18. Lana
Lana
Toren’s shoulders changed with the scent of woodsmoke in the air.
They squared and firmed up, making him even more imposing than he already was.
I was glad he felt the same unease I did at this new development and was gearing up for whatever the forest was about to show us.
Injured or not, he was a formidable foe.
We walked another twenty yards or so and the voices reached my ears. Low and male, there were two.
I chanced another look at Toren. A muscle ticked in his jaw, his dark eyes scanning back and forth as we moved forward.
Ahead, the trees finally gave way to a clearing, and a camp came into view.
Three canvas tents made a semicircle around a fire I couldn’t yet see except for the smoke.
A tarp strung between trees on the far end sheltered a work area.
I took one glance at it and immediately looked away.
Bear paws and other internal parts of the animals hung from a line in various states of processing.
A large cooler covered in bloody smears sat to one side of the work area.
My stomach turned at the thought of what was inside.
Yuck.
Deke let out another whistle.
The voices stopped, and two men came around the center tent.
The first was heavyset, with a red beard and hair, both going gray at the edges, wearing a brown vest over a blue flannel shirt.
The second man was leaner and younger. His army-green parka hung on his thin shoulders, swallowing him up.
With his hands tucked in his pockets and his eyes slightly downcast, he seemed more timid than the first man.
“Vic.” Deke acknowledged the heavyset one with a nod.
The lean man he didn’t greet at all.
What was that about?
Deke walked closer and said something low to Vic. The man glanced at us, nodded, and turned around, heading toward the far side of the center tent without a word. The lean man stayed put, his gaze on Deke as his friend disappeared.
Turning around, Deke offered us the sort of smile a hotel clerk would. “Welcome to our camp. Vic is preparing a seat for you. You can give your bags to Toby, here.” He gestured to the lean man. “For the time being, you won’t need them.”
My spine stiffened. I looked at Toren in time to see him run his tongue over his teeth, a hard expression darkening his eyes and bringing his brows down.
He met my gaze. I could tell he didn’t like the idea of giving up our packs, but what choice did we have?
I unbuckled the waist strap on my pack and slid the bag off my shoulders. Rather than comply completely, however, I let it drop to the ground where I stood and crossed my arms. Toby could come get it.
Toren did the same but left his arms at his sides.
Deke huffed a quick laugh and shook his head. “Keep it up. I’ll take great pleasure in extracting fees for all your ill behavior soon enough.”
I just glared at him. He could try. If and when we got to that point, I didn’t plan to go quietly.
Vic reemerged from around the tent. He gave Deke a quick nod.
Deke smiled at us again. “Your accommodations are ready.” He swept an arm toward the tents. “Have a seat by the fire.” The smile faded from his face, his eyes turning cold as stone. It told us now was not the time for snarky quips.
Toren limped toward the space between the center tent and the one on the left. I followed.
I was not prepared for what was on the other side.
Dustin Hale sat against a pine trunk at the edge of camp, wrists loose in his lap. Face gaunt, he had dark circles under his eyes and a cut on his cheekbone that had scabbed over. His jacket was smeared with dried mud and blood.
But holy crap, he was alive.
Relief hit me, hot and immediate, in the chest. The sting of tears built behind my eyes, but I clenched my teeth and willed them away, refusing to let them fall.
I couldn’t let on that I knew Deke’s prisoner.
The carefully crafted narrative Toren and I spun for him would fall apart in an instant and would put all our lives in immediate danger.
Dustin had looked up at the sound of our approach. His eyes moved over Toren first, then found me, and I watched the recognition cross his face. Not surprise, exactly. More like the confusion of seeing someone completely out of context. His brows drew together.
I widened my eyes, holding his gaze, as I tried to telegraph the need for him to not ask me what I was doing here or indicate in any way, shape, or form that he knew me.
He stared back at me for a long moment.
Then he blinked and the same beaten and downtrodden expression he’d been wearing when we walked around the tents fell over his face again.
A bit of the tension eased from my shoulders. He either understood what I’d been trying to say, had the same idea, or thought it didn’t matter one way or another who was here; he wasn’t getting out of this situation alive.
Deke pointed to the log closest to the fire ring. “Sit.”
Giving Dustin one last glance, I moved to do as he asked.
Toren sat beside me, staying close, our arms nearly touching. Tension rolled off him in waves.
Vic settled in near the fire and poked it, fanning the flames a little higher. Between the tents, I could see Toby pick up our bags and deposit them near the far tent before he came around to the fire.
Deke stepped in front of him. “Why is he still here?” He tipped his head toward Dustin.
The first semblance of a backbone emerged as Toby’s head came up, defiance in his eyes. “I told you, if you want him dead, you can do it. I didn’t sign up for murder.”
Deke’s chin rose. With a sneer, he turned away, looking at Vic. “How many more did you get while I was gone?”
“Two. We’ve already processed them.” Vic nodded toward the work area.
“Good. I think it’s time we move to another spot.” His gaze traveled over Dustin, then Toren and me. “We’ve attracted too much attention here.”
“Just say the word. We’ll pack it up.” Ankles crossed in front of him, Vic glanced at Deke, then went back to staring at the fire.
“Soon. You got any food made?”
Vic jerked his head toward the tents. “There’s a pot of stew in my tent. Help yourself.”
My stomach growled at the mention of food. If Deke heard it, he didn’t acknowledge it, nor did he bring any out for us when he returned with a pot and a spoon.
While he ate, he wandered, stopping in the workspace and at several places at the edge of the clearing to stare into the trees.
My gaze tracked him. I’d rather not let him out of my sight. The man gave me the willies, and there was no telling what he’d do.
Metal scraped against metal as he finished the food in the pot. He wandered back to the tents, and I was left straining to hear what he was up to.
Probably just putting the pot back. But, again, I didn’t trust him.
I eyed Vic and Toby, who sat on the other side of the fire.
Vic had a pine bough in his hands and was steadily plucking needles off.
Toby sat several feet away from him, alternating between staring at the fire, then his hands clasped between his knees, then at Dustin and us.
He looked like a scared animal ready to bolt.
I nudged Toren with my shoulder. When he glanced at me, I said one word on a breath: “Toby.”
A moment later, he let out a soft grunt, acknowledging what I’d noticed.
If we had a way out of here, it was through him. He’d already made it clear he didn’t want to hurt anyone.
As I contemplated how we could get Toby alone and persuade him to help us out of here, Deke reappeared, holding my phone in his hand.
He held it out to me. “Your pilot friend should be calling.”
I took the phone.
“Pilot?” Toby’s brows knit together.
“I found us a ride.”
A moment later, the phone rang.
I looked up at Deke.
He nodded. “Put it on speaker.”
I tapped the speaker. “Hi, Walker. You’re on speaker. Toren’s here with me.”
“Hey there.” Walker’s voice came through as easy and as warm as ever. “You two still doing all right? Any changes up there? Things are clearing here, but I saw some pockets of stuff when I was flying around.”
“We’re good. We moved, though,” I said, keeping my voice even, eyes on Deke. “Where we were was a bit socked in.”
“Okay. Hopefully, you’re not too far from the sites I noted.
The river’s a no-go. Too much water flowing, and too much snow covering the sand bars.
I did find a couple of clearings that look promising for a snow landing.
I need your coordinates, so I can check these against them. I’ll go wherever’s closest.”
“Um, sure.” I lifted an eyebrow at Deke. He had our GPS unit, so I needed his help.
He grinned that cold smile and took it from his pocket. After pushing a few buttons, he handed it to Toren, who read the location off.
I kept my eyes down as he gave Walker the coordinates. Deke had just handed over his exact location to someone who knew we’d been taken hostage and could get law enforcement to us.
My heart soared. We might actually make it out of this alive.
“The closest site to you looks like it’s a couple hours to your southwest. I need to refuel and deal with an issue that cropped up with some of my instrumentation while I was out earlier.
I’ll check back in about eight a.m. tomorrow morning, and we’ll make plans from there to pick you up.
Hopefully, by midday, you’ll be safe and sound, and on your way back to civilization. ”
“That sounds good,” I said into the phone. “We’ll be ready to go when you say the word.”
“Perfect. I know it’s not ideal, but just sit tight for one more night. I’ll get you out.”
My eyes cut to Toren. He met my gaze. We both heard what Walker didn’t say: help was coming.
“Thanks, Walker,” Toren said.
“You bet. Talk soon.” He hung up.
I lowered the phone and held it out to Deke.
He took it. Those flat brown eyes stayed on my face for a moment, searching my expression.
I kept my face carefully blank. It wouldn’t be me who clued him into our plan.
“I guess you two are stuck here for the night, then. Hope you don’t mind sharing a tent.”