Canyon Standoff

Lifting her and swinging her up behind him, Gabe frowned and studied Holly. “How much do you weigh?”

“I beg your pardon?”

He chuckled. “It’s not a personal question, Christmas. I was adding up the pounds to decide if you could ride, too. These guys carry heavy packs as well as people and they do it on narrow trails. If I don’t push him too hard, I think my big-eared friend can carry us all without hurting himself.”

She muttered a number. Gabe couldn’t resist commenting, “That much? Wow!”

She took a playful whack at his leg and spooked the mule enough that Gabe had to settle it again before she could mount.

“If you’re done scaring the livestock, Agent Forbes, I suggest we get a move on. I really do belong with my team.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Ranger. Sorry, Mr. Ranger. It won’t happen again.”

Laughing softly, he gave her a hand up behind him and Renee. “Okay, Robbie. You can help me hold the reins. Like this. Here we go.”

A light touch to the mule’s flanks was all it took. Gabe knew he and the other people weren’t the only ones glad to be going back to the settlement in the bottom of the canyon. All in all, he was feeling pretty satisfied until Holly spoke.

“Your radio and my gun are under all that fresh mud from the flash flood. One of the criminals we’ve been pursuing managed to slip by and start up the trail. I made the mistake of asking him for help before I saw how he was dressed. That was when I realized he was one of the men in the Vegas footage.”

It didn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out what she was trying to say but he needed to be certain. “You’re sure he was part of that cartel?”

“As sure as I can be until we get a crew in here to dig him out.” She paused as if having trouble continuing.

“You tried to save him, regardless. I know you did.”

There was a catch in her voice as she said, “Yes. I tried. He wouldn’t listen.” She sniffled. “I’m just thankful he didn’t force us all to stay in the bottom of that gorge with him.”

Gabe felt suddenly breathless. He nodded, stalling for time to regain his self-control before he sighed and said, “Yeah. Me, too.”

SIX

As the adrenaline drained out of Holly’s nervous system, she began to grow so weary she had to admit she probably couldn’t have walked all the way back. Not without a good nap halfway there. The steady gait of the mule helped lull her, too.

Renee, however, had yet to come down from the high caused by their harrowing morning. “How can you guys be so matter-of-fact about it? I mean, I’m still shaking and you two are making silly jokes.”

“I’m sorry if we offended you,” Holly said. “We have to try to lighten up as soon as possible to stay sane. It’s a coping mechanism. Rescuers and law enforcement officers do it because it works. Most of the time.”

“What happens when it doesn’t?” the other woman asked.

“You join the FBI,” Holly said. If she hadn’t been bone tired she might not have revealed so much. Now that she had, however, she saw no reason to stop explaining. “I was considering becoming a park ranger, like McClellan, here. I even spent a summer as a volunteer right here in the Grand Canyon.”

“Why did you change your mind? Too hard?”

Holly snorted a wry chuckle. “The job isn’t easy, particularly for the Search and Rescue teams and law enforcement rangers. But that’s not why I applied to the FBI instead.”

Thoughts and memories of losing Ivy covered her like a heavy wool blanket, weighing her down, body and soul. “It was because of my baby sister,” Holly explained. “After she was kidnapped and murdered, all I wanted to do was help catch whoever had done it. During the course of that investigation I met lots of detectives, and it was the FBI that most impressed me.”

She saw Gabe’s shoulders square. He didn’t turn to look at her but that didn’t matter. He’d taken it all in. She knew he had. Was he going to comment? Waiting, she heard nothing from any of her companions. That was just as well because the morning’s stress had weakened her tight hold on her emotions and she was afraid she’d cry if she had to talk about her sister much more.

The mule had made good time and they were within sight of Spirit Station when Gabe broke the silence. He merely said “I’m sorry, Holly” before using his radio to report their position and request a status report.

That hadn’t been a fluke, she realized. He had expressed empathy while saving her from having to reply. Not many people were that sensitive to the feelings of others, nor did they go out of their way to offer comfort. Oh, it happened. Of course it did. But this man, this senior ranger, wasn’t usually that tender when it came to disappointments. He’d always seemed to be the kind who expected others to power through, and get on with life no matter what.

And she had, in her own way, when she’d aced the courses at Quantico. Cities were her normal focus but she’d proved she could adapt to just about anything when this manhunt had led her back to Grand Canyon National Park.

It didn’t escape her notice that circumstances had also plunked her down in the territory patrolled by the extraordinary man who was in the process of rescuing her.

“Physically, not psychologically,” Holly muttered. She might have been knee-deep in mud in that rift and needed help getting out, but the rest of her life was laid out just the way she wanted it. Period.

There was a welcoming committee of rangers waiting when Gabe delivered his muddy cargo. He handed the boy to Broadstreet and helped the mother into Hough’s care. “Check them over. If there’s nothing that needs immediate attention, we’ll hold off on an evac until things settle down.”

Each man agreed and they escorted their patients out of sight and out of danger. Holly made a less-than-graceful exit over the mule’s rump and fortunately did not received a swift kick for her daring.

“Nice dismount, Forbes. Do they teach that technique in FBI classes?”

“Nope. That was strictly ad-lib.” She grinned. “I’m glad my legs held me up when I hit the ground. That is one big mule.”

“Ah, right,” Gabe teased. “You’re a city girl.”

“Hey! I know enough to handle myself out here,” she insisted.

Gabe shrugged. “Maybe. And maybe you know just enough to get yourself into big trouble.” He sobered. “You could have been killed in the flash flood. You know that, right?”

“I climbed instead of trying to outrun it, didn’t I?”

“That you did.”

Stretching and flexing like a dancer preparing to perform, Holly yawned. “Man, I’m beat. Dodging gunmen and floating boulders really takes a lot out of a person.” She smiled at the now-placid mule that had carried them all so ably. “So does bouncing up and down on his rear end.”

“Picky, picky, picky. If I’d commandeered a horse, you’d probably have had to walk. They aren’t built for hauling heavy loads the way my long-eared friend is.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’ve missed a few meals lately.”

“Hungry? Energy bars suit you?”

“Do you have any chocolate-flavored ones?”

Gabe rolled his eyes and shook his head, then began rooting through a nearby pack. “Didn’t you bring anything to eat?”

“Apparently it slipped my mind. I mean, this isn’t the wilderness. I know they sell food at the rim.”

“Spirit Ranch has a dining room, too, but it’s just for guests. They have to pack in everything they serve so they’re pretty stingy with it.” He offered her a choice of several energy bars. “We have a kitchen and storage pantry at the ranger station, of course, but I don’t recommend you knock on their door and ask for food right now.”

“What’s the latest on that situation?” Holly asked.

He noted that she was concentrating on opening her energy bar rather than looking him in the eye. That was understandable, particularly since her decision to go off on her own had taken him away from his regular duties. He wasn’t faulting her but didn’t doubt she was feeling guilty.

“We’re on hold, waiting for the negotiator to arrive.” He arched a brow. “Yes, it’s driving me up the wall, in case you were wondering.”

“Figures. I’m pretty antsy, too.” Saluting by raising her snack to him, she said, “Thanks. I don’t know if I’d have insisted on responding to the shouts I heard if I hadn’t been so primed to do something. Anything. I am sorry for causing you extra concern.”

Gabe huffed. “That’s one way to put it.” He took two steps closer and lightly touched her shoulder. “I’ve been in a lot of tough spots since I became a park ranger but I can’t recall ever being quite as scared as I was today when I learned about the flash flooding. And I didn’t even know you were mixed up with a crook at the time. When you get yourself into trouble, you do a bang-up job of it.”

She chewed and swallowed, then said, “I always try to outperform civilians. It impresses them.”

“Yeah, well, you got my attention, too. But from now on, no side trips or no going off alone. I made the mistake of not stopping you before. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

Holly arched her eyebrows and tilted her head to one side while studying him. “In case you’re confused about this, McClellan, I don’t take orders from you.”

When he opened his mouth to speak she waved him to silence.

“Hold on. I’m not trying to take over this operation or tell you what to do. I’m just saying that I intend to look out for the interests of the FBI and do my job. As long as my goals mesh with yours, we won’t have any conflicts.”

“You think not?” He unscrewed the top on a fresh bottle of water and drank. “Seems to me you could have used my backup when that guy took your gun and radio.”

“He was armed to start with,” Holly said. “I wasn’t about to try to shoot him when he was aiming at the child.”

“Perfectly sensible.”

“Thank you.”

“I wonder if he was the one who shot at us before. I don’t suppose he told you how he managed to slip away or how many men are left at our station.”

“Unfortunately, no. He was alone on the trail and headed up so I assumed he was a hiker. That’s why I didn’t suspect him at first. If I’d been able to see his clothing before I asked for his help, I might have figured out who he was sooner and been better prepared.”

“Maybe we should require all criminals to rattle like a diamondback before they strike. Might cut down on crime.”

She made a silly face at him. “Very funny.”

“I thought so.” Gabe shrugged and drank more water. He had to keep their conversations as light as possible because every time he allowed himself to picture her being swept away by the flash flood, it tied him in knots. He’d tried to tell himself he felt the same about the loss of any life and quickly realized that wasn’t true. He was sorry for the drowned crook, sure, and would have been even more upset to lose tourists, but that wasn’t the same as what he was feeling in regard to Holly Forbes. He admired her beyond reason. Why he did was the critical question for which he currently had no answer.

Another thing Gabe refused to contemplate was what it would be like to bid her goodbye once this rescue and capture was over. The FBI was bound to send her away. Seeing each other again or having a chance to get well acquainted was not likely.

Thinking about that possibility was more than ridiculous, Gabe told himself. Forming a personal relationship would mean a total change of lifestyle for one or both of them and he was perfectly happy right where he was. He’d met and exceeded his goals and had no intention of ever being anything but a National Park Ranger.

“So get your head on straight and stop dreaming of a different future,” he told himself in disgust. “You worked too hard to get where you are to even consider throwing it all away for a pretty face.”

Except Agent Holly Forbes was so much more than that, his mind countered. She was courageous, intelligent, clever and more fun to match wits with than anyone he’d ever known. Given other circumstances he might have let himself fall for her.

His radio crackled. The negotiator had arrived at Lee’s Ferry and was being brought down to their location by boat because that was the fastest way.

Gabe’s eyes met Holly’s and saw a query there. “Our negotiator is on his way.”

“It’s a man, then?”

“Yes.”

“Where will he come ashore?”

“Over there. It’s not an official landing area but allowed in this case. Why?”

“Because I intend to be there to greet him,” she said flatly, “and ask why they decided to go over my head when I’m also trained to negotiate.”

“Maybe they figured men would respond best to other men.” The scowl she gave him left nothing to the imagination. She was furious.

“Men. They always assume a woman is less capable.”

Gabe decided to speak his mind. “Sometimes they are.”

“Oh, terrific. You, too?”

“Hear me out,” Gabe urged, lightly taking her arm to discourage her from storming off. “We’re generally stronger and larger, for one thing. And we tend to keep our emotions under control better than women do.” He arched an eyebrow and gave her a quirky grin. “Like now.”

She jerked her arm away but didn’t leave. “Point taken.”

“However,” he went on, “in the case of dealing with scared kids or being a crack shot or even having equal or more stamina, a woman can excel.”

Seeing her shoulders begin to relax told him he was on the right track. “You managed to rescue that woman and her son despite having little gear and no recent training here in the park. I consider that exemplary. Even if the higher-ups at the Bureau don’t fully appreciate you, I do.”

Holly’s wide eyes misted, reflecting the towering rocks in the distance and the sky above. Gabe didn’t tease her about being too emotional. He was pleased to have had the chance to offer moral support, especially considering what she’d revealed about losing her sister. If she hadn’t experienced such a dramatic event, perhaps she might even have become a ranger the way she’d once intended.

But she hadn’t. She wasn’t. And imagining working beside her all the time was idiotic. While she was here in the canyon, he’d look after her. Once she left, he’d put her out of his mind the way he had other women, other friends who came and went because they didn’t fit his lifestyle.

For the first time in recent memory, Gabe realized—and admitted—he was lonely.

SEVEN

Portions of the Colorado River were turbulent as it wended through the canyon. The wider area at Spirit Station was placid compared to the rapids. Just to the west of the settlement, two footbridges—Kaibab and Bright Angel—connected the North and South Kaibab Trails where Bright Angel Creek fed into the impressive river.

Holly stood in the center of the first bridge with Gabe, watching for the approach of the FBI agent’s raft. When she spotted a large one being manned by a crew of fit young men she asked, “Is that what we’re waiting for?”

“Yes. I recognize some of my rangers. They’re dressed as tourists but it’s them.”

“Good,” she said. “More muscle.”

She watched his expression until she saw him realize she was baiting him about male superiority. Then his eyes narrowed and he gave her a mock scowl. “Right.”

Holly laughed. “Took you long enough. I was beginning to wonder if you were paying attention.”

“I have a lot on my mind.”

Sobering, she touched his forearm. “I know. Sorry. What’s the plan now?”

“We hold our observation positions and keep our fingers crossed.”

“A little praying probably wouldn’t hurt, either,” she offered.

“Absolutely. I just wish we knew how the injured ranger inside is doing and how many civilians are being held.”

“I suppose you’ve tried phoning and asking?”

When Gabe nodded, she was relieved he hadn’t taken her question as criticism. She knew he was good at his job. She’d seen plenty of examples in the past and he was even more impressive now. The problem for her was rooted in the psychological differences in the way men and women reasoned. Males tended to be linear thinkers while her mind bounced all over the place when she let it. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It sometimes produced ideas that were actually useful. Offbeat, maybe, but good nevertheless. That was one of the oddities that had not been on Gabe’s list of female assets. Before she left the canyon, she was going to make sure he understood how valuable her input could be.

The raft carrying the negotiator beached upriver about a hundred yards and began to offload passengers and cargo. Holly kept up with Gabe as he jogged to meet it and introduced himself.

The moment she recognized the older man the Bureau had sent, she gritted her teeth. Andrew “I Am Always Right” Summers. Terrific. She might as well go sit in the shade and eat another energy bar. That man was never going to listen to a thing she said. Gabe would have a better chance of being heard but even he was going to be surprised once Agent Summers started issuing orders as if he were the only voice of reason.

Squat, perspiring and looking uncomfortable in his khaki clothing and fabric hat with sun flaps, Summers awkwardly disembarked with help from the fit and agile rangers. He shook Gabe’s hand. “I was briefed on the way in, McClellan. Take me to your command post and then show me the closest vantage point. I’ll work from there.”

If Gabe was put off, he gave no indication of it. Holly fell into step behind the men. Talk about feeling like a third wheel. She might as well be invisible. Then again, maybe that wasn’t so bad. At least she’d escaped notice by Summers. Best to be thankful.

Pausing at the open-sided tent denoting his temporary command post, Gabe dispersed the relief crew to personally notify the others that help had arrived.

“Isn’t that the hard way?” Summers asked.

“We’re keeping radio communication to a minimum,” Gabe replied.

“That’s about to end.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Holly knew what was coming and wondered how her calm, self-controlled ranger friend was going to react. His opinion might not show but she was sure she’d be able to tell what he was really thinking.

“I’m going to need a good phone connection,” Summers said flatly.

“There are no telephone lines down here,” Gabe said.

The older man rolled his eyes. “Cell phones, man. Satellite. This is the twenty-first century.”

“No cell service, Agent Summers.” Holly saw Gabe stifle a smile as he continued. “The canyon is too deep and the angle is wrong.”

“Radios, then. Give me yours. And have somebody fetch my megaphone.”

Gabe stepped away far enough to use his radio without letting the agent grab it. Using the usual frequency, he ordered several of his rangers to bring the gear from the landing, then told them to take a vacation.

Covering her mouth, Holly smothered a chuckle. The astonished look on the other FBI agent’s face was priceless.

Summers held out a hand. “Radio, please.”

“I’ll get you one in a few minutes. This is mine.” Stepping out, he gestured. “Follow me. You, too, Agent Forbes.”

“Who?”

“Agent Holly Forbes. She’s been on this case since it began over in Vegas. Surely, you were informed.”

Summers waved a hand toward her. “Heard something about it.”

“Good, because she’s a valued advisor here in the park.”

Holly could have jumped for joy, thrown her arms around Gabe’s neck and kissed him. She did nothing of the kind, of course, except in her mind. That was enough to redden and warm her cheeks, particularly when Gabe caught her eye and winked.

She mouthed a silent thank-you and received a polite nod in return. If he’d been wearing his full uniform, she was sure he’d have tipped his Smoky Bear–style hat to her.

Bottom line, she reminded herself, they were all there to do the same job. That meant getting along. It also meant letting Summers do the talking, and praying he’d have success liberating the hostages and saving lives. She didn’t have to like him to respect his skills.

God willing, he’d help them accomplish their mutual goals before anyone else died. Having been shot at twice and almost smothered in mud and debris, she was more than ready to embrace an end to this standoff.

Seven of Gabe’s men had erected a makeshift barricade that faced the front of Spirit Station. Behind the station building was a rockfall with boulders the size of cars. Rubble along the sides precluded a clear passage to the river unless a person was skilled at scaling unstable rocks. That helped Gabe more than it did the criminals because he could concentrate most of his manpower along the most accessible side.

If he had known the type of man the FBI was sending, he would still have set up their barriers the way he had, but he might have moved the initial access point even farther away. It was a surprise that those nervous, twitchy crooks didn’t fire at Summers the moment he spoke with that megaphone.

“Attention in the ranger station. This is Special Agent Summers of the FBI. You’re surrounded. Put down your weapons. Come out with your hands up and no one will get hurt.”

Nothing happened. Gabe had figured it wouldn’t. He borrowed a spare radio from one of his men and passed it to the negotiator. “I think your first idea was better,” Gabe said. “Here.”

“About time.”

Staying crouched behind the electric farm carts and bales of hay from the mule barn that were piled in a curved line, Gabe worked his way over to Holly. “What’s with that guy?”

“Andrew has an overblown opinion of himself. I will say he’s accumulated a pretty impressive success record but that’s when he’s dealing with real criminals. These guys are different. They’re basically businessmen who got themselves into this mess by fronting the money to a gang for drugs, then running for their lives when the shooting started. I doubt they have the slightest idea how to get themselves out of trouble.”

“Surely he was briefed about all that.”

“If he listened. He tends to form an opinion quickly and hang on to it like a stubborn child with the last ice-cream cone.”

“Interesting analogy. You must be hungry again.”

“I hadn’t thought about it but I could be.”

He pretended to check his pockets. “Sorry. Fresh out of food. If you go back to the place we left the extra supplies, will you bring me a bottle of water and a snack, too? Please?”

“Sure. No problem since you asked nicely.” She eyed the back of the negotiator. “I’ll even bring something for him.”

Gabe quirked a smile. “Well, okay. Just don’t overdo it.”

“Not a chance.” She returned his grin. “Be careful and keep your head down while I’m gone, will you? No heroics.”

Gabe chuckled softly. “Absolutely. I can’t act like a hero again anyway. I gave back my trusty steed.”

“The mule?”

“Hey, a steed is a steed. Don’t knock the ones with long ears. They can outdo a horse, especially in country like this.”

“Same as you and your men are far better suited to this operation than our negotiator,” Holly remarked, squinting at the man’s back. “We’ll need to keep a close eye on him.”

“We?” Gabe felt his grin widening when he noted her reddened cheeks.

“Yes, we, Mr. Ranger, and don’t you forget it.”

He laughed aloud. “Never.”

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