Page 33 of Unexpected Danger (Mountain Justice #2)

Scant details returned. Londyn smiled at the redhead, whose unmanageable hair had escaped from what appeared to be a former ponytail at the nape of her neck. “Where did you last see Sesame?”

“Right over there near the ravine. We decided to go on a walk after one of my friends told me it was so beautiful up here and that we could get a good glimpse of the mountains.” Renee withdrew her phone from her pants pocket.

“I’ve been trying to get some pictures to enter in the newspaper’s photo of the week contest. At first, I wasn’t going to take Sesame because he has a history of running off, but he was so eager to go on a walk this morning.

Thank you for helping me find him.” For the next several minutes, Londyn joined Renee in calling Sesame’s name.

She thought she heard a bark on the other side of the creek, but she couldn’t be sure.

“I think I hear her down there.” Renee pointed toward the road and, without waiting, started scaling the dirt path in that direction. Londyn followed her, periodically calling out to Sesame.

A truck hauling a horse trailer passed by on the road.

“Maybe we should cross to the other side and see if he’s over there,” suggested Renee.

She shoved her free hand into the pocket of her purple denim pants covered in dog hair, which did little to flatter her overt pear shape. “What do you think, Londyn?”

Londyn scanned the area across the two-lane road. The state land on that side was covered in sagebrush mingled with some rocky patches. A deer stood eyeing them. She was surprised it would be so calm if Sesame was in the vicinity.

“We can, but I doubt he’s over there. Why don’t we head back up the hill and see if maybe we just missed seeing him?”

Renee shrugged her narrow shoulders, and Londyn turned back around to lead the woman back to where they had come from when she heard a vehicle pull up to the side of the road.

“Oh, there’s my friend. Maybe he can help us.” Renee strode toward the car.

The hairs on the back of Londyn’s neck stood on end, although she wasn’t sure why.

She didn’t recognize the vehicle, and she couldn’t see who was inside.

Still, she’d learned long ago to listen to her gut.

Maybe she should return to the ranch. She increased her speed when she heard footsteps behind her.

She assumed it was Renee, but glanced back just to be sure.

That’s when she noticed Dustin following her.

Londyn sped up her pace, but her foot slipped on the dry dirt of the incline.

She fell and propelled herself back up again, struggling to get traction.

Once on even ground, she would need to switch to a full-out run.

When she reached the top, something hard hit her just behind the knees, and she fell to the ground, smacking her kneecaps and shoulder on the packed dirt.

Londyn gritted her teeth and attempted once again to rise to her feet.

She was vaguely aware of Dustin’s voice, “Wow, Renee, I’m impressed. I never figured you to be able to swing a tree branch.”

Renee laughed as the pain radiated down the back of Londyn’s leg. Adrenaline urged her off the ground just as Dustin grabbed her ponytail and wrenched her head back. “Where do you think you’re going, Londyn?”

“You need to let me go. Brodie will be here any minute.” Her eyes smarted as he yanked harder, and she groped for her gun.

She wanted to use it at the most advantageous time possible, but with Dustin’s proximity, she struggled with knowing when that time was.

The last thing she needed was for him to wrestle it from her.

“I don’t think he will be. He’s just been called out to a disturbance on Hannon Road. Nice try, though.”

With difficulty and attempting to ignore the searing pain in her knee and the awkward position Dustin had put her in while pulling her hair, Londyn twisted and elbowed him hard in the gut.

Dustin faltered a second before Londyn lifted her leg and kicked him as hard as she could in the shin.

He released her hair, grunted, and bent over to rub his shin.

Londyn clobbered him over the head with her water bottle and attempted to ignore the throbbing pain in her leg as she hurriedly limped away.

She heard the rush of feet and Renee’s voice asking Dustin if he was all right.

But Londyn didn’t wait to find out what transpired next. Lord, please give me the ability to run.

As much as she willed her legs to cooperate, she failed. But Londyn could walk, although she only had a few seconds' lead time.

She needed a game plan. A chance to call 911. To use her gun.

Unfortunately, she was afforded none of the three.

Dustin gripped her shoulder and called her a few choice words.

Londyn screamed, then grabbed the underside of his arm in the delicate tricep muscle area while simultaneously aiming for his eyes. He shoved her to the ground. Londyn extracted her gun from its holster and directed it at her attackers.

“Dustin, do something!” wailed Renee.

Dustin charged her as she fired, knocking the gun from her grasp. It skidded along the ground and into a crevice.

Londyn crab walked back away from him. She needed to get her gun.

Needed to get away. Had to get away. If he had a chance to drag her to the car, Brodie would never find her.

She turned over and hoisted herself to a standing position, but Dustin had already recovered.

He ran toward her, head-butting her and knocking her backward.

“That was a good one, Dustin.” Renee clapped her hands. “Kinda like in the movies.”

Renee’s words were the last Londyn heard before everything went black.