Shifting Targets

You can chase a shadow but you can never
catch it—especially if it’s chasing you!

Trapped deep in the woods of South Dakota,
Shye must find a way to escape the posse chasing her. She employs
her gift as a shifter in a new way that takes Trip off guard,
causing him to wreck his bike. With the help of an old friend, the
two lovers wreak havoc on a small town while shifting the eyes of
the law in the right direction.

Thinking the worst is over—she rides into
town seeking to regain ownership of her family’s farm. What she
uncovers is more shocking than anything she imagined. Will she make
the ultimate sacrifice to right a wrong committed against her
people? Or will Trip convince her that he has a better way?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places, and incidents either are products of the
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actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely
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Shifting Targets

Copyright © 2013 Austina Love

ISBN: 978-1-77111-453-0

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any
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Published by Devine Destinies

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Smashwords Edition

Shifting Targets

Sweet Hitchhiker 3

By

Austina Love

For my beloved Austin whose spirit lights my
way.

With respect to my Native American ancestors
most of whom I have never met. While writing this book I heard the
drums of my past and experienced a reawakening in my soul. Though I
do not resemble them in appearance, their spirit is in my blood.
Visions I saw can only be attributed to my connection to those who
walked before me.

Everything I describe regarding Native
Americans in this book came from my imagination and visions from my
mind.

Special thank you to my readers. My wish is
that you feel the story and become swept away by the mystical aura
I felt when writing it.

To Jay, thank you for everything.

Chapter One

“Where the hell is that little bitch?”
Carter’s nasally voice could be heard even from a safe distance
away. “How did we miss her? She didn’t just evaporate into thin
air!”

Shye had been running through the woods most
of the afternoon once she and Trip made the decision to split up to
save themselves. Though he’d been reluctant, she’d insisted that he
ride off on his motorcycle while she led the posse hunting them on
a chase.

Inwardly she laughed.
And what a futile
chase it is! They have no idea what I can do or that I’ve led them
so deep into these Dakota Hills they’ll be lucky to find the road
by dawn.
She smiled with pride over her quick thinking and wise
use of her gift.

She stopped at a stream for a drink then
dunked her head into the sparkling clear water to rinse grime from
her face and hair. Fairly confident that she’d gained a significant
lead, she took her time to contemplate her next move.

Even in the thick July heat she hadn’t broken
a sweat. In fact her body felt cold—ice cold—as it always did when
in her shadow form.

Their distance voices reached her, they
sounded lost. With a smirk she pictured the fat banker and his crew
scratching their heads and sweating like the greedy pigs that they
were while searching for her.

Carter would undoubtedly slow them down. She
knew he wouldn’t quit now that Pike had seen her with the
money—witnessed her merging through the brick wall of the bank
after she’d robbed the vault.

Their gunfire had been useless against her
during the initial chase while they had her in their sights.
Nagi’s
gift had definite advantages and each day Shye
discovered better ways to employ the new powers bestowed upon her
by the spirit world. Shifting into shadows enabled her to assume
the form of whichever shadow she borrowed. Sometimes she preferred
using her own shadow such as today when she needed to lead Carter
and his men away from Trip. Now, however, a swift animal shadow
would be handy to make her escape and find her lover.

She thought about Trip and wondered how far
he’d gone.
Had he made a safe getaway? Is he waiting on the
highway like he promised?
She wouldn’t blame him one bit if he
just kept on riding once clear of this mess. He’d done nothing more
than give her a ride. He had nothing to do with her plan to
repeatedly rob Mike Carter’s bank. Though he wasn’t the one Carter
really wanted, Trip’s deliberate participation in helping her
escape may land him in serious trouble—trouble he didn’t need while
hunting his brother’s killer. She felt sad yet couldn’t deny she
was glad he’d come along.

From her first day back home when she’d
spotted him glistening in the sun while straddling that gleaming
black Harley, pouring water from a jug over his head—a fire in her
soul had been reignited, and only he had the power to squelch the
burning flames. She ached for him now more than ever. His gentle
yet searing touch had stoked the desire in her soul.

Her mind flashed back to the situation at
hand. She needed to get out and away before sunset in order to
shift back to human form. Chief Blackwater’s words reverberated in
her head as if some unseen force was keeping her on track.
You
must release the shadow before the sun sets or you will disappear
with it and roam in the land of darkness forever. Be careful. Do
not succumb to the lust for power and hold onto the shadows longer
than necessary. Complete your task and release them.

With a shake of her head, excess water
sprayed from her hair. She pulled the long strands back off her
face and looked around. Streaks of light slanting through the trees
indicated the sun would soon set. It was time to lose these
bastards for good.

Once I get away and regain my footing, I’m
coming back to finish what I started, you low down thief.
She’d
made a silent vow to take back from Carter what he’d stolen from
her family—a huge plantation that had belonged to her ancestors for
generations. Nothing would stop her. This little attempted trap of
theirs was only a minor glitch in her grand scheme.

Their muffled voices floated in and out of
the area as if they kept walking in circles. Convinced that the
small posse trying to track her had come far enough into the
forest, she glanced around for a suitable shadow. One that would
lend her speed, yet not be easy prey for predators or hunters.

She bowed her head and said a quick
prayer.

Finding a fitting shadow to assume this late
in the day posed a challenge especially beneath the tall thick
pines. While admiring the beauty around her and the luminous water
flowing over moss covered rocks, a reflection caught her eye.
Looking up toward the sky, she saw a majestic bald eagle soaring
overhead.

Come closer, pretty bird. I only need your
shadow for a little while.
She watched it glide in circles.

While in shadow form, she could do anything
and was indestructible—like a ghost. She could walk through walls,
move around virtually unseen and evade her enemies with astounding
ease. The desire to remain like that forever indeed tempted her. To
run like a deer, possess the power of a bear, or fly like an eagle
were all things she longed to experience. Today it appeared that
her desire to soar high above the trees on glorious wings would be
fulfilled. She said a silent prayer of thanks followed by a request
for the strength to let go once free of the woods.

Stepping into the water, she teetered on her
high heeled boots, picking her way along the rocks until coming to
a shimmering break in the creek where the water pooled before
tumbling over a short ridge. The eagle swooped lower until its
shadow once again swept over the water.

Shye softly called upon the ghost dancer
while holding a black feather, which dangled from her beaded
necklace. “
Nagi
…I am ready.” Instantly she felt the shift
but it wasn’t as intense as going from human to shadow. Shifting
from one shadow to another didn’t incur the bone-chilling
sensation.

She gazed at the wings on either side of her.
Amazing!
Immediately after the transformation completed she
spread her wings and took flight, rising above the trees with
incredible ease. She floated on the breeze, gazing down over the
trees while soaring through the sky.
Oh…wow…
She turned her
head from one side to the other gazing at her massive wings. She
now understood the warning that had come with the gift.
I can
see everything! And the air is so clear and cool up here. I feel
free…like I can do anything.

Her keen eagle eyes spotted Carter, Pike, and
the few others stumbling along through the forest still tracking
her. The temptation to swoop down and pluck their eyes flitted
through her mind but she remembered the chief’s cautioning words
and moved on.

This was the first time she’d borrowed an
animal’s shadow and the experience was nothing short of
exhilarating. She swooped and soared waving her golden wings
effortlessly as she picked up speed.
I could easily stay like
this forever.

Flying was an awe-inspiring experience. She
didn’t want to give it up yet this body did not rightfully belong
to her. Her Native American ancestors had given her a precious gift
and she needed to use this power wisely to locate Trip, then shift
into her human form before the sun went down. And by the looks of
the Dakota skies, she didn’t have much time.

Glancing at the huge talons below her
feathered body, she wondered how to land. She decided to take each
moment as it came and enjoy this awe-inspiring flight overlooking
miles of trees and badlands.
This may be the only time I see the
world from this prospective,
she thought.

She could see for miles but still hadn’t
found Trip.
Where is he? He promised to wait for me…promised to
meet me on the road. Did he run into trouble? Change his mind? Did
Carter trick us and have someone watching the only way out?
The
temptation to remain a shadow, even if it meant roaming in darkness
threatened to overtake her if she couldn’t be with the man she
loved.

The sun dipped lower with each passing
minute, making her anxious over what to do. She didn’t relish life
as a renegade, but she’d given her heart to a man. Not just any
man—a fearless rebel rider who with one glance from his smoldering
dark eyes could make her ache to bed him. Finding love had been the
last thing on her mind upon returning home from the Air Force.

Yet one look at him parked on his magnificent
Custom Softail with that long black hair framing a gorgeous face
was all it had taken. She couldn’t resist hitching a ride. His
alluring scent, spectacular physique and
make love to me
eyes
had taken her heart captive from the moment they met. The
taste of him burned on her lips. Now that she’d experienced his raw
passion and fiery love, she didn’t want to live without it.

Movement amidst the trees bordering the
highway drew her attention. She coasted on spread wings, making
wide circles over the area. There on the road, hugging the shadows
was Trip on his shining masterpiece of steel and chrome traveling
north. She circled lower. His gaze continually swept the area as if
watching for her but he wasn’t looking up which didn’t surprise
her. They hadn’t had time to discuss much before splitting up.

Relief washed over her just seeing him
again.

His appearance was breathtaking. Coal black
hair shone in the streaks of light cast by a setting sun. Leather
trench coat blowing in the tailwind parted to reveal his broad
muscular chest covered by a clingy black t-shirt. Her eyes honed in
on a string of wooden beads around his neck hanging down the front.
A cross-shaped pendent dangled at the end. She’d never seen this
before and wondered if the neckpiece served a purpose like hers
did.