Read Montana Wildfire for Free Online Page B

heart sank. Roger was nowhere in sight. So much for relief.
    "He's gone," Jake said. And that, Amanda quickly realized, was all the explanation he was going to offer.
    "Gone?" she cried. "What do you mean he's gone? Gone where?"
    "How the hell should I know?" He tucked the knife into the sheath attached to his belt, then raked his fingers through his sleek black hair. To Amanda's jaundiced eye, his shrug looked entirely too unconcerned. "Look, I wouldn't worry about the brat too much if I were you. If whoever's got him was going to kill him, they probably would have done it by—Hey, you all right?"
    "No," she groaned, her knees buckling, her back sliding down the tree trunk, "I don't think I am." Her bottom made a jarring collision with the ground. It felt hard and cold beneath her—but not as hard and cold as the despair icing through her veins. No, no, no! Roger couldn't be gone. He just couldn't! But Jake Chandler said he was, and Jake Chandler had no reason to lie.
    She rested her head against the rough bark and forced herself to swallow—twice, dryly—before asking, "How do you know someone has him? I mean... he could have wandered off, couldn't he?"
    "Doubt it. I mean, hell, it's possible. Any thing's possible. But, since I couldn't find a trace of him, and we both heard him scream..." He frowned. "You sure you're all right? You don't look so good. You aren't going to faint, are you?"
    "Not just yet." Amanda's lashes swooped down. Fainting would have been a possibility, had her mind not been so busy spinning out of control. Now what was she going to do? She didn't like Roger, but still...
    And what about Edward Bannister? How would he react when she arrived at their destination without his son? He wouldn't pay her—that went without saying—but would he seek retribution? Of course! Roger was a monster, but monster or not he was still the man's son. Edward Bannister was paying her good money—damn good money—to see to Roger's safety. And what did she do? She lost the brat, that's what. Oh, God.
    Her eyes snapped open, and she pulled Jake Chandler into focus. He looked uncomfortable, as though he was wondering how he'd managed to get himself into such a mess. Amanda's thoughts traveled the same depressing path. Only she knew how she'd gotten into it. Blind stupidity and more gall than she usually gave herself credit for having. That, and a craving to get to Washington and finally put her life back in order.
    "Did you see any tracks?" she asked hopefully. "Anything that would suggest who took Roger and why?"
    "Didn't look."
    "You didn't—? Wait a minute. Where do you think you're going? Mr. Chandler, don't you dare!"
    Jake dared. He kept on walking, his swaggering steps never faltering. "I'm going home," he said over his shoulder.
    "Home?" she cried and thought, What is it with this man? First, when she'd wanted him to leave, he wouldn't. Now, when she needed his help, he wouldn't stay. Would the man please make up his mind? She tried again. "Please, Mr. Chandler, you can't leave now. We have a problem here."
    "You do," he conceded gruffly, and continued to walk.
    Gritting her teeth, and using the tree for leverage, Amanda pushed to her feet. The bark nipped at her palms, making her wince. Though she had to shift her weight to accommodate her wounded ankle, she hoped her stance looked stiff and commanding.
    Sucking in a deep breath, she shouted in her best prim and proper voice, "You no-good, filthy rotten bastard! How dare you walk away from me at a time like this?"
    As she'd planned, the words stopped him cold.
    He turned to face her slowly. Sunlight snuck beneath the brim of his hat, and Amanda caught a glimpse of exactly how hard his expression could be. A drop of fear trickled down her spine. She pushed it aside, and somehow managed to return his wintry glare with a level one of her own.
    "That's no way for a lady to talk, Miss Lennox," he drawled, his voice flat and hard. Only the muscle jerking in his cheek