Cowboy Under Siege. Gail Barrett

had to survive. “My dad got a call last week, and she’s alive, thank God. But we don’t know where she is.”

      Still looking shaken, Bethany hugged her arms. “What does the FBI say? You’ve called them, right?”

      “My dad has. He has some high-level contacts. All I know is that we’re supposed to keep this under wraps.”

      “What do they want? Money?”

      “That’s my guess, but they haven’t said.” More panic ballooned inside him, but he ruthlessly tamped it down. Lana was fine. The kidnappers would call and demand the ransom. His father would pay it and bring her home.

      “Cole … I’m so sorry.” Bethany rested her hand on his arm, her soft, feathery touch a balm to his nerves. “I can only imagine how tough this is. And your poor sister!”

      He met her eyes. Her sympathy tugged at something inside him, kicking off a wave of warmth in his chest. Bethany had always understood him. She’d connected with him in a way no one else ever had. They’d been the best of friends, explosive lovers. He’d been so damned crazy in love….

      He dropped his gaze to her lips. Time ground to a sudden halt, as if they’d been transported to the past. And any thought of danger flitted away.

      She was so close. So beautiful. And the soft, satiny feel of her had burned him alive.

      His blood turned heavy and hot. Hunger rose inside him, the need to feel her again in his arms. He widened his stance and shifted closer, his pulse beating fast.

      His cell phone chirped. He froze, then straightened, appalled at what he’d been about to do. He couldn’t kiss Bethany. He couldn’t get anywhere near her. She was the one woman who had the power to make him need her—a risk he couldn’t afford.

      Determined to keep his mind on track, he whipped out his cell phone and checked the display. The ranch house. He clicked it on with a frown. “Cole here.”

      “It’s your father,” his housekeeper, Hannah Brown, blurted out. “You need to come quick.”

      His heart faltered. “What’s wrong?”

      “He got a phone call … he looks terrible … all gray … I’ve phoned the doctor but—”

      “I’ll be right there.” He shoved his phone back into his pocket and launched himself onto the horse.

      “What is it?” Bethany swung up onto Red.

      “My father.” He wheeled the gelding around, then spurred him into a lope. Bethany instantly caught up.

      They streaked through the field in silence, taking their mounts to the limit, anxiety pounding his nerves. His father was generally healthy, but the stress of the last few weeks had taken its toll. And if something terrible had happened to Lana …

      He cut off that train of thought. His sister had to be all right. He refused to believe the worst.

      They reached the county road. Cole leaped down to open the gate.

      “Go on,” Bethany urged him. “I’ll close the gate. Call me if you need help with your dad. Otherwise I’ll see you in the morning when we get those cows.”

      Grimacing at her tenacity, he led his horse through the gate. He didn’t want her around. He had enough on his mind with crises erupting at every turn. But nothing mattered more than the ranch.

      And as much as it galled him to admit it, he needed help.

      “All right.” He swung back onto the horse and caught her eye. “You’re hired. But you’ll stick close to me. You understand? I’m not taking a chance with armed vandals roaming the ranch.”

      He nudged the horse into a lope, then galloped toward the ranch house, but even the steady drum of hoofbeats couldn’t banish his feeling of doom. He would save his ranch. And he’d keep Bethany safe; he’d make damned sure of that.

      But could he do the same with his heart?