Jill Elizabeth - Lone Survivor

Was it possible Karissa had never heard of him? She said she’d been in Belize for two years and had been back in the States for a few weeks now. The firestorm of media condemnation hadn’t broken over him until at least ten days after the fire, so it was possible that she’d buried her sister and left the country before his reputation had been publicly annihilated. Whether the condemnation was deserved or undeserved, he still wasn’t convinced in his own mind.

Under initial questioning, after he awakened in the hospital, he’d been so sure that he’d inspected the equipment right before the fire callout, but his initialed checklist was not on the clipboard or in the computer system like it should have been if he’d actually done it. In his dazed and suffering state, had he mixed up the memory of the inspection with the dozens of other times he’d performed that routine task? If his memory was faulty, and he hadn’t done the scheduled inspection, then he really was responsible for the equipment failure that led to the death of Karissa’s sister and his own serious injury. But if his memory was true, then what happened to the checklist? He had no answers, and the questions continued to torment him worse than his burns ever did.

At least it was a small mercy—well, a rather large one—that she didn’t know who he was...for the moment. Her ignorance about him wasn’t likely to remain permanent now that she was back in the country. Someone would tell her about him. He’d have to be grateful for whatever reprieve he was given and hope that they were no longer in each other’s company when his identity was exposed.

Hunter turned toward the chair where Karissa sat next to the cot watching the sleeping baby. He froze with a sucked-in breath. What was the matter with him? He’d seen women with babies hundreds of times and usually eyed them with a wistful expectation that one day he’d be a family man. Now, with that hope snuffed out by his ugly burns and uglier notoriety, what a cruel joke that the wish-I-had-a-family feeling should hit him like a truck at this moment with this particular woman as she sat smiling down at a sleeping infant that wasn’t even hers. The flickering lamplight drew out the warmth in her vivid hair and painted her face with pensive shadows that enhanced the natural beauty of her heart-shaped face, slim nose and delicately formed lips. He couldn’t be attracted to her. He would not allow that.

She lifted her head, and her green eyes met his gray ones. The smile was gone. If he had to summarize her expression in one word, he’d say dread.

“Do you think they’re still out there...? No, forget that question. You couldn’t possibly answer, and it was rhetorical, anyway.” Karissa visibly drew herself up straighter. “Thank you once again, by the way, for everything, and I’m really sorry about the loss of your cabin.”

“Not my cabin. Belongs to the forest service. They might not be too happy.” He lifted one corner of his mouth and shook his head. “I’d like to say ‘my pleasure,’ but this isn’t a pleasant situation. However, I can say that I’m glad I was here and able to help.”

More than you know. If only he could convince himself that saving her and the baby made up for the death of Karissa’s sister. But there was no possible compensation if his negligence had cost a life.

Her gaze traveled the small room. “Is it usual for ranger cabins to come with a bunker in the earth below?”

He forced a smile. “No, it’s not. Though after the rousing success of this one, it might become standard practice. I’ve been living out here over a year as a volunteer fire spotter, and last summer I had this idea about putting one in. Something to do to pass the time. My park-ranger brother got the go-ahead from the powers that be, since the project was going to be on my dime, and we worked on it together.”

“He sounds like another hypercompetent guy like you.”

Hunter cocked his head. “Is that how I strike you?”

She pursed her lips. “Self-sufficient, for sure, or you wouldn’t live out here on your own.” Her gaze on him was shrewd, assessing.

Was she asking him without coming right out and asking him if he was hiding from something? Maybe he was. If only he could hide from himself when the tormenting questions and memories attacked him.

“Here.” He handed her an energy bar from his stash. “Better eat this, because we’ll be leaving here soon.”

Her gaze skimmed the room. “How do we get out?”

He pointed upward. “There’s a camouflaged double-hatch opening in the ceiling with a telescoping ladder that will take us outside near the edge of the forest. I’m a little nervous that my brother hasn’t shown up and knocked at the top hatch. He may be the only one in the forest service who knows exactly where the hatch is. If the forest service hasn’t come by to check on the cabin fire then it’s remotely possible our enemies may be observing the clearing for any signs of life. It’ll be dusk now, but the darkness will be part of our cover. Stick close to me, and you’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t we just wait a little longer until the good guys arrive to check out the fire? Surely someone will come eventually.”

Hunter shook his head. “If the cavalry was going to arrive, it would have done so already—my brother leading the charge.” His jaw hardened against the knot in his gut. “It could mean that things escalated at the power station.” Jace, I hope you’re all right.

Karissa reached out and touched his arm. The gentle compassion in her gaze seemed to travel through her fingertips and touch his soul. “You must be so worried.”

Hunter rent his gaze away from hers. Of course, she would feel special sympathy toward someone fearing for a sibling’s safety.

He cleared his throat. “When we leave here, we won’t be heading for any ranger station or park outpost where hostile eyes might be watching for us. With the resources we’ve seen displayed so far by whoever is after you, I don’t trust approaching just anyone for help. We’re in for a long, rather uncomfortable night of walking, but I have a destination in mind. Are you up for it?”

The woman squared her delicate chin and rose to all of her no more than five feet three inches of dainty height. There was nothing dainty or delicate in the flash of those green eyes. “I’ve marched up mountains, slogged through swamps and chopped my way through jungles. Bring it!”

Warmth rushed through Hunter’s chest, and he couldn’t swallow his grin. This woman was in a class by herself. “You know what? I believe I’m the one who might have to struggle to keep up.”

Karissa jerked a nod and turned away, but not fast enough to hide the small answering grin. She picked up a light blanket and began folding it in an odd way.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Making a baby sling for Kyle that will keep my hands free. Belizean women do this all the time.”

“Good. The sling will help keep you and him warm, too. It’s summer, but the woods at night at this elevation can still be cool.”

The intricacies of her sling and how she got the baby into it without waking him up were mysteries to Hunter, but soon they were ready to head up and out. He opened the bottom hatch door and the telescoping ladder slid into place, just reaching the ground at his feet. Above him was a cement tube around four feet wide and about three-quarters his height. He climbed up to the fireproof upper hatch, but his hand hesitated on the lock.

God, please help us.

Despite his earlier words about their attackers not waiting around for the real rangers to arrive, the fact that those rangers hadn’t come set him on edge. Their attackers could still be out there, waiting for them to pop their heads up like gophers. Then again, it was highly improbable that their attackers knew about the bunker. No doubt he was uneasy over nothing. Still, Hunter held his breath as he released the locking mechanism and shoved the hatch open.