by Hope White
“You are...remarkable,” he said, squeezing her hand.
In that moment she felt something much stronger than friendship blossoming between them, and it wasn’t one-sided on her part. Could it be that a life-threatening crisis had brought them together and made them realize they had feelings for each other? The corners of his lips raised slightly as he glanced at her.
Sudden movement caught her eye over his shoulder. Before she could register what was happening, a man hurled himself out of nowhere at Nate.
“No!” she cried.
Nate automatically pushed her aside and whipped around as the attacker slammed into him. The men hit the ground and rolled a few times, the guttural sounds sending shivers down her arms. The awkward pack put Nate at a disadvantage.
Cassie scanned the immediate area looking for a weapon and spotted a thick branch a few feet away. But could she use it on the attacker? The guy, in his forties wearing a blue knit cap, wrapped his arm around Nate’s neck and strangled him from behind.
“Let him go!” she shouted.
The man tightened his grip. Nate swung his arms, trying to break free.
The guy jerked his arm again.
Nate’s legs buckled.
Both men went down.
“God forgive me,” she whispered.
She grabbed the branch, about the length of a baseball bat, and swung, hitting the man in the back.
He jerked in response, but didn’t let go of Nate.
She was not going to watch a criminal murder Nate.
The love of her life.
“I said, let go!” she warned.
The guy squeezed tighter. Nate’s arms went limp by his sides. Complete and utter panic drove her to swing the branch again and again. The third swing connected with the guy’s head.
He suddenly let go of Nate and stumbled to his feet. Nate rolled onto his side, coughing and gasping for air.
He was alive. She sighed with relief.
The attacker took a step toward her, his eyes flaring with rage.
She fought back paralyzing fear and considered her next move. Much bigger than her five-foot-three-inch frame, the guy could easily take away the branch and even use it on her. Yet she knew they didn’t want her dead because they thought she had something of theirs.
“Stay away,” she threatened, clinging to the branch. She just needed to buy enough time for Nate to regain his strength.
The man took another step toward her.
She was not a defenseless woman. She’d taken a self-defense class with her sister, Bree, when she’d returned to Echo Mountain.
He took another step.
“What do you want?” she demanded.
A sinister smile eased across his lips.
He stepped closer.
She jabbed the branch at his crotch. He instinctively pitched forward to protect himself and she swung the branch, hard, nailing him on the side of the head.
He collapsed, seemingly dazed. She stood there for a few seconds, heart pounding in her ears, a little dizzy from the adrenaline rush.
Cassie scrambled to Nate. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
The attacker moaned.
Adrenaline reignited her body. She grabbed Nate’s gun out of his holster and aimed at the guy.
“Don’t move!” she threatened, even though she didn’t know much about guns and the safety was probably still in place.
The guy went still, either because she’d threatened him or because he was unconscious.
She glared down the barrel of the weapon, hoping the threat of being shot would be enough to keep him from coming after her or Nate.
“Cassie,” Nate said, his voice hoarse.
She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even form words. A metallic taste filled her mouth. She could see her hands trembling as they gripped the gun, but she was not letting go.
Had to protect Nate. He’d been hurt enough.
“Cassie.”
She felt Nate’s hand touch her shoulder from behind, then slide down her arm. “It’s okay. Release the gun.”
With gentle pressure, he eased her arm down so she was no longer aiming at their attacker.
“Let go,” he said.
She nodded, but her fingers were locked in place, like they were glued to the cool metal.
“It’s okay,” he whispered against her ear.
The warmth of his breath filtered down her arm, easing the tension from her fingers.
“That’s it, just relax.”
A burst of air escaped her lips. She’d been holding her breath.
“Shh, you’re doing great,” Nate coached.
She willed herself to unclench the gun, but it was like someone else’s hand was attached to her body.
Nate wrapped his fingers around her hand. His warm palm blanketed her knuckles and seemed to melt her frozen joints. She stretched her fingers, releasing the gun. Nate eased it out of her grip.
“That’s it,” he hushed.
“I... I was protecting you.”
“Yes, you were. And you did an excellent job.”
* * *
Nate steadied his hand as he retrieved the gun from Cassie, not wanting her to see that he was shaking, as well. She might be trembling from the adrenaline rush of violence, but Nate’s body trembled from the lack of oxygen. He’d almost been strangled to death.
In front of Cassie.
He’d been distracted by her beauty and kindness, and had almost gotten them both killed. Well, Nate would have been killed. It was pretty clear they wouldn’t kill Cassie until they got answers.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his lips touching her soft blond hair.
“Yes.”
He aimed the gun at their motionless attacker, the guy from Becca’s tour group. It never should have gotten this far. Cassie shouldn’t have been put in the position of having to shoot a man. The trauma of wounding or killing another human being would have stayed with her forever.
Changed her forever.
It was Nate’s fault. He’d drifted into a false sense of security out here in the wilderness while looking into her expressive blue eyes.
Nate approached their attacker. Blood trailed down the side of the man’s head. Nate nudged him with his boot, but the guy didn’t respond. He knelt and pressed the barrel of the gun against the guy’s forehead.
“I will pull the trigger if you make a move,” he warned.
Again, no response.
Nate pressed two fingers against the man’s neck to feel for a pulse.
“Is he... Did I?” Cassie uttered in a shaky voice.
“He’s alive. Can you go into the backpack and find a first aid kit and some rope?”
When she didn’t move, Nate glanced at her. Eyes wide, she continued to stare at the wounded man. It was as if she had just awakened from a dream and realized what she’d done, that she’d inflicted the head injury and caused all the blood.
“Rope and first aid?” he prompted in a firm tone.
Her gaze shot up to meet his. “Oh, right.”
She dug into Spence’s backpack, strapped to Nate’s back. A moment later she handed him rope.
“You need to bind his wrists.” With the gun still pointed at the guy, Nate rolled him onto his stomach.
Cassie pulled his wrists behind his back and bound them as tightly as she could. Nate holstered his gun and pulled the knot even tighter.
Nate used remaining rope to secure the man to a nearby tree, where he assessed his injuries.
“Head wound doesn’t look too serious.” Nate wiped the gash clean and applied a bandage. “That’s all we can do for him. We’d better go. He may not be alone.” Nate packed up the supplies.
“We...leave him here?”
“Yes, but I’ll get him help.” Nate led Cassie away and called in. “This is Chief Walsh. I need a law enforcement team to retrieve a suspect, midforties, just north of Lake Serene on the trail. He’s tied to a tree and unconscious. I administered first aid, but he’s dangerous. Proceed with caution, over.”
Cassie glanced at their attacker. “He was going to kill you.”
Nate put his arm around her, hoping to ease her anxiety. She didn’t push away, yet he felt her body stiffen.
He let his arm slide off her shoulder and they walked in silence. It was a different kind of silence than before. He felt like he was losing her somehow.
* * *
Hours later, utterly exhausted by the day’s journey hiking through the mountains, Cassie was starting to feel weak for the first time in many years. She fought anxiety about her condition possibly flaring up. These could be normal aches and pains, nothing related to the autoimmune disease that plagued her as a child.
Don’t give in to the fear, she told herself.
Not so easy.
Nate would start a conversation with her, probably because she was too quiet, and she’d struggle to find the strength for small talk.
That jerk almost killed Nate.
Right in front of her.
She shuddered at the memory of Nate’s arms going limp.
“Cassie,” Nate started. “Next time someone comes after me, promise you’ll take off and find a safe place to hide.”
“I can’t make that promise.”
“Look.” He stopped and gripped her arms. “If I die trying to protect you, I’d like some peace of mind that at least I saved your life. Promise me you’ll put yourself first.”
There was desperation in his serious green eyes, and pain. Lots of pain.
“Okay, okay.” She glanced away and he released her.
* * *
After hiking in awkward silence for another half an hour, she spotted the cabin. “There.” She pointed to the one-story rental in the clearing below, with a gravel driveway and wooden porch.
As she started down the trail, Nate blocked her. “I’ll go first. You stay back until I signal that it’s safe.”
“No,” she said.
“Cassie—”
“You would have been killed if I hadn’t been with you. We stick together, Nate. We’re better together.”
She walked around him, realizing she’d never been that direct with anyone in her life. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was hunger.
Or maybe she’d finally found her voice.
“Hey, hey,” he said, catching up to her. “I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“I know, and I appreciate that.”
“But?”
“I guess I’m hungry and tired.”
“There’s dehydrated food in the pack. We can heat that up for dinner.”
Twilight illuminated the property as they approached the cabin. Cassie punched in the override code that unlocked all property doors.
“At least let me go in first,” Nate said.
She stepped aside, understanding his need to take the lead. He placed the backpack on the porch, turned the door handle and went inside.
The door slowly eased shut behind him.
Cassie put her hand on the heavy oak to keep it open.
And saw something come down against Nate’s head from behind.
THIRTEEN
Cassie snapped her hand back in shock.
The door clicked shut.
Heart pounding, she darted to the side of the cabin, spotted a small shed and ducked inside. It was her instinct to run, find safety and regroup. She could call for help, but they wouldn’t get here in time to do any good. No, she was on her own.
Nate would want her to flee, hike to safety. He’d made her promise to leave him behind.
A light sparkled through the crack in the shed door. Someone was searching the area with a flashlight. And he was headed in her direction. Cassie dug into her bag for keys.
The ball of light grew bigger, brighter.
Her fingers touched a small canister of pepper spray Bree had given her. She calmed her frantic heartbeat and waited for the door to open.
God give me strength.
She blinked to clear her vision.
It seemed like it was taking forever for the guy to find her.
“Who’s in there?” a woman demanded.
Cassie recognized that voice.
“Becca?” Cassie flung open the shed door.
Becca lowered a two-by-four she had been gripping as a weapon. “Cassie?”
She threw her arms around Cassie and gave her a hug. Cassie hugged her back, although she still gripped the pepper spray and keys.
Becca released her. “What are you doing here? It’s dangerous, a man—”
“Nate.” Cassie took off for the house.
“Cassie, don’t! There’s a guy—”
“Nate Walsh! It’s the police chief!” Cassie called over her shoulder. She raced into the cabin and froze at the sight of Nate, unconscious on the floor. Dropping to her knees beside him, Cassie said, “Nate, can you hear me? Come on, open your eyes.”
Footsteps pounded on the porch and Becca rushed up behind Cassie.
“I didn’t see him, Cassie, I didn’t know who it was. Honest, I never would have—”
“What’d you hit him with?”
“A two-by-four.”
Cassie ran her hand across the side of Nate’s head. “Go get the backpack on the porch. Quick!”
Becca dashed out of the cabin.
“Nate, can you hear me?”
When he didn’t respond, she stroked her thumb across his cheek. “You’ll be okay. You have to be okay,” she whispered. “Ya know why? Because I love you. I’ve never loved anyone like this before, so could you open your eyes, please?” She waited. “Not yet, huh? Okay, take your time.”
As she stroked his hair, she prayed for him to open his green eyes and speak her name.
“I got it,” Becca said.
“There should be a cold pack in there, and ibuprofen. Is the water working?”
“No, and no electric. But I have some water left. And there’s a creek behind the property. We can get water there if there’s a filter in that pack.”
“I’m assuming there is.”
Becca handed Cassie the cold pack and knelt beside her. Cassie twisted the package, releasing the chemicals, and placed it against the bump on Nate’s head.
“I didn’t mean it, Cassie. I never would have hit the chief.”
“It’s okay, he’ll understand.”
“No, he won’t.” Becca shot to her feet. “I’m already in trouble because of Tony. He said we weren’t doing anything wrong, but now these guys are after me, and I think Tony’s working for them and—” she paused “—I don’t want to go to jail!”
“Take a breath,” Cassie said. “One thing at a time. Help me make him comfortable.”
Becca glanced from Cassie to Nate back to Cassie.
“Find me something to prop up his head,” Cassie ordered, shifting Nate onto his back.
Becca pulled a pair of jeans out of her backpack, rolled them up and handed them to Cassie. Cassie slipped them beneath Nate’s head and readjusted the cold pack. “If he doesn’t wake up in a few minutes I’m calling 911.”
“No, those men...they’ll find us, they’ll kill us,” Becca said.
“I won’t risk Nate’s life. If this is more serious than a minor concussion, we’ll have to get him to the hospital.”
Becca stared in horror at Nate, her eyes widening.
“I need you to tell me what’
s going on,” Cassie said. “Who’s after you and why?”
“I can’t.” She stood and paced to the kitchen sink.
“Really? Because you’ve dragged me into this violent mess and I don’t appreciate it.”
Becca spun around. “What do you mean?”
“They think I have something of theirs. What?”
Becca shook her head and put out her hand. “The less you know the better.”
“It sounds like Tony is into something dangerous, criminal even. I want you to explain how a good person like yourself could end up going down this path.”
“I love him,” she said in a hushed voice. Becca’s gaze drifted to the floor. “He was always so nice to me, made me feel special...and loved. He brought me flowers for no reason.” She glanced at Cassie. “I’m an idiot, right?”
“No.” Cassie sighed. “But you need to fix this.”
“It’s impossible. They’re everywhere.”
“Is that why you disappeared from the tour group?”
She nodded affirmative. “A guy pulled me aside and said if I didn’t tell him where the money was, he was going to kill me before we got down off the mountain. Cassie, we’re in so much trouble.” Becca burst into tears.
Cassie felt bad for her friend, but was also angry at the decisions she’d made. Becca should have gone to the police and asked for help. Instead she was hiding out in an abandoned cabin.
“What was the plan?” Cassie asked. “Hide out here until when?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t thought past getting away.”
“You left your jacket and a bunch of other stuff on the trail. Why, to throw everyone off?”
“I needed the men who were after me to think I was dead.”
“No, what you need to do is end this before more people get hurt.”
Nate moaned and blinked his eyes open. “Cassie?”
“Hey, you’re awake. How do you feel?”
“Like I was hit by a truck.” He glanced around the room. “What happened?”
“Misunderstanding. Becca thought you were one of the bad guys.”
Becca stepped into his line of vision. “I’m so sorry, Chief. Please don’t arrest me. I had no idea it was you.”
