Read Online Ransom by Julie Garwood - Free Book Online Page A

head and she searched for a way to lift herself. The strength seemed to have gone out of her and, though she gave it a valiant try, she couldn’t climb back up.
    â€œYou know what, lady?”
    â€œHush,” she whispered as she said a silent prayer for strength and made another attempt.
    â€œBut you know what?”
    â€œNo, what?” she asked as she rested against the rock and tried to calm her racing heartbeat.
    â€œThere’s a real big ledge down under us. I saw it. We could jump down. Look down, lady, and you can see for yourself. It isn’t far.”
    â€œI don’t want to look down.”
    â€œBut you got to look so you can see where it is. Then maybe we can crawl along—”
    â€œNo!” she shouted as she again tried to raise herself to the next foothold. If she could only accomplish that little feat, she could surely figure out a way to reach down and pull the little boy up too.
    The child watched her struggle. “Are you too puny to climb back up?”
    â€œI suppose I am.”
    â€œCan I help?”
    â€œNo, just stand perfectly still.”
    Once again she tried to climb, but it was a futile effort at best. She was in such a panic inside, she could barely draw a decent breath. Dear Lord, she didn’t think she had ever been this afraid in all her life.
    â€œYou know what, lady?”
    The little boy was relentless, and she gave up trying to quiet him. “No, what?”
    â€œWe got to go down, not up.”
    â€œWe’re going up.”
    â€œThen how come we aren’t moving?”
    â€œTry to be patient,” she ordered. “I can’t seem to get a proper hold. Give me a minute and I’ll try again.”
    â€œYou can’t climb up ’cause I hurt you. You got blood allover your clothes. I cut you bad. I’m awful sorry, lady, but I got scared.”
    He sounded on the verge of tears. She quickly tried to calm him. “Don’t fret about it,” she said as she made one more attempt. With a groan of frustration, she finally gave up. “I think you’re right. We’re going to have to go down.”
    Ever so slowly she turned around on the narrow ledge, and with her back pressed against the rock, she sat down. The child watched her, then spun around and plopped down beside her.
    The quickness in his action nearly gave her heart palpitations, and she grabbed hold of his arm.
    â€œCan we jump now?” he asked eagerly.
    The boy really didn’t have a lick of sense. “No, we aren’t going to jump. We’re going to ease our way down. Take hold of my hand and hold tight.”
    â€œBut you got blood on your hand.”
    She quickly wiped the blood on her skirt, then took hold of his hand. Together they peered over the side. Gillian had to look to make certain the ledge was wide enough. She had to say a prayer too, and after she was finished, she held her breath and scooted off the ledge.
    The distance wasn’t all that far, but still, the impact jarred her. The little boy lost his balance as they landed, and she jerked him back just in time. He threw himself into her arms, pitching her hard against the rock wall, then buried his face in her shoulder and trembled violently.
    â€œI almost kept going.”
    â€œYes, you did,” she agreed. “But we’re safe now.”
    â€œAren’t we going to go down more?”
    â€œNo. We’re going to stay here.”
    They huddled together for several minutes on the rock plate that protruded from the canyon wall before the boywas able to let go of her. He recovered from his near brush with death quickly, though, and after another minute or two, he crawled away from her side to reach the wider section of rock that had been hidden by a thick overhang.
    Looking as pleased as could be, he folded his legs underneath him and motioned for her to come forward.
    She shook her head. “I’m fine where I am.”
    â€œIt’s