the body of a woman. You can’t believe the rumors that are flying around town. What has everyone so worked up is a rumor that the woman was found with a noose around her neck. Someone had hung her!”

Josey’s fork rattled to her plate.

Jack’s gaze shot to Josey. All the color had drained from her face.

“Virginia!” her mother snapped. “We’re eating.”

“Why didn’t McCall tell us about this?” Virginia demanded of her mother. “This must be the big case she is working on. Everyone is supposed to be on the lookout for possibly two individuals who might have been hitchhiking from somewhere near the Fred Robinson Bridge on the Missouri River crossing.”

Jack heard all the air rush from Josey’s lips. Her fingers gripped the table as if she were on a ship tossed at sea.

“They believe the driver of the vehicle got away after the car went into the water and that both suspects are believed to be armed and dangerous!” Virginia said, scanning through the story. “Apparently, they are both wanted for questioning in a murder case in California. The photos of them aren’t very good in grainy black-and-white.”

Josey stumbled to her feet. “I’m sorry, I—” She rushed out.

Pepper threw down her napkin, silverware clattering, and shoved back her chair. “Don’t you ever know when to shut up, Virginia? Go after her, Jack. That woman could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Don’t be like your father.”

Jack was already on his feet before his grandmother had even spoken. He’d been so shocked by the news Virginia had brought home, it had taken him a few moments to move. He snatched the newspaper from Virginia’s fingers.

“Oh, God, you don’t think she’s pregnant already, do you?” he heard his aunt say as he rushed from the room.

THE CALL CAME IN late that evening from the deputy McCall had sent out to the Turnquist Ranch.

“One of the other ranchers spotted a body down in a gully,” the deputy told her. “It’s John Turnquist. I put in a call to the coroner. He’s on his way out. Thought I’d better let you know. There’s no sign of the pickup he was driving. His wallet’s missing, as well. His wife said he didn’t have much money in it, but did have several credit cards.”

RJ. “Tell her not to cancel the credit cards just yet,” McCall said. “We might be able to track him that way. We’ll need numbers on the cards so we can work with the companies, and we’re going to need a description of that pickup.”

“There’s something else,” the deputy said. “Can’t be sure until George gets here, but it looked like John was beaten with something before he was dumped out and rolled down into the gully.”

She swore under her breath. “Well, at least now we know what Ray Allan Evans Jr. is driving. Let’s find this bastard before he finds his next victim.”

JOSEY RAN TO THEIR ROOM at the end of the empty wing, her heart pounding in her ears.

Celeste’s body had been found. But the heart-stopping news: RJ was alive. He’d gotten away. She knew what that meant. He would be coming after her. Probably already was.

She stopped pacing to stand in the middle of the bedroom, her mind racing. She had to get out of here. She had to—

At the sound of the door opening behind her, she spun around.

“Talk to me,” Jack said quietly, as he closed the door and locked it.

She shook her head and took a step back. “I need to get out of here.”

“Josey, you have to tell me what all this has to do with you.” His words were heavy with emotion as he put down the newspaper. “After what’s happened between us, you owe me that.”

She tried to swallow. Her stomach roiled. “I’ve already involved you. I can’t—”

“Josey.” He took a step to her, his big hands cupping her shoulders. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me—”

“It’s all too...” She waved a hand through the air, unable to even form words to describe what had happened to her. “You don’t want any of this. Let me leave. Pretend you never picked me up on that highway.”

“I can’t do that.” He sounded filled with anguish.

She stared at him in disbelief. “Aren’t you just a little worried that I’m a murderer?”

His blue eyes lit with something akin to love as he took hold of the ends of the scarf around her neck and slowly began to untie it.

“Don’t.” The word came out a whisper.

“This is why I don’t believe you’re a killer,” he said softly. “Someone did this to you. Just as someone did it to that woman they found.”

She fought back the horrible memories. “You don’t understand. You could be arrested for harboring a fugitive. Jack, everyone is looking for me, the police in California, the sheriff here in Montana, and...” Tears filled her eyes.

“And the person who hurt you. That’s what has you so terrified.” Jack thumbed at her tears, then kissed her. “But you’re going to tell me because you know you can trust me.”

She smiled at that. “The last man who told me to trust him almost killed me.”

“I’m not that man.”

No, Josey thought. Jack Winchester, whatever his secrets, was like no man she’d ever met. And right now, she suspected he might be the only person alive who’d believe her story.

AFTER BREAKING INTO a small older pharmacy and getting everything he needed, RJ had gone back to his motel and seen to his shoulder before going to sleep. He’d picked a Billings motel where he could park the pickup so the clerk couldn’t see it. The clerk had been half-asleep when he’d checked in and hadn’t paid any attention to him, anyway. He’d worn the hood up on the sweatshirt he’d taken from the Mobridge house just in case, though. No way could the man be able to make a positive ID of him.

He’d set his alarm for just after midnight and

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