four-wheeling ahead.”
* * *
“So, about earlier,” McKenna began as she loaded her gun into one of the cargo bags on the four-wheeler.
“What about it?”
McKenna watched him, studied his eyes as he watched her. She felt her cheeks flush and silently called herself ridiculous. There was nothing life changing in the question she was about to ask. She was just curious. That was all.
“You said Luke would never let me tag along.”
Silence stretched between them until Will said, “Yeah.”
“Would you have let me come?”
He held her gaze, and her heart fluttered as emotions she was sure she was making up danced in the depths of Will’s eyes. “I might have.”
The boldness that seemed to have suddenly come over her vanished just as quickly. “Well...” McKenna couldn’t contain the nervous laughter. “We’ll have to do some serious riding today, then. Make up for lost time.”
He watched her for a minute and then finally nodded. “Yeah. That sounds good.” He turned away to ready his four-wheeler, and McKenna was left almost breathless. What sounded good? Serious riding, or making up for lost time?
“There’s a river up here.” Will motioned. “It’s not too far.” He grinned. “I’ll race you to it, if you think you can keep up.”
“You’re on.” She took the challenge and they were off.
They rode for hours, occasionally stopping to take a drink from their water bottles or eat a quick snack before hitting the trail again. McKenna kept her eyes open for any signs of other people whom she could potentially interview. People who loved the land had special insights to offer—if she could find someone out here, maybe they’d have information that could help her in her investigation. But so far it was just her and Will. She signaled to him that she was stopping for a bathroom break and he waved his acknowledgment as he continued up the trail.
Pulling over, a glance down at her clothes had confirmed McKenna’s suspicions that she was covered in dust and must look like a mess, but she didn’t care.
When she was ready to go again, McKenna gunned the engine, eager to get back to Will. Its roar filled her ears and the cool wind whipped her face. She knew her cheeks would be red and her lips would be chapped by the time this day was done, but it would be worth it.
She pressed the gas harder, flying over the trail. Uneasiness crawled up her spine and neck and she sent a glance over her shoulder.
Not fifty feet behind her was another ATV. And it wasn’t Will’s; he was up ahead of her. Whoever was driving this one was hunched over, dressed in all black and wearing a mask.
She sped up a little, hoping it was just coincidence, that maybe a perfectly nice man had decided to go for a ride on the same trail they had, dressed in all black. Nothing nefarious. Just a coincidence.
He sped up, too. So much for that.
McKenna glanced around her, looking for a place she could cut off of the main trail and lose him in the vastness of the tundra. For once she wished she’d been living here longer—so she’d know all the shortcuts and places to hide.
As it was, she could veer off the trail, but she was so unfamiliar with the territory that it might end up being a bad move. She could be lost forever out here.
No, it was better to stick to the route she knew. Will shouldn’t be too far ahead. If only she could reach him before the mystery man reached her.
The world slowed as the ATV slammed into her from behind and McKenna fought two warring impulses—hang on with all her might, or let go so she wasn’t crushed if another attack came.
The question was answered for her as he hit her a second time. As metal crunched, she was thrown from the seat of the machine. She landed on the cold ground with a hard thud. She scrambled to stand immediately and ran in the direction where she knew Will was waiting, a scream building in her throat.
Heavy footfalls behind her left no doubt that the stranger was
* * *
“So, about earlier,” McKenna began as she loaded her gun into one of the cargo bags on the four-wheeler.
“What about it?”
McKenna watched him, studied his eyes as he watched her. She felt her cheeks flush and silently called herself ridiculous. There was nothing life changing in the question she was about to ask. She was just curious. That was all.
“You said Luke would never let me tag along.”
Silence stretched between them until Will said, “Yeah.”
“Would you have let me come?”
He held her gaze, and her heart fluttered as emotions she was sure she was making up danced in the depths of Will’s eyes. “I might have.”
The boldness that seemed to have suddenly come over her vanished just as quickly. “Well...” McKenna couldn’t contain the nervous laughter. “We’ll have to do some serious riding today, then. Make up for lost time.”
He watched her for a minute and then finally nodded. “Yeah. That sounds good.” He turned away to ready his four-wheeler, and McKenna was left almost breathless. What sounded good? Serious riding, or making up for lost time?
“There’s a river up here.” Will motioned. “It’s not too far.” He grinned. “I’ll race you to it, if you think you can keep up.”
“You’re on.” She took the challenge and they were off.
They rode for hours, occasionally stopping to take a drink from their water bottles or eat a quick snack before hitting the trail again. McKenna kept her eyes open for any signs of other people whom she could potentially interview. People who loved the land had special insights to offer—if she could find someone out here, maybe they’d have information that could help her in her investigation. But so far it was just her and Will. She signaled to him that she was stopping for a bathroom break and he waved his acknowledgment as he continued up the trail.
Pulling over, a glance down at her clothes had confirmed McKenna’s suspicions that she was covered in dust and must look like a mess, but she didn’t care.
When she was ready to go again, McKenna gunned the engine, eager to get back to Will. Its roar filled her ears and the cool wind whipped her face. She knew her cheeks would be red and her lips would be chapped by the time this day was done, but it would be worth it.
She pressed the gas harder, flying over the trail. Uneasiness crawled up her spine and neck and she sent a glance over her shoulder.
Not fifty feet behind her was another ATV. And it wasn’t Will’s; he was up ahead of her. Whoever was driving this one was hunched over, dressed in all black and wearing a mask.
She sped up a little, hoping it was just coincidence, that maybe a perfectly nice man had decided to go for a ride on the same trail they had, dressed in all black. Nothing nefarious. Just a coincidence.
He sped up, too. So much for that.
McKenna glanced around her, looking for a place she could cut off of the main trail and lose him in the vastness of the tundra. For once she wished she’d been living here longer—so she’d know all the shortcuts and places to hide.
As it was, she could veer off the trail, but she was so unfamiliar with the territory that it might end up being a bad move. She could be lost forever out here.
No, it was better to stick to the route she knew. Will shouldn’t be too far ahead. If only she could reach him before the mystery man reached her.
The world slowed as the ATV slammed into her from behind and McKenna fought two warring impulses—hang on with all her might, or let go so she wasn’t crushed if another attack came.
The question was answered for her as he hit her a second time. As metal crunched, she was thrown from the seat of the machine. She landed on the cold ground with a hard thud. She scrambled to stand immediately and ran in the direction where she knew Will was waiting, a scream building in her throat.
Heavy footfalls behind her left no doubt that the stranger was
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