Chapter 219: Near AspenRight arm resting on the back of the low tan leather couch, Angus glanced over his shoulder and out the window of the Gulfstream 100. Heading west, they were chasing the sunset, and far below, the agricultural land of the plains states spread out like a patchwork quilt in the late afternoon light. Anna's soft sigh drew his attention back inside the cabin of the leased private jet Cooper had procured for Angus's trip to Florida. The pilot had been more than happy to wait at the airport in Orlando. Because either way, Angus would be returning to Colorado.He looked down at Anna, fast asleep with her head resting on a pillow in his lap. When she'd crashed nearly as soon as the jet was in the air, the lone flight attendant had helpfully produced the pillow and a blanket. Since then, Anna hadn't so much as stirred.She must have been done in, he mused, thinking of his own emotional exhaustion over the past weeks since they'd been apart.Angus closed his eyes a
Chapter 220: Epilogue"And the award for best picture of the year goes to…The King of Iron Rise!" Anna's heart momentarily stopped, and the world around her shifted into slow motion. She turned to her left where Angus beamed at her, his azure eyes sparkling, before he pressed a warm kiss to her lips. "We did it, love."Through ears that pounded in rhythm with her pulse, all sound was muffled as she watched him step into the aisle, button his black tuxedo jacket, and make his way up the steps to the stage where a woman in a glittery silver gown stood holding a golden statuette. The woman handed the award to Angus and murmured words of congratulations before stepping back out of the spotlight that illuminated the lone microphone in the center of the stage. As the applause died down, Angus gazed down at the trophy in his hands and shook his head in disbelief. "Och, aye, and it's a hell of a thing," he sighed, and applause broke out again. Anna clapped too as a tear ran down her
Chapter 1: RUN!RUN! Every fiber of her being screamed at her, willing her to shake off the fog that veiled her mind, willing her to save herself.Jenny Stone shakily pushed herself into a sitting position in the back seat of the black SUV, ignoring the pulsing of her swollen left eye, trying desperately to focus with her right one as she peered through the dark-tinted windows.Her minders, Slater and Wilcox (she had no idea of their first names, nor did she care to know) had left her when they'd gone into the truck stop for a bite to eat. They'd assumed she was unconscious, which she had been, momentarily knocked out by Slater's right jab to the left side of her face. This after backhanding her across the mouth. Her mouth filled with the harsh metallic tang of her own blood, she tentatively pushed her tongue toward her puffy lip. Thankfully, her teeth seemed to be intact, no thanks to Slater's meaty blow.All because she'd fought him. And she'd do it again. Every time.She mi
Chapter 2: Ducking the CougarCole Caldwell mentally rolled his eyes for what felt like the fiftieth time that morning. Meredith Wagner was a cougar in the classic sense, with her platinum blonde hair and her designer nose. And designer breasts, he imagined. Not that he imagined her as a habit. She was a good fifteen years older than he; he'd just turned twenty-seven the month before. Even so, she was in great shape. It was a wonder what you could do with a personal trainer and a plastic surgeon on speed dial."Now Cole, you must allow me to take you to lunch before you head back to the country," Meredith purred.He shook his head. "I told you, Mrs. Wagner, I'd prefer to get Dahlia back to my place before dark, give her a chance to get used to my barn and the surroundings.""Call me Meredith," she insisted, placing a well-manicured and diamond-bedecked hand on his arm. "We've been over that. But seriously, you have to eat something. You might as well do so at Layton's expens
Chapter 3: That DayWaves of relief washed over Jenny as the trailer began moving. She'd heard the cowboy return, pausing to speak to the horse in a warm, deep tone. "Alright, Dahlia, let's head on home."Now, out on the highway, the motion settled into the monotonous rhythm of the segmented concrete slabs that made up the road they on which traveled. The trailer was open at the end, and a vent was open near the front to provide ventilation for the horse. Which made it cold for Jenny, bare legs and all, so she hunkered inside the huge black hoodie, leaning against the side of the trailer.For the first time that day, she felt her body begin to relax, and she reluctantly drifted off to sleep. The nightmare she'd known awaited her was not far behind.She's on her way home from school. In Chelsea's car, they have it all worked out. They'll both tell their parents they're spending the night with each other. Neither girl's folks ever think to check up on them. Because truthfully,
Chapter 4: A StowawayCole felt a familiar sense of relief settle over him as he locked the gate behind the horse trailer and climbed back into the cab of the truck. Arriving home at the ranch where he'd grown up, locking out the world at large, always gave him a feeling of peace.It was home. He couldn't have put it more simply than that. It was where he'd spent his entire life, with the exception of the time he'd spent in the Marines. Following a year in Afghanistan, he'd worked out the remainder of his enlistment in Bridgeport, where he'd trained horses and soldiers for combat missions. He'd been thrilled to be back in the saddle, and the fact that home was a short couple of hours away had been the cherry on top.When his enlistment had ended, he'd returned to the ranch and built his reputation as an in-demand horse trainer. Happy that Cole was back in the fold, his parents had sold some stocks and retired to Santa Fe, leaving him in charge of the ranch. His older sister Beth
Chapter 5: JennyIn the kitchen of the white two-story farmhouse, Cole watched as the woman silently scanned the room. When he'd parked the truck in front of the house, she'd made no attempt to get out. He'd come around and opened her door, but still, she'd hesitated, her good eye darting all around the area. Finally, she'd slid down and followed him up the steps and across the covered porch to the door, which he'd opened, letting her into the house. Blue, his three-year-old blue tick coonhound greeting them excitedly at the door, whining and wagging his tail. Cole watched the woman stiffen and the dog sniffed her curiously. "He's a love," he said quickly. "Aren't you, Blue?"The woman tentatively offered the back of her hand which the dog immediately licked. Her expression lightened a bit, and she squatted down to pet Blue.In the quiet of the house, he took a deep breath. "Can you tell me who hurt you?"Startled, she turned to him, her battered face at odds with the brigh
Chapter 6: Assessing the DamagePeering into the bathroom mirror, Jenny was shocked at what she saw. Her face was a mess, her left eye swollen and purple, and her long red hair was tangled and unruly. She hadn't been to a salon in the two years she'd been Victor's captive. Once shoulder length, her hair now reached nearly down to her behind. She considered the dress and cringed. It was from the limited closet of items Victor had provided, and his tastes in women's fashion left a lot to be desired. Day to day, she alternated between a couple worn pairs of jeans that grew increasingly loose as she lost weight, matching them with a half-dozen old t-shirts. Unless Victor sent for her, in which case he usually specified which slinky dress he wanted her to wear. She supposed he imagined her as a gift to be wrapped and presented, either to himself or to those individuals with whom he wanted to curry favor. She looked at the stack of clothes Cole had given her, touching them lightly