Page 72 of Colton On Guard

This time, Genna responded. “Down here. Help me. I hit my head.”

Parker started forward.

A figure stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Tall and almost painfully thin, the woman had long blond hair tied up in a high ponytail. She wore black leggings and expensive hiking boots that looked brand-new.

“Back away,” she said, raising a pistol. “Or I’ll shoot you.” Revis growled and she glanced at him. “Maybe I’ll shoot your dog, too. Call him off me.”

Her wild eyes warred with her serious expression. Not wanting to risk Revis or JB getting hurt, he called them both. Revis came immediately, taking a seat by his side. JB barked once before disappearing into the brush. No doubt going back to Genna.

“Who are you and what do you want?” Parker asked, wondering if she was skilled with the weapon. He judged the distance, figuring if he played his cards right, he might be able to jump the woman and disarm her.

Instead of answering, she continued to stare, her grip on the pistol steady. “You have one option,” she said. “Take your dogs and leave. Genna is mine to deal with. You won’t be seeing her again.”

“Not a chance,” he replied, keeping his hands hanging loosely by his sides. “What have you done with her?”

She laughed. “She’s hurt. But not hurt enough. Yet. I’m thinking she’ll bleed to death. If not, the wolves will get her.”

A chill snaked up his spine. “Whoareyou? And why do you want Genna dead?”

“Move,” she ordered. “Go back the way you came. Now.”

“No.”

At his response, she slowly swung the gun away from him, pointing it at Revis. “Then I guess I’ll have to shoot your dog.”

Now!Parker leapt forward, sweeping his arm up and kicking the pistol from her hand. She let out an unearthly squeal of rage, snarling at him as she staggered backward.

They both dove for the gun at the same time. Since he was bigger and heavier, when they collided, Parker’s momentum sent her flying. As he grabbed the pistol, she scrabbled tomaintain her balance. Instead, she toppled over the edge of the embankment, screaming as she went.

Revis tried to go after her. Worried his dog would fall, Parker called the Lab to him. Carefully, the two of them walked to the edge of the incline. The woman had grabbed a large branch as she’d fallen and was hanging on for dear life. Since her feet were planted on another branch below her, Parker judged she wasn’t in immediate danger of plunging any further down.

“Help me!” she called.

“After I help Genna,” he shouted back.

JB barked again then popped up from the underbrush. She eyed Parker and Revis before barking a few more times, clearly trying to direct him toward Genna.

Moving carefully, Parker made his way down the slope after the dog. With all the trees and plant growth, he couldn’t see Genna. Using trees and branches and roots as handholds, Parker continued making his way.

Revis remained at the top, watching him, aware this time he couldn’t follow.

Finally, Parker spotted Genna. She lay on a ledge. When she saw him, she lifted her head and then winced in pain.

“I’m coming,” he promised. “I need to call for help. Don’t move just yet.”

“Move?” Her voice sounded strangled. “I can’t. My arm is broken. Maybe my leg, too. I don’t know how I’m going to get out of here.”

Hearing Genna’s voice, little JB whimpered. She ran back and forth, a few feet from where the ground dramatically dropped off.

“Don’t let her fall,” Genna cried. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to her.”

He couldn’t get a cell signal, which didn’t surprise him. It was one of the reasons he and his family like to unwind up here. No interruptions.

“I’m going to need to climb up higher and see if I can get a signal,” he said. “First, I need to check on the woman who attacked you.”

Genna didn’t answer. When he looked, he realized she’d lost consciousness. Which might mean she’d been badly hurt.

Just the thought made him fight back panic. Forcing himself to move, he went to the place where Genna’s assailant had fallen. No longer hanging on to a branch, she’d managed to pull herself up enough to be able to straddle it, using the limb as a kind of a seat.