Read Online The Target by Catherine Coulter - Free Book Online

unfastened the chain, and as quietly as he could, he went out into a silent world where he could see his breath. He needed to chop wood for the fireplace and the wood-burning stove. He stood very still, looking everywhere for any sign of something that shouldn’t be here. Nothing. He finally laid his Browning Savage down on the ground, really close to his left foot. He looked around again but couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
    He split half a dozen logs before his leg began throbbingso much he had to stop. It would be enough. He’d agreed to leave the cabin the way he’d found it, and that included a goodly amount of split logs. He was cursing softly as he cradled the logs in his arms, pressed his rifle against his side, and carried it all back inside.
    The dawn light was gray, the forest line blurred and indistinct. There was no movement, not even an early-morning squirrel dashing between trees. He crossed the cabin threshold to see her jerk bolt upright, mewling deep in her throat, her face ashen.
    He quickly set the logs and his rifle down by the fireplace, then went to her. He sat beside her on the sofa. Slowly, because he’d learned never to make any unexpected or quick moves, he gathered her against him. He kissed the top of her head. “It’s all right, sweetheart. I had to get some more logs.” He wouldn’t tell her yet that they were leaving. “You just snuggle down again and I’ll get the fire going really strong. Okay?”
    He laid her back down, the covers in his hands to pull up to her small chin.
    â€œDon’t you touch her, you filthy bastard. Step away from her now!”
    He and the child both froze at the sound of the woman’s voice. He was the stupidest human alive. He’d left the cabin door unlocked. He looked at his Smith & Wesson on the table beside the sofa.
    A shot rang out and his gun went flying off the table, skidding across the wooden floor until it was stopped by one of the Indian rugs.
    â€œTry anything at all and the next bullet will go in your head. I promise you that. Get away from her now.”
    He backed away from her and stood. He turned to see a woman standing in the open doorway, wearing a black down jacket, black jeans and boots, a black knit cap on her head. Her face was very white, her irises showing huge and black. She was holding a Detonics .45 ACP, a nasty littlepistol that could blow a man’s brains out if he was within twenty feet, which he was.
    She looked strung out and quite ready to kill him, but her voice was calm, quiet, filled with hatred. “Move, you creep. I’m not going to tell you again. I don’t want you anywhere near her. If I have to blow your head off, I’ll do it. Damn you, get away from her!”
    â€œYou don’t want to kill me. I’m not the one who took her, I swear it to you.”
    â€œYou perverted piece of filth, just shut up. I saw you touching her. What would you have done to her if I hadn’t shown up? Move!” He stepped two feet away from the sofa. She had the gun trained on his chest.
    Her eyes darted to the sofa. “Baby, are you all right?”
    It was her mother. But how had she found them?
    He said, “You really should believe me about this. I’m not the one who hurt her.”
    â€œShut up! Em, are you okay?”
    â€œI found her a week ago in the forest near this cabin. I didn’t kidnap her.”
    â€œShut up! Em? What’s wrong, baby? Listen to me, he can’t hurt you anymore. I’m holding a gun on him. Come here, Em, come to Mama.”
    She was mewling deep in her throat. She threw back the blankets, looking from him to her mother.
    â€œGet away from him, Em. I want you to come over here to me. I’m going to tie him up and take him to the sheriff. Then neither of us will ever have to be afraid again. I know you understand. Come here now, Em.”
    The woman raised the gun. She said more to