Page 18 of My Ruthless Mountain Man

Hale is Hollow Point Rescue’s main tech guy. The thermal imaging cameras on his drones have located lost hikers faster than the search helicopters. He should be able to locate Ryan.

The radio crackles again. “Walker here. I spotted the boot prints of four men heading south prior to the storm. Might be some of your missing hikers.” Mason Walker works with Ezra and I on Solace Ridge. He’s also an expert tracker.

“Be advised the four may not be lost hikers. If so, the crash victim is their target,” I reply.

“Colter, next time you throw a party, make it pizza and beer—not hostage situations. I’ve got enough work to do,” Bishop grumbles. The radio clicks, and he adds, “Drone is up. Keep your radio nearby. We’ll call when we have something.”

A second later, my phone rings. It’s Mason.

“The weather is shit for tracking, but I know you don’t want to wait by the radio. Meet me at the crash site. We’ll go from there.”

“Thanks man.” I hang up and make another call.

“What?” Anson says on the fourth ring, when I’m about to hang up.

“I need your rifle.”

His voice is sharp when he asks, “Where?”

I fill him in on the situation. Maybe the four men are hikers, but my gut is screaming otherwise.

“I’ll be there.” Anson hangs up.

Kendall grips my forearm. “You’re going to rescue Ryan?”There’s a thread of uncertainty in her voice.

Probably because I threatened to bury him not two hours ago. But despite all that’s happened, all the hard feelings, he’s still Kendall’s brother and someone I care about. “Yeah, baby girl. He’s burned damn near every bridge, but you love him. I’ll try to bring him back in one piece.”

She presses a hard kiss to my lips. “I love you, Stone Colter.”

My heart flips over in my chest, then bangs against my ribs. Before I can bask in the warmth, she douses it with ice water.

“I’m going with you.”

“Oh hell, no. You’re staying right here. Lock the doors, draw the curtains, and sit tight.”

“Alone? Hell no. I’ve seen that horror movie. The bad guy always finds the woman alone in the cabin and kills her violently. You might as well say ‘Let’s split up’, before you leave!”

Horror movies aside, she raises a good point. If she’s here by herself, she’s unprotected, and I won’t be able to get to her in time if something happens. Yet taking her with me divides my concentration. I don’t have time to drop her at Mason’s place to stay with Bella.

“Alright, you can go. But if I say run, get your pretty ass out of there, got it?”

“Yes. I’ll do whatever you say. I won’t get in the way.” She draws a cross over her heart with her finger as she speaks.

Damned adorable.

If she’s with me, then I’m going to need one more person. I go back to the radio. “Bishop, you copy?”

“Copy,” the rescue leader replies.

“Kendall is with me. Her brother may be the accident victim. I’ve called in Mason and Anson. I need a third to keep her safe. Maybe Boone?”

“Me. I’m five minutes out.”

“Appreciate it.” That gives us just enough time to make it to the accident site.

I end the transmission and look down at Kendall. She’s already pulling on her boots, her hair in a bun, and her face tight with focus.

Fuck, I love her.

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