Rope the Moon (Runaway Ranch, #2)(112)

“I…will.” Head lolling in Wyatt’s lap, she looks pleadingly at me. “He has a knife. You have to find her.”

I smooth back her hair. “I will,” I promise.

I look at my brothers. Hand Ford the keys to my truck. “Get Fallon to the hospital. Fast,” I say grimly. “I’m going after King.”





Rope the moon, Koty. Rope the moon and run your pregnant ass off.

I’m on autopilot as I slice through the woods. There’s enough moonlight to illuminate my way. To give me hope.

My bare feet sweep over small rocks, grass, pine needles. Long, spindly branches scrape my bare legs. But I barely feel it. My entire focus is on escape. Get Aiden away from my sister. Keep Fallon and my baby safe.

“Poor little lost Dakota!” Aiden screams in the dark. I can hear him crashing behind me. “Always running! Just wait until I find you!”

Nausea constricts in my throat. I hold my belly as I run, like I can keep Squish in. I feel him in there, squirming around. It gives me fight. Makes me move.

If I can keep away from Aiden, hide in the woods, Davis will find me. All I have to do is survive.

I climb a small rocky hill that in my pregnant state feels like I’m scaling Everest. My belly feels like it weighs a hundred pounds. Still, I press on. My body won’t let me fail. And I won’t fail my son. I won’t fail myself.

Back to the ranch. It’s the sole mission in my mind.

There’s just one little problem.

I don’t know where the fuck I am.

Chest heaving, I stop and scan my surroundings.

There are two paths. Right or left. The ranch and the road are below me. Somewhere. But so is Aiden.

Twigs crunch behind me as Aiden closes the gap between us.

Fuck. Fuck.

My heart trembles in my chest.

Think, Dakota.

I close my eyes. Davis’s words echo in my head.

Meadow Mountain and Eden is to the west. The hiking trail near the cabin leads back to the ranch.

I open my eyes and frantically scour the ground.

Hiking trail. Hiking trail.

I note a rugged dirt path to my right. Unmarked, but that has to be it.

I turn to run, but my foot catches on a root and I’m sent sprawling. I hit the forest floor, covering my belly protectively. Excruciating pain radiates through my leg.

I cover my face with my hands in anguish. My cheeks are wet and I don’t remember when I started crying again.

“Fuck,” I moan into my palms. I’m exhausted. Numb. But I can’t afford to stop.

I have everything. Everything to lose.

Soft dough in my hand. My fingertips gripping the sheet corner, Davis’s mouth on mine. The squirm of my baby in my belly. Fallon’s sharp laugh in the morning at The Corner Store. My father telling me he’s proud of me.

Mine. All mine.

I fought for this life, and I am not losing it now.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I look up at the moon.

“Don’t stop,” I tell myself. Squish kicks like he’s telling me to move my ass. “Get up. Don’t stop.”

A snuffling noise cuts through the night. Something dark and swift barrels over my side. The scent of musk and dirt lingers in the air.

I flatten against the ground and feel for a rock. My heart’s going to explode out of my chest. I close my hand over the rock and hold my breath, ready to spring. Attack.

That’s when a warm, wet nose hits my elbow.

“Keena?” Hope springs. Davis is close. He found me.

Palms flat against damp earth, I press myself up and gasp.

The wolf.

Inquisitive yellow eyes stare back at me. Her fur’s silver tipped with black. We’re inches apart.

“Dakota!” Aiden’s voice echoes in the night.

At the noise, the wolf’s ears prick dog-like, and she glides past me. Pauses and looks back. Waits.

For me.

On shaky legs, I stand. My gut says to follow her, because the righteous wild of Montana has never let me down.

She goes right, and I follow, careful and deft on the trail. We rush through the woods, swift as wind. Now and then, the wolf glances back to watch me with dark eyes. She leads me through the forest, over loam and mulch and wet sand.

We head down a steep slope. The wolf weaves around a tree and comes to a stop in front of a massive, jagged wall of rock. It juts from the earth like a spire. In the center of it is a crack, barely wide enough to fit a person, but when I pass the mouth of the cave, I gasp.

Two wolf pups.

With a flick of her tail, the wolf disappears inside.

When I turn my head, I see the glittering bright lights of Runaway Ranch. Fifteen minutes away, if not less.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Hope glows in my chest, and I move. Fast.

I never see him coming.

A fist lashes out and catches me in the face. The impact sends me to my knees, nearly jars my teeth loose. My head swims, stars blink in and out of my vision.

Aiden wraps his hand in my hair, yanks me to standing. “Get up, you fucking bitch.” Icy rage burns in his eyes.

The slash of the knife shines silver in the night.

“No!” I scream and twist in his grip.

Aiden drags me back against him. One arm wraps tightly around my neck, the other dips to press the knife against my stomach. “Welcome home, Dakota.”