Page 105 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

“Run to the woods, Erin!” Mom gestured up the east embankment.

Erin started forward, careful not to get her feet tangled in the railroad ties. She scrambled up the ridge. Mom was right behind her. At the top, the trees instantly grew thick.

Mom stayed on Erin’s heels as she continued running through the trees and up an incline. Branches and underbrush grew thicker in places, slapping her arms and legs and even her face.

When she couldn’t run anymore, she stopped to lean against a tree trunk and catch her breath. Erin had avoided the dark woods for so long, but here she was again running for her life, only this time her mother was in the nightmare with her. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe. She pressed her back against the trunk, the bark cutting through her clothes. Erin cupped her hands over her mouth while Mom searched the area around them, guarding them with her gun.

Had they lost the men?

Her mother was in the shadows, so she couldn’t see her face but somehow felt the tension rolling between them. Erin held back sobs.

“You have to have faith, Erin. God is going to see us through this. He’s going to make a way.” Mom grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. “They’re coming. And right now, the way for us is through the woods.”

Moonlight dappled the ground, lighting their way. How long could they hide? They continued hiking east and away from town. Mom stumbled, and Erin caught a glimpse of her mother’s wince in the moonlight.

“Mom! You’re hurt.”

“Just my ankle. But it’s going to slow us down. You keep going. Just hide and get away.” Mom handed her the weapon. “I’ll draw them away.”

“No.” Missy’s face came to mind—that night of terror. Both of them running hand in hand. Erin didn’t leave Missy then, but her friend was snatched from her just the same. “I’m not leaving you behind.”

The men shouted. Flashlight beams signaled their approach.

“There’s no time to argue. Let’s go.”

Mom almost fell to her knees. Erin grabbed her and shouldered her. “I’ll help you. Now where are we going? Where can we hide?”

“I know a place. It’s just a couple of miles. If we can just—”

“You’re right, it’s the perfect hiding place. I agree.” A man stepped in front of them and shined a flashlight at them as he held a gun to Mom’s face. His wicked grin seemed familiar and sickening. He tugged something from his pocket, then flipped his wrist to reveal a pink hat, which he placed on Erin’s head. “I’ve waited a long time to finally get my hands on Collin Byrne’s granddaughter—Erica Weeks. And his daughter”—his seedy eyes shifted to Mom—“Cara Byrne.”