Christy Barritt - Mountain Hideaway

When she’d gone on the run, she’d remembered her best friend’s family had a cabin out here that they never used anymore. She’d even remembered where they left the key. Using the place had been a no-brainer. Tessa had simply had the power turned back on and asked to have the bills sent to the West Virginia address.

She’d found a job at a travel agency in the small town, and was able to earn just enough to pay her electrical bill, buy groceries and tend to a few other necessities. Her plan had seemed perfect.

Trent stood and began pacing in front of her. “We’re not going to get very far if you don’t tell me the truth, Tessa.”

She rubbed her hands, now sweaty, against her jeans. “I’m sorry you’ve gone through all of this trouble. I don’t know what else to say. I didn’t ask you to get involved. You’re going to have to tell your client that you were unsuccessful, even after six months.”

Her poor mom. To pay for all of Trent’s work, she’d probably had to drain her savings account. It would be just one more hardship her family had to endure. How much could they take? Tessa certainly didn’t wish any of this on them.

But she had to think of the bigger picture. She’d rather her mom be poor and worried than dead and buried.

Finally, Trent stopped pacing. His hands went to his hips as he assessed her again. “Fine. You’re free to go, then.”

Tessa stood, trying to gather her courage.

There was a part of her that wanted to trust Trent, that wanted someone to help her out of this situation. Yet she knew it was better to face hardship by herself, to make her own way.

“Great.” Her voice trembled as she rose. She stepped toward the door, a million possibilities racing through her head. All of them seemed to end in disaster.

“You know it’s ten miles until you reach town.”

She nodded, her throat dry. “I know.”

“It’s dark.”

She nodded again, her anxiety growing into a bigger hollowness by the moment. “I realize that.”

She took another step when he grabbed her arm.

“You’re one stubborn woman. You’re still going to set out on your own? Even after everything that’s happened?”

She only stared at him.

Finally, he dropped his hand. “Look, we didn’t get started on the right foot. I don’t think you should go. It’s not safe. Stay in one of the cabins here, okay? No strings attached. I just don’t want to see anything happen to you. Understand?”

She stared at him, trying to measure his sincerity. Her emotions clouded her judgment at the moment, though, and she didn’t know what to say. She really had no other options, and certainly he knew that.

“Whether you claim to be Theresa or not, your family won’t survive me coming back to them with the news that you’re dead. So do this for their sakes, not mine.”

His words got to her. Images of her family flashed through her mind, and finally she nodded. “Okay, but not because of this family you keep on talking about. I’ll do it because I hate the dark.”

Her gut twisted as she said the words. Her family was the most important thing in her life. Everything she’d done, she’d done for them.

She hoped they’d forgive her for all the hurt she’d caused.

* * *

Trent stared at the woman in front of him, wishing she would come to her senses. Why was she being so stubborn? Even while dealing with her fear, he’d noticed how she continually lifted her chin, as if she was just humoring him.

There was no denying that the woman had gumption—or that she was easy on the eyes, even with her new look. He actually liked her hair the darker shade. He’d always appreciated the more natural look. The other pictures he’d seen, she’d been dressed in business suits, with expensive-looking haircuts and perfectly coordinated accessories.

The woman before him now was absent of makeup. She wore jeans, layers of a T-shirt, a henley and a flannel shirt. Her boots were small enough to look feminine, but also well worn. The change in her was remarkable. She’d more than changed her physical appearance. Her desperation and need for survival had changed her from someone who was pampered into someone practical.

Despite how frustrating she was, Trent couldn’t stand the thought of her striking out on her own again. He was certain the woman was in danger, and he didn’t know why yet. Her fiancé—former fiancé—had told Tessa’s family that she’d had a mental break. According to Leo McAllister, one minute they’d been talking about the wedding and the next she’d gone crazy. She’d begun throwing things, accusing him of things. Leo had tried to stop her, but she’d taken off. No one had seen her since then.

Trent had known going into this that he might be confronting someone who’d flown off their rocker. But when he looked at Tessa, that wasn’t the impression he had.

Was he so drawn to this case because of Laurel? It was the only thing that made sense. Guilt had been eating at him for years. He’d thought he had the emotion under control. But something about Tessa’s big blue eyes made him travel back in time. Flashes of that horrible day continued to assault him and try to take him away.

He couldn’t afford to immerse himself in the guilt and grief right now.

And he didn’t want anyone else to go through it.

“I’ll show you to your cabin, then.” He put his hand on Tessa’s back and led her to the door. He figured she would object, that she’d flinch until his hand slipped away. But she didn’t.

Her eyes had gone from fearful to dull. He’d seen that look before, the one that came when emotions were overwhelming, when they’d hammered a person so much that they began to feel like a shell of who they’d once been. He’d been there before.

He unlocked the cabin door and pushed it open. Even though he’d been keeping an eye on the place and felt certain no one knew he was here, he still instructed Tessa to stay where she was. Then he checked out every potential hiding place before deeming the cabin clear.

“Will this be suitable?” he asked her.

She nodded, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. “Yes.”

“Tessa, I’m sorry.”

“For what?” she questioned.

He shook his head, trying to find the right words. “For whatever you went through.”

She opened her mouth as if to object but then closed her lips again.

He took a step toward the door when he heard her speak again.

“What do I do now? Just wait here? Indefinitely? Until those men find me again?”

He turned, praying he’d know what to say. “That’s up to you, Tessa. You can let me help or you can keep denying who you are. Things will move a lot faster if you just tell me the truth.”

She stared at him. A moment of complacency flashed in her eyes. Then stubborn determination reappeared. “If I had something to tell you, I would.”

He stepped closer, wishing she would stop playing these games. “You know more than you’re letting on.”

They stared at each other in a silent battle of wills.

Finally Trent nodded. She would tell him in her own time, and that was that. Until then, he’d do his best to keep her safe.

“Have it your way, then,” Trent said.

Her face softened with...surprise? “I’m going to bed.”

He stepped toward the hallway, feeling crankier than he should. He’d sacrificed a lot to come here—time, his own money, in some ways his reputation. He hoped it wasn’t all for naught. “Maybe some sleep will give you a fresh perspective.”

Even better, maybe some sleep would give him perspective, because a lot of the conclusions he’d drawn before coming here were proving to be dangerously incorrect.

* * *

An hour later, Tessa still stared at the space around her, feeling a mix of both uneasiness and relief—uneasiness at being here and the circumstances that had led to it and relief that she was away from Trent.