Aimée Thurlo - Restless Wind

“In the sunlight the leaves of that plant are a bright blue-green,” he began in a quiet voice. “It was my mother’s favorite plant. The vine isn’t supposed to grow at this altitude, but my mother kept bringing seeds and cuttings and wouldn’t give up. Then one day the vine began to grow. It’s been there for the last twenty or so years. It dies back after the first frost of the season then returns every spring covered with small orange flowers,” he said, then in a thoughtful voice added, “that vine is my mother’s way of reminding us that time, and love, can work miracles, and love endures, no matter how difficult its beginning.”

Ranger pulled her into his arms and for a moment held her gaze. His dark eyes gleamed with desire…and something more. Knowledge? For that one instant she was almost sure that he’d guessed she was planning to escape. But that was impossible…wasn’t it?

When his lips covered hers, all her thoughts faded away. The pounding of his heart against hers, the roughness and possessiveness of his kiss, bathed her in exquisite sensations.

By the time he eased his hold, her knees were ready to buckle. She shivered, holding onto him out of necessity as well as desire.

“Let’s go back inside,” he said.

She nodded. If only they’d met under different circumstances. Ranger’s courage and his determination to restore harmony and balance said more about him than words ever could. Now, to complete what she had to do, she’d have to find the same qualities in herself. She’d given her word to Hastiin Sani, and it was time to honor that commitment.

She pulled her hand away from his as they reached the hearth. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought,” she said. “I’m going to call it a night.”

As she went down the hall, she palmed the car keys from the table then stepped into the bedroom. Pulling the door half-shut, she blew out the kerosene lamp. Then she waited, sitting in the dark and listening. She wouldn’t try the window until she was sure he’d gone to sleep.

She already had a plan. She’d let the car roll downhill as far as possible before starting it up. That promised to be the tricky part-hoping the noise wouldn’t wake him. If she was lucky, she’d be able to get a good head start and he’d never catch up.

Minutes slipped by with agonizing slowness. She could hear him moving around in the living room. Finally, when it was close to four in the morning, she couldn’t hear him anymore.

Dana crept to the double hung window, unfastened the lever at the top and pulled the bottom half up slowly. On closer inspection, it was even narrower than she’d thought. No matter how much she pushed and maneuvered trying to get her shoulders through, there wasn’t enough clearance. She then tried feet first, and got as far as her ribs, but no farther.

Bruised but unhurt, Dana closed the window, fastened the latch, then returned to the bed, frustrated. She’d never make it out either door, not with him in the living room. Of that she was certain.

Moments after she’d returned to the bed, he knocked softly at the door. “You all right?”

“What?” she managed in a muffled voice.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you. Just wanted to make sure everything’s all right. Thought I heard something, then I felt a draft.” He came into the room and checked the window.

She watched him, glad now that she’d shut and latched it. “Could you open it a crack? I know it’s cold, but I really like a little fresh air at night.”

He smiled and pushed it up about four inches. “Too much?”

“No, just right. You can close the door completely if you think I’m going to freeze you to death.”

“I’ve got plenty of blankets, and the warmth of the fireplace.” He lingered at her door for a second.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Sleep well.”

As soon as he left, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was time for a new plan. She’d wait till morning and see what kind of situation presented itself then. The first chance she got, she’d be gone.

SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE, Ranger left the cabin, then facing east, took a pinch of pollen from his jish and made an offering to the Holy Ones, asking for protection and blessings.

Once his morning ritual ended, he walked back into the cabin. Last night he’d heard Dana open the window, then shut it. He had a feeling that she’d planned to make a run for it, but discovered that the windows were just too small to climb through. He already knew she’d taken the keys from the table. Everything was going according to plan.

He’d give her a chance to escape today and see what she did. The last time he’d spoken to his brother, he’d told Hunter that he believed Dana could be trusted. But Hunter had required proof, and had come up with a plan to test her. Ranger had been ordered to give Dana a chance to slip away, then follow her. If she went to Trujillo or one of his henchmen to report, they’d have their answer.

Ranger had brought her here to where there’d be an extra set of wheels waiting. Regardless of which vehicle Dana stole, he’d be able to pursue. He kept an extra key to both vehicles with him at all times, and the truck and the sedan had hidden GPS devices so they could be tracked.

As he stepped into the kitchen, Dana turned her head and smiled at him. “Good morning. Is there anything to eat here?” she asked, rummaging through the cupboards.

“There’s cereal and powdered milk in the top shelf,” he said, pointing.

She turned to look, and he took a quick glance at the hall table. The keys were there.

“Found it,” she said. “Do you want some, too?”

He shook his head. “I’ll eat later. I just wanted to let you know I’ll be outside for about twenty minutes. I’m going to reconnoiter the area.”

“You’re going to do what?”

“I need to make sure no one’s picked up our trail, so I’m hiking farther up the mountain to a good observation spot. By the time you finish breakfast, I should be back. If you need me, just come up the trail beyond the woodpile.”

Ranger went out the back door, wearing his shoulder holster and.45 pistol beneath his jacket. Now it began.

He continued past the woodpile, then climbed about fifty yards farther into the forest. From this spot, surrounded by vegetation and hidden in the shade, he had a good view of both vehicles. All he had to do now was wait.

After several minutes Dana came out and headed for the truck, keys in hand. For a moment he thought that she hadn’t realized that the keys were for the car. Then he saw her bend down by the truck tire.

Dana reached down, but then shook her head, and walked quickly to the sedan. Apparently, she’d thought about flattening the tire, then changed her mind, not wanting to leave him stranded. In a backward sort of way, his respect for her went up a notch. Her actions meant she believed in doing the right thing-which also meant she couldn’t be associated with Trujillo.

Ranger watched as Dana climbed into the sedan, released the brake, then steered as it rolled down the lane, making almost no noise at all except for the tires crunching on the gravel. The car was already out of sight around the first curve when she finally started the engine.

He dialed his brother on the cell phone while jogging back down the trail to the truck. “She took the car,” Ranger said. “For the record, she thought about disabling the truck, but changed her mind.”

“If you need backup, call in. I’ll have a few men I can trust close by.”

“You’re wrong about her, brother,” Ranger said. “I think I know where she’s going. It took me awhile to put things together, but there’s only one answer that makes sense. The medicine man knew about her photographic memory and found a way to make use of it. If I’m right, she’s going to try to find Hastiin Dííl to give him names. She hasn’t said anything about her plans because she was undoubtedly sworn to secrecy.”