Page 16 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

Found Nathan’s car at the Casper Creek Dam trailhead.

Erin leaned against her car and waited for a response. She listened to the forest sounds. Insects buzzing. A squirrel crawling up a nearby pine tree. Birdsong filled the air and eased some of the tension. She breathed in the scent of evergreens and fresh mountain air. She could make out the sound of the river echoing in the canyon down a ways.

The minutes ticked away and the sun rose higher in the sky as a dark thunderhead built up—another round of storms. She tried calling her friends again, then climbed back into her vehicle. She’d done what she could. But she didn’t shift into reverse or drive away yet. What if Nathan truly was in trouble, mentally and emotionally? Look what happened to Mom when Erin hadn’t been quick enough to respond to her cries for help. She got out of the car and locked it. Erin wished she had thought to bring a backpack and water—like Terra always told her—but hiking wasn’t her thing, and so she hadn’t planned for this.

She wouldn’t turn back now. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Erin just hoped she found Nathan before the storm hit. And if she did find him, what exactly would she say? She’d better figure that out—and soon. Or maybe she only needed to listen, and he needed to talk.

Would he open up to her, someone who had hurt him before?

Ignoring the mounting tightness in her chest, she continued hiking the trail. The woods weren’t going to kill her. The forest wasn’t dangerous. She repeated the mantra in her head as she maneuvered the path and then veered from the trail at the familiar boulders. She remembered this shortcut from her past off-trail experience, compliments of Nathan. Next, the path led her downward until she reached an area previously submerged before the dam controlled the flow of water. She hung back at the edge of the forest where the trees thinned out. Up ahead, she spotted the riverbank.

And there on a boulder next to the river crouched Nathan. Here, in this natural setting, he looked more ruggedly handsome. Handsome and . . . forlorn. Her heart rate kicked up at the sight of him. Erin pushed back the sudden surge of emotion and focused on the reason she’d come.

She didn’t see crime scene tape, and maybe none had been placed in such a remote area. She wished Terra or Jack would call or at least respond that they had received her messages. It would be even better if Jack would show up. She didn’t feel comfortable leaving Nathan, though he might not appreciate her intrusion at this, one of his most brutal moments.

Lord, what do I do?

Nathan rose and then angled around to look right at her as if he’d sensed she was there.

He did not look happy to see her.