Montana Sky

table. Tess was on the floor with her before Bess could lift Ham’s head in her lap. “He’s bleeding bad here. Get some towels, press them down hard.”
    “Bess . . .”
    “Quiet now. Let’s see what’s what here.”
    Tess ripped the shirt aside and pressed down hard on the wound. “Call for an ambulance, a helicopter. He needs help quickly.”
    “Wait.” Ham grabbed for Bess’s hand. “He’s got . . .” He squeezed until he could find the breath to speak again. “He’s got her, Bessie. He’s got our Will.”
    “What?” Straining to hear, Tess pushed her face close. “Who has Will?”
    But he was unconscious. When her eyes lifted, latched onto Bess’s, they were ripe with fear. “Call the police. Hurry.”
     
    H E WAS READY TO STOP NOW . HE ’ D CIRCLED , backtracked, followed a stream down its center, then moved onto rock. He had no choice but to tether the horses, but he kept them close.
    Willa watched his every move. She knew the hills, and he wouldn’t find the hunt easy even if she had to go on foot once she got loose.
    He hauled her down first, retied her ankles. After getting his rifle, he sat across from her, laid it across his lap. “I’m going to take the gag off now. I’m sorry I had to use it. You know it won’t do any good to scream. They may come after us, but not for a while, and I covered the trail.”
    He reached over, put his hand on the cotton. “We’re justgoing to talk. Once you hear me out, we’ll get back to the way things were.” He tugged the gag down.
    “You murdering bastard.”
    “You don’t mean that. You’re upset.”
    “Upset?” Fury carried her, had her pulling furiously to try to break her bonds. “You killed Ham. You killed all the others. You slaughtered my cattle. I’ll kill you with my own hands if I get the chance.”
    “Ham was an accident. I’m as fond of him as I can be, but he saw me.” Like a boy caught with the shards of a cookie jar at his feet, he lowered his head. “The cattle was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done that to you. I’m sorry.”
    “You’re—” She shut her eyes, balled her helpless hands into fists. “Why? Why have you done these things? I thought I could trust you.”
    “You can. I swear you can. We’re blood, Willa. You can trust your own blood.”
    “You’re no blood of mine.”
    “Yes, I am.” He knuckled a tear away, such was his joy in being able to tell her. “I’m your brother.”
    “You’re a liar and a murderer and a coward.”
    His head snapped up, his hand flew out. The sting of flesh striking flesh sang up his arm, and he regretted it immediately. “Don’t say things like that. I got my pride.”
    He rose, paced, worked himself back under control. Things didn’t go well when you lost control, he knew. But stay in charge, stay on top, and you could handle anything that came along.
    “I’m as much your brother as Lily and Tess are your sisters.” He said it calmly as the sky split and fractured with swords of electric light. “I want to explain things to you. I want to make you see why I did what I did.”
    “Fine.” The side of her face burned like hellfire. He’d pay for that too, she promised herself. He would pay for everything. “Okay, Jim, explain it to me.”
     
    B EN SLAMMED HIS RIFLE INTO ITS SHEATH , SNAGGED HIS gunbelt, strapped it on. The .30 carbine he shot into the holster was a brute of a revolver, and he wanted a meangun. He wouldn’t allow himself to feel, or he might sink shaking to his knees. He could only allow himself to move.
    Men were saddling up fast, with Adam shouting orders. Ben wasn’t giving any orders, not this time. Nor was he taking them. He took Willa’s hat, gave it to Charlie to scent. “You find her,” he murmured. “You find Willa.” Stuffing the hat in his saddlebag, he swung into the saddle.
    “Ben.” Tess grabbed the bridle. “Wait for the others.”
    “I’m not waiting. Move aside, Tess.”
    “We can’t be sure where—or who.” Though there was only one man missing.
    “I’ll find the where. I don’t have to know who.” He jerked his horse’s head out of her grip. “I just have to kill him.”
    Tess raced over to Adam, put both arms around Lily, and held tight. “Ben rode off. I couldn’t stop him.”
    Adam merely nodded, gave the signal to ride. “He knows what he’s doing. Don’t worry.” Turning, he embraced them both. “Go inside,” he told Lily, and laid his hand on her gently rounded belly.