“Flora’s her third cousin. She lives on the other side of town. That’s good.” Kit saw the turnoff to the ranch up ahead and continued, “I wanted to have better news for Evelyn.”

  “I know. She worries about you.”

  Doubts about her ability to read people correctly nagged at her as Hawke directed his Jeep toward the house. Were her feelings for Hawke only there because of what he’d done for her concerning the Lost City of Gold and now the stalker? What would they be when her life returned to normal? She didn’t want to make yet another mistake. Caution mingled with her doubts, producing uncertainty about her next step with Hawke.

  All she wanted to do was escape into the bedroom and go to sleep, forget the mess her life was because of Sean. Maybe a long nap would make things look brighter after she woke up.

  “When this is over with, I think you and I should talk.” Hawke parked near the barn and climbed from his vehicle.

  No matter what had transpired, she loved him. That wasn’t going to change whether it was for the best or not. Over the Jeep’s top, Kit captured his gaze and held it for a long moment, the words of doubt screaming for her to be quiet. Wait. Think about it some more. She gave him a nod, then started for the house.

  He caught up with her halfway across the yard and took her hand. “I know today was a disappointment but—” he twisted toward her “—with some—”

  A shot rang out. Kit froze as Hawke went down, letting go of her.

  His eyes fluttered open. “Run. Get away,” he rasped, then went limp.

  “No! Not again.” Without thinking, she knelt next to Hawke, holding his hand. “I love you. You can’t die on me.”

  “Get away from him, Kit.” Sean’s voice boomed across the yard. She looked up to find him on the stoop with a gun pointed at Evelyn, who was gagged and bound.

  “Don’t make me kill her, too.”

  A slight squeeze told her Hawke was alive. Was he faking it? No, blood oozed from a wound in his shoulder, right above his heart. But maybe he would be all right if she could keep Sean distracted—and somehow get Hawke some help before he bled to death.

  Slowly she stood. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Come here.”

  Each step she executed that brought her closer to the murderer underscored the danger they were all in. Fear mushroomed, and she had to fight to keep the panic at bay. Anger, helplessness, terror mingled together in Evelyn’s features. She might be Evelyn’s and Hawke’s only hope. She couldn’t let them down. Somehow she had to find a way to stop Sean.

  At the stairs to the back door, Sean moved to the side to allow her to enter first. Then he pushed Evelyn forward. With her hands bound behind her, Hawke’s mother was powerless, and Kit could see in her eyes the terror for her son, the same emotion rampaging through Kit.

  “Tie her to the chair.” Sean tossed some rope at Kit. “You’d better make sure she can’t get up. I don’t kill unnecessarily, but if you make it necessary, her death will be on your head.”

  With tears burning her eyes, Kit looped the rope around Evelyn several times before securing her with a knot her son had taught Kit. A memory of when Hawke had made her do it over and over until she’d gotten it right flashed into her mind. If you don’t, you could die if the knot slips and you fall. His declaration to her all those weeks ago taunted her. The irony of the situation bombarded Kit with the jitters. She fumbled the piece of twine.

  “I’ll check your work, Kit.”

  Sean’s warning as he hovered over her plunged her further into a sea of fright. Please, Lord. Help.

  “I’m sorry, Evelyn.” Her shaky hands stabilized enough for her to finish the task and rise.

  The kindness in the woman’s eyes, directed at her, bolstered Kit’s vacillating courage. With the gun pointed at Hawke’s mother, Sean inspected Kit’s work.

  “Good. I didn’t realize how well you can tie knots, Kit. Holding out on me?” Sean straightened and came toward her.

  Kit backed away, her gaze glued to the weapon she thought was a semiautomatic pistol. “Why are you here? What do you want?” Surprisingly her voice didn’t quaver, although inside she felt as if her whole body was shaking.

  “You. I just can’t look out for you anymore from afar. You don’t do what you’re supposed to. How can I protect you when you keep associating with the wrong kind of people? Lonechief murdered his wife. Why would you want to be with him?”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  “Of course he would say that. I wouldn’t expect any less. I read up on the so-called accident. You should know the ones closest to a person are always suspected first in any murder.” Sean cackled, an almost hysterical noise that wasn’t really anything that should be considered a laugh. “See, that’s why I’m taking you away with me. You are so naive, my Kit.”

  She wanted to shout at him that she wasn’t his anything, but that would provoke him even more. She had to get away from him and get help for Hawke.

  “Where are we going?” Kit took another step back.

  “A secret. You’ll find out when you get there.” He waved his gun toward the back door. “My car is parked behind the barn. I want to make sure that Lonechief has been taken care of—permanently.”

  No! Her heart beat so hard against her chest, it felt as if it was being ripped from her.

  Think!

  “Sean, why do you feel you have to protect me?”

  “You saved my life. I’m in your debt.” He nudged her forward. “Open the door. We’ll have time later to talk all you want.”

  She followed his directions in slow motion, trying to buy Hawke an extra few minutes of life. Lord, help.

  Out on the stoop, Kit immediately looked toward where Hawke went down. He was gone! She sidled to block Sean’s view but didn’t move fast enough.

  “What—”

  From the side, Hawke launched himself at Sean. Kit dodged to the left. The ring of a shot blasted by her ear. She spun toward the pair on the stoop locked in a struggle. Hawke pinned Sean to the concrete. They were both grappling for the pistol clutched in Sean’s grasp.

  What to do?

  Kit glanced around for something to help Hawke. Everything was too far away. She had to act now. Hawke’s movements slowed. What strength Hawke had was waning…fast. The metallic stench of his blood, now flowing freely from his wound, assailed her nostrils and prodded her into action. Both men had their grips on the weapon, Hawke trying to pry Sean’s fingers loose.

  Kit wedged her foot on top of Sean’s arm and pressed down. Pain flitted across his face. He groaned. She stepped harder until she felt something snap under her foot. He released the pistol, and Hawke snatched it up. Grimacing, he shoved Sean off, the gun at all times pointed at his assailant.

  Hawke propped himself against the clapboard. “Go call the police, Kit.”

  “But you’re bleeding.” She scrambled to his side.

  “Now.”

  That one pain-drenched word propelled her inside where she grabbed the phone. While calling the station, she stretched the cord until she could bend down and loosen Evelyn’s gag and the ropes. The woman worked one hand totally free, and Kit thrust the phone into it.

  “Hawke’s losing a lot of blood.” Snagging a kitchen towel, Kit rushed out the back door to him.

  Blessedly, he was still conscious, but the gun trembled in his hand. Sean’s regard fastened onto the weapon. Although he held his arm to his chest, Sean was still a threat. She had to do something quickly. She grasped the pistol and took it from Hawke.

  “Don’t even think it, Sean. If you’ve been watching me lately, you know that Hawke has been showing me how to shoot. I won’t hesitate to use it.” She didn’t know if that was true or not and prayed she never had to find out.

  His mouth contorted in pain, Sean bristled as though he was the one wronged. “You hurt me. I just want to take care of you. He’s a murderer.”

  A near-crazed laugh erupted from her lips. “That’s a rich one.” With a quick sideward glance, Kit pressed the towel into Hawke’s wounded shoulder.

  Sean moved slightly toward her as though readying himself to spring at her. She cocked the gun. His eyes widened, and he collapsed back against the stoop.

  The back door slammed open. Evelyn hastened outside. She came to her son’s side and checked him out. “It shouldn’t be long before someone is here. A patrol was nearby.”

  While Hawke’s mother went calmly about the business of taking care of her son, Kit kept her attention fully on Sean. This man would pay for all the pain he caused others.

  * * *

  I love you, Hawke. I love you.

  But he didn’t hear Kit. His eyes were closed, his face ashen, blending with the stark white of the hospital sheet pulled up over his bandaged shoulder. He’d been asleep since the doctor had left several hours ago.

  Exhausted, Kit stood, needing to do something other than sit in the chair by his bed. She peered out the window of the clinic that served the pueblo. Darkness greeted her. The people of San Angelo were at home, finishing up dinner, probably unaware how close their police chief had come to being killed because of her.

  Although Sean had been taken in by the police and his reign of terror would be over, maybe Hawke would be better off if she left now before he awakened. Look what happened to Hawke and Gregory because of her—for that matter Ronald Hoffman, too. She’d been right when she had dedicated herself to her career. She should leave now—

  “Kit.”

  The hoarse whisper of her name told her she was too late. She would have to face Hawke and the pain she’d caused him. Slowly she pivoted toward him and took the few feet to his bedside.

  “It’s about time you woke up. I was just about ready to leave. You know me and food. My stomach has been rumbling…” She couldn’t keep up the cheerful front as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened earlier in the afternoon. She slumped into the chair before her legs gave out.

  “Hungry?”

  His half grin melted her insides. A lump lodge in her throat, and all she could do was nod.

  “Doc said I was gonna live, so you can quit worrying.”

  “Worrying? Me? I know you’re too tough to let a little ole bullet stop—” The sobs came suddenly and intensely. She couldn’t stop the flow of tears no matter how much she swiped at her cheeks. “I…I—”

  “Kit, I’m okay. Promise.” He moved to sit up and winced.

  She continued to cry, everything crashing down on her. He reached for her, and she couldn’t ignore the gesture. Clinging to his hand, she scooted her chair even closer to the bed and laid her head against his good arm.

  Finally when the tears subsided, he said, “Did you mean what you said back at the house?”

  She looked into his wonderful face. “I said a lot of things at your house.”

  “That you loved me?”

  “Yes, but you don’t have to feel—”

  “Shh, Kit. I love you. I don’t want to hear all the reasons we shouldn’t be together. We can work out whatever we need to. I just know I don’t want to live without you.”

  “But it’s dangerous being around me.”

  “What would be dangerous to me is if you leave me. I might never recover.”

  “Hawke Lonechief…” His full-fledged smile halted her teasing words. She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. “I guess you’re stuck with me. I’ve caused you enough pain. I won’t be responsible for any more.”

  “Promise?”

  She answered him with a kiss.

  EPILOGUE

  The cool breeze of autumn blew across the mesa top. Hawke linked his fingers through Kit’s and drew her closer to his side as they watched the sunrise. She snuggled into the curve of his arm.

  “I’m slowly changing my mind about camping. I used to think my idea of roughing it was a two-star hotel. I think in the past five months, I’ve learned the true meaning of roughing it.” Kit peered up at her husband of a month, his strong profile sending a warmth through her as it always did.

  “I never got to ask you. Did you call Wes back yesterday?” Pulling her in front of him, her back pressing against him, Hawke kissed the top of Kit’s head and rested his chin on it.

  “Yeah, I finally did.”

  “And?”

  “I listened to his apology and told him I forgave him. I know what you’re thinking—that I’m a sucker for a sob story, but he’s paying for his bad choices. Not too many colleges will hire him now for trying to steal my research.”

  He nibbled the side of her neck. “No, I wasn’t thinking that. I fully expected you to forgive him. I wouldn’t have expected anything less. You’ve taught me so much about forgiveness and letting go.”

  “We learned together.” She twisted around in the cage of his arms and looked up at him. “What Wes did was nothing compared to Sean. It won’t surprise me if his attorney tries to claim the insanity plea for him.”

  “It won’t work. He knew right from wrong. He needs to be locked away for the rest of his life.”

  “Spoken like a cop.”

  “Yep, and happy to be one. I feel I’ve finally come home.” His embrace tightened about her.

  “Speaking of home. I’ve been invited to another conference to speak on my discovery of the City of Gold and its impact. It’s in San Francisco in November.”

  “I may just have to go with you on this trip. I love listening to you talk about what we found in the cave and the findings you and Zach made about the artifacts, especially the gold murals.”

  “The best part is that the Collier/Somers Wing of the museum will get to display the murals first.”

  “No, the best part is I found you.” Hawke claimed her mouth as the new day bathed them in sunlight.

  * * * * *

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  Kit had a hard time giving control over to another. What are some things you’ve done to keep control of a situation? How did Kit have to give up control in a situation in the story? How did you learn to give up control?

  Who is your favorite character in Forsaken Canyon? Why?

  A recurring theme throughout my stories is forgiveness. It isn’t always easy to do it. When have you found it difficult to forgive someone or even yourself? Did you finally? Why or why not?

  How did Hawke deal with his guilt over Pamela? How do you deal with guilt?

  Kit felt she had to prove herself. When she was growing up, her father made her feel unworthy of his love. She felt all she had to do was work harder, gain success and then she would be worthy. What are some of the things you’ve done to prove yourself to a loved one?

  What is your favorite scene in Forsaken Canyon? Why?

  When Kit faced troubles, she turned to the Lord for help. Do you turn to the Lord when life gets difficult for you? How do you depend on Him in those times?

  Why did Kit have such a strong faith? How did it affect how she lived?

  How did Hawke learn to put his past behind him and live a fulfilled life?

  Have you ever been driven to do something as Kit was in trying to prove her theory? She took risks and pushed herself to do things she normally wouldn’t. Did you accomplish your goal? Why or why not?

  How did Hawke deal with his wife’s death? What are some of the things you’ve done to deal with a death of a loved one?

  Having a stalker would be scary. Have you ever dealt with a stalker or someone who wouldn’t leave you alone? What did you do? How would you have handled Kit’s situation with the stalker?

  SPECIAL EXCERPT FROM

  Love Inspired Suspense

  Presiding over the trial of a drug carter member, Judge Aubrey Madison’s life is in danger.

  Can Texas Ranger Sean McNair keep her and her family safe?

  Read on for a sneak preview of

  the next book in the LONE STAR JUSTICE miniseries,

  LONE STAR STANDOFF,

  by Margaret Daley

  District Judge Aubrey Madison left her office at the courthouse, her brain pounding against her skull. The jury was finally chosen today in her current trial—a trial that could propel her into the limelight, a place she’d rather not be. At least for the weekend, she could relax and enjoy time with her twins. They meant everything to her.

  “Good night, Bill,” she said to the deputy sheriff at the rear entrance.

  “Judge Madison, I’ll walk you out tonight.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but you need to guard the door.”

  He smiled. “I know. Part of the extra security for the Villa trial? I can keep an eye on the entrance and walk you to your car.”

  Aubrey sighed. Bill took his job seriously. “I know. That’s why I parked near the entrance, so you wouldn’t have to go so far.” She stepped outside, where the sunset painted the sky with beautiful shades of red and yellow. “How are you doing?”

  He slowed his pace, his forehead wrinkled. “I guess okay, Judge Madison.”

  She stopped and turned toward Bill, a large man with a slight potbelly. “I know what you’re going through. My husband died two years ago. I’m here if you need to talk about your wife’s death.”

  “Thanks.” His face tensed, and he started walking again. “You have enough to deal with.”

  At the end of the sidewalk to the parking lot, Aubrey glanced at Bill. “I can take it from here. My car is right over there.”

  The deputy sheriff scanned the area then nodded.

  She strolled the short distance to her car. The warmth from the spring day had already faded, and the chill in the air made her shiver. She slid behind the steering wheel and pulled out of her parking space. As she headed toward the exit of the lot behind the courthouse, reserved for people who worked inside, she passed Bill and waved.

  When she arrived home a short time later, she punched the garage-door opener then drove inside and parked next to her mother’s car. She didn’t know what she would have done if her mom hadn’t insisted on coming to stay with her at least until Camy and Sammy went to elementary school. Two years ago when her husband was murdered, Aubrey had to go back to work because of Samuel’s sudden death. Their savings had all been wiped out by medical bills when the twins were born early. She’d always intended to return to work, but not until they were in elementary school. Instead she’d run for the judge position six months later.