Page 52 of The Cowboy's Promise

“Did you say lake?” Courtney asked, her eyes lighting up.

“Yeah, there’s a lake, and you can walk right to the edge of it.”

“Yes, that will be perfect,” she mumbled, her lips curling into an evil smile. “Absolutely perfect.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Looking forward to surprising Heather and enjoying a delicious lunch, Blake was driving down the road towards the campground when he thought he saw Heather’s truck coming towards him. But it was traveling fast. He was sure he must be mistaken, but as it sped by, he was shocked to see Joe Meyer and Courtney McCallum in the front seat. Abruptly pulling to the side of the road, he looked in his rearview mirror and saw them taking the turn-off to Lake View Point.

“What the hell…?” he muttered, grabbing his cell phone and calling the sheriff.

“Yeah, Blake, what’s up?” the sheriff asked gruffly.

“I just saw Joe Meyer and Courtney McCallum in a pick up driving into Lake View Point, and I could swear it was Heather’s truck.”

“She wasn’t in the front seat?”

“Not that I could see.”

“Thanks, Blake.”

“Wait—”

But the sheriff was gone.

His mind racing Blake dialed the restaurant.

“Moonshine Restaurant”

“Hi, Heather Hunt, please.”

“Uh, sorry, she’s not here at the moment.”

It was all he needed to hear.

Hastily cutting off the call and suddenly fighting panic, he did a fast u-turn and accelerated forward. In seconds he was at the turn-off to Lake View Point, but abruptly realized if Heather was in danger he couldn’t charge in. Hitting the brakes, he droveslowly through the entrance, then pulled to the side and jumped out.

* * *

While Joe had found cover for the truck it wasn’t behind the big boulders, but shrubbery. When he’d climbed out he’d discovered it wasn’t high enough to cover the top of the cab. He’d frantically tried to break off branches to lay over, but with only one hand he’d found it impossible.

“You do it,” he barked at Heather.

“I’m not tall enough, and in case you’ve forgotten you tied my hands behind my back. By the way, what did you use? It feels like a sock.”

“That’s because it is a sock,” Courtney hissed, “and you shouldn’t be complaining. At least it’s soft. Joe, take it off. She can pick up all twigs and crap on the ground. That will help.”

“Sorry, Courtney, that will take too long, and I have a better idea,” Joe said thoughtfully. “If we can get past those big boulders facing the lake we’ll be out of sight. If anyone does come across this truck they’ll think it’s parked while whoever owns went hiking. We only have to wait a few hours until it gets dark, then we can leave.”

“Besides the fact there are more holes in that plan than Swiss Cheese, how the hell can I climb around rocks with my ankle?”

“I’ll help you.”

“There’s no way I can do that without my hands,” Heather declared. “You can forget it.”

Scowling, Courtney hobbled towards her.

“You’re tough, I’ll give you that, but your clock is ticking. In fact, time has just run out. Joe! That big flat boulder,” she exclaimed. “The one jutting out into the water. That’s perfect.”

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