Chapter 19

With her nod of understanding, he kicked his horse into a hard gallop and sped out of the yard. He thought he heard Lee shouting for him, but his ears were closed off, his entire being focused on just one task. Find Mercy. Get her back.Kill the bastard who took her, if he had the chance. But that was a secondary consideration—his first was merely Mercy’s safety.

He rode hard, silently promising the old horse that he’d let him rest for days after this. But the animal never faltered or tried to stop. Mal was able to keep the dust in view for several miles, but then it disappeared and so did all the signs, except for the trail of hoof prints in the soft dirt. Where was he taking her? Where did he think he was going? Did he plan to leave the ranch and never come back? Or did he just want to have Mercy all to himself without the threat of being caught or stopped?

Was he purposefully leading Mal away from the ranch?