Wilderness Target by Sharon Dunn

Author:Sharon Dunn [Dunn, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373446193
Google: PdNUBAAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 21489568
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Wind, birds, the creaking of the branches—all the sounds of the forest calmed Clarissa as the cool creek water flowed over her hands. She knew she couldn’t ever totally let her guard down. Max and his hired thugs would figure out which way they’d gone soon enough. For a brief moment, though, she could stop and catch her breath.

She straightened up, wiped her forehead and twisted the cap on the canteen. She couldn’t comprehend why Ezra was so willing to stay with her, to endure all this, or why the others had, for the most part, been willing to forgive her.

She heard a noise and glanced up. Across the creek, one of Max’s thugs stood leering down at her. He was a square-jawed man with big teeth. “I knew you’d need water sooner or later.”

Terror slammed against her with the force of a truck. She wheezed in air as she scrambled to her feet.

He splashed through the shallow stream and grabbed her, yanking her toward him. He pressed his face close to hers. “Did you think I’d give up that easily? I’ve been moving up and down this river for the past hour.”

She struggled to get away. He tightened his grip on her.

Though fear nearly made her knees buckle, Clarissa narrowed her eyes at her assailant. “What are you going to do?” She spoke through clenched teeth to hide how afraid she was.

“I think you know.” His gruff voice pelted her.

She softened her expression, allowing him to see some of her fear. The tactic made him loosen his grip on her as a sneer of delight formed on his face.

Taking advantage of his distraction, she kicked him hard in the shin. When he let go of her, she whirled away and tried to dart toward the forest, but he grabbed her shirt collar and pulled her back. She tried to angle away.

The man turned slightly, as though he’d heard something, and then he crumpled to the ground. Ezra stood facing her as the man lay gasping for air. Ezra landed another blow. The thug stopped moving.

“You’ll have to show me how to do that sometime.” She tried to sound normal, but her voice gave away how the assault had shaken her.

Ezra pulled her into a quick hug, holding her close. If only she could stay in the safety of his arms! But the man on the ground started to stir.

Ezra released her, then brushed her cheek lightly. “We’ve gotta go.”

She nodded.

He scooped the canteen and backpack off the ground, glancing up and down the stream. “Did you see his four-wheeler anywhere?”

She shook her head. “He said he’d been walking up and down the river looking for us.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky, huh?” Ezra fastened on her backpack. “You go in front of me.”

The man on the ground moaned and rolled over on his side.

They ran through the night until it grew completely dark. Finally, Ezra stopped, dumping the backpack on the ground. “I’ll go find us some dinner. Build a fire, but keep it small.

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