Rancher's Hostage Rescue. Beth Cornelison

if—

      The thug snorted. “Nice try, Hero. But I wasn’t born yesterday. If I let you two go, your first stop will be the police, and I’ll have cops on my tail inside of twenty minutes.”

      Dave’s hope deflated a little, but he wouldn’t give up. “We won’t go to the cops.”

      “Sure, you won’t,” his captor said, sneering. “And the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are real.” He faced Lilly. “Feet together, Lilly.”

      “How about this,” Lilly said, complying with his demand. “We give you twenty-four hours to drive as far out of Colorado as you can before we go to the cops.”

      The robber gave Lilly an ugly grin. “But that arrangement still has you going to the cops. And that is the deal breaker.” He tore another long strip of tape from the roll with a jarring rrriipp and began binding Lilly’s feet.

      Dave gritted his back teeth. At least they were talking, negotiating. He knew that, deep down, the guy was intrigued, tempted. The thug had to know his car was crap and was on the verge of breakdown. The promise of repairs that would facilitate his escape had to be enticing the thug on some level. “Then don’t let us go.”

      Lilly’s head swiveled toward him, her eyes wide, her mouth slack.

      But he had the robber’s attention, and he continued, “I fix the crap-mobile, and you leave us safe and uninjured, still bound, right here in the bedroom. You drive away, scot-free. But you have to swear not to hurt us. We are not injured in any way. That is my deal breaker.”

      He cut a brief look to Lilly, praying she’d trust him, and met her baffled expression.

      The robber stood and tossed the rest of the tape roll on the dresser. He twisted his mouth as he glared at Dave. “We’ll see. I ain’t making any deals now. I’m hurtin’ and need time to rest, regroup. I’m better off hiding here while the cops spin their wheels lookin’ for me.” He rubbed his side, carefully touching his bandage before walking into the bathroom. When he returned, he wore his shirt and had the gun in his hand again. Scowling, he divided a hard look between them. “I gotta get my pain pills outta my car. Don’t try anything while I’m gone, or I swear I’ll start shooting off toes.”

      The hardwood floor vibrated as the robber stomped out of the room.

      Dave muttered under his breath, calling the cretin every foul name he could think of.

      “You forgot ‘bastard’ and ‘son of a bitch,’” Lilly said quietly.

      “Hmm. Didn’t forget ’em. I was saving them for you.”

      She chuckled wryly, as he’d hoped she would, then fell silent. He searched for something, anything he could do to encourage her and buoy her spirits. As bad as things looked for them, he needed her not to give up, not to accept defeat. He’d rather she be fighting mad than fearful or hopeless.

      She scooted across the floor, pushing with her bound feet and wiggling her bottom a little at a time, until, back to back, they could lean against each other. He heard—and felt—Lilly heave a sad sigh. “I’m so sorry I got you into this, Dave.”

      He furrowed his brow, certain he hadn’t heard her correctly. “What? How...?” He gave a short dry laugh. “How is any of this your fault?”

      “He’s here at the house because of me. He told me that when I was cleaning out his gunshot wound.”

      “Are you saying you know him? I noticed he used your name.”

      “No. Nothing like that. It’s... He took my purse. Remember?”

      He grunted an acknowledgment.

      “Well, he saw my hospital ID in my purse and decided I was going to fix him up. He found Helen’s address on the stuff I took from her lockbox. I’m the reason he’s here. And I’m the reason you’re here, because I asked you to drive me and get your things.”

      Her forlorn tone gouged at his heart. He wished he could comfort her in some way. A hug, a smile, a pat on the back, but none of those options were available to him. “Stop it.”

      “Huh?”

      “Stop blaming yourself. I could just as easily say it was my fault. If I hadn’t shot him, he wouldn’t have needed medical attention, and he wouldn’t have come here.”

      He felt the movement, the stir of her hair as she shook her head. “No. I’m glad you shot him. You saved lives. He was panicking and firing at anyone who moved. Things were spiraling out of control, and you helped put an end to his reign of terror.”

      Dave expelled a weary breath. “Until he ended up here, holding us hostage.”

      She snorted. “Yeah. Right.”

      “Look, Lilly, if anyone is to blame for our situation, it is him. He robbed the bank. He broke into the house. He tied us up. Don’t take this on yourself.” He turned his head, wishing he could look into her eyes as he pleaded with her, but could only manage a glimpse of her slumped shoulder. “Okay?”

      “Okay.” She didn’t sound convinced.

      “Now say it like you mean it.”

      “Okay!” Her answer was edged with irritation, but he preferred that to her self-pity.

      Dave inched his hands to hers and hooked a couple fingers with hers, the closest he could come to holding her hand while his wrists were bound as tightly as they were.

      “I’m going to find a way to get you out of this mess, Lilly. I promise.”

      “Don’t you mean get us out of this mess?” She gave a low, wry chuckle. “Seems to me you’re right in the middle of it yourself.”

      “True enough, but...you’re my priority. If something happens to me, so be it. But I will do everything in my power to see you through this ordeal safely. I swear.”

      She was silent, and he could imagine her skepticism.

      “I know I don’t have a good track record, based on the promises I made Helen, but... I want to make up for all that.” He felt Lilly stiffen, her back straightening behind his. “For disappointing her. For falling short too many times. Her death was a wake-up call. Too late to do anything for her, I know. But... I will try to do better. For you.”

      They sat in the silent room for several minutes. Then her hand moved. Her fingers curled to grip his more tightly. And a lightness spiraled through him. He’d been given a second chance. Although he’d failed Lilly’s sister, he had an opportunity to make a difference for Lilly.

      Somehow he would. Or he’d die trying.

      * * *

      Lilly flinched when she heard the back door slam and the heavy footsteps of the robber returning.

      “Listen, Lilly. If, at any time, he shoots at us,” Dave said, in a hushed and hurried voice, “get low. Try to get under the bed. I’ll do my best to cover you.”

      Lilly’s heartbeat accelerated. While she’d been dwelling on the horridness of their situation, Dave had been working through strategies, possibilities. Plans that involved him sacrificing himself to protect her. “Dave, you can’t—”

      “Just do it! Roll under the bed if at all possible. I’ll—”

      “Hey!” The robber appeared again at the door of the bedroom, an orange prescription bottle in his hand, and he sent them a warning look. “What are you two talking about?”

      Dave sat taller, and against her back, she felt the tension enter his body. “Nothing.”

      The robber stepped into the room, his expression darkening. “Don’t lie. I heard you talking.”

      “He was asking me if I was all right. If you’d hurt me,” Lilly said, hoping her apparent cooperation would win points, maybe