Courage Dares (24 page)

“Wait!”

Mary stopped, ready to continue on, but wondering what Connor wanted. He glanced up and down the plowed road, then looked back at her.

"I'll tell you what," he said, removing his snowshoes. "You go on to the highway, I'll go to the cabin. I'll break in, get the chest and continue on up to the Summit. Once I get the State Patrol, we'll drive down and pick you up."

"But—"

"Judd's not getting the chest after all that's happened. He could sell the jewels and hire a tricky lawyer to get him out of your neighbor's murder. You know what happens at a jury trial. I want him convicted of so many crimes, he won't ever be free."

"Then I'll go with you," she said, stepping out of her snowshoes and sticking them in her pack.

"No. I don’t want you in danger again. Just tell me—"

"We don’t know which way Judd went. I don't want to run into him, alone," she said, determined to stay with Connor.

"But if he's at the cabin...."

"We'll look first, see if the door is open. Come on," she called, running up the road. "We're wasting time. It's in a cluster of cabins— you won't know which one."

She slowed as five cabins came in sight and pointed toward one set back a short distance from the road. "That one."

The closed door made it look safe, but as they grew closer, Connor pointed silently to footprints around the outside.

"That's normal," Mary said. "People go for a stroll in winter and check out the cabins."

“The door still has the lock on it,” Connor observed.

"They haven't found it," she said, going up to the window and looking past a parted curtain. "Actually, for all we know, they could be lying at the bottom of the canyon. The trail down Hemlock Pass is dangerous when it's covered with ice and snow."

"Open it." He pointed to the door.

She couldn’t remember the combination until she turned the dial and it took her two tries to do so. Throwing wide the door, she stepped back to let Connor enter. One room with chairs, a table, a bed and two futons— just a small cabin in the woods.

"Is there a phone?" Connor asked.

"No. We always brought a cell phone. I'll fill my water bottles while you open Dad's trunk. I've never had the key, so you'll need to take a piece of firewood and break the lock."

He strode across the room. "It's not locked now."

His statement spun Mary around. "What?" she cried, rushing over to him.

"Is this the trunk you mean?"

"Yes."

"It's not locked."

"Oh!" She glanced frantically around at the rest of the cabin but saw nothing out of place. "Someone's been here." Her father's large storage trunk had been locked. Of that she was certain. "I've never opened it."

"Well, it's unlocked now. Someone has a key."

She looked at Connor in bewilderment. "No one I know."

"It's your family," he said, flipping back the lid. "Let's see what's in here."

The handsome antique chest took up most of the space. Without hesitation, Connor opened it.

All sort of items lay wrapped inside. Connor took them out as he rummaged around and handed them to Mary. “These look like love letters, tied with a string.”

“From my mother?” She opened the top one, addressed to her father's place of business— here in Seattle.

That would time them after her mother's death. Written in a woman's hand that was not her mother's. "Dear Warren," she read. "I'm so happy you’re finally able to tell Mary about us. It’s been a long wait, I know, but it was best for her—"

Mary flipped to the signature and sat down hard on the floor.

"Connor," she said. "Look."

He rocked back on his heels and stared at the papers quizzically.

"It's a letter... letters," she amended, "to my Dad. From Barbara. Your mother."

"Love letters?” Connor asked, letting the lid of the chest drop shut.

"They were planning to get married. Look, read for yourself."

"It explains a lot."

She scanned through the letter, elated by the find. "She mentions looking at rings together. He must have been in that jewelry store to buy her a ring."

"That's probably right."

She stared up at him. "Something for her. Not for me."

"That doesn't bother you, does it?"

"No. Of course not." She had been bothered by the belief that her father had gone to buy her a present and been killed doing it. Now she realized that was not the case.

She gazed at the stack beside her. "I wonder if she attended his funeral?"

"I expect so. She probably stayed to the back, not wanting to intrude upon you. She wouldn't know how you’d take it."

Mary hugged the letters close, filled with a wistful happiness. Her father had found someone to love, those last years. It explained his joyful attitude.

She had thought he was happy because she had grown more independent. That, but this too. She hadn’t completely ruined his life after all.

"That's why Barbara gave him the chest. It was more than just a thank-you for saving her life."

"I agree. But where are they?"

"What?" She snapped back to the present.

"The jewels aren't in the trunk."

She jumped to her feet, thrusting the letters into one pile. "They have to be. Ira said they stuffed them into the padding."

"They're not here. Look for yourself."

Connor flipped back the lid and Mary studied the sides of the chest. They were bare. She could see where the lining had been ripped free.

"Someone’s taken them,” Connor said. “Your Dad?”

“He’d try to return them to their rightful owner. I don’t know. He never said a word.”

Connor started to stand up and sucked in a gasp of air. "You'll need to help me up, Mary. I'm weaker than I thought."

She grabbed his arm and helped him into the chair. "Your wound— you mustn't open it."

"I'm afraid that happened when we came down that cliff."

"We must bandage it again.” She walked over to the kitchen and pulled out a thin towel. Carrying it back, she said, “Maybe Judd and his men have already been here."

He took the towel and pressed it to his side. Her original bandage was still in place, but soaked with blood. "Check the windows. See if any are broken."

"Okay." Mary walked over to the first window. The glass was intact, still locked. She tested it to make sure, then moved to the kitchen window on the far side of the room.

She lifted the curtain to check the panes and froze. A flicker of movement outside had caught her eye. Mary pushed the curtain aside further and looked again.

Judd and Wes. Running through the woods, guns in hand. Toward her.

"Judd!"

Mary's strident whisper stopped Connor mid-way in taking off his shirt.
Judd? Where?

"They're outside." Her face turned ashen as she released the curtains. "I think they saw me."

"Get out!" He hesitated, scanning the room for a weapon. Nothing. "Move!"

Mary charged out the front as a shot clanged off the back door’s lock.

"Run!" Connor yelled, sprinting after her.

Would they make it? he wondered, then realized their chances were nil if they stayed on the road.

He stopped to grab the snowshoes he had propped against the outside wall. Without them they didn't stand a chance, trying to outrun a bullet. With them, they might just make it.

At that instance Judd rounded the corner, gun in hand, almost colliding with him.

Connor reacted, using the snowshoes to knock his gun flying. Judd ran to pick it up.

With an effort that had won many football games, Connor dove out in a low tackle, hitting Judd mid-body, carrying them both into a snowbank.

Pain sliced through him. He fought in spite of it, knowing he didn’t dare let his wound impede him.

Mary. They mustn't get Mary.

Dear God, help me give Mary a chance.

Holding Judd down, he applied pressure to the carotid artery on the murderer's neck and felt him slump.

"Well, well. Lookee what came outta the woods. Hands up." Wes stood in the doorway, his Baretta pointed at Connor, eyes agleam with anticipation. “Now!”

Released, Judd recovered and stood up.

Wes spoke through sneering lips. "I thought Ramone beat me to it, but it looks like I git to kill you after all."

"Where is Ramone?" Connor asked as he ran his gaze desperately over the snow, trying to find Judd’s gun.

"Dead. He was making like a baby, so Judd shot him. Judd and me’s always been the man. We'll split the jewels and pick up more dudes for the next job."

"Don't you have trouble finding help when you kill them off?" Connor inquired, glancing furtively at the white surface of the snow.
There it was!

He stepped closer, but Judd grabbed it first. Determined not to go down without a fight, Connor sprang toward Judd just as Wes fired...and missed.

Grabbing Judd, Connor spun him around. Wes' second shot hit both of them— through Judd and then through Connor's right leg. It buckled and Connor fell to the ground as Judd shoved him away.

"Stop it, you fool!" Judd's yell made Wes pause, then Wes aimed his gun again— at Judd.

"With the jewels, I don't need either of you," Wes proclaimed.

"The jewels aren't here,” Connor shouted, gripping his injured leg.

"What?" Wes' Baretta wavered— and as he glanced back through the open door, Judd shot him three times.

"Never could trust him," Judd grumbled as Wes collapsed in the doorway. He switched his aim to cover Connor. "He always used his gun before his brain. Now, where are they?"

"Not here." His gamble had paid off. They hadn’t seen Mary. He could say he didn't know where they were, or name someplace else— someplace they’d have to go. "They're on my ship." It shouldn’t be in port any longer.

"I don't believe you. I think they're here, where Mary said they’d be. Inside." He stepped behind Connor, motioning him in.

Connor limped painfully into the cabin— then his leg gave way completely and he fell to the floor. He should try to get up again, he thought as he stared at the green indoor-outdoor carpeting under his nose, but with Mary safely out of the way, he’d lost his motivation to live.

Wes' shot had hit Judd first— Connor had felt the man stagger as the bullet went through. When would Judd realize it? Some men took a lot of bullets to bring down. It all depended upon what body parts got hit.

All that mattered to Connor was to keep Judd occupied until Mary could get to the highway. She should be past the first bend by now.

Help her reach the police. Keep these thugs away from her.
And then he added something he had never said before.
Help me, God, ‘cause I’m too weak to do this by myself. Help me delay Judd.

The sound of gunshots reached Mary where she crouched in the woods under a tree. She had left the road as soon as she realized Connor wasn’t with her.

She sank down into the snow hoping it’d hide her, but feared that even if she covered herself with a white blanket of it, Judd would find her.

At the sound of the first shot, she cringed, holding her hands over her face. They had shot Connor.

But no. She heard his voice, raised, yelling. Then came a series of shots, and fresh fear swept aside the hope that he might still live. Oh, Connor, Connor.

The need to be with him was greater than the need to escape Judd and Wes. If they killed her love, she might as well die.

Mary forced her legs to move. She worked her way out the back side of the tree well and then under another tree, cautiously circling the cabin, coming up from the rear as Wes had done earlier. She could hear Connor's voice, and rejoiced even though it sounded weak.

She saw Judd through the open door, so moved out of sight again, then came closer, keeping the cabin wall between them.

Had Connor fought them, to give her more time? It’d be like him, sacrificing himself for her. She didn’t want a sacrifice, she wanted him— alive.

She loved him. She might be playing a fool's game— there probably wasn’t a thing she could do to help him— yet she couldn’t leave. She had been unable to help her mother. Perhaps, just perhaps, she could make the difference here.

Connor put his thumb on the pressure point on his thigh. The enemy's number had been reduced, but now he couldn’t fight.

Judd had apparently not been shot in a vital spot, as he seemed unhurt. Or else he didn't realize he had been shot. Connor knew of that happening— shock could keep the wound from hurting.

"The jewels were in that chest," Connor explained. "When we got here, it was unlocked and they were gone. We figured you guys got here first."

"Or Mary's got them at her apartment. I wouldn't put it past her. She tricked us into walking here."

That possibility had never entered Connor's mind, but he tried to look shocked, as if he, too, had been deceived. It could’ve easily happened, since she hadn't trusted him at first.

His faked confusion caused Judd to chuckle. "Fooled you too, didn't she? Women are cunning creatures. She tricked us all. We wouldn't have found these cabins except some hikers told us where they were. Where is she?"

Mary listened at the open back door, her body screaming out against the evil inside. She could watch Connor die while she stayed safe. Or she could use Wes' gun to kill Judd.

She felt a sense of deja vu', but this time she wasn’t a child. This time she could act.

Mary wavered for barely a second. She had no choice. She must kill Judd to save Connor.

She sprinted around to the front door. She needed to step part way inside to get Wes’ gun.

Would Judd see her?

He didn't. He was too busy threatening Connor. But Connor—off to one side—saw her, his face going white when she picked up the gun and pointed it at Judd.

Dear Lord, help me save the life of the man I love.

Could she take a life?

She didn't have to, she realized. She had the advantage. She had seen it done on television, countless times. "Drop your—"

Judd spun, bringing his gun swiftly around as he fired.