Using only his good arm, he unsaddled the horse and led her to the pasture door, where he removed her bridle and turned her loose. An astute killer might notice a horse suddenly appearing with sweat-outlined saddle marks, but hopefully the sheer number in the herd would prevent that.

He and Wyatt hadn’t moved the body from the last stall, and he hoped he wouldn’t be driven from his hiding place by the smell as the day’s heat did its work.

He eased over to the stall and looked.

The body had been moved.

*  *  *

I blinked. Mae’s house. It was as if I’d dropped into the Twilight Zone. Or starred in my own version of Groundhog Day. Was I doomed to circle endlessly? Or had I actually died in the cave? Was I in a special purgatory? I pinched myself. That hurt.

I was really here, still lost, still without a working GPS. And someone who had tried to kill me was probably wandering around.

I ducked back behind the boulder.

I had no doubt that the killer from Mule Shoe was the same one who hit me and dumped me into the mine. Probably the same one who killed Mae. He liked bashing people on the back of the head. I’d like to bash his head.

Before I could stop her, Holly pranced out to the front of the house.

Nothing happened. No shout of alarm, no slamming of a door. I ventured from my hiding place.

My horse was gone, as was Mae’s mule.

A sour taste rose in my mouth. My leg grew weak and I slumped to the ground. How am I going to get out of here now? I barely made it here from the mine. I would never be able to hop or crawl so far for help. Nor was there any way I could play hide-and-seek from a killer—a killer who would make sure I was dead the next time.

I should just give up. Get it over with.

The words drifted into my brain. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the sky. “Well then, God, You’re gonna have to get me out of here, because I’m most definitely not strong and courageous right now.”

Holly came over and sniffed my hair, gave me a sloppy forehead kiss, then wandered away. Maverick lay down beside me.

God’s miracle didn’t happen. I wasn’t suddenly transported to my old room at Clan Firinn. I was still at Mae’s cabin, lost, missing a significant means of transportation, with a killer stalking me, surrounded by mountains and trees . . .

Tree.