CHAPTER SEVEN
Evangeline
“Talk to my brothers?” I step back because I’m afraid all the turmoil churning inside me will erupt and spew all over Jonah.
“Are you kidding me?” I can’t keep the incredulity out of my voice.
“What century are you living in that you think you need to ask permission to be with me, or that my brothers have any say in my relationships?”
“I don’t need their fucking permission. It’s about respect. They care about you. That time when you were in college, they were worried about you. They—”
He must read something on my face because he trails off.
Heat surges up my neck. “My brothers sent you then? God, was I stupid. I thought—” I shake my head. “Never mind. No wonder you couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”
“That’s not how it was. They were worried because you’d had a bad breakup and I said I’d check in with you. They trusted me to look after you. Sex would’ve been a violation of that trust.”
He jams his fingers into his hair and tightens his grip. “We’ve got shit to deal with now and don’t have the time to talk this through. Just know this: I care about you and I want to be with you. But first I’ll be upfront with your brothers about where I stand.”
“You’re taking a lot for granted.” My words come out clipped.
His gaze bores into mine. “Don’t give up on us, Evangeline. Once we’ve dealt with the current situation, we’ll talk this out. Right now, I need to get up on the ridge so I can check in with the command center. If they think the weather will hold, we’ll get the horses and head out.”
He pauses. “This time you’re coming with me. We’re bringing our gear so we’re prepared if Abel and Denny show up.”
He stuffs the foil-wrapped sandwiches and other supplies in his pack until it’s bulging. Within minutes, we’re climbing the slope to the ridge. It’s warmer today and already the snow is melting.
I stare daggers at Jonah’s back as he hikes ahead of me.
I swear my heart hurts, like physically aches. I hold on to the anger because it feels a lot better than hurting. I can’t believe I left myself open to rejection. Again.
You’d think I’d learn from my mistakes, but those kisses fooled me into thinking he wanted more. I shake my head. I’ve been in love with this man for most of my life and I’m done with that. Done with him. I mute the tiny voice in my head telling me his reasons have some validity.
My boot slides on ice and I slip, catching myself on the spindly trunk of a sapling. Then Jonah is there, a strong arm around my waist hoisting me up until my boots get traction.
“You good?”
Instead of holding on to him and all the security he offers, I straighten and pull back. “I’m fine.”
We begin hiking again. The wind is rising and clouds roil across the sky.
Hopefully, Jonah will be able to contact Forest Service dispatch.
If we’re lucky, a team is already on its way up the mountain.
I glance at the clouds again. A helicopter won’t fly in this weather, but they could come on foot or horseback.
Jonah stops with the ridgeline thirty feet above us. “Stay here. I don’t want you exposed up on the ridge.”
“You’re going up there.”
“I have to if I’m going to hit the repeater for the call to go through.” He pauses, gaze traveling over my face. “I’ll be careful.”
He clambers up the rocks, moving like a damned mountain goat. I find a flat rock and sit with my rifle resting against a tree.
As teenagers, my siblings and I hiked this area extensively. Using the binoculars, I find familiar landmarks before searching closer. I’m looking for any trace of the poachers.
I bring the line shack into focus. The horses are in the small corral where they’ve trampled the snow and grass into mud. A line of spring green amongst the darker pines shows where deciduous trees grow along the creek run.
A flash of color catches my attention. I scan back, trying to pinpoint its location.
Wearing a red coat, Abel comes out from beneath the tree cover briefly before disappearing again. He’s on a path that will take him to the line shack. We’re above him, but not far from his location.
I survey the area but don’t see Denny. He’d be harder to spot in his camo gear.
Jonah scrambles down from the ridge and drops beside me. “Talked with my supervisor. They’re stuck at the ranch until they get a clear forecast,” he says, tone grim. “We’re on our own.”
My stomach sinks. I hand Jonah the binoculars and point. “Abel’s down there. He’s heading toward the cabin and should be at the clearing any second.”
Glasses to his eyes, Jonah murmurs, “I see him. Nice of him to wear a bright red coat.”
“Any sign of Denny?” Jonah asks.
“No. I don’t see him.”
“Fuck.” The curse is long and drawn out.
Even without binoculars I can see what’s happening. Abel goes straight to the corral. He opens the gate and shoos the horses out. They take off at a fast trot the way we’d come.
“He’s not taking any precautions. He knows we’re not there.”
The red speck that’s Abel climbs onto the porch and opens the cabin door. With no lock, there’s nothing to keep him from entering.
“That means he saw us leave.”
“Or spotted us hiking up here.” Looping the binoculars around his neck, Jonah slings the rifle across his back. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Not down there. There’s no chance of catching the horses.
” He looks behind us across the ridge. “We don’t know Denny’s whereabouts.
Could be he spotted us and communicated that to Abel.
” Studying the terrain, he says, “If we backtrack toward the creek, we might get ahead of them on the trail off the mountain.”
“We’d be exposed following the curve of the ridge. There’s another way. I can show—” Movement catches my eye and I grab Jonah’s arm. “I see Denny, he’s below the ridge about a hundred yards back.”
Jonah spots him. “Shit. Between him and Abel, we’re cut off from the creek.”
“Follow me.” I point. “If we head that direction, we’ll cross a path I’ve taken before.”
“Deeper into the mountains?”
“For now.”
There’s a shout from below. Abel’s in front of the cabin and pointing at us. He’s indicating our location to Denny.
“Then let’s go.”
I set a rapid pace with Jonah right behind me.
Below us treetops sway in the wind.
We need to get off the ridge.
“We’re exposed going this way.” Jonah echoes my thoughts.
“For a little bit, then we’ll be in the trees.”
The line shack appears through a break in the trees. There’s no sign of Abel. We’re nearing a steep rocky area with little cover. I stop, looking past Jonah along the path we’ve just taken. I don’t see Denny.
“We need to cross this way?” Jonah asks.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I’ll go first with the rifle. Once I’m across, I’ll cover you.”
Which leaves him without protection. “I can cover you while you cross, and if we see them when I’m crossing, I can drop behind those rocks.”
He’s shaking his head before I finish speaking.
“No time to argue about it. I’m going.” With a searching look behind us, he sprints across the exposed area, crouched over to provide less of a target as he runs.
Once on the far side, he brings up the rifle to sight through the scope and beckons me to follow.
Halfway across, he shouts, “Angel, run!”
A shot splits the air.