The Guardian by Cindi Myers

Author:Cindi Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Michael kept his eyes locked to Abby’s, willing her not to look away. What was she scared of inside herself, and how could he help her let go of that fear? But he got the impression if he tried to get that personal, she’d just pull back. As with the fall of hair that kept hiding her scar, Abby liked to keep layers between her and other people.

The baby started fussing, breaking the spell between them. Abby turned away and he sat back, stifling a sigh of frustration.

“I need your bandanna,” she said. “The baby’s diaper is soaked.”

He handed it over, and she folded it into a makeshift diaper and handed him the soaked one. “Wash this out—downstream.”

He made a face, but moved off to do as she asked. Washing dirty diapers wasn’t on the list of things he had expected to do in this job, but there was something calming and grounding about the mundane, domestic chore. Yes, he was lost in the wilderness with the possibility that a killer was searching for them, but his duty was crystal clear—to protect this woman and this baby and somehow return them to safety.

The man in charge of this camp would be back. Everything in the man’s attitude and posture told Michael he wasn’t one to overlook a threat. He’d been outsmarting the Rangers for weeks. The urgency of moving his people might have forced him to delay the hunt momentarily, but he wasn’t going to let two people who had discovered his secret get away. When he’d stolen Michael’s Cruiser he’d left the couple stranded, so he could be confident they were still close by. As long as Michael saw the man before he spotted them, they’d be safe. He’d make sure of it.

He had Abby to help, too. Thanks to her, they wouldn’t starve. Roots and leaves weren’t steak and potatoes, but his growling stomach would be thankful for anything he fed it. And being with Abby made him feel calmer and more certain that they’d come through this all right. She was worried, but not panicking. Anyone who mistook her for a dumb blonde was delusional.

He rejoined her and she sat up straighter, her hand making a fist in her lap.

“What do you have there?” He nodded to her fist.

She flushed. “It’s nothing.”

He spread the damp diaper on a tree branch to dry. “It’s not nothing. What is it?”

She looked away. “I’ve been watching and I haven’t seen any sign of anyone headed this way,” she said.

Message received. She didn’t want to talk about whatever she was holding. “We ought to be able to see the dust from a vehicle from a long way off,” he said.

“How far do you think we are from the main road?” she asked.

“About five miles, I think. Maybe a little more.”

“Where do you think they were taking those people?”

“To another camp in the park—or maybe all the way to Denver. I don’t know.”

“What a harsh life.” She arranged the shawl to shade the sleeping infant.

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