Page 53 of Captive at Rescue Ridge

Heart full of emotion, tears streaming down her face, Annalee said, “Yes, Archer. I’ll be your best friend, I’ll be your safe place, and I’ll be your wife.”

Archer kissed her so tenderly it robbed her breath. Her bones became liquid under his touch. And one word came to mind…home.

After never feeling like she’d belonged anywhere but here, she’d finally found her shelter, her love, and her place to call home.

And she planned to never let go.

19

Epilogue

The sun was shining. The wind had stilled. The windows were down. Owen Sturgess had no plans to waste the beautiful day. He needed a break after being ambushed, kidnapped, and tortured when he’d been mistaken for Archer.

Owen would rather be the one taken, rather than his twin endure the pain. The two were close, bonded by brotherhood and a friendship that ran deeper than the lake he was headed toward. A couple of days off from ranch duty to rest and recoup was a welcomed distraction from recent events—events that still caused his wrists and ankles to hurt from the bindings.

He’d be fine. His injuries amounted to a couple of scrapes that would heal in a week or two given enough rest. Antibiotic ointment helped.

Right now, though, the only thing he wanted to think about was the amount of fish he was fixin’ to catch. At Watcher’s Lake, he intended to fill a cooler with crappie or bass, depending on what was biting.

On Farm Road 221 heading out of town, he let his left hand dangle out the window. As a kid, he’d done the same thing, stretching his arm out to snatch the occasional rogue weed along the side of the gravel road.

And then he heard it. An animal cry?

The sound had him stomping the brake before he had time to think, let alone debate his next actions—actions that had him cutting the engine and exiting the Jeep. He ran toward the second cry. This was no animal. The voice was human. Female.

Running until his thighs burned, it occurred to Owen that he was on Ashworth property. Didn’t Simone Ashworth still live here?

“Help me! Please!”

This time, the voice registered. What was Evie doing back in town? And why the hell hadn’t his former best friend contacted him to let him know she was here?

Her desperate plea had him pushing harder, running faster as he tore through the thicket. Branches slapped at his face and torso. His right knee screamed at him, an old sports injury that reared its head from time to time. Being bound up for a few days had poked the bear, in a manner of speaking.

Owen’s knee gave, causing him to eat scrub brush after face planting. A few inches to the right and he would most likely be dealing with a concussion.

He immediately jumped to his feet, testing the knee a second time. When he didn’t fall, he got moving again. This time, he slowed his pace as he neared the sound of the screams. He clamped his mouth shut. As much as he wanted to reassure Evie that help was on its way, he didn’t want to give away his location or the fact he was near. Recent events reminded him that Saddle Junction wasn’t as safe as it had once been.

In fact, he grew up here believing the town to be among the most boring in the state. A few determined criminals changed his view. Now, he locked doors and double-checked windows.

Hard crime had followed his family back to the ranching community for one reason or another. Caution was the best course of action as he neared the area where he’d heard Evie’s screams.

The area was now silent.

All kinds of worst-case scenarios ran through his thoughts. Considering the ordeal he’d been through, it wasn’t an exaggeration to fear she might already be dead. The thought caused a tight fist to form in the center of his chest, making breathing next to impossible. He hadn’t seen or spoken to Evie in too many years. And yet the thought of her dying was a sucker punch.

Owen stopped. Listened.

A twig snapped ahead, not twenty feet in front of him.

Trees in this area were dense, making it impossible to get a good look at what he was up against. A gentlewhooshmoved through the leaves followed by a soft, rustling sound.

The urge to run straight toward danger had to be tamped down. He, of all people, knew the value of the element of surprise.

Inching to his left, keeping his movements swift and quiet, Owen saw her.

Evie sat on the back of her heels, crouched low. She had the posture of someone waiting to pounce. His heart hammered his ribcage at seeing her again after all these years.

Even from this distance, he saw the blood.