The blast of a gun rattled through the hallway. Travis pushed Rainey against the wall and covered her with his body as he pulled his gun.

Before the echo died in the air, he heard Philip running from the porch and Roy stomping through the dining room. Both were shouting his name.

"Stay here," Travis ordered as he pushed her into the dark corner. "Don't move unless I call you."

Rainey nodded.

He joined the other Rangers at Mrs. Vivian's door. "It came from in here!" he shouted as he tried the knob.

The door was locked.

"Ready?" Travis said as all three men raised their guns. A moment later Travis's shoulder slammed against the door, shattering the lock.

They all rushed into the cluttered room. Dressers and chests, tables loaded down with keepsakes, chairs stacked on top of other chairs, all made a jungle for them to stumble through.

Roy mumbled an oath as he knocked over a chair. "What a mess."

By the window sat a small table with one chair. On the rug beside the chair lay a body curled up like an infant asleep.

Roy reached her first. He knelt and grabbed her shoulder. With little effort he rolled the thin woman onto her back. "Mrs. Vivian," he whispered as they all stared at a gaping hole that now marked the center of her chest. Her eyes were open, but there was no sign of life left. The gun rested a few feet from her.

"She killed herself!" Philip's voice squeaked with youth. "She had to have killed herself," he mumbled, trying to make sense of the death he saw. "She was locked in here alone."

Roy's gaze met Travis, and Travis knew they were thinking the same thing. Women take pills or cut their wrists; they don't shoot themselves.

Travis was out the door and back into the hallway. He didn't breathe until he had Rainey in his arms.

She was shaking as if near frozen. "I saw… I saw…"

He moved her into the light coming from Mrs. Vivian's room.

"I thought I saw a shadow move out the door right after the three of you went in," Rainey whispered. "I'm not even sure it was a person. Just a shadow. It must have been in Vivian's room."

Travis didn't want to tell her any more bad news, but he couldn't protect her unless she knew the danger. "Mrs. Vivian is dead," he said as calmly as he could. "It was made to look like a suicide."

She wrapped her arms around him and held on as tightly as she could. He hugged her, wondering if his arms were enough to protect her.

"I'll get you out of here as soon as it's safe."

She cried softly against his chest.

The silence ended with the arrival of Dillon, Mike Saddler, and Sage along with what seemed to be half the Rangers stationed in Austin. Suddenly their shouting and questions were coming from every direction.

Travis handed Rainey over to his sister and moved directly to Mike. "Why'd you bring Sage here?" Travis fought to keep his fists balled at his sides.

Mike looked miserable. "You ever try to stop her when she gets something in her head? I'd sooner milk a bull."

Travis almost felt sorry for Mike. "I understand," he mumbled without smiling.

Dillon organized the men, then asked to see Mike and Travis in the dining room. Neither man wanted to leave the women in the hallway unprotected, so they asked Sage and Rainey to join them. When the door was closed, Dillon stated the obvious. "I think this might have been Eldon's work. Maybe he thinks if he gets rid of everyone who might have seen him kidnap Rainey, we'll have nothing on him."

"So the barmaid might not have killed herself?"

"It's just a theory."

Dillon paced as he talked. "I sent a man over to the three dressmakers' apartment. They'll be sleeping below in the shop tonight to make sure no one gets to them. Dottie says she has a safe place. Other than them"-he looked at Rainey and Sage-"you are the only two alive who saw the kidnapping. We need to get you somewhere safe fast. Somewhere no one will think to look for you."

Sage met her brother's glance. "I'm going home," she said simply.

"But…" Mike started to argue.

Travis understood. For a McMurray there was no safe haven but Whispering Mountain. "Let her go," he said, knowing that whoever was killing the witnesses would be after Rainey next, not the old maids or Sage. "Mike, get her the best horse you can and ride with her. Even if you two are followed, there's not an outlaw in Texas who can keep up."

Mike smiled. "I'm not sure I can even keep up with her. Once she switched saddles the other day, I saw what riding-like-the-wind truly looks like."

Dillon stopped pacing. "I can send guards out with them the first day."

Travis shook his head. "They'd be safer leaving town unnoticed"-he looked back at his sister-"and well armed."

Sage nodded slightly. "I'll be ready to leave in an hour. We'll be well away from Austin before dawn. The roads are good for miles. We'll make good time."

Travis looked at Sage. "You'll be home in less than half the time it took to get to Austin. I'll hire someone to follow in a few days with the wagon."

"What about Duck? He won't go with me without you along. I left him with Dottie, but he won't stay for long. She said if you can get Rainey to her, she'll take her into hiding."

"I'll take care of Duck and Rainey," Travis said. "You worry about getting home safely." He wished he could send Rainey and Duck to Whispering Mountain, too, but Rainey couldn't ride well enough to keep up, and if they slowed they'd be sitting ducks on the road.

Sage hugged her brother.

"I wish I could ride with you," he whispered, hating that he wasn't the one taking her to safety, but his leg, even now that it felt like it was healing, would only slow Sage and Mike down.

"I know," she answered. "But you're needed here."

Dillon interrupted. "Right, McMurray. And the first thing we have to do is get Rainey out of here without anyone seeing her. I'd bet a month's pay that someone is watching the house right now just waiting to see where she goes."

Sage hugged Rainey and left the room, but Travis stopped Mike Saddler before the young Ranger could follow.

"I'll get her home safely," Mike promised.

Travis didn't let go of his arm.

Mike smiled. "And you don't have to say it. I know, you'll kill me if I touch her."

Travis smiled. "She's not the kid I thought she was. She'll kill you if you touch her. I'm just telling you to take care of her."

"I will."

He disappeared and Travis turned back to Dillon to plan how they would get Rainey out of the house safely.

A tap on the dining room door disturbed them a few minutes later. "Sorry to bother you," Roy said. "Your sister left here riding lightning fast. Anyone following her would have to have wings."

"Good." Travis smiled. He knew Mike would circle until he knew no one followed before he took her back to the Baileys' place so she could change.

Roy handed over a coat lined in fur. "Only problem is she picked up the wrong coat. I could have sworn she wore this in." He turned to Rainey. "I think she must have taken yours."

CHAPTER 32

Rainey slipped from the laundry room window into Travis's arms. She felt numb with worry and fear. She'd let Dillon and Travis discuss protecting her as if she were not responsible for herself, but deep down she knew that the longer she stayed around Travis, the more danger she put him in. When she got the chance, she needed to disappear.

But tonight didn't seem the time. A fog had settled over the town earlier, and now a slow rain hung in the air. The weather would make her escape easier, but it left a feeling that the whole world was crying.

Travis held her hand as they moved in the darkness down the alley to where Roy had the wagon waiting. When he reached the wagon, he turned and lifted her into the back between boxes and bundles of what looked like supplies, then swung in beside her. In an instant they vanished beneath blankets.

Travis opened his arm and pulled her against him as Roy set the horses into motion. He moved slowly, as if he were in no hurry. To all that might glance in their direction, Roy looked much like Owen did when he made deliveries.

"You all right?" Travis whispered. They were so close she felt his breath on her cheek.

"Yes."

They remained silent for a few minutes, and then he whispered close to her ear. "I wish we were back in your room on the third floor."

"Me, too," she answered, remembering how she'd lain beside him without her clothes and without embarrassment.

"Rainey?" he mumbled.

"Yes."

"I love touching you."

She stilled. It was the first time she'd heard him use the word love. He hadn't said he loved her, just touching her. The wagon rattled along. Rainey closed her eyes and remembered how it had been for a few short hours. No one would ever guess that the hard man beside her could be so tender. He'd made her feel beautiful, if only for a few hours. The memory of the way he'd kissed her warmed her still.

After a while the wagon came to a stop and Travis slipped from beside her. "I'll be back in a minute. Don't move."

Rainey poked her head out enough to see the outline of the judge holding Duck at the back door. The boy began to fight and kick the moment he recognized Travis coming toward them. The judge let him go. Duck flew down the path to Travis.

As always, Travis engulfed the boy in his hug. Watching, Rainey saw how much the child meant to him.

"Thanks," she heard Travis say as he moved closer to the judge. She couldn't hear more. Roy climbed from the wagon and loaded more supplies.

Travis finally stepped away from the judge and said, "We'll be in touch."