The Hunt

CHAPTER 35

By the time Qui

It had taken nearly two hours for the medics to transport Nick, Lance, and Ashley from the canyon to the Parker Ranch, where ambulances waited. A medic bandaged Miranda’s leg while she sat in a temporary shelter. She was fixed to a board and brought slowly up the mountain after the others.

Miranda had wanted to go straight home, but Qui

Though David Larsen was dead, all Qui

Bill and Gray were waiting in the bar. Bill rushed to his daughter as soon as she limped in with Qui

“I’m okay.”

She was more than okay. She was a survivor. Qui

He hoped she believed in herself now. No self-doubts, no what-ifs. She had grown into the woman he knew she could become.

“Sit,” Gray said, pulling out a couple chairs.

They sank into them, and Bill poured them both doubles of his best Scotch. “Oh, wait, you can’t drink on pain medication,” he said, holding back her glass.

“Give it to me, Dad,” Miranda said, holding out her hand. “I didn’t take the pills. You know how I hate taking drugs.”

He handed her the glass and sat down at her side. “It’s over. You’re safe.”

Qui

Most people hadn’t had a serial killer touch their lives. Twice.

Qui

“I can’t believe Delilah Parker’s brother-poor Ryan, to find out like that,” Bill said, shaking his head.

Miranda spoke up for the first time. “Ryan is brave. I don’t know why Larsen didn’t kill him. He must have sensed Ryan knew.”

“From what I know about serial killers,” Qui

Bill guffawed. “Morals!”

Qui

“Theron,” Miranda murmured.

Qui

She nodded. “When he died, he said, ‘Theron.’ I didn’t understand what it meant.”

“Could be one of his birds.” Qui

“But why didn’t he just leave? Disappear?”

“He had to finish what he started.”

“I gave Richard a suite of rooms,” Bill said. “He and Ryan are staying here a few days. Richard’s worried about Delilah. He thinks Larsen killed her.”

“It’s possible,” Qui

There was an hour of Larsen’s time unaccounted for, the time it took for Ryan to ride his horse to the Lodge.

From evidence at the Parker Ranch, Larsen had gone into the house at some point, but Qui

Had Delilah Parker returned during the short time Qui

Or maybe Delilah was scared that he would go after her and went into hiding. She’d return, then, tomorrow, when she learned he was dead.

Or maybe she fled because she felt guilty. That she knew what he was doing and hadn’t stopped him.

Qui

Nick was still unconscious. He had a serious head wound and an infection they had yet to get under control. Qui

It looked like JoBeth Anderson would pull through. And Ashley’s parents had already arrived from San Diego. She would be released from the hospital in a day or two, and had already decided to go back to California.

“What happened with Sam Harris?” Miranda asked, stifling a yawn.

Qui

Frankly, he didn’t know what he would do about Harris. He’d jeopardized the entire investigation and Qui

Like, where was Delilah Parker? Was she dead-or alive?

Miranda yawned, and Bill told Qui

Bill hugged his daughter. “I love you, Randy,” he whispered in her ear, tears making his voice raw.

“Love you too, Daddy.”

Miranda disliked being fussed over, and Qui

All in all, though, it was kind of sweet.

“Qui

“I don’t want to hurt your leg.”

“You won’t. Please.” She reached out for his hand, and he took it.

Qui

And love.

Tears sprang to her eyes, but not of pain or sadness.

For the first time since the Butcher had changed the course of her life, she felt truly, wonderfully alive.

She wanted to share it all with Qui

His hand reached out and caressed her cheek. She leaned into it and sighed, closing her eyes.

“I love you, Miranda.”

Her eyes opened. She saw him searching for her response. She had been unable to say it before. Not because she hadn’t felt deeply for him, but because she had been afraid. She couldn’t bear losing him a second time, and she didn’t know how she’d be able to work through her resentment and feelings of betrayal.

But the fear was gone, along with her confusion. The past was just that-gone.

“I love you too.” Her voice cracked. “Qui

“I’m so sorry I hurt you.” Tears glistened in his eyes. “But I never doubted you. I hope you believe me.”

“I believe you. I hurt you too. I said cruel things that I regret.” She paused. It was so hard to open her heart, even to Qui

She took a deep breath and asked for what she wanted, what she needed: him.

“Can we get back what we had?”

He leaned forward and kissed her lightly.

“Randy, we can’t go back. We’re not the same people. But-” he kissed her again “-we can move forward.”

Hope blossomed in her heart. But she had to hear him say it. Exactly. “What do you mean? What do you want?”

“I need you. I want you. My life has been empty without you in it. I never fell in love with anyone but you. You’ve always been in my heart. I should have come back earlier, but I ended up being as stubborn as you.” He shook his head and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“I thought for sure, after time, you’d call me,” he said. “Maybe yell at me, but in the end you’d tell me you loved me and ask when was I coming to visit.”

“Well, I think it’s pretty well established that we are two very stubborn people.”

He squeezed her hand and held it close to his chest. “Randy, you are incredible. You beat back your demons by sheer will. Every time I watched you, I feared you wouldn’t find your i

He kissed her. Soft, warm, sweet. “And you did.”

“I feared I’d never be able to face the monster who took so much from me.”

Her hand trailed to her covered breasts. Tears sprang to her eyes. She would always be marked, always bear the evidence of a killer on her body.

“Sweetheart, I don’t see the scars. I see you. I know they’re there, just like you do, but they are all on the outside. The scars inside have faded. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they never return.”

Her tears spilled over and Qui

He kissed her, his lips light on hers. She leaned in, wanting more than a feather of a caress. She wanted him, completely and fully. And forever.

He leaned away as if afraid of hurting her.

“Don’t,” she said, pulling him back.

Their lips were inches apart, his eyes locking hers in an intangible embrace. Her breath caught.

“Marry me, Miranda. I love you, and I’m not going to let you walk away this time.”

She nodded, her heart beating fast and sure. “Oh, yes. If you can put up with me.” She tried to laugh, but it was almost a sob. “I can be a little-obsessive about things.” She tried to make light of it, but it was true. When she cared about something, she focused. Hard.