by Robin Caroll
Looking like he felt, Katie lay crumpled against the back wall of the cave. The dark mud coated her hair like a dye. Her face, streaked by the assault of rain, stood out stark in the dim cave. Standing guard beside her, still barking, stood Shadow.
Hunter approached cautiously, holding his hand out to the dog. “Hey boy, remember me? I’m the good guy.”
Shadow licked his hand, then whined.
Dropping to his knees, Hunter gently touched Katie’s shoulder. “Katie?”
She rolled to give him a weak smile. “Hey, you.” Dried mud cracked on her cheeks.
“Are you hurt?” Using the back of his hand, he brushed the offending mire from her face.
“Just my side. I think I only had the wind knocked out of me, but my ankle hurts.” She licked her lips and cringed. “There was so much mud.”
“I know.” He wiped away the majority of the remaining dirt from her face with his knuckles, pushing back the errant strands of hair clinging to her cheek.
Her eyes widened. “Is everybody else okay?”
“Everyone’s fine. Just fine.” He swallowed. “Can you stand?”
“I think so.”
Hunter slipped his arm around her waist. He helped her rise and use the wall of the cave for leverage. He bent over, loosened her hiking boots, and inspected her ankle. His hands trembled as he re-tied her boot, keeping it loose around her ankle, then straightened. “I think you only twisted it.”
“Yeah.” Her words came out choked as her incomparable eyes met his. She raked her top teeth over her bottom lip, tugging his attention to her mouth.
It felt like a giant vacuum hose sucked all the air from his lungs. His gaze locked onto her full lips. The cave suddenly became warm—still—close.
Oh, Lord. Give me strength.
The subtle movement of her mouth stopped. Her breathing came in ragged breaths. The hint of peppermint filled the space between them. He lifted his stare to her eyes. Their silvery depths glimmered, moisture pooling in them as she gazed at his mouth, then looked at him and blinked. A rosy pink spread over her face, peeking out from the mud.
His heart tripped. She swayed, or maybe his perception of movement had become distorted. He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her to him in a fluid movement.
Katie’s mouth opened a fraction of an inch. Her quick, short breaths made little gasping sounds. He ran a finger down the side of her face. She shivered. It became his undoing.
Drawing her closer, until he held her in the circle of his arms, Hunter slowly lowered his head. His gaze dipped from her eyes to her mouth again. He pressed his lips on hers.
He pulled slightly back, ending the peck of a kiss. He rested his forehead against hers, his stare entangled with hers. Fingertips caressed her face, unmindful of the remaining mud marring her unblemished features. The light in her eyes illuminated the entire cave. She was beautiful from the inside out. Now if he could understand why she’d turned her back on God . . .
Shadow barked, startling them. Hunter stepped back as the dog danced in circles at their feet. Hunter stared at the rapidly rising river.
Katie smiled at the dog, even as her insides turned to oatmeal. She lifted her fingers to her mouth, pressing against her lips. How could a kiss, as chaste as could be, send her heart aflutter?
Hunter turned back to her, his eyes as dangerously dark as moments before. “We need to start heading back up. The river’s still rising.” His voice came out like a sick bullfrog’s croak. He gripped her elbow, steadying her. “Will you be able to make it?”
“I think so.” She tested her ankle’s stability by putting some weight on her left leg. Shards of white-hot pain shot up her calf and into her thigh. Bouncing, she bent her knee, relieving all pressure on her injured ankle. “Well, maybe not.”
“I can help you.” Hunter slid his shoulder under her arm.
Hopping on her good foot and leaning heavily on him, Katie made her way free of the cave.
The murky waters lapped over the tips of her boots. A rush of adrenaline pushed her heart into her stomach. She turned her head to look up at Hunter. “We have to hurry. The river’s already here.”
Hunter remained silent, yet continued to lead her toward the path they’d constructed earlier. They reached the tree, and he waited until she held the rope firmly before turning back toward the raging river.
“What are you doing? We need to get climbing.” The sudden realization of urgency hit her smack in the face.
“I’m looking for any of our supply bags. Everything was lost in the mudslide.” His head twisted against the gusty wind.
The rain bands blasted them with icy droplets. Katie shivered. Shadow pranced on the muddy incline’s floor.
“I see one!” Hunter jumped forward into the slushy mess creeping up. His head disappeared under the swirling darkness, then popped up a few feet away.
She watched as he continued his trek until he reached a small sapling with a low-lying fork. One of their bags was wedged against the bark. He hoisted it over his shoulder, securing it with the ties.
In her peripheral vision, she spied another pack a mere twenty feet to his left. “Hunter!”
He glanced over his shoulder to meet her stare.
“There’s another one.” Her finger shook when she pointed.
Following her direction, Hunter nodded. He performed a couple more dips and sloshes before retrieving the second pack. He secured it over his other shoulder, then turned back to face her. “See any more?”
Her eyes quickly scanned the area. “No. Come on, we’ve got to get moving.”
Hunter trudged like an elephant in quicksand to join her. He supported her injured side, allowing her to hold the rope. “All right, let’s do this as quickly as possible, okay?”
Nodding, Katie set her jaw, determined to push away the pain and do what she must.
Catcalls and whistles erupted from above.
Lifting her head, Katie smiled as Paul and Carter whooped over her progress. A sudden jolt of pain in her ankle forced her attention back to the climb. Clenching her teeth, she gripped the rope harder and pulled herself up to the next level.
Each step marked slight progress, yet Katie occupied her mind with Hunter’s kiss. Replaying it over and over and over. A secret smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. If she concentrated, she could recall the gentleness and concern in his eyes. The memory caused her heart to race.
Shadow barked, pulling her from her reprieve. She squinted as she lifted her gaze.
“What’s he barking for?”
Letting her gaze flit across the hillside, Katie saw nothing amiss. She leaned over to the dog, who pawed the ground beside her. “What is it, boy? What?”
Shadow burst into a sprint toward the top of the hill. He reached the other men, then spun around and tore back down the incline to her feet.
“What’s wrong?” Hunter’s grip tightened on her waist.
“I don’t know. He’s trying to tell me something.” She laid a hand on the dog’s head. “What is it, Shadow boy?”
The little dog whimpered, then barked. His paws clawed at the ground. Wiggling, he sped up the hill again.
Katie straightened. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. Let’s get to the top and I’ll try to figure it out.”
They continued their trek with a heightened sense of importance. Fifteen minutes later, they reached the group.
Carter accepted the mud-caked packs from Hunter while Paul knelt beside Katie when she slumped to the ground. “Are you okay?” A worried tone carried in Paul’s voice.
She smiled, even though fingers of hot pain trailed up her leg. “I’m fine.” She glanced around and her heart dipped. “Where’s Orson?”
“We found us some shelter.” Paul’s chest puffed out. “We’ve already got Orson all situated and comfortable.”
“We didn’t find anything, lamebrain. I did.” Jerry, as arrogant and condescending as ever, glared at her. Obviously he hadn’t forgott
en her tirade against him.
“Show me,” Hunter said as he touched Paul’s shoulder. Paul stood, turned, then led him toward a small thicket of trees to the left. Carter ambled behind the men.
Katie wiped her mud-caked hands on the bottom of her wetsuit and surveyed her ankle. She’d have to get out of the boots soon—the swelling already caused splinters of discomfort. Glancing up, she met Jerry’s appraising stare. She hitched an eyebrow. “What’s your deal, anyway?”
Jerry shrugged, but threw her a disgusted look. She bit her tongue to keep from retorting as Hunter and Paul returned.
“It’s a nice little set-up. Looks like a rough lean-to of sorts.” Hunter held out his hand to help her to her feet.
She laid her hand in his, letting the heat from their contact warm her. “Yeah. It’s one the rangers put up here for lost hikers.”
“You knew?” Jerry’s eyes scathed over her.
Smiling, she cocked her head to the side and slipped on her most saccharine-sweet voice. “Why do you think I climbed in this direction?”
Chapter 14
Hunter swallowed back the roar of laughter clogging his throat. The look on Jerry’s face was priceless—simply priceless. As he helped Katie hobble toward the lean-to, his attraction to her grew.
God, please help me out here. She doesn’t trust in You. Show me the way to lead her back to You.
Hunter shoved into the little shanty, then helped Katie onto the dirt floor beside Orson before directing his attention to Carter. The old man stood right outside the doorway, letting the rain clean away the mud from the pack. Hunter joined Carter, hoisting the other pack under the bombarding downpour and rubbing away the muck. Katie’s dog paced between the door and his mistress. Jerry stood outside.
Their shelter looked to be about twenty-by-twenty, with a tar roof atop a wooden frame. Cobwebs flecked the corners. One long table sat to the left of the door, with a fire pit in the upper left corner of the room. Beside the pit sat a firewood rack loaded with smaller logs and kindling. It had a feeling of comfortable decay—wood and nails, rigid and unimaginative, but shelter none-the-less. A thick layer of dust stirred into the air as the group ambled inside.
Paul shuffled to Katie’s side. The green-eyed beast within Hunter surged. He gritted his teeth and swiped the pack so hard it slipped from his grasp. Bending to pick it up, he spied Jerry casing out the area. Hunter watched Jerry pick his way around to the back of the lean-to. Distrust replaced jealousy as Hunter slung the pack into the lean-to and sprinted to sneak up on the investor.
Keeping his body pressed as close to the makeshift building as possible, Hunter listened for Jerry’s footsteps in the sluggish dead leaves among the thicket. Shadow bounded beside him. Hunter snapped his fingers once and pointed, as he’d seen Katie do many times. The dog dropped to his haunches with his ears erect.
Hunter drew up short when he heard Jerry’s mumbled curse, followed by stomping and splashing. Hunter deftly returned to the doorway, mere seconds before Jerry appeared from the other side.
Feigning surprise, Hunter glared. “Where’ve you been?” The dog rushed past him into the lean-to.
“Just looking around.” Jerry shrugged, but avoided eye contact.
The body language training he’d undergone screamed in Hunter. He’s guilty—he’s the murderer! “Find anything useful?”
“Nah.” Jerry pawed at his wetsuit, knocking off thick clumps of mud.
Hunter ducked and crossed the threshold. Carter stood at the small wooden table, still swiping at the packs with the back of his arm. Katie, with Shadow laying at her feet, sat sandwiched between Orson and Paul, the younger man’s head bent close to hers. Hunter exhaled sharply through his nostrils, then made purposeful strides toward Carter.
“Let’s see what we have here.” Hunter took the larger of the two packs and fumbled with the strings. Wet and infiltrated with muddy granules, the knots were secured tight as a miser gripping his last dime. Hunter’s numbing fingers couldn’t pry them apart.
Jerry thumped inside the shanty and peered about. His steps were unsteady, like a toddler’s first attempt at walking, as he headed to the opposite side of the room. He slumped against the wall, self-secluded from everyone else. His eyes trained on Paul’s, although the man didn’t appear to notice—Paul’s attention focused solely on Katie.
Paul’s whispered tones reached Hunter’s ears. As he moved his head to glance over his shoulder, Katie let out a throaty chuckle. Hunter tensed his muscles, flicking his biceps.
“Here.” Carter’s gravelly voice jerked him back to the packs.
Hunter gripped the string between his hands and pulled. The knot popped loose, tearing the twine in two. Carter snatched the corner and unfurled the roll. Once flat, Hunter recognized the main tent. Nestled securely inside were three sleeping bags, one of which belonged to him. He let out a quiet sigh of relief—just knowing his sidearm hid within grabbing distance made his nerves calm. For five years, he’d never been far from the Beretta, and felt like it was more of an extension of his hand than a weapon.
He tossed the sleeping bags to the corner of the lean-to and then lifted the second pack. He and Carter laid it completely flat, and found one food bag and two more sleeping bags. Hunter sighed as he glanced toward Katie. They hadn’t recovered any of her things. He strode to hover over her, his eyes narrowed at Paul. “Okay, you two,” he said to Orson and Katie, “that mud isn’t doing anything for either of you. Let’s get you outside in the rain and wash off the yuck.”
Katie smiled at him and held out her hand, her brightness piercing the dark cloud of jealousy over his heart. “Sounds like a plan to me—help me up.”
He couldn’t resist smiling back at her as he took her hand and gently tugged. She overshot her target, smacking flat into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, steadying her. The feel of her in his arms again made his knees threaten to buckle.
“Why don’t I help support Katie and you help with Orson?” Paul’s voice shattered the moment Hunter savored.
Taking deep breaths, Hunter turned to face Paul, throwing poison arrows with his eyes.
Paul blinked. “I mean, you’re stronger than I am and can hold up Orson better.”
Hunter let out a snort, but let his hands drop from around Katie’s waist and pulled Orson to his feet.
Katie hopped against Paul, glancing over her shoulder, past Hunter and Orson. “Hey, Carter, why don’t you see what you can rustle up for lunch out of the supplies we have?”
Reclaiming her place as leader of the group, she cut her eyes over to Jerry, who leaned against the wall staring at them with disinterest. “Jerry, why don’t you get up and help Carter?” The dog exited the shanty first, rushing off toward the area behind and above the shack.
Even injured and uncertain, Katie continued to take charge. The smile tickled Hunter’s mouth. He had to admire her attitude and outlook. Hunter took on more of Orson’s weight as the man groaned, but pinched his lips together tightly. As they made their way to stand under the downpour, Hunter lifted his face to heaven.
Hunter stood under God’s shower, then led the others back into the lean-to. Carter and Jerry stood at the table, opening cans of stew with handheld gadgets. Hunter’s stomach rumbled. The shanty had no cooking appliance, but a fireplace pit sat nestled in the corner. Shadow rested at Katie’s feet, his brown eyes watching each man’s movement.
Orson shivered. Hunter steadied the man against the wall before letting his eyes roam the room. No space allowed for privacy within the confines. He swallowed as he stared at the injured members of the party, Katie and Orson. Both trembled as the air kicked up outside, roaring and battering against the rough shelter. They needed to get into dry clothes, as quickly as possible.
Hunter stared back at the packs on the floor. He smiled as he lifted the large tent. Dragging it across the room, Hunter moved it by the door and peered outside. Directly adjacent to the shanty lay a flat, clear area. A perfect place for a t
ent that would allow the building to provide shelter from the kicking winds.
Katie kept her eyes trained on Hunter. He’d been pacing like a caged tiger, his expression so intense she could almost see the pulleys in his mind turning. He now stood in the doorway, a crumpled tent at his feet, his eyes affixed beside the lean-to, and she knew what he planned. Of course . . . how brilliant. Set up the tent for privacy issues in changing clothes and such, but also a place for her to sleep separately from the men tonight. A warming sensation spread across her body as his stare connected with hers. So thoughtful of her needs. She smiled.
“Paul, come help me pitch this tent.” Hunter lifted the tent and stakes.
Instantly, Paul moved to his side, but Jerry glared at Hunter. “We have a shelter—why do we need the tent?”
Hunter passed Paul the stakes and wadded the tent into a tight ball against his chest. “For privacy in dressing, and a place for Katie to bunk tonight.”
“What’s wrong with her sleeping in here?” Jerry’s lips pulled into a misaligned curl.
“It’s inappropriate for her to bunk in the same room with four men.” Hunter turned on his heel and strode from the shanty. Shadow followed in Hunter’s wake.
Jerry shot his scowl over to Katie.
She arched an eyebrow.
“Don’t feel comfortable lying among us, do you, Ms. Gallagher?”
She swallowed the acid retort, and forced herself to smile. “I think we’ll rest better if Shadow and I hole up in the tent.” Reaching into her fanny pack, she pulled out a peppermint, noticing she only had a handful left. She pushed the mint into her mouth and closed her eyes, letting the soothing flavor relax her.
Orson grunted.
Jerry shot his eyes over to the aging tax attorney. “What’re you moaning about, old man?”
Katie bit back her retort. Jerry’s attitude worsened . . . how much longer until he totally snapped and went off the deep end?
Orson’s voice echoed, filling the room. “If you were any kind of gentleman, you’d let the lady sleep in this shack and we all would take the tent.”
