As the sun disappeared under encroaching clouds, the world grew darker. Colder. Audrey couldn’t take it. “It’s starting to sprinkle. Let’s get everything inside, and go warm up.”

“Good idea.” A man’s voice made Audrey scramble to her feet.

Earl Baumer stood in the open garden gate.

Audrey gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“Came for you.” He lunged at her.

No time to draw her weapons. Dodging, she stuck out a foot and tripped him, then sprinted toward the side of the house. Her guards were in front.

She’d reached the corner when she heard, “Stop or I’ll kill her.”

His yell made Audrey look over her shoulder.

No.

She skidded to a halt and grabbed a tree to catch her balance.

Earl had Lillian pinned against him, her back to his chest. One hand gripped her white hair as he held a knife to her fragile neck.

“Earl Baumer, you are a sodden-witted bull’s pizzle.” Lillian’s face was tight with pain. She looked at Audrey. “Run, child, you—”

Her voice cut off as Earl dug in the point of the knife. A thin trickle of red ran down her white neck.

“You might get away, Audrey, but the old lady’ll be dead.” Earl’s voice was ragged and strained. His reactions were…unpredictable, and Audrey’s nerves tensed.

He stared at her. “Can you live with that, slut?”

Everything in her screamed run.

Lillian’s mouth formed the word. Go.

Audrey hesitated, fear raising the hairs on her nape. Yet she couldn’t survive if she ran and Lillian was hurt. “I’ll go with you.”

“Come here.”

No choice. Hands in fists, Audrey crossed the yard back to the garden.

With a shout of victory, Earl grabbed her and shoved Lillian away.

The older woman staggered and tripped over her chair. Her head hit the wooden garden cart with a ghastly thump.

She fell, limp.

“No!” Audrey yanked Caz’s knife from the arm sheath. She slashed at Earl’s restraining hand, cutting his wrist.

With a shout of pain, he let go—and then punched her arm so hard that her fingers went numb. The knife dropped.

Before she could jump away, he backhanded her. Pain exploded in her face, and she reeled back, stopped from falling when he grabbed her shirt. Blackness flickered at the edge of her vision

“Stupid slut.” As she struggled, he yanked her arms behind her back and cuffed her. Gripping her shirtfront, he dragged her to the front of the house.

Tears streaming from her eyes, she looked frantically for the two men who’d volunteered to watch over her.

No one stood at the pickup. Audrey’s breath froze in her lungs.

“Oooh, did the bitch lose her guards?” Earl’s mocking voice made her freeze.

“What did you do to them?”