Survival Mission by Shirlee McCoy

Author:Shirlee McCoy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-05-14T14:41:12+00:00

* * *

Jake clamped a sweaty hand over her mouth. “That was a big mistake,” he said, his tone full of rage. “But I doubt anyone heard you. You’re so predictable, Penny, hanging around out in the woods with people trying to have a wilderness adventure. I’ve been watching you for days, getting a handle on your routine. No one will ever find you out here.” He dropped his hand. “But if you scream again, you’ll regret it.”

He was right.

Penny blinked away tears of frustration and looked around frantically at the deserted trail. No one in sight. She’d finished guiding a wilderness tour over an hour ago and watched the busload of about twenty people head out in the other direction. Tired and hot and not as alert as she should have been, she’d started hiking the couple of miles toward home, her mind on seeing Kevin. Jake had waylaid her near the small town of Iris Rock, where her son was safe inside the Wild Iris Inn with the owner, Claire Crayton.

Claire knew what to do. Penny had explained when she first moved into the boardinghouse that her ex-boyfriend might show up and try to cause trouble. Under no circumstance was the older woman to allow Kevin to go with anyone except Penny. Claire had nodded toward the shotgun she kept behind the check-in counter and promised her she’d take care of Kevin, no matter what.

Now Penny wished she’d warned Claire that the father of her child might be armed and dangerous and wanted by the law. But she’d never dreamed Jake would hold a gun on her or threaten her life.

Please, God, keep Kevin safe.

Penny entreated that simple prayer over and over while she looked around for a way to escape. Since she’d been a trained guide for years, she knew this basin better than most. She knew the nooks and crannies, the hills, valleys and meadows and all the streams and waterfalls; knew the animals and the seasons. If she could make it across the trailhead to the open meadow, she’d be able to hide in the tall grass and inch her way toward the foothills.

“Don’t even think about it, sweetheart,” Jake said, his breath hissing like a snake against her neck. “You’re smart and I have no doubt that you can survive out here. But it would be stupid to try and outrun me.”

Penny glanced at the semiautomatic handgun he pressed into her ribs as a reminder, her heart pumping adrenaline while she thought of her sweet little boy. Kevin had his daddy’s dark blond hair and deep blue eyes.

“What happened to you, Jake?” she asked, stalling but also wanting some answers. “Why would you risk everything and ruin your career? I’ve heard rumors—”

“Later,” he snarled. “I’m not going to explain all of that right now. Besides, what do you care? You ran out on me.”

Pushing her forward, his anger shimmering from every pore, he checked both ways along the path into the woods.

He wasn’t going to talk, and he was too wired to tolerate her feeble attempts to save herself.

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