One Last Kiss by Kat Martin

Chapter Eleven

Something was wrong. Sam could feel it in his bones. He’d spent a lousy night in the tent, sleeping off and on, worried and not sure why.

He climbed out of bed well before dawn and packed up his things for the trip back down the mountain. Big John would be tending the livestock, getting the horses and mules watered, fed, and ready for the journey. Sam felt anxious and unsettled, eager to get back home. He needed to start breakfast, get everyone fed, make sandwiches for lunch on the trail, then get the guests on their way.

He looked over at Libby’s tent. She’d been up early every morning, but no sign of her yet today. He headed in her direction, paused as he heard movement inside the canvas walls. The zipper went up, and Libby stumbled out.

She looked up at him, and there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes. “Sam,” she said as he walked toward her. “Sam...” Libby burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.

“I knew it!” Sam pulled her closer. “I goddamned knew it!” His heart slammed hard inside his chest. Libby was trembling. Sam didn’t let go. “What’s happened? What’s going on?”

Libby clung to him a few seconds more, then eased away to look into his face. “I-Is Big John back? Is he okay?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet this morning.” He drew her over to a fallen log, sat down and pulled her down beside him. “Tell me what happened.”

Libby dragged in a shaky breath. “I wanted to tell you last night, but I...I knew it was the wrong thing to do.” She leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Tell me, baby. What’s going on?”

A slow breath whispered out. “Vince followed me last night. He was waiting in the forest. He had a knife. He tried...he tried to rape me, Sam. Big John came...and...and he stopped Vince before he could hurt me.”

Sam felt a wave of fury unlike anything he had ever known. If he’d had Vince Nolan’s knife in his hand, he would have killed the son of a bitch right there.

“Tell me the rest,” he softly commanded, forcing himself under control.

“Big John hit Vince hard enough to knock him down. Then Max showed up, and Big John gave the men an ultimatum. Leave right then, ride down the mountain last night, or face the sheriff when we got back. The men left, and Big John followed them to make sure they didn’t cause trouble at the ranch.” Libby slid her arms around his neck and leaned into him. “I’m afraid for him, Sam.”

Sam kissed her temple. Libby was worried about Big John Coolwater. This petite woman who’d been attacked and nearly raped was worried about a man three times her size with skills Sam couldn’t begin to match. It made his chest feel tight.

“I’ve known John Coolwater for years,” he said. “The man has skills you wouldn’t believe. He may have followed them, but they would never know he was there—not unless he wanted them to. And if something happened, he could handle it. I promise you.”

She wiped tears from her cheeks. “He said he’d be back this morning.”

“It’s a helluva ride down and all the way back, but if Big John says he’ll be here, he will be.” He stood up from the log and drew Libby up beside him, had to force himself not to pull her back into his arms. “Are you sure Vince didn’t hurt you?”

Libby rubbed her forehead. “I head-butted him. I learned it in self-defense class. The teacher forgot to mention how bad it hurts.”

Sam hadn’t noticed before, but there was a bump near her hairline the size of an egg. “Jesus, honey.”

“I took some Tylenol. I’ll be okay.”

“You could have a concussion. Any blurred vision? Anything like that?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“We’ll get you checked out as soon as we get home.”

She touched her forehead. “It hurts, but I don’t think I hit him hard enough to do any real damage. I think I might have helped Big John a little, kind of gave him an opening, so I guess it was worth it.”

Sam’s jaw clenched. “Vince Nolan assaulted you. You have the right to press charges. Is that what you want to do?”

“No. Oh, God no, Sam. Please. I don’t want to talk to the sheriff. I only have a short time left here. I don’t want to spoil it.”

He swallowed, pulled her close. “A guy named Glen Carver is the Eagle County sheriff. He plays things close to the vest. I’ll let him know what happened. Glen can check on Nolan. If Nolan tried that with you, maybe he’s done it to someone else. There may even be some kind of warrant for his arrest.”

Libby glanced away.

Sam didn’t push it. They still had to get back home. “In the meantime, I’ve got some things I need to take care of so we can get out of here. Then I have to cook breakfast. Why don’t you go lie down while I take care of everything?”

Libby shook her head. “No way. I’ve been lying there staring up at the canvas half the night. I need something to do.” She glanced toward the portable camp kitchen. “I’ll peel the potatoes and start breakfast while you handle whatever you need to do.”

“Are you sure you’re up to it?”

“I’m okay. Really.”

Sam watched her walk away, and feelings he didn’t know he had welled up inside him. He had underestimated Libby Hale from the moment he watched her getting off that fancy jet airplane. His feelings swelled, mixed with the anger he felt at himself for not being able to protect her. His jaw hardened. No one, he vowed, was ever going to hurt Libby again.

Dragging in a steadying breath, Sam forced himself to concentrate on the work that had to be done. Heading for Caleb’s tent, he found the dark-haired man ducking through the flap in his boots and jeans, his cowboy hat pulled low.

“Morning, Sam.” Caleb finished popping the snaps on the front of his plaid Western shirt.

“Caleb, we had some trouble last night, and Big John had to make a trip down the mountain. I could sure use your help.”

Caleb’s head came up. “Is he okay?”

“Far as I know. John plans to come back. Just not sure when he’ll get here.”

“Anything you need me to do, I’m glad to help.”

Sam nodded. “You’re good with livestock. Think you could manage to water the horses and mules and get them saddled and ready to leave?”

“You bet.”

“Thanks, Caleb.”

“No worries.” Caleb grinned, clearly in his element. “I’ll take care of everything.”

Sam had to smile.

Once people realized he was short-handed and Vince and Max never appeared, everyone began to speculate. Sam said nothing. Libby had been through enough. The good news was everyone pitched in to help, so breaking down the camp after breakfast went faster than it usually did.

Sam left Libby to finish cleaning up and went to find Caleb. They needed to get the mules loaded, not a job for a novice. He found Big John there, already hard at work.

“I’m glad you made it back safely,” Sam said, relieved, though he knew how well John could take care of himself.

“Libby told you?”

Sam’s hand unconsciously fisted. “She waited till this morning. She figured I had responsibilities here, and you could handle Vince and Max on your own.”

Big John grunted. “Smart woman.”

“I don’t know whether to be pissed off or thankful.”

Big John just looked stoic, as if Sam would eventually figure it out. He thought of what Vince Nolan had tried to do, and his jaw clenched hard.

Sam forced his muscles to relax. “She said you got there before Vince hurt her.”

Big John spat on the ground. “I was watching him. I saw the way he looked at her. When I noticed she was gone and so was he, I followed.”

“I’m damned glad you did. Thanks, John, for looking out for her.” He owed his friend a debt he could never repay. Just thinking of what could have happened made an ache throb in his chest.

“We need to get back,” Big John said. “He could still cause problems.”

Sam nodded. “I’ll round up the rest of the gear. We’ll ride out as soon as you’ve got the mules packed and ready.”

As he headed back to camp, Sam thought again of what Vince Nolan had done, and a shot of anger hit him so hard perspiration rose at the back of his neck.

He wasn’t done with Nolan.

Not by a long shot.