Elizabeth Goddard - Wilderness Peril

Shay squeezed him, bringing him back to the moment. She inched her face up to look at him, the concern in her gaze clear. He could have lost it just then. Given them away.

All because of one fateful moment in his past. A moment he could never forget.

He gave a slight shake of his head. It wasn’t as if he could explain that right now, if ever. But he sure didn’t want those images to bother him at this moment when he had to maintain what little control he had over this situation.

“Nothing,” the man said, his voice ringing mere yards from them. “There’s nothing left. No way could anyone survive that.”

“You’d better be sure. We can’t let them make it to the claim.”

“They’re dead, all right? If by some miracle they survived that fall, how would they make their way out? Much less hike all the way to the mine.”

At the words, Rick’s pulse ratcheted up. The men had planned to kill them to prevent them from reaching the gold-mining claim? But why go to all that trouble? They were only interested in the plane, not the claim. Had they killed Aiden? He reined in the rage, the need to climb the ledge and pound the information out of these men. He was at a distinct disadvantage at the moment.

He released a sigh, then realized his mistake. Like Shay, he held his breath now. Just a little longer, he told himself.

He counted the seconds, praying the man hadn’t heard his heavy exhale.

No way could anyone survive that. The words penetrated his chaotic thoughts—what reason did these men have for pursuing them, for attempting to kill them just to keep them from the camp? If it had anything at all to do with Aiden or even with Rick asking around the village for him, what chance did Aiden have?

He feared his brother was already dead.

No, God, please, no.... Rick wouldn’t think that way. He could only hope that Aiden was in hiding, too, and hadn’t had a chance to contact or warn them.

With Shay in his arms, her weight only a slight burden against him as he cushioned her on the ground, they listened as the man who’d been mere yards above them scraped and climbed his way back up to the road.

They released a collective sigh this time, and Rick didn’t worry they’d be heard. But they weren’t moving from this spot yet. Not until he knew for sure they were safe. Not until he heard the truck drive away, and even then he wouldn’t leave the protective cover of foliage until he searched the area from their hiding place.

Conversation resumed above them and truck doors slammed. The rumble of the truck’s engine started. Shay shifted to move from cover, but Rick held her tight. “Wait. We have to be sure,” he whispered. She had to think he was being overly cautious, but she hadn’t been through what he had.

Didn’t know that things weren’t always as they seemed.

Shay’s trembling grew. She had to be in shock and was losing control, adrenaline fading as she began to believe the immediate threat was gone. Rick was grateful they’d escaped with their lives and, by all accounts, unscathed.

Of course, for him this was hardly anything compared to what he’d already been through in his life. Now that the men were gone, he was more worried about another immediate threat—Shay. With her warmth and softness against him, a pang of tenderness shot through his heart, the kind of affection he remained guarded against at all times.

“Rick,” she whispered. “Rick. You okay?”

He blinked, staring down at her big eyes looking up at him from where her head was pressed against his chest. He was supposed to be helping her, taking care of her. Protecting her. That was what men did. That was what soldiers did. But was he up to the challenge?

He wasn’t a soldier now. He was just Rick Savage. Damaged goods.

The gentle concern in her eyes didn’t help.

I’m dangerous to you.

FOUR

Of all the idiotic questions she could have asked. Of course he wasn’t okay. Neither of them was okay. Someone had just tried to kill them.

She felt a few bruises springing up on her back and arms but knew that it could have been so much worse. And maybe it was worse than she realized—something in his eyes, the way he looked at her right now, scared her. He was wearing that same wild and distant gaze she’d seen before, as though his mind had dragged him to a place that was anywhere but here and now.

Shay didn’t like it. Nor did she like that her hands were shaking. Her whole body trembled, and if it weren’t for Rick holding her against him, she’d probably lose control completely.

Her mind wandered as well, taking her back to the day when she’d last seen that look in his eye—the day when he’d aimed a weapon at her head. She’d startled him taking a nap in the office and she’d found herself looking down the muzzle of a gun. After seeing the darkness that tortured him, she knew she’d been right to keep her resolve not to give in to her attraction to him. She couldn’t fall in love. It was too risky, especially with this man.

The guy had issues.

Something bad must have happened to him during his military service. But Rick kept it all hidden inside. Even if she were prepared to fall for someone, she couldn’t handle another man in her life who kept it all inside. Who didn’t open up. Her father had hurt her enough. It wasn’t worth the risk.

She closed her eyes, remembering how Rick’s hands had gripped her and, in the span of a heartbeat, yanked her from the sliding box of death, his body cushioning her as they fell, branches and bushes breaking their fall.

Rick had saved her. He’d saved them both. In light of that fact, Shay shoved aside the shadows she’d seen behind his eyes—shadows that had nothing at all to do with their current predicament.

Their current predicament was enough.

With his arms wrapped around her, she could almost forget her aches and bruises. But she was still dazed from their near miss with death and needed to catch her breath. How did she thank him?

Was he ready to let her go? She risked another glance at him. The tenderness and concern she saw were too much. Rick had never looked at her that way before. His gaze locked on hers, searching, questioning.

Creases appeared between his brows, and he brushed a few wisps of her short hair from her forehead. “You’re hurt.”

Shay ran her hand over her forehead and a sting from the open cut rewarded her. “It’s just a scratch. It couldn’t be very deep or it would bleed all over the place.”

She couldn’t stand being in his arms anymore, and she worked to free herself from his protective embrace.

“Let me go, Rick,” she whispered. “They’re gone now.”

Rick’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t realized he’d been holding her so long. When he loosened his grip, Shay rolled free, feeling a sudden chill replace the warmth of his nearness.

“Watch it.” He guided her from a thorny bush.

Shay moved to stand, but Rick stopped her. “Wait,” he said, his voice low. “I need to be sure.”

He crawled over and slowly peeked through the brush that blocked his vision.

“What are you looking for?” she asked. “Of course they both got into the truck and drove away. They think we’re dead.”

Rick stiffened. He didn’t move. Was she wrong? Had someone stayed behind to wait and see if they had survived after all? Her pulse pounded in her neck. Her body ached from the fall, even though Rick had cushioned her from the brunt of it.

Breathe.... Just breathe....

Rick took his time before speaking when he turned to face her. “You’re right—”

Suddenly he was at her side, gripping her arms again. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I thought...” She’d thought the worst. “You scared me, that’s all. Why are you still looking for them? They’re gone, right? Please tell me they’re gone.”