Page 141 of Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage 1)

“Are you okay?” Jack asked.

“More or less.”

“What happened?”

“He had to untie me so I could make it down the boulders. Before we even tried, I fought him. Got the gun, but it misfired. So I ran. I heard you shouting. I knew you’d run into Briggs, so I came back to help you.”

He handed his cell over.

“See if you can get a signal and call for backup.”

“You didn’t already?”

“Yes. But they need to know where we are. Top of Stone Wolf Canyon. Call your brother. He’s out there somewhere looking for you.”

“I’m here.” Owen emerged from the trees and pointed his gun at Briggs too.

“It’s okay, Owen,” Terra said. “You can put your gun down. Detective Tanner has it under control.”

Owen’s eyes blazed with anger as he continued forward.

“Owen? What are you doing?” Jack feared he would shoot Briggs. “Owen, stand down.”

“Leif’s sister is dead because of you. That’s why he was searching for the man behind moving the artifacts. The man his sister had worked for.”

“Well, he found me.” Briggs spat.

“And you killed Leif.” Owen edged closer. “You deserve to die.”

“Don’t let him take you from me, Owen.” Terra rushed forward. “You’ve come back to me. I can’t lose you again. You kill him, you’ll go to prison.”

The tension rolling off Owen was palpable. Jack edged closer too, hoping to take the gun from him before he did something crazy and Terra got caught in the crossfire.

“Owen, please.” Terra pressed Owen’s arm until he lowered the gun.

Rotors thrummed in the distance, the sound growing louder. Terra snatched the flashlight and waved it toward the sky to signal their location.

Briggs kicked out his leg, knocking Owen over.

“Terra, shine the light on them,” Jack said. “I can’t see.”

She flashed the light on the fighting men. Marcus had Owen pinned.

“Owen!” Terra rushed forward.

“Terra, watch out!” Jack called.

Marcus pushed her away, and she teetered on the edge of the cliff.

“Briggs,” Jack said, “you have two seconds to get away from Owen before I shoot you.”

Briggs tore the gun from Owen and rolled, then aimed at Terra, knowing he would inflict the most pain on both Jack and Owen by killing her.

“Noooooo!” Jack pulled the trigger at the same moment Briggs fired at Terra.

Briggs went limp and dropped the gun, just as Terra disappeared over the cliff.