Guarding Gaby

by Jean Brashear

  Chad had threatened to fight Eli over her, and she’d done the acting job of her life to convince Chad that her unwillingness to go out with him anymore had nothing to do with the boy they’d found on the road. She’d pleaded the press of her studies and had had to walk a precarious path to ensure that no one realized otherwise.

  Chad had still gone out of his way to antagonize Eli at school. Fights had erupted a couple of times, but even though Chad was bigger back then, Eli had fought Chad to a draw once and come out on top the second time.

  Chad seized any opportunity to make Eli’s life hell, but he grew sneaky about his torment, careful that no one could prove he was behind it.

  More than once, Gaby had threatened to expose Chad herself, but Eli, though obviously frustrated, wouldn’t allow her to do anything. Gaby had held her breath waiting for Eli to reach the end of his endurance.

  But he never did. Instead, he would distract her, with kisses if needed. And finally, since Chad was a year older, the torment ended when he went off to college.

  She understood why Eli wouldn’t trust Chad’s investigation, even if Chad weren’t already convinced of Eli’s guilt.

  He never even called in a crime scene unit from DPS.

  Would Chad actually go to such lengths to frame Eli? Surely not.

  She stared at the horizon for the umpteenth time, musing over what might be out there, what Eli was referring to when he’d said that she didn’t understand what had been going on. Her mind slid to the safe deposit box key, if that’s what it was, and how she might figure out the location of the box it would open. She moved across the room, wondering if she dared turn on the lights yet so that she could continue searching her father’s desk—

  When she realized that she could see her way to the hall.

  Because dawn was encroaching.

  And Eli was still gone.

  Thirty minutes later, she had gathered up water, food and a rudimentary pack of supplies from her father’s medicine chest. Surely something was wrong if Eli hadn’t returned. Regardless that Eli had attempted to play down the danger to him last night, she trusted the truth she’d seen in his eyes. If he could have returned to her before dawn, he would have.

  She had to go after him. She would take the dog, in hopes he could help, and she would begin with Eli’s favorite hideout from all those years ago, a cave in the foothills about a mile away, near the border of the Anderson lands.

  But she had to hurry before it got too light outside. There was a lot of open country between here and there, and she didn’t want to lead anyone to Eli. She would take Paco and leave Ramon a note that she was out for a ride and would care for the horse today.

  “Come on, boy,” she said to the dog and shouldered her pack, heading for the back door.

  Her hand was on the knob when she heard a pickup heading down the road toward her house.

  A quick peek outside.

  Chad. The road to town from his house passed by hers, yes—but did he have to stop so often? She stifled the urge to scream and instead scrambled to stash the pack out of sight. Suddenly, she realized if she pretended he woke her up, he might be less likely to want to stay. She raced to her bedroom, shucked her boots, jeans and shirt and donned a robe. She stripped the rubber band from her hair and mussed it, then ran for the kitchen and, with shaking hands, began to assemble a pot of coffee.

  Just in time for Chad’s knock.

  Then she spotted the dog. And the rifle leaning beside the back door.

  “Gabriela?” Chad called. “You up, babe?”

  She jammed the rifle into the broom closet and shooed the reluctant dog out the back, then walked as slowly as she could manage with her heart racing, to open the front door. “Is something wrong?” she asked, realizing as she did that his expression actually was very serious.

  “Can I come in?”

  She clutched at her robe, catching his interested scan of her attire. “Um, I’m not really dressed.”

  One eyebrow quirked. “All the better.” He smiled, and his thunderous expression cleared.

  “I’ll go throw something on, if you don’t mind waiting outside.”

  Instead, he stepped through the door. “Can’t I wait in here?” He moved closer.

  Gaby backed away.

  Chad frowned.

  “I, uh, I’m starting coffee. Want some?” But she cursed silently because she didn’t want him inside, in case she’d forgotten something. “Have a seat.”

  He looked as if he planned to follow her into the kitchen, so she held her ground, making her wishes clear.

  “Okay. Sure.” He spread his hands but remained standing in the middle of the room. “Go ahead. Get dressed.”

  She had her clothes back on in record time, unwilling to leave him alone to wander. “Sorry. I didn’t sleep all that well last night.”

  He tore his gaze from her father’s desk to place it on her. “Me either, unfortunately.” His face went solemn. “Gabriela, I don’t feel comfortable with you staying here alone. Something happened last night.”

  She was afraid he could hear her heart stutter to a stop. “What do you mean?” she asked as calmly as possible.

  “There was a shooting.”

  Her mouth dried up. Speech was impossible for her fear that he would tell her Eli was hurt or dead.

  “One of my men was patrolling. He took a bullet in the chest. Couple more inches, and he’d be a goner.”

  Hope began to flutter. “I’m so sorry,” she managed. “Did you catch whoever did it?”

  His face darkened. “No, but I will.” He paused, turning his hat in his hand. “I believe it was Eli.”

  She didn’t have to feign her shock. “Eli? Why?”

  “My man isn’t awake yet, but I’d bet anything he stumbled on where Eli has been hiding. Rather than be caught, Eli shot him and ran.”

  “But you can’t be certain.”

  His gaze sharpened. “Do you know something I should?”

  “No—no, I just—” She lifted one shoulder as she castigated herself for blurting that out. “I’m only trying to understand the situation. I know very little about law enforcement or how an investigation proceeds. What sort of proof you need, for instance. All I know is what I see on television.” She found a smile, hoping to disarm him, all the while frantic to get him to leave so she could look for Eli—

  Then it hit her that she didn’t dare try now. Chad had all but told her previously that he had her under observation for her safety.

  She had no choice but to wait until dark.

  While wondering if Eli were hurt or even alive or had vanished again from her life. If she’d ever get the explanation he’d promised, so that she didn’t run the risk of getting him hurt or killed if he wasn’t already, simply because she was operating blind.

  “Hey. Where’d you go?”

  She jolted. “Oh, sorry. I guess I need that coffee. How about you?”

  He scrubbed his face with his hands. “Better not. I’m running on pure caffeine as it is.” In that instant, he looked like the boy she’d once had a crush on.

  “Go home for a while. Let Maria feed you and then take a nap. You can’t keep running without a break, Chad. You’ll miss something important in your investigation.”

  He shook his head. “No rest for the wicked, I’m afraid.” He slapped the tops of his thighs, then rose. “I’ll go home if you’ll go with me.”

  If she’d ever been tempted, she certainly wasn’t now. It was all she could do not to race out the door this second. “I’ll be fine. Papa had a rifle, and he taught me how to use it.”

  One eyebrow arched. “Armed and dangerous, eh?”

  She gave a tiny shrug. “Well, armed, anyway. And I’ll keep the doors locked, so don’t feel that you have to spare anyone, including yourself, to watch over me when you’re stretched so thin.” Please.

  He extended a hand and tilted her chin up. “You’re precious cargo, babe. It’s no burden at all.” He bent and brushed
his lips over hers.

  Gaby forced herself not to recoil.

  “I’ll check back. You stay safe, hear me?”

  She forced a smile. “Will do. You go get some rest.”

  He tipped his hat to her and left.

  She locked the door behind him and resisted the urge to sink to the floor.

  Eli, where are you?

  Eli yanked off his night-vision goggles. Dawn was coming, and he would be able to see on his own now.

  Unfortunately, so would his pursuers. He could only pray he’d done a good enough job of covering his tracks. The thin high desert soil was not like rich clay or deep sand; any imprints it retained were fainter, though easy enough for an experienced tracker.

  And if dogs were brought into pursue him…

  He was a dead man.

  He was betting on Chad’s fear of exposure, however, to prevent the sheriff from asking for help. Tracking dogs were a luxury this county could ill-afford, and hunters hereabouts seldom used them the way their counterparts in wooded country did.

  He’d walked about six miles, best guess, and his head was dizzy. Only a couple of hundred yards left, thank heavens. His ankle hurt worse with every step, but there was no option but to keep going. He wished he could make it to his cave, but with daylight fast approaching, finding cover was paramount.

  Blood dripped down his arm, despite the tight bandage he’d forged from his T-shirt. Thank heavens the wound wasn’t bad, but he still needed to clean and dress it. His supplies were in his cave, though.

  As was all but one bottle of water he always carried in his pack. He’d skimped on drinking thus far as he’d zigzagged across this stretch of land, instinctively leading any pursuers away from his lair.

  But his progress, however much he’d pushed himself, was slower than he’d hoped.

  And his chances of returning to Gaby, as he’d promised, were slim and none.

  If you get yourself hurt out there, I am never forgiving you.

  His gut knotted with fear that either she’d believe he’d lied to her about coming back—

  Or that she’d come after him when he didn’t show up.

  Stay, Gaby. Please don’t risk it.

  At last, the outcropping and its meager shelter hove into sight. Gratefully, he crossed the remaining distance and slipped into the cool shade with a sigh of relief.

  He was too tired and weak from loss of blood, but he forced himself to stay awake to observe the horizon for a stretch, to be as certain as possible that he hadn’t been followed.

  Then he rummaged through his pack for water and his extra socks to use for an additional pressure bandage. He used as little as possible of the precious fluid to cleanse his wound, then forced himself not to guzzle the rest. He rewrapped his arm and wished he could take off his boot, sure that if he did, however, the ankle would swell so that he could never remove his footwear. He settled for elevating it on a nearby rock.

  With a weary sigh, he closed his eyes and slept.

  Just as Gaby was about to bolt from the door despite all the warnings shrieking in her brain, Ramon showed up. She rubbed her forehead and contemplated hiding in the house to avoid blurting out her worry, then decided that since she couldn’t go after Eli for hours yet, the distraction Ramon presented would be a godsend.

  She glanced at the refrigerator, aware that she should eat something, but her stomach was too jumpy. Maybe Ramon hadn’t had breakfast, and she could cook for him.

  She poured them both coffee, though she wasn’t sure drinking more was a good idea, and made her way to the barn.

  The dog fell into step with her, tongue lolling.

  “I’m sorry,” she told him. “I couldn’t risk Chad asking questions.” Then she laughed. “I have no idea what I’m saying. It’s not like he’s going to question you. Even if he did, it’s highly doubtful you’d give very good answers.”

  The dog trotted along beside her with only an occasional glance upward.

  “Yeah, you’re not much of a conversationalist, are you?” She sighed. “But I’m grateful for the company.” She stopped. Bent down. “You’ll help me find Eli later, right, Buddy? If he’s not in any of the places I know, I’m scared that—”

  She exhaled. “I’m asking advice from a dog. Beth would have a fit.”

  But Beth—and everything else about New York—seemed unreal.

  Which worried her even more. She had no life here, no future, yet somehow, she was becoming entangled in something she didn’t understand. Eli was in danger, Chad might be his danger…there was more here than she understood…

  Meanwhile, she had several hours to kill before she could get any answers.

  Assuming she could even find Eli.

  And that he wasn’t—

  No. Don’t even think it. One step at a time.

  Ramon peered out of the barn, and his face lit in a smile.

  Gaby returned the greeting, grateful beyond measure that, for a while at least, she didn’t have to be alone with her thoughts.

  Chapter Ten

  Eli woke as the sun neared the horizon. He shifted on the hard earth and groaned as his injuries made themselves known. His right deltoid burned—good thing he was left-handed. His ankle throbbed without mercy, but both were only irritants compared to his greater concern.

  Gaby.

  He could only hope that the level-headed girl remained inside the woman, that she would not have tried to find him in the daylight hours for fear of being followed.

  But the notion of her prowling around after dark scared the hell out of him.

  She would remember the cave, he guessed, and head there first. But when she didn’t find him there, would she range further?

  Surely not. The girl he’d loved, though, the one who’d refused to leave him on the side of the road, who’d persisted in visiting him daily at the hospital over Chad’s strong objections…

  His only hope was that she’d become such a city girl that the high desert at night would frighten her, that a darkness so dense would be too great a contrast to the bright lights of the metropolis she now called home.

  He cursed himself for not delaying long enough to explain the stakes to her the night before. She was not experienced at prowling around in the dark alone. When they’d met as kids, he’d waited for her behind the barn and been her guide. The moon was only a sliver tonight, and there were so many hazards lying in wait.

  He’d planned to scout the rendezvous point he’d heard about from the men last night, before the third man had popped up, but his priorities had switched. There was almost a week left to make his own plans to document the next illegal shipment. Find out exactly what Chad was into.

  He had to manage to return to the cave he somehow knew Gaby would visit tonight—

  Before she endangered her life by leaving it to look for him.

  As the shadows of evening encroached, Gaby had spent the last hour peering out all her windows, seeking some sign of Chad’s surveillance. She was grateful that he hadn’t called to check on her, probably because she’d preempted him by phoning first. Maria had informed her that he had, at last, come home for a meal and a nap. Gaby left a message that she was tucked in tight and planned to go to sleep early, thanking him for his surveillance and the peace of mind it gave her. She’d reasoned that if she kept resisting Chad, he’d get suspicious, whereas easy compliance might lull him.

  She hoped her conversation with Maria about how exhausted she was would serve to encourage Chad not to chance waking her by showing up tonight.

  Now, for good measure, she would lock up and hide out in the barn until it was nearly dark. She didn’t want to risk piquing any watcher’s attention by using a flashlight to find Eli’s cave, thus she couldn’t wait until full night.

  She was more than a little nervous about making the crossing but reminded herself that, thanks to all the walking she did in New York, she could cover the mile or so in fifteen or twenty minutes easily. Her eyes would adjust to the dimness,
and she’d hedged her bets by wearing boots and her father’s chaps over her jeans to provide more protection from the risk of snakebite. She’d also found a rope to make a leash for Buddy, hoping that keeping him close would be a sort of early warning system, in addition to harnessing his knowledge of the path to Eli’s cave.

  If Eli wasn’t there, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.

  But she couldn’t do nothing. Eli could be injured or—

  No use contemplating the frightening range of possibilities that might have befallen him. Gaby made her way to the barn where she’d been secreting ingredients of an emergency pack all day. Medical supplies, food, water, batteries, a blanket, a sharp knife and her father’s rifle, along with bullets…she’d done her best to anticipate a variety of circumstances.

  Now it was time to go. She secured the back door as unobtrusively as possible and strolled toward the barn as though only a visit to Paco were on her mind. She would love to take the horse and avoid crossing the ground—somehow the thought of putting her feet down repeatedly without being able to see well was daunting—but Paco could make noise, he could hit a hole, and he would need food and water himself. Better to leave him to Ramon in the morning, along with a note for Ramon saying she was sleeping in.

  “Okay, fella,” she said to Buddy, who didn’t look pleased to have been tied up in the barn for the last hour. “Let’s go find Eli.” She shouldered the pack, stumbling a little under its weight, took up the rifle and wrapped the dog’s homemade leash around one gloved hand.

  And stepped out into the night, glancing up at the evening star with a fervent wish.

  However much he hurt me, please let him be safe.

  After what felt like hours, she was losing hope. She squinted yet again to try to make out the opening she hadn’t seen in nine years. What had she been thinking, so certain that Eli would choose his former hideout? Now she was out here alone, the prospect of returning in total darkness completely unnerving, stuck on the tiny ledge of limbo between a scary night and her fears for Eli.