Page 74 of Dark Side of the River

“Okay, I’ll take Castle Rock, but, Coop, don’t try to take him by yourself. Call me. You should be able to get cell phone coverage out there.”

Stuart took off to the next road that would cross over to Highway 59 and take CJ to Miles City and the interstate. They had to stop him before he reached there. He called his deputies, told them to head to Highway 59 and set up a roadblock for a Stafford Ranch pickup headed north.

Behind him, he saw Cooper turn around in the middle of the county road. He lost sight of him, dust boiling up behind his SUV. As he passed Little Bear Skull Creek Road, he saw Cooper turn. He questioned getting his friend involved. Cooper wasn’t the law. But CJ had Tilly. If he ran across them, he might be able to talk some sense into CJ. Or at least get Tilly away from her brother.

That was what had him worried. Why had CJ taken Tilly with him? Why not just jump into a ranch truck and make a run for it alone?

Because he was planning to use her as a hostage to help him get away?

Stuart swore as he made the turn onto Castle Rock Road. He couldn’t bear to think of how badly this could end.

CJHADTILLY. Cooper raced down the narrow windy dirt road without any thought to his own safety. All he could think about was getting Tilly away from her brother.

CJ had shot Oakley. It made no sense. Why would he do that? He was a loose cannon, no doubt about that, and he had one hell of a chip on his shoulder. But shoot your own sister?

He watched the road ahead, telling himself that if he was CJ, this was the road he would have taken—the first one to the west. The county road got little traffic. This one even less. Cooper wasn’t worried about running into anyone as he took the curves at breakneck speed. He figured CJ would be doing the same thing.

Hadn’t the cowboy realized that once the lab ran a test on his rifle he would be caught? Had he been trying to buy time? Or had he just been afraid and didn’t know what to do?

That sounded more like it. Now he was on the run—with Tilly. He certainly hadn’t thought this out—or maybe he had by taking a hostage with him.

Tilly. He felt such a rush of fear. If he lost her now... He pushed the thought away, but the fear stayed. He should have kissed her more, he should have told her what he was feeling, he should have made love to her so she knew how much she was loved.

But CJ was the perfect example of why he’d been afraid that if he and Tilly went any further, they would only get their hearts broken when they were forced apart. Holden wanted peace between the families. But he also had to know what an uphill battle it would be. It might make things worse. Tilly’s family might disown her. If CJ had shot his own sister because she was on McKenna land...

Cooper fought to control his temper, half-afraid of what he would do if he caught up with them.Whenhe caught up with them, he told himself. He’d want to strangle CJ with his bare hands. He’d have to because Stuart hadn’t given him back his guns yet. That wasn’t a welcome thought.

As he came over a rise, he saw something ahead that sent his heart thundering. Dust. There was another vehicle on the road about a quarter mile ahead. He pushed down on the gas, flying around the curves and dips in the road.

Cooper just needed to see if it was them. It had to be, he told himself. He came over a rise and spotted the pickup ahead, getting a good look at it as CJ made a turn to the right. Cooper could see the Stafford Ranch logo on the side. He started to make the call to the sheriff.

His desire to get his hands on CJ without any interference from Stuart made him hesitate, although he had no idea what he was going to do when he caught up to them.

With a curse, he made the call. “He’s in front of me,” he told Stuart. “We’re almost to a connecting road to the north. You should be able to catch us there if you come south.”

“Got it. Follow, but don’t confront. You hear me, Coop?”

“Loud and clear.” But he made no promises.

STUARTHOPEDHEhadn’t made a mistake enlisting Cooper’s help. When he reached the dirt road south, he turned, hoping to see CJ and Tilly headed for him. He’d radioed his deputies. They were on their way. He figured CJ would be armed. The eldest Stafford male was always a little dangerous. Now, with CJ on the run, it was going to take a very careful, calm approach, which was one reason he didn’t want Cooper confronting CJ.

He hoped Cooper hadn’t gone rogue and tried to stop CJ. There was no telling what the cowboy might do if confronted. Stuart feared CJ had taken Tilly for that very reason. Would he really use his sister as a shield? As a hostage?

The sheriff reminded himself that CJ had shot his younger sister. Whether it had been an accident or not, he’d almost killed her.

He tried to relax, but he still hadn’t seen the Stafford Ranch pickup and he was almost to the turnoff that would connect with the road both CJ and Cooper were traversing. His anxiety was growing by the minute. What had happened? He hated to think.Damn it, Cooper, he thought.We already have one out-of-control cowboy. We don’t need another one.

As he came to the turnoff, he didn’t see either Cooper or CJ. What if CJ had turned and headed south instead of north? He slowed, debating what to do. Cooper said he had spotted them. He knew this area better than anyone. If CJ had gone south, Coop would have called.

Unless, he thought with a groan, he’d let his feelings for Tilly overrule his common sense.

TILLYCAUGHTAflash of light in her side mirror. The sun reflected off a vehicle’s windshield on the road behind them. Cooper?

She couldn’t believe her eyes. But then the pickup dropped down over a rise and disappeared. The pickup was the same color as Cooper’s, but how could he...?

“CJ, please,” Tilly said. “Stop and let’s talk about this.”

“It’s too late.” He shook his head.

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