Page 15 of The Risk

She kicked him. Hard.

He’d put the gun down on the table. She knew how to use a gun. She was a Fields, after all. Charlie and her father had taught her to shoot a pistol before she’d even learned how to drive a car.

He cursed and reached out. Slapped her.

Chantal cried out.

Just as the door slammed open.

They both turned. Chantal screamed—from hope.

“Gene!”

Gene attacked. He and the guy were close to the same size. They were slinging punches and grunts and yells in an instant.

Chantal yanked at the rope on her ankles. Her hands were tied in front of her, but she could still move her fingers. The thug slammed his fist into Gene’s nose. There was blood—lots of it.

Gene cursed, then shoved the guy to the floor. The guy’s head slammed off of the chair. Gene grabbed him by the shirt and punched him two or three more times. Chantal just focused on getting her feet free.

“He’s out,” Gene said, rasping in breath. His nose bled.

But he was there. He was there.Genewas there.

Chantal focused on getting her feet free. She’d break down and cry later. Gene was there.

Finally, her feet were free. “Gene! I?—”

He came at her. Chantal just leapt. Strong arms caught her. He held her close for a fast moment. “Chantal, honey... damn. Let’s get you out of here. What did he take off of you?”

Chantal met his hazel eyes. All of the Hillers had the most beautiful hazel eyes. She would never forget how beautiful his eyes were in that moment. “I’m diabetic, Gene. Mom and Dad and my brothers don’t know. He took my insulin pump, and his brother took my bag with emergency injections on purpose. I need to get to the hospital fast. Or get some insulin. Four hours at the most.”

They were three hours on foot minimum from the main part of the Hiller Ranch. And cell service—there wasnocell service on this part of the ranch at all.

She saw knowledge of that in his eyes.

“I’ll get you there, baby. I promise. But we’re going to have to hoof it. We’ll get home, I promise.”

“Tie him up first. I want Charlie to get him.”

“I’m on it.”

Gene hog-tied the jerk fast. “We’ll send your brother’s people back to get him as soon as we can. For now, I’m getting you to Chad and Guthrie as fast as I can, but we’re going to have to hike it, babe.”

Then he had her outside in the fresh air. To her shock, Gene pulled her close and just held her for a long moment. “I was watching the whole time. I heard you scream and saw them take you. I wasn’t going to let them hurt you. I just had to wait for the right moment. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you sooner.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re here now.” Chantal looked up at him. Her arms slipped around his waist, and she just held on, too. “I’m not sure how, but you are.”

She never imagined Gene would ever be her savior.

Then they were walking.

The cabin was at the back edge of the ranch—a good two-plus-hour walk to the nearest road. Then there would be another hour on the road. The Hiller Ranch was spread out over several different tracts. Some were on the edge of Barratt County. They connected with narrow strips and access roads. It either meant a hike straight through the ranch, with no water or supplies, or they took the back road. The W-Deane Ranch butted against them, too. Help was out there.

They just had to get to it.

They just kept walking.

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