“Other than more sleep?” Madison asked with araisedbrow.
Cindy laughed. “Good luck with that. I don’t think I slept more than thirty minutes at a time the first threemonths.”
“So you’re saying Iwillget to sleep again at some point inmylife?”
“Yes,” Cindy said. “Eventually.”
Madison chuckled as she settled back against thepillows.
“When you find Drew and Mack, let Mack know I need another foot rub,”Madisonsaid.
“Iwill.”
After leaving the room, Cindy hurried downstairs. She slipped into a thick, button down sweater and boots. As she stepped off the porch into the sunlight, she smiled. Everything was finally going to be all right. She’d be able to have her daughter by her side again and live in peace on the beautifulranch.
She crunched through the snow on her way to the main house. Reflected light glistened bright enough to blind her. As she held her hand up to her eyes, movement in her peripheral vision caught her attention. But before she could turn to see what it was, a gloved hand clamped over her mouth and another ensnared her waist. Her muffled scream died onthewind.
“I finally found you,bitch.”
Liam.OhGod.
Terror weakened the muscles in her legs. She willed them to move, to kick, to fight, but the acute rush of panic kept herfrozen.
As he dragged her toward the woods, overwhelming fear pounded in her chest. Every sound was magnified as she strained to find any sign of Drew or his brothers. The ranch was crawling with people. Where waseveryone?
Chapter12
When they reachedthe tree line, Cindy summoned every ounce of strength and kicked back against his shin. He shrieked in pain and released her. She bolted toward the house but he pounded through the snow right behind her. She’d never make it to safety out in the open, so she changed direction and rushed back into thewoods.
At first she tried to keep to the tree line, but Liam stayed less than ten feet behind her. She leapt over fallen branches and wound past bushes and trees in an attempt to escape. He slowed down enough that a spec of hope welled up inside her. If she could get far enough ahead of him, shecouldhide.
As she rounded a corner, she ran across a previous set of tracks. She’d have to double over them and create multiple paths in order to confuse him. After zigzagging across a central point several times, she chose the direction with the least amount of snow and hurried deeper into theforest.
Her breath whooshed into the air, creating puffs of condensation. She slowed her pace, listening intently for any sign of his location. If she could double back toward the houses, she’d have achance.
“I know you’re out here you sneaky bitch,” Liam snarled from somewhere off toherleft.
Her head whipped in that direction as she stepped behind a large pine tree. A hundred yards away, she caught a glimpse of his dark green jacket. It blended into the trees so that when he stopped, she had a hard time making outhisform.
He turned in a slow circle, peering into the woods. She forced herself to stay calm. If she moved, he’d either hear or see her. She sent up a silent prayer that Drew would realize she was missing and come looking for her. But she couldn’t wait to berescued.
Liam stalked off in the opposite direction, giving her an opportunity to head back toward the ranch. As she set off, she hoped she was going the right way. But within minutes, she’d passed the same triad of trees for the fourth time. She walked in circles. Sweat cooled on her clammy skin. She wiped a hand across her forehead. Think, dammit. Which direction would lead back to theranch?
“Cindy,” Liam cooed. “Do you know what I’m going to do to you when Icatchyou?”
She stilled. He came into view at a further distance than before, so at least she’d made someprogress.
“I bought a new knife. Twelve inches.” His chuckle sent ice water down her spine. “I’m going to cut you up into little pieces and feed you to the birds. They’ll never findyourbody.”
Her knees knocked together. The soft chuff of fabric coupled with her shaky breaths increased the tension in her body. If she couldn’t stop shivering, he’dfindher.
“You’re not strong enough to outrun me,” he snarled. “You never were. Weak willed and pathetic. I don’t know what I ever sawinyou.”
Then why are you still chasing me?she wanted to scream, but she couldn’t give in to histaunts.
“I’ve been watching you,” he continued. “For days. And you had no idea. That backwoods cowboy didn’t have a clue either. He’s more your style, isn’t he? I know you’re already spreading your whore legsforhim.”
She waited until he took a step in her direction. She backed up, trying to move when hemoved.
