some movement back down the mountain across from her. He stood behind a cluster of cedars on the far ridge, his binoculars positioned over his eyes. His horse was tied to a tree behind him. No doubt the physical exertion had forced him to stop before reaching their agreed upon site. Sage motioned to Hawk and pointed the bird toward Parker.
Let him know I see him, she whispered, and yanked a buttonfrom her shirt. Placing it in Hawks talons, she sent the bird toward Parker.
Hawk flew directly to him and screeched. Parker glanced up. Hopefully hed recognize the red plumage. The bird dipped low. Through the binoculars, Sage watched Parker drop to the ground and examine something, then slip it into his shirt pocket. Good. Hawk had released the button. Now Parker needed to stay there until she arrived.
She scooted down from the rock and made her way back to where shed tethered her pony. If Parker would stay among the cedars, she could loop around and reach him in a short while. She started to tremble under the weight of finding the boys and the man who had so long shadowed her mind, like Satan himself. All these years shed thought of nothing but finding him and those whod ridden with him, but now she had to choose between her hatred and Leahs sons.
P arker had been involved in many different strategies to bring down an enemyfrom his teenage years wearing the gray in the war to his job as a marshal. But hed never taken orders from a woman who used a hawk as a carrier pigeon.
And yet he hid in a thicket of cedars for a woman bounty hunter and her hawk while the lives of his nephews were threatened by the dangers of the wild and an outlaw gang. She must have learned where they were to send Hawk with a button. A bit of damaged pride rested in that knowledge. He should be the one scouting the mountains for John and Davis instead of gasping for breath with his sides on fire and waiting for her to appear.
The past few days had been a flurryfrom Franks murder to the beating hed received at the hands of McCaws gang to Leahs missing boys. In the middle of this was a strange bounty hunter who had the face of an angel and the reputation of a devil with mystic powers. Hidden within her tragedies was the truth about the connection Sage, Charles, and Parker had to theMcCaws. One truth had already surfaced: he longed to get to know a woman called Sage.
A twig snapped behind him, and he whirled around, his finger resting on the trigger of his rifle.
Easy, Parker. Sages soft voice reminded him of quaking aspen leaves, a taste of exquisite beauty amidst a breeze. Her slender figure emerged from the cedars. I thought if I made a little noise, you wouldnt be so quick to shoot me.
You dont know me. He should have laughed, but instead frustration took control. He should be passing on needed information to her.
I found the McCaws and your nephews.
His optimism slid up a notch, and he shoved away his pride. Are they all right?
From what I could see. Her face clouded. Their hands are tied, but other than that they look fine. You cant see them from here.
He didnt like the look on her face. What are you not telling me?
Theres only one narrow trail up to where theyre camped, and two McCaws are guarding it.
He hadnt trampled these mountains to hear rescuing John and Davis was impossible. Show me where theyre at. There has to be another way to get to them.
There is.
His aggravation escalated. How could a woman delight and vex him at the same time? How?
The only other way is to scale the rocky crags behind them, about seventy-five feet up.
We brought extra rope. He attempted to ignore the pain in his chest. Ill climb it tonight and hope the stars are out. I can rescue them.
Sage shook her head. You cant make your way up the cliff with broken ribs.
Parker sensed the heat rising up his neck. John and Davis are my brothers sons. Theyre my responsibility. Im not a crippled old man.
Her face softened. I know all about who you are, how you run a
Let him know I see him, she whispered, and yanked a buttonfrom her shirt. Placing it in Hawks talons, she sent the bird toward Parker.
Hawk flew directly to him and screeched. Parker glanced up. Hopefully hed recognize the red plumage. The bird dipped low. Through the binoculars, Sage watched Parker drop to the ground and examine something, then slip it into his shirt pocket. Good. Hawk had released the button. Now Parker needed to stay there until she arrived.
She scooted down from the rock and made her way back to where shed tethered her pony. If Parker would stay among the cedars, she could loop around and reach him in a short while. She started to tremble under the weight of finding the boys and the man who had so long shadowed her mind, like Satan himself. All these years shed thought of nothing but finding him and those whod ridden with him, but now she had to choose between her hatred and Leahs sons.
P arker had been involved in many different strategies to bring down an enemyfrom his teenage years wearing the gray in the war to his job as a marshal. But hed never taken orders from a woman who used a hawk as a carrier pigeon.
And yet he hid in a thicket of cedars for a woman bounty hunter and her hawk while the lives of his nephews were threatened by the dangers of the wild and an outlaw gang. She must have learned where they were to send Hawk with a button. A bit of damaged pride rested in that knowledge. He should be the one scouting the mountains for John and Davis instead of gasping for breath with his sides on fire and waiting for her to appear.
The past few days had been a flurryfrom Franks murder to the beating hed received at the hands of McCaws gang to Leahs missing boys. In the middle of this was a strange bounty hunter who had the face of an angel and the reputation of a devil with mystic powers. Hidden within her tragedies was the truth about the connection Sage, Charles, and Parker had to theMcCaws. One truth had already surfaced: he longed to get to know a woman called Sage.
A twig snapped behind him, and he whirled around, his finger resting on the trigger of his rifle.
Easy, Parker. Sages soft voice reminded him of quaking aspen leaves, a taste of exquisite beauty amidst a breeze. Her slender figure emerged from the cedars. I thought if I made a little noise, you wouldnt be so quick to shoot me.
You dont know me. He should have laughed, but instead frustration took control. He should be passing on needed information to her.
I found the McCaws and your nephews.
His optimism slid up a notch, and he shoved away his pride. Are they all right?
From what I could see. Her face clouded. Their hands are tied, but other than that they look fine. You cant see them from here.
He didnt like the look on her face. What are you not telling me?
Theres only one narrow trail up to where theyre camped, and two McCaws are guarding it.
He hadnt trampled these mountains to hear rescuing John and Davis was impossible. Show me where theyre at. There has to be another way to get to them.
There is.
His aggravation escalated. How could a woman delight and vex him at the same time? How?
The only other way is to scale the rocky crags behind them, about seventy-five feet up.
We brought extra rope. He attempted to ignore the pain in his chest. Ill climb it tonight and hope the stars are out. I can rescue them.
Sage shook her head. You cant make your way up the cliff with broken ribs.
Parker sensed the heat rising up his neck. John and Davis are my brothers sons. Theyre my responsibility. Im not a crippled old man.
Her face softened. I know all about who you are, how you run a
Similar Books
