winded.
“I didn’t, either. But we didn’t see that much of the operation.”
“Enough to know Sherman and his men are dangerous people. The dogs must be kept close by if they’re onto our scent so quickly.”
She tightened her hold on Jeff’s hand, so thankful for his steady and reassuring presence. Though terror and exhaustion threatened to leech her stamina, she pressed on, drawing strength from the man at her side.
He could easily leave her in the dust. But she could feel his restraint in the way he shortened his steps to accommodate her shorter legs, even though she was at the max of her stride. Running had never been her strong suit. Aerobic dance classes at the gym and ice skating were the ways she stayed fit.
She pushed herself harder. They had to make it to the waterfall. The closer they came, the more the noise of the rushing water drowned out all other sounds.
“This way!” Randy called from somewhere to their left.
Jeff changed directions. She lurched and staggered to keep up.
“You okay?” Jeff asked, his voice barely discernible over the roar of the waterfall that now had risen to a deafening decibel.
Knowing that even if she yelled back her response he’d never hear her, she squeezed his hand in answer.
They broke through the old-growth forest to the edge of a wide stream. Moonlight danced off churning water and revealed a towering waterfall framed by jagged, moss-covered boulders.
“We have to cross.” Randy leaned close to yell in their faces. “It’s waist-deep near the base of the waterfall. Once we’re on the other side, we’ll head due north. There’s a campground and ranger station.”
Tessa swallowed back a mouthful of anxiety. The cascading water falling into a wide pool and flowing downstream would be icy cold, not to mention the current would be difficult to navigate. Jeff tugged on her hand to gain her attention. He stared at her, his blue eyes almost translucent in the glow from the moon.
“We can do this.”
She read his lips more than heard his words. She gave him a trembling smile and nodded.
Randy plunged into the water and waded toward the other side of the stream.
Taking a deep breath, Tessa gave Jeff a thumbs-up sign.
He grinned, approval shining through and making her pulse skitter. She wanted to be brave and courageous for him.
Hand in hand they waded into the plunge pool collecting the cascading falls. Her breath caught in her chest as the freezing water soaked through her boots, her jeans and dug into her skin like icy talons. The shifting sand clutched at her boots. She fought to take each step through the current plucking at her, trying to take her downstream. She prayed none of them fell into the polluted water. It was bad enough it was touching their skin.
The water reached her waist, drenching the lightweight jacket and shirt beneath, sending frozen waves of shock through her system. She shivered. Her legs had gone numb. Ice filled her veins. Every cell seemed to freeze. She was becoming a human Popsicle. She had to look to be sure she still clung to Jeff.
A shout rang through the darkness.
She looked over her shoulder to see men and dogs emerging from the forest. One man raised a rifle.
She froze as a scream built in her chest.
Jeff’s arm snaked around her waist and lifted her off her feet, gripping her against his chest to carry her to the stream’s bank.
The sound of a rifle shot echoed over the waterfall. Water spit at her where the bullet tore into the stream a few inches from them. Jeff battled the rough current and the loamy earth. They emerged onto the riverbank and crawled up the side of the embankment to solid ground. Randy pulled her from Jeff’s arms and pushed her forward.
“Go! Go!” Randy shouted.
Tessa ran, her limbs jerky and awkward, numb from the frigid water. The woods offered cover. She had to make it. They all had to make it.
More gunfire erupted.
A man screamed.
Tessa spun around with her heart in her
“I didn’t, either. But we didn’t see that much of the operation.”
“Enough to know Sherman and his men are dangerous people. The dogs must be kept close by if they’re onto our scent so quickly.”
She tightened her hold on Jeff’s hand, so thankful for his steady and reassuring presence. Though terror and exhaustion threatened to leech her stamina, she pressed on, drawing strength from the man at her side.
He could easily leave her in the dust. But she could feel his restraint in the way he shortened his steps to accommodate her shorter legs, even though she was at the max of her stride. Running had never been her strong suit. Aerobic dance classes at the gym and ice skating were the ways she stayed fit.
She pushed herself harder. They had to make it to the waterfall. The closer they came, the more the noise of the rushing water drowned out all other sounds.
“This way!” Randy called from somewhere to their left.
Jeff changed directions. She lurched and staggered to keep up.
“You okay?” Jeff asked, his voice barely discernible over the roar of the waterfall that now had risen to a deafening decibel.
Knowing that even if she yelled back her response he’d never hear her, she squeezed his hand in answer.
They broke through the old-growth forest to the edge of a wide stream. Moonlight danced off churning water and revealed a towering waterfall framed by jagged, moss-covered boulders.
“We have to cross.” Randy leaned close to yell in their faces. “It’s waist-deep near the base of the waterfall. Once we’re on the other side, we’ll head due north. There’s a campground and ranger station.”
Tessa swallowed back a mouthful of anxiety. The cascading water falling into a wide pool and flowing downstream would be icy cold, not to mention the current would be difficult to navigate. Jeff tugged on her hand to gain her attention. He stared at her, his blue eyes almost translucent in the glow from the moon.
“We can do this.”
She read his lips more than heard his words. She gave him a trembling smile and nodded.
Randy plunged into the water and waded toward the other side of the stream.
Taking a deep breath, Tessa gave Jeff a thumbs-up sign.
He grinned, approval shining through and making her pulse skitter. She wanted to be brave and courageous for him.
Hand in hand they waded into the plunge pool collecting the cascading falls. Her breath caught in her chest as the freezing water soaked through her boots, her jeans and dug into her skin like icy talons. The shifting sand clutched at her boots. She fought to take each step through the current plucking at her, trying to take her downstream. She prayed none of them fell into the polluted water. It was bad enough it was touching their skin.
The water reached her waist, drenching the lightweight jacket and shirt beneath, sending frozen waves of shock through her system. She shivered. Her legs had gone numb. Ice filled her veins. Every cell seemed to freeze. She was becoming a human Popsicle. She had to look to be sure she still clung to Jeff.
A shout rang through the darkness.
She looked over her shoulder to see men and dogs emerging from the forest. One man raised a rifle.
She froze as a scream built in her chest.
Jeff’s arm snaked around her waist and lifted her off her feet, gripping her against his chest to carry her to the stream’s bank.
The sound of a rifle shot echoed over the waterfall. Water spit at her where the bullet tore into the stream a few inches from them. Jeff battled the rough current and the loamy earth. They emerged onto the riverbank and crawled up the side of the embankment to solid ground. Randy pulled her from Jeff’s arms and pushed her forward.
“Go! Go!” Randy shouted.
Tessa ran, her limbs jerky and awkward, numb from the frigid water. The woods offered cover. She had to make it. They all had to make it.
More gunfire erupted.
A man screamed.
Tessa spun around with her heart in her
Similar Books
