Chapter Thirteen
A patch of light up ahead had Sierra wondering if they were literally, finally, reaching the light at the end of the tunnel or whether it was yet another cruel trick of her mind.
Since they’d entered the tunnel beneath the cabin, she’d thought they were nearing an exit many times only to discover it was yet another ventilation shaft.
The small square of sunlight had fooled her so many times that she couldn’t even get excited about this next one up ahead, even though it seemed much larger.
“Almost there,” Beau told her as he kept his strides shorter for her benefit, sticking to her side like glue.
He’d encouraged her every time she’d faltered.
Kept encouraging her to drink to stay hydrated, even in the coolness of the mine shaft.
He’d warned her that the mind can play tricks down here, like making her think she wasn’t thirsty because of the temperature.
But not staying hydrated with all the walking and jogging they were doing could make her muscles cramp up.
Of course, pushing her to drink had its drawbacks too.
She’d had to stop earlier around a corner to relieve her bladder.
It grossed her out not having bathroom tissue and having to pee on the dirt.
She felt dirty and disgusting while Beau never seemed to break a sweat or get tired.
She kind of hated him for that.
Her silence must have made him worry because he gently pulled her to a stop. “What’s wrong? Another leg cramp? I can massage—”
“No way.” She jerked back, not wanting him to touch her. She was so dirty and sweaty her face flushed with embarrassment at the thought of him even being close to her.
At his questioning look, she sighed. “Nothing’s wrong, other than I desperately need a shower and a fresh change of clothes. Oh, and the fact that gunmen may or may not be following us. And that my own brother may or may not want me dead for reasons unknown.”
He looked so handsome and unaffected by everything happening that she wanted to punch him. Or kiss him. No, not kiss him. Not in her current state. She switched back to resentment and wanting to punch him.
“Remember those yummy fresh eggs we had for breakfast?” he asked.
She drew several deep breaths, trying to slow her racing heart. She’d always considered herself fit. Apparently, she wasn’t. There were visions of Pilates and yoga in her future, if she survived long enough to leave Mystic Lake.
“Yes, of course I remember the eggs. Why?”
“Because that fine family’s little farm where I pilfered those eggs isn’t far from the tunnel exit up ahead.
If you can hold on just a little longer we’ll soon be at their place.
I distinctly remember several cars near their farmhouse.
I’m certain that once I offer amends for the eggs and explain that we need assistance, they’ll be happy to drive us off this mountain. ”
She glanced down the tunnel. “When you say something isn’t far, that’s my warning that I’m in for another long hike. Apparently you have no concept of actual distances. But what did you mean about the exit up ahead? That next patch of light isn’t a ventilation shaft?”
“Not this time. It’s the real deal. The end of our journey. Well, except for a short hike to the farm of course.”
She groaned. “Your short hikes are half-marathons.”
“It really isn’t that much farther. Promise.
” He glanced behind her down the long, dimly lit tunnel that led back to the cabin.
“I haven’t heard anyone behind us this entire time.
But I can’t imagine they’d give up until they figure out where we went.
We need to get going. I can carry you on my back if you want and—”
“No, no way. I’m filthy.”
“You’re beautiful even with a little tunnel dirt. I don’t mind carrying you.”
She ignored the ridiculous burst of pleasure inside her at his compliment. He didn’t mean it. He couldn’t, not in her current level of disgusting.
She held out her hands to stop him when he took a step toward her.
“I’m fine. Really. You let me rest long enough this time so that I’m not miserable.
And your carrot of catching a ride down the mountain along with the stick of the gunmen still looking for us is enough to get me going again. Lead the way.”
In spite of her words, he did as he always did.
Instead of leading he walked beside her, constantly on alert for dangers both in front of and behind them.
If the man hadn’t been a cop, she’d swear he was perfect.
But unfortunately, that didn’t make him perfect for her.
There could never be anything permanent and lasting between her and a man like him.
They were from two completely different worlds.
Even though she’d strived her entire life to stay away from any of the questionable things her father and his sons did—admittedly including her two biological brothers to a lesser degree—it was impossible to steer clear of their bad reputations.
They tainted her own reputation, making people assume the worst no matter how hard she tried to prove she wasn’t like the others.
Of course, she really only had herself to blame.
She’d made her own choices in life. If she’d left her family as soon as she’d gotten old enough to realize there were shady things going on, she could have lived a life on her own that wasn’t overshadowed by theirs.
But leaving wasn’t something she’d been willing to do.
She loved them, in spite of everything. And she refused to give them up regardless of the consequences to herself.
Well, unless one of them actually was trying to kill her.
Her shoulders slumped as the questions about Esteban swirled around in her mind. But there were no answers. Not yet. And until she got those answers, she’d be torn about what to do about him.
“Stop right there,” Beau whispered when they reached the tunnel exit, obscured by stones and a boulder just like the other tunnel they’d used on their way to the cabin.
“Let me scout it out first. I don’t expect your brother and his men would have figured out about this tunnel yet or made their way through the forest this far searching for us.
But I never expected them to find the cabin in the first place. It’s best to be extra cautious.”
He took off his go bag, then his backpack and set them on the ground beside her. Crouching down, he unzipped the backpack and rummaged inside, grabbing an extra magazine of ammunition for his pistol. Then he jerked his head up, frowning at her.
“Really, Sierra? You took one of my guns?”
“You have two more in there. Plus the one you always have holstered at your hip. I didn’t see why you couldn’t share.” She pulled the right leg of her jeans up revealing the pistol in the ankle holster.
He shook his head and stood, pocketing the extra magazine. “You do realize it’s loaded, right?”
“Pfft. Of course. I wouldn’t have taken it, otherwise.”
“What’s rule number one?”
“What are we, fifteen? Prepping for the SATs?”
“If you prepped for your college entrance exams at fifteen, you’re the true genius here. Rule number one?”
She rolled her eyes. “Never point a gun at someone in law enforcement.”
“And rule number two?”
“Don’t point a gun unless I’m prepared to shoot whoever’s on the other end. No bluffing. Do I get a lollipop now for passing my test?”
“You don’t need a pistol, Sierra. You’re already a pistol. You know that?”
She batted her eyelashes. “You say the sweetest things.”
He laughed. “You really are something.”
“So I’ve heard.”
He took his pistol out of the holster on his belt, holding it down by his side. Seeing it in his hand, knowing why he had it out, sobered her and tamped down her urge to tease him again. Having people wanting them dead was a definite mood killer.
“Stay here, Sierra. Keep that gun handy and don’t hesitate to use it if those men discover the tunnel entrance, or if you hear anyone behind you in the tunnel. I won’t be gone long. Before I come back inside, I’ll call out and let you know it’s me.”
With that, he disappeared around a curve in the rock wall.
Sierra took the gun from her ankle holster and held it down by her side the way she’d seen Beau do so many times. She sure didn’t want it to be holstered if she suddenly needed it. But she’d keep his rules in mind and be careful about pointing it unless she was positive that she needed to.
She leaned back against the rock wall and settled in for a long wait. After all, Beau had proven his estimates of times and distances were always way off. If he was back within an hour, she’d be surprised.
“I’m back, Sierra,” a familiar deep voice called from outside the entrance.
She blinked and stared at the patch of sunlight and the rocks behind it. “Beau? You’ve only been gone a few minutes.”
“Circumstances changed. Before I come in, remember rule number one?”
“We already had this conversation earlier.”
“And I know darn well your first instinct when it comes to guns. Lower your gun, Sierra, before I come inside.”
She frowned and looked down. Sure enough, she’d instinctively aimed the gun at the tunnel entrance as soon as she’d heard his voice, a split second before she’d realized it was him. She quickly shoved it into the waistband of her jeans to keep it close, just as Beau rounded the corner.
He shook his head when he saw the gun sticking out.
She was about to make a sarcastic comment but stopped when she saw that he wasn’t alone. She reached for her gun again.
Beau grabbed it before she could aim it. “Good grief, Sierra. I warned you that I was coming inside. And to remember rule number one.”
“I wasn’t going to aim it at you.”
“What about my officer? You didn’t notice her uniform?”
“I’m noticing it now.”
The attractive woman beside him with skin and hair that was darker than Sierra’s glanced back and forth. “Uh, is there something going on here that I should be aware of? An inside joke, or what?”
“Who are you?” Sierra asked, not in the mood for unnecessary conversation.
Beau motioned toward the other woman. “This is officer Liza Fletcher. She used to work for me—”
“Still do, as far as I’m concerned,” Fletcher said. “If the mayor thinks I’m going to call anyone else Chief, especially that idiot Kevin Sumner that he wants to hire, he’s in for a huge disappointment.” She stepped forward and held out her hand. “You must be Sierra Covington. Pleased to meet you.”
Sierra stared in surprise at the officer’s hand before shaking it. “Um, nice to meet you too. What’s going on, exactly? I thought Beau was paying for the eggs and bumming a ride off the mountain.”
Fletcher’s friendly brown eyes widened as she glanced at Beau. “Paying for eggs? Bumming a ride?”
He gave her a pained look. “I’ll explain later. Sierra, Fletcher came here to bring us supplies. But since our circumstances have changed, we’re hitching a ride with her. We should—”
Sierra grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the end of the tunnel. “Which way to the car?”