Jennie’s blood went cold. Emily’s sobs came from somewhere in the background. “But…I don’t know how to get back there,” she whispered. She didn’t even remember anything about “there”.
“Across the river. Three miles north of the bridge. The cabin back in trees. And you’d better come alone. If you bring Max, he’s dead too.”
The line went dead.
But…he didn’t say how much time she had. A week? A day? An hour?
The floor creaked behind her. Jennie spun around.
“Who was that?” Max stood in the den doorway, his hair tousled from sleep. He still wore the sweats he’d pulled on earlier. Lucky entered the room behind him and came up to sniff Gray. The wolf’s lip curled, exposing her sharp fangs. Lucky raced back to Max.
Jennie cleared her throat. Max would freak out if she told him Emily had called. Hell, she was freaked out by Emily’s call. “I, uh, it was the wrong number.”
His gaze narrowed suspiciously on her.
Jennie pushed up from the chair, avoiding his gaze. Across the river. Three miles north of the bridge. The cabin back in the trees...
How would she get across the river to free Emily? And how would she do it without Max knowing? She’d have to walk, unless Max had a snowmobile somewhere, because it was still snowing and the plows hadn’t come out to clear the roads yet.
Three miles north of the bridge. Where was Max’s house in relation to the bridge? She didn’t even know where the bridge was located.
But Emily was alive. Jennie had talked to her. The girl had sounded scared to death. An urgency filled Jennie’s chest. She needed to find Emily and free her. Jennie wanted to tell Max, but feared his reaction. He’d want to charge over there immediately to free his daughter.
But then the man would kill Emily. And Max.
Jennie couldn’t allow that to happen.
She headed toward the kitchen. Max followed with Lucky. Gray took up the rear, keeping her distance from everyone. Jennie felt Max’s gaze on her as she filled her mug with coffee from the pot she’d brewed about an hour ago.
“I was wondering,” she said, finally lifting her gaze to his. “You said there was a bridge across the river. How far away from here?”
“Five miles to the north. Why?”
The bridge was five miles north of Max’s house. The cabin was another three miles north of the bridge. Eight miles. Jennie knew there was no way in hell she’d be able to walk eight miles in this weather. Crap! How would she get to Emily?
“Jennie?” Max eyed her closely. “Why?”
“Because…” Jennie hated lying, but she couldn’t tell Max the truth. She couldn’t risk his life that way. “I was thinking if I went over to the other side of the river and looked around, I might remember something.”
Max lifted a brow. “Everything’s white, covered in snow. What do you hope to see?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe something will refresh my memory. Do you have a snowmobile or something to get over there?”
He studied her a moment in silence. Jennie fought the urge to squirm under his scrutiny. Could he see through her lies?
He went to the coffee pot without answering her. After filling a mug, he turned back to her, his gaze assessing, as if he was searching for something. Lies?
“I have a couple of snowmobiles out in the shop.” He eyed her with a speculative expression on his face. It was almost as if he dared her to do something. Or he was testing her. What was that all about? Did he think she was going to steal a snowmobile? If so, he was right.
“When the weather clears, I’ll take you across the river. But we’re going armed this time. You do know how to shoot a gun, right? Only a fool would go out there again without some sort of protection, especially after being shot at.”
She didn’t think her face could get any hotter. “I don’t know if I’ve ever shot a gun before. Maybe you could take me out back when the sun comes up and show me. If I’ve done it before, it should come back to me.”
Max sipped his coffee. “I can do that. I’ll feel better knowing you can protect yourself.”
So would she.
But how long did Emily have? It didn’t look like Jennie would be getting to her anytime soon. At least she knew Max had a way to get across the river now.
She just had to figure out how to sneak away on one of the snowmobiles without him knowing.
And hope Emily was still alive when she found her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Jennie scrambled some eggs and toasted some bread while Max selected a weapon from his gun cabinet for her. It wasn’t difficult to decide. Her bone-thin frame wouldn’t be able to handle a shotgun or a high-powered rifle. So he chose a .380 handgun that he felt was appropriate. It would be effective in defending against an attack.
Though Jennie was thin to the point of emaciation now, the photos he’d seen on the internet showed a shapely, stunningly beautiful blonde with sexy curves. Those curves were nearly nonexistent now, but he imagined they’d come back. That she’d be just as beautiful as she was before.
She already is beautiful.
Max sighed and rubbed a hand over his face.
Don’t go there, you moron. She’ll be leaving soon.
He took the small pistol out of the cabinet. Then pulled a box of bullets off the shelf and headed for the kitchen.
He tried to ignore the small ache that centered in his chest at the thought of Jennie leaving. He didn’t want her to go. And that pissed him off. He didn’t want to like anything about her. But he did. Even if he didn’t trust her.
He had a feeling she was going to try to steal one of his snowmobiles. But he’d decided to let her know about them just to see if she’d actually do it. Because if she did, he’d be right on her tail. She might lead him to Emily. He didn’t like the distrustful feeling that settled into his gut at that thought. He wanted to trust Jennie, wanted to believe she was innocent and had nothing to do with Emily’s abduction. But if she was innocent, then why was she acting so secretive?
Max set the pistol and the box of bullets on the kitchen table.
Jennie turned from the stove with the eggs and the toast. “You hungry?”
“Yeah. Here’s a pistol for you to try out after breakfast.”
She brought the food to the table. They sat and ate for several moments in silence. Max finished and rose. “The sun’s just coming up. I’ll help you clean up, then I need to go out and feed the horses.”
“I can manage,” she said. “It’s the least I can do for letting me stay here. You go on. When you get back, you can take me out and show me how to shoot.”
Max hesitated. It still made him uncomfortable having a woman in the kitchen again, but he enjoyed Jennie’s company and didn’t mind letting her help out if she wanted.
“Okay. I’ll be back in a bit.”
* * *
Jennie watched Max out the kitchen window as he re-shoveled a path to the barn. Another eight to ten inches of snow had fallen overnight. She imagined those strong, muscular arms flexing and straining beneath his coat as he hefted the snow from side to side. She let out a sigh. She really needed to stop fantasizing about the man. It was obvious he didn’t want her here.
The storm was supposed to let up sometime later tonight. Then the plows would come out and clear the roads.
Which meant sometime tomorrow the cops would show up with Jennie’s father, Steve Jones. A father she didn’t remember.
And Jennie would most likely leave.
Unless Max decided to let her stay awhile longer. But he wanted her gone. And damn if she would stay where she wasn’t wanted.
If she was going to free Emily, it had to be now.
Jennie finished loading the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher and glanced out the window at Max again. He was almost to the barn.
She snatched up the gun from the table. She raced for the coat closet and quickly donned the coat, hat, boots and gloves he’d loaned her earlier.
Stuffing the gun in the coat pocket, she snagged the key ring that hung on a hook by the back door. She imagined one of the keys would open the shop. If Max had snowmobiles, he’d likely keep them locked up. She didn’t have time to come back to the house for the keys, so it was better to go prepared. If she didn’t need the keys, she could just leave them in the shop.
She opened the back door and peered out. Max’s head was visible near the barn door.
Gray whined behind her.
Stay here, Gray. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Hopefully with Emily.
Lucky had gone out with Max. She spotted the dog sniffing around near Smokey’s corral.
Max went inside the barn.
Jennie sprinted for the metal shop that stood to the left side of the house. She’d seen it earlier when she’d been outside with Max. It was about twenty feet wide and twice as deep. It had to be where the snowmobiles were.
She glanced back at the barn. Max was still inside.
She tried the door. As she suspected, it was locked.
Jennie yanked off a glove and tried the first key. No good. The second key. No good. Her hands started to shake. Her heart pounded. She peered around the corner at the barn. Max hadn’t come out yet.
“Come on,” she muttered. The fourth key didn’t work either. Frustration swelled inside her. She yanked off the other glove and tried the next key.
It worked. Thank God!
Jennie pushed open the door and stepped inside the shop. It was dark inside except for a small stream of light that filtered in through a window off to the left. Once her eyes adjusted, she glanced around.
Two snowmobiles were parked in the center of the shop, next to a four-wheeler and a small tractor. A riding lawn mower sat near the back wall, next to a couple of tool boxes. Shelves filled with various yard items lined the walls. Jennie hurried to the first machine. It looked like a newer model. At closer inspection, she could see the key was in the ignition. She tossed the ring of keys onto the nearest shelf and climbed aboard the snowmobile. Yanking her gloves back on, she turned the key in the ignition.
The machine fired to life.
Yes!
She ran to the wall near the large overhead door and pushed the button. The door slowly ventured upward. Jennie raced back to the snowmobile. Max would be furious when he found out she’d stolen one of his machines. But she’d bring it back. With Emily. He couldn’t be mad at her then.
She climbed back on the snowmobile and gently pressed the throttle. The snowmobile leapt out of the garage with a roar and landed in the deep snow. Okay, this thing was a powerful beast. She had to be careful. Jennie glanced toward the barn. Still no sign of Max. But he would probably hear the motor and come running. She had to hurry.
Jennie planned to follow the river north until she found the bridge. Then head across and search for the cabin. Hopefully find Emily. Free her. And bring her back.
The snow was falling heavily as she turned the snowmobile toward where she hoped the river was.
Jennie gunned it.
The machine shot through the snow and away from the house.
Hang on, Emily. I’m coming.
* * *
Max finished feeding the horses and headed for the barn door. The unmistakable sound of a motor, a snowmobile motor, rumbled, then shot away through the silent forest.
Son-of-a-bitch! She didn’t!
He hadn’t expected her to steal a snowmobile that fast, right from underneath his nose. He’d expected her to wait until dark.
He thundered out the barn door.
She was already gone, the sound racing away with her. Max stared around at the snow-covered landscape, trying to see through the falling snow. He hurried across the yard and found the trail coming out of the open shop and heading toward the river.
Damn her! What the hell was she thinking? Why hadn’t she waited for him? He would have gone with her, made sure she was safe.
Foolish woman! She was going to get herself killed.
Max ran into the shop. She’d taken his best machine, too. Dammit!
He spent the next ten minutes trying to get the older snowmobile to start. It didn’t have the electronic fuel injection like the newer model and was always a pain to start in cold weather. Finally, after he sprayed starter fluid on the carburetor, the engine chugged to life. Max revved it a few times, then headed out of the shop.
It was time to see what Jennie was up to.
He only hoped he found her before the man who was trying to kill her got to her.
Or Max might never see her again.
And dammit, even though he was still suspicious of her, he couldn’t deny he felt something for her.
Fearing the worst, but hoping his suspicions were wrong, Max found Jennie’s trail in the snow and raced after her.
* * *
Jennie squinted against the blinding white snow. She couldn’t tell where she was going in all the falling snow or what she might run into. Everything was covered in a thick layer of white. The snow buried logs, branches, rocks, small trees and shrubs…if she went too fast, she could hit something and wreck the snowmobile. But the damn engine was so powerful it shot forward at the slightest touch on the throttle. She urged it forward as gently as possible.
At last she reached the river. Crap. Which way was north? She couldn’t tell in all the falling snow. The sun was hidden in the clouds. Jennie picked what she thought was north and began to follow the river. She hoped she’d chosen the right direction.
The trees were thicker along the river. Jennie had to steer the machine out and around the trunks of the huge pines. She entered a thick patch of Quaking aspens. She slowed the machine as she tried to maneuver through the white trunks.
Then she heard it.
A motor.
Someone else was out here.
Crap! What if it was Emily’s abductor? What if he was following her?
What if it was Max?
Though she would much rather encounter Max out here and deal with his wrath than face her abductor again, Jennie wasn’t ready to go back yet. She had to find Emily first.
The other engine grew louder, closer.
Jennie glanced back. Another snowmobile had picked up her trail and was following behind. She couldn’t see much in the falling snow and was unable to make out the driver, but whoever it was, he was gaining on her.
Jennie steered the snowmobile around another tree trunk, then gunned the engine. The machine shot forward with a roar. She gripped the handlebars tight to keep from falling off.
She glanced behind her again. The person trailing her was having a hard time maneuvering between the thick patch of trees. Good. Here was her chance to get away.
She glanced forward gain, maneuvered around another tree. Then glanced behind her. The other snowmobile was getting closer. Her heart slammed into her ribs. She pressed the throttle too quickly. The machine lurched forward.
And slammed straight into a tree trunk.
Jennie sailed over the front of the snowmobile and smacked into the tree, landing on her head in the snow. Pain ricocheted from her skull down into her neck and radiated back up into her head again. She inched into a sitting position near the base of the tree, gasping for breath. Her head spun. Her neck throbbed. Crap. Had she broken her neck? Given herself whiplash? She turned her head slowly to the side. Pain shot down into her shoulder blades. Jennie moaned. She’d definitely done something to her neck. She hadn’t even seen that huge tree. It just jumped right out at her.
She choked out a disgusted laugh. She was pathetic. Now how would she free Emily?
The other snowmobile engine grew louder.
Crap!
Jennie crawled around the tree trunk and leaned up against the opposite side. Max’s snowmobile was making a strange sputtering noise where it lay on its side several feet away. Guilt stabbed through her. Max would be furious. She’d ruined his nice snowmobile. She’d have to make it up to him somehow. Buy him a new one.
If s
he lived long enough to get back to his house.
The other snowmobile drew to a stop next to Max’s downed snowmobile. The engine purred as it slowly idled. Her pursuer stomped through the snow toward her.
Jennie held her breath and reached for the gun in her coat pocket.
A man came around the side of the tree. He was dressed all in white: white snow pants, white coat, white gloves, white boots, white ski mask that hid his face. It was no wonder she’d had a hard time seeing him in all the snow. It was the same man who’d broken into Max’s house last night and tried to abduct her. His pants were torn where Gray had attacked him.
His black eyes filled with malice as he glared down at her.
Jennie pulled the gun out of her pocket and pointed it at him.
“Don’t move or I’ll shoot!”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The man clucked his tongue and shook his head back and forth. “Jennie, Jennie, Jennie. Don’t you know which way is north? You’re heading the wrong direction.”
Jennie’s hand shook as the kept the gun pointed on the stranger. “I-I am?”
The man let out a snort. “Yeah, you dumb bitch, you’re heading south.”
They stared at each other for a long moment, his black gaze locked on hers. Finally he said, “If you put the gun down and come quietly, I promise I won’t hurt Emily anymore. She’s been a good girl, unlike you. But only if you obey. If you don’t…well, I can think of a lot of ways to torture her until she dies.”
Jennie kept the gun pointed on him. Maybe she could negotiate with him and convince him to free Emily. She was the one holding the gun.
He glanced over at Max’s gurgling machine and chuckled. “Looks like you ruined Max’s new toy. Bet he’s gonna’ be pissed.”
He knew Max? How? Who was he?
His gaze swung back to her. “Come on, get up. Let’s go. Emily’s waiting.” He reached for her.
Jennie reared back against the tree trunk. “No!” Her hand trembled as she kept the gun pointed at him. Her grand plan to rescue Emily had gone awry. Jennie was supposed to sneak up on the cabin, slip inside, and free Emily. But apparently she’d gone the wrong direction. She really was a fool to think she could have saved Emily on her own. The man obviously had no intention of giving Emily up. He hadn’t even brought Emily with him.
Abducted (Unlikely Heroes Book 2) Page 11
