Here's the latest installment of my FF story. Thanks for reading and for the feedback. Hope you enjoy this latest chapter.


C.J. didn't like it much when people tried to kill her and she felt that she had experienced too many close calls that day already for it to be a coincidence. Not that she didn't like it when Matt wrapped his arms around her but really, she wanted to get to the bottom of this and find out if Marquis had already begun playing his hand.

"Chelsea's run herself tired," C.J. said, "I might wait a while before heading back."

"I'll stay with you then…"

He stroked her hair back.

"Come here in the shade," he said, reaching for her hand.

"Shouldn't we go find out who's running around my ranch with a loaded gun?"

Matt noticed that she appeared flushed.

"I didn't see anyone and my security guys are already looking for him."

"But…"

He led her toward the shade near a throng of trees and they sat down.

"Are you okay," he asked.

She nodded.

"Just had a bit of an adrenaline rush," she said, "Had me going there for a minute."

He wrapped up one of her hands in both of his and they both leaned against the tree.

"They're going to find whoever took a shot at you," he said, "And maybe it's the same person behind the wheel of the sedan earlier."

"It's got to be Marquis."

Matt couldn't argue with that, though they had a roster of enemies around the globe who could come after him at any time for revenge. But right now, Marquis topped that list. He wanted to go tearing off across the ranch looking for the shooter but he knew he couldn't leave C.J. alone.

"I'm going to stay with you until we hear from security."

She nodded again, feeling dizzy probably from the heat.

"He could be anywhere," she said, "There are thousands of acres of land out here to hide."

Matt figured that whoever it was hadn't stuck around but had left the area, after realizing the two of them had decided to stay together.

"We're going to be okay," he said, "We'll sit here a while and then we'll head back."

A man dressed in black ran up to where they sat and stopped in front of them, looking as if he ran some distance to get there.

"Dominic did you find anything," Matt asked.

The man shook his head.

"Not a trace," he said, "No weapon, no shell casings, no tracks…nothing."

"You sure?"

"It's as if he evaporated after he did it."

C.J. and Matt looked at each other.

"Marquis is one of the best in the business at leaving no traces of where he and his band have been," Matt said.

Dominic nodded.

"We heard from Interpol that they had picked up some surveillance video of a couple men in Switzerland who handled some financial transfers from the Cayman Islands."

"He's moving his money around then."

"Looks like it," Dominic said, "Faster than the authorities can catch up."

"He's around here somewhere," Matt said, "he's got to be headquartered somewhere nearby."

"It's not on the ranch," Dominic insisted, "We patrol any place that he could possibly hole up day and night."

"Someone took at shot at C.J."

"It could have been a trespassing hunter shooting at some movement in the bushes."

Matt rubbed the bridge between his eyes.

"Not likely," he said, "Not considering that a sedan almost hit us earlier that day in town."

Dominic looked doubtful.

"Why would he want to kill you quickly if he's playing mind games with you?"

That was a good question, Matt knew but then figuring out Marquis and what ran through his twisted mind at any time never proved easy. The terrorist had a razor sharp intellect that defied most attempts to fully understand it let alone anticipate its every move. C.J. got up to get her water bottle out of her saddlebag. Chelsea seemed much more relaxed, content to nibble at tufts of greenery in the shaded area. She felt better now that the waves of dizziness passed. This heat must really be getting to her, she thought as she returned to her spot.

"I don't know if we have enough men," Matt said.

Dominic nodded.

"We could send out another team," he said, "But it might not make much of a difference if Marquis is sending in accomplices to do his work."

"I wonder how many people helping him he's got," Matt said, "He's been out of prison a bit longer than a month and he's no doubt been very busy."

"No telling," Dominic agreed, "He's been difficult to do intel on so there's no way to know."

Matt didn't like the sound of that but he knew he had to assume that Marquis had begun to amass if not a small army, at least a well organized cell of professionals from just about anywhere on the globe. And Matt didn't know how many Marquis would use to come after C.J. and him.

"I don't think it's going to be much longer until we do know," Matt said.


C.J. felt suddenly sleepy so she had leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. The breeze hadn't been enough to provide much coolant to the hot air. She had sipped her water and had felt better but her eyes had started to feel heavy. The voices around her began to fade.

The planes had landed and men spilled out of them to seize control of Marquis' island and apprehend him and the rest of his terrorists. Vince had led the way though the operation had been handed off to the FBI and U.S. Marshals once the government that Marquis had paid off broke its agreement with him and authorized his eviction. She had been more than happy to watch as the men in green uniforms and carrying heavy artillery rushed in as a swarm past here, settling with Matt to watch the fires caused by the explosive that they had set before leaving the compound. Two guards had marched a handcuffed Marquis by them and he had turned his head angrily to gaze upon them. However his voice had been calm as he swore that there was no lockup they could ever place him in that could hold him for long. That he would be freed and then he would come looking for them.

C.J. had heard the deadly weight in his voice and had known he had been serious about seeking revenge against them. She had hoped that he would never have that opportunity but he had indeed escaped. On the plane ride back, she had curled on a sofa during part of the long flight and had fallen asleep, dreaming of better things after she and Matt had eaten some food. He had told her about his escape from Marquis' son and how he had parachuted down to the island in the dead of night. She had relaxed and fallen asleep, making up for what she had done without during her days on the island. Dreaming that she and Matt had made it to the Bahamas after all to spend a week at that resort that Murray had raved about as a business venture. Eating meals on the deck outside their suite and listening to the ocean. Walking on the beach under the moonlight before they kissed as the tide curled around their feet. It was a dream after all and anything was possible. As his hands moved to rest on her waist, while he deepened their kiss, she felt something shake her awake.

She looked straight up into the probing eyes of Marquis and it had been him kissing her mouth as she tried not to recoil. But she snapped and pushed against him.

"C.J…"

She opened her eyes and saw Matt looking down at her from where he sat. Dominic had obviously left and Matt's hand had been on her shoulder. Her heart still pounded as she tried to adjust to a seated position.

"What happened," she asked.

"You fell asleep," he said, "I guess you needed it but it's getting late and we should head back now."

She nodded and got up to fetch her horse. Chelsea neighed eagerly, ready to head back to the barn so she swung aboard. Pulling the reins, she and Matt rode on back.


C.J. sat back in the Jacuzzi marveling in the air that had cooled down markedly in the past several hours. She had perused some documents for a while after Matt had gone off to help the ranch hands haul in some more bales of alfalfa. She still felt tired despite her impromptu nap and her muscles, tight. Nothing a Jacuzzi wouldn't fix. After dinner with Matt, she had headed in for a soak while he wrapped up some business calls with Murray who appeared a bit frantic back in L.A. since Matt had been absent for a while.

Her cell phone rang predictably and she knew before looking, it was Shelia.

"I tried to call you earlier," her friend said.

"I was taking a nap," C.J. said, "after some excitement."

"Excitement out in the boonies, do tell…"

C.J. paused.

"Someone tried to run us over this morning in town," she said, "and then while I was out riding, someone fired a gun."

"At you?"

"I'm not sure but it spooked my horse."

"So after all this, you found time to take a nap?"

"After it happened," C.J. said, "Houston rode out to find me and he and one of his security men talked it over."

"I hope they catch this guy soon."

C.J. sighed.

"You and me both, not to mention Houston."

"How's he doing," Sheila asked, "Why aren't you two getting it on right now?"

"Shelia, that's a personal question…"

Her friend harrumphed.

"I'm just jealous that's all," she said, "but at least one of us is getting some action."

"He's catching up on some work that he hasn't been doing because…"

"Got the picture."

"And I've been tired because it's been so hot here," C.J. said, "It will cool off in another month or so."

"Drink plenty of water and spend the time in the shade with your boyfriend," Sheila advised.

C.J. looked up and saw Matt.

"I got to go Shelia," she said, "I'll talk to you later."


C.J. curled against him in bed later where they had headed after their time spent in the Jacuzzi and then taking it inside after getting a bit frisky. She felt relaxation fill her replacing the tension that had permeated that day as he stroked her hair. The sensations that filled her at that simple gesture caused her to close her eyes.

She sighed against him, nestled in the warmth of his embrace.

"So what happens next," she finally asked.

He looked at her face.

"What do you mean?"

She smiled softly.

"With us."

He thought about that.

"I'm exactly where I want to be," he said, "What about you?"

She nestled closer.

"So am I," she said, "But is this open-ended?"

"Meaning…"

"What happens when you go back to L.A.?"

He furrowed his brow.

"I've already decided to buy some ranchland out here to be closer to this woman whose bought mine."

She tilted her head.

"Seriously now…"

"I'm not going to live all the way in L.A. if you're here."

"You could stay here."

He appeared to consider that.

"That's certainly a possibility."

"There's plenty of room," she offered, "in case you need some space."

"I'm not sleeping in separate bedrooms."

She chuckled.

"That's not what I meant."

He knew what lay behind her words.

"C.J. there's a problem here…"

She frowned.

"What's wrong?"

He stroked her lips and her heartbeat quickened.

"I've fallen in love with you."

Her eyes widened and a smile threatened next but instead she nodded.

"It's mutual cowboy," she said, "But I've loved you for a while now."

That intrigued him of course.

"How long?"

But she left that admission hanging.

"So I'll stay here with you," he said, "Now that's settled…"

He started kissing her again and she thought, at least that part's settled. That he loved her like she loved him and she remembered how often she had wanted to hear him say those words.

"We have to deal with Marquis," she reminded him, "Until he's caught, it's hard to see too far ahead."

"He will be…one way or another he'll be back in prison before too long," he promised her.

The sunlight greeted them as they woke the next morning. Matt had stirred earlier and had kissed her before heading off to work in the barn with Bo and Lamar. C.J. had gone into the kitchen to make herself some of the not so dreaded oatmeal. A little Tabasco sauce, some fresh peppers and it went down quite easily. Lulu who had been nibbling on some toast just shook her head.

"Ew how gross can you be," she said.

C.J. just looked at her blankly.

"It's really quite good."

Lulu just shook her head and walked out of the kitchen. C.J. pulled out her phone and checked her email. Her eyes widened as she saw one from "Old Friend", the creepy mailer she now believed to be Marquis in disguise.

Your boyfriend better be careful in the barn…

She sucked in her breath as she read the message. Then she rushed out of the house towards the barn.

Matt had been helping Bo and Lamar repair a stall door and he had hoisted it to restore it in its position. Suddenly, they heard someone rush into the barn and C.J.'s voice calling to them.

"Something's going to happen…"

Matt looked at her and then heard a creaking noise above him as a piece of the rafter swung down towards him.