded around her. She yelped uncomfortably when Grady landed on her legs. She glanced up to see Fletch looming above her, looking as dark and deadly as the avenging angel of doom. Cursing mightily, he wrenched Grady’s arm up his back to disarm him. Then he delivered a power-packed left cross that sent Grady’s head snapping backward. When Grady threw up an arm to block the next blow Fletch used an undercut that slammed Grady’s jaw together with enough force to crack teeth.

While Savanna lay pinned beneath Grady’s hips, Fletch proceeded to beat the living hell out of him. Blood gushed from Grady’s broken nose and he spat out two teeth. She glanced sideways to see Hawk standing on the sidelines, looking as if he’d like a turn at Grady, but letting Fletch do his worst.

Again, Savanna was reminded that Fletch had gone easy on her during their early confrontations. Even though Grady Mills outweighed Fletch by at least fifty pounds, the outlaw was no match for Fletch’s superior strength and fighting skills.

She was ever so glad Fletch was on her side. Having him anywhere else proved dangerous and deadly. Grady certainly could attest to that—and he had bruises and a bloody nose to prove it.

Fletch dropped his fists to his sides, shook himself from
the red haze of rage and stepped back. He glowered at Grady’s puffy face and felt anger and disgust threaten to swamp him again. Five years of frustrated fury had come pouring out, but Fletch didn’t feel satisfied yet. Grady was personally responsible for his torment. He also held Grady accountable for the frantic fear that ate Fletch alive a moment earlier. This bastard had come within inches of blowing Savanna’s head off. Maddening fury still pulsated through Fletch’s veins. Dragging in a steadying breath, he shifted his attention to Savanna and noticed the raw flesh that encircled her neck.

The unpleasant sight fired up his fury again.

“Take Savanna with you,” Fletch rasped as he clutched Grady’s unconscious body and dragged it off Savanna’s legs. “I’m not finished with this son of a bitch just yet.”

“Remember when Draper tried to take the law into his own hands to avenge our half brother’s death?” Hawk prompted. “We might be blood kin, but don’t be like him, Fletch.”

Fletch dragged in a calming breath then nodded. “I still have a promise to keep to Elaina. And Grady is going to pay for terrorizing Savanna. Count on it.”

Savanna kept her attention fixed on Fletch while Hawk untied her hands then helped her to her feet. She stared pointedly at Hawk’s right arm and he winked at her.

“I wasn’t in as bad of shape as I let on. Slings are a good place to stash pistols. Unfortunately, with you and Grady going at each other on horseback I couldn’t get off a clear shot.”