Branches slapped Caro’s face as Reynolds forced her to ride through the trees with her hands tied behind her back. She’d prayed since the moment they left for a chance to flee, but with Reynolds holding Angel’s reins, she had little choice but to follow. How could she leave Chisholm a trail to follow? He’d come for her eventually—if he could.
She closed her eyes and recalled the things he’d told her about tracking. He looked for things that others missed. Could she leave him some clues to follow without alerting Reynolds? She fingered the binds around her wrists and found a rough hemp thread protruding. She tugged on it and it finally gave way. She flicked it, praying it would land in the grass, but she knew it was a long shot. She didn’t even know if it was on the ground or stuck on the saddle’s cantle.
The path they were on was packed hard. There would be few prints, but Chisholm could follow the marks along the path better. She’d spent hours training Angel on leg cues so she could direct her to the right or left without the use of reins. Nudging Angel’s left side, the horse moved a bit to the right, stepping into the grass without Reynolds noticing.
Caro waited a few minutes before trying again. This time she spotted a pecan tree to the north. Surely a few of last year’s pecans had fallen near the path. She urged Angel over and heard a satisfying crack beneath her hooves.
On and on she went. Broken blades of tall grass. Hoofprints in softer soil. Small broken branches.
And lots of prayer.
She urged Angel to the left.
Reynolds whirled around. “What are you doing?”
“Riding. Getting hit in the face by branches. Wishing I’d had breakfast.”
His brows drew close. “Why can’t that horse stay on the path?”
“Maybe because you won’t let me have the reins.” She shrugged. “Are we almost there? Have you hurt Ricardo?”
“You should be more concerned with your Ranger friends.” He chuckled. “At least at the moment.”
Fresh fear wound around her heart and squeezed the breath from her lungs. “What did you do to them?”
“They’re getting too close.”
“Why are you doing this? I thought you were a good man.”
“People change.” He sighed. “I never planned to hurt anyone. I thought if I let those Rangers stay at the ranch, then I’d know what they found, and I could throw them off my track if necessary.”
“That was your plan all along?”
“Yep. Then Ricardo refused to help with the rebranding, but when I threatened kicking you and your mother out, he agreed to keep quiet.” He glanced back at her. “Don’t look so disappointed in me. You’re the one who went nosing around. Too many people know too much. I have to take drastic measures to get it under control. I have no choice.”
“You always have a choice.” Her words sounded bitter, even to her.
“It’s my duty to protect my men.”
“Duty?” She could hardly believe her ears. “Duty is a moral obligation. It’s knowing there are some things more important than yourself. I didn’t realize it before, but I witnessed that in my father and I see it in Chisholm. Duty is love in action.” She noticed he’d slowed their progress. “But there’s no duty in what you’re doing. Don’t fool yourself. It’s self-preservation, pure and simple.”
Se?or Reynolds grew silent as they descended toward Brady Creek. Was he having doubts about his intentions? Caro prayed that he was indeed, but when he turned toward her, his eyes were granite-hard with resolve.
He brought the horses to a stop, and Caro searched for a sign of Ricardo. Trees lined the swollen creek’s bank. It must have rained last night to the north of Brady City for the water to be moving this swiftly. But where was Ricardo? She finally spotted him, his back to a tree. His hands, like hers, were bound behind him.
Se?or Reynolds dismounted, then lifted her off of Angel. “Go say your good-byes, but make it quick.”
Tripping over her skirt, Caro hurried to Ricardo. She dropped to her knees in front of him. He looked at her, one eye bruised and almost swollen shut. When he tried to speak, his swollen lip wouldn’t cooperate.
“He needs some water—now,” Caro shouted to Se?or Reynolds, who remained with the horses several yards away.
Se?or Reynolds laughed. “Oh, he’ll get plenty soon enough.”
Caro opened her mouth ready with a retort, but Ricardo cleared his throat. “Don’t, mi prima.“ He licked his cracked lip. “I tried to protect you. I’m sorry I failed.”