Chapter Three

A scream caught in her throat as she frantically locked the breaks. The car spun around at the bottom of the hill, spraying gravel in a wild circle. She had a brief impression of a man on a horse, and then they were behind her. She desperately fought the steering wheel for control, but the car weaved all over the road.

The car made one more circle in the road and then lunged at the cliff. Over the dusty hood, the yawning valley beckoned, and then . . . the sound of metal grinding against rock. The car abruptly halted its progress, slinging Lisa against the steering wheel with bone jarring force. For a few moments the car hung there, the back half solidly on the ground, the front hanging precariously over the cliff. And then the car slowly tilted toward the gaping canyon below. Again it stopped.

Paralyzed with fear, Lisa waited, expecting the car to slide over the edge. She closed her eyes and prayed fervently. Only a few minutes ago she had flaunted death. In fact, she had spent the last two weeks wallowing in self-pity. If only she could have one more chance.

Possibly in answer to her prayers, the front of the car climbed into the air. Once again the rear end was on solid ground. She opened her eyes, afraid to move or even take a breath. Her first instinct was to scramble to the back of the car and climb out. But if she moved, the car might start rocking again. Her heart was beating so wildly she was finally forced to gasp for air. The car remained solidly in place.