Call It Destiny

were always wantin’ to go on and on about something. All those years ago I didn’t have much choice except to listen. But that’s something else that’s going to be different now.“ He lowered his head again.
    Heather endured the kiss, sensing that for the moment at least, Rick wasn’t going to go any further. He was too tense waiting for his mysterious partner to show up, she decided. She was in no immediate danger of rape. Monroe had other things on his mind, fortunately. She stopped fighting the disgusting embrace and Rick finally lifted his head, looking satisfied.
    „That’s better. You just remember who’s in charge and we’ll get along okay, you and me. Okay.“ He nodded to himself and fingered the handle of the gun again.
    It was the way he toyed with the weapon that disturbed her more than anything else. What was he going to do to that partner after the deal had been transacted? Her own fate seemed even more precarious. There was so little chance that, even if he had understood that she was in trouble, Jake would be able to get help and get back up this canyon. The storm was raging more violently than ever outside. The heavy cloud cover coupled with approaching night cast an impenetrable gloom over the entire canyon. Outside, the sound of the swollen stream was becoming louder, turning into a dull roar as it pounded down the mountain.
    „I’ll remember you’re in charge, Rick.“ Desperately she sought to inject suitable meekness into her tone. It was an effort to force down the instinctive anger and rebellion that threatened to dictate her words. Her natural desire to fight back could easily get her killed.
    „Good. Let’s have some more of that coffee. And see what you can rustle up for dinner. I’m going to get a lamp from the jeep. We got another hour or so to wait.“
    „What will you do if your partner can’t get up this canyon tonight?“ Obediently Heather went into the kitchen area to select some canned goods from the supply she had brought.
    „He’ll make it.“ Rick opened the door. „The road’s still passable. Believe me, this deal is too big. Joe will be here come hell or – “ he paused to snicker over his own joke „ – high water.“ Leaving the door open so that he could keep an eye on Heather, he dashed out to the jeep and grabbed a battery-powered lamp. A moment later he was back, slamming the door behind him as he turned on the portable lamp.
    Heather warmed the soup and dug out some crackers. As the minutes ticked past she became increasingly frightened. Rick was concentrating on watching the road to the cabin through the broken window. He seemed more tense than ever.
    If she was going to do anything it had better be before the man named Joe arrived. There was no sense in praying for rescue now. She had to accept the possibility that Jake had left earlier without having understood she was in danger. Chewing on her lower lip, Heather eyed the pan of bubbling soup. Perhaps if she hurled the contents at Monroe she could make it through the door before he recovered.
    Such an impossible long shot. And he had that gun. He was fiddling with it again, taking it out of his belt and examining it as if to be sure it was in proper working order. Oh, God. A pan of soup against a gun.
    First she had to lure him closer to the stove, and somehow she had to get him to stuff the gun back into his belt. So impossible. So hopeless.
    That last thought made her grit her teeth silently. The one thing she had always been was a fighter. She’d never lacked spirit even when the odds were heavily against her. With her own life at stake she certainly wasn’t going to get weak-kneed now!
    „Rick, the soup’s ready.“
    „Bring a bowl of it over here,“ he ordered negligently. „I want to stay where I can keep an eye on the road.“
    He was bound to be suspicious if she walked across the room carrying the whole panful of soup instead of just a small bowl. The odds were getting worse by the minute. The only positive note was that he’d stuck the gun in his belt again.
    Heather was standing very still, a bowl in one hand, the rag-wrapped handle of the soup pan in the other, when she saw the shadowy movement outside the side window. She barely stifled her gasp of alarm. Perhaps Rick’s friend Joe had some plans of his own this evening. He might have been the one she’d seen so briefly moving past the window. Or it might be rescue for her. Or nothing.
    Rick was still staring out the