Page 57 of Coyote

Linc's mouth tightened. "That wasn't permission to lie to him."

"Watch yourself."

"I have been." He glanced at my hand on the knife. "I watched you pack enough food for several days after Rafe told you Sarah was coming. I watched you take John out of the one place she might find him."

"He asked me to bring him somewhere quiet."

"And you just happened to choose the cave."

I stepped down until we were nearly chest to chest. Linc was bigger than me, but most men were. It hadn't made a difference yet.

"Get back on your horse," I said.

"Not without him."

I could make him. The rifle was still on his back, and his right hand held the reins. I knew where to put the knife so he couldn't shout before the blood filled his throat.

Linc knew it too.

He looked at my hand, then met my eyes. "You going to kill me to keep him from finding out?"

"If I have to."

"No, you won't."

That pissed me off enough that I drew the knife.

Linc didn't reach for his gun. "Because then John comes out and sees my body. You think he stays after that?"

The answer was no. I hated him for knowing it.

Linc stepped closer, putting himself within reach of the blade. "I'm not riding away and letting you make this worse."

"I don't need you to save me from myself."

"I'm not here to save you." His gaze shifted toward the cave. "I'm here for John."

I caught the front of his shirt and shoved him against the rock. The bay jerked backward, pulling the reins tight against the branch.

"Don't say his name."

Linc raised his voice. "Rafe found your sister."

I let go of Linc and turned.

John stood beneath the bones at the entrance with one hand braced against the rock. He had pulled his shirt around his shoulders without buttoning it, and the fabric hung open over his chest.

"My sister?" he asked.

Linc straightened his shirt. "Sarah Jameson. She filed a missing-person report on you. Winston contacted her this morning and asked her to come to his office. He hasn't told her you're here or where the ranch is. Just confirmed you're alive. She wants to see you."

John looked at me. I dropped the hand holding the knife to my side.

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"Since this morning."

John's eyes dropped to my pocket when the folded report shifted against my thigh. I pulled it out before he could ask and held it toward him.