“Eva?” He licked his lips. “Where’s your sweater?”
“On the floor of your pickup.”
So was a blanket. Maybe it was covering it. West still wasn’t answering them back. He tried to call him this time.
No answer!
Had he turned off his phone?
Cole gulped, rising to his knees. He gathered Eva in his arms, helping her keep her balance in the slick mud. He had that handgun in the back of his seat, if her stalker had stolen his shotgun. He really had no idea if he had any guns left.
Either way, he had to get to a firearm before the men caught sight of her sweater and came back for them. At least then they’d have a chance.
“Stay here,” he whispered.
“No,” she said. “I’m going with you. You said it yourself. We make a great team.” She pled with him, using her eyes.
He tried to resist them. “I don’t want you hurt.”
“I could either way,” she argued. “They could circle back or–or I don’t know. I just want to stay with you.”
She had a point. “Okay.” He crawled through the mud and the water, taking the longest way back through the reeds with her. The vegetation covered them for now, but soon they’d have to make a break for it in the clearing by the meadow. That’s where they’d left his shotgun.
If her stalker hadn’t already stolen it, that’s where he’d find it.
Bending low, he listened for any sign that the men had stayed behind to wait them out. Pushing up on his knuckles, he peered through the tall grass. There was nothing, not even the sign of a car. “Let me go first,” he told Eva.
Her expression turned rebellious and he thought she’d disagree, but he reached out for her and touched her fingers. She meant everything to him, and he’d never be able to concentrate to do what must be done if he knew that she was in danger.
Her face changed as she studied his eyes and she nodded.
Cole army-crawled through the grass, lowering to the ground at any sound. He finally caught sight of where they’d laid his shotgun near the fence post. He breathed out a sigh of relief. If her stalker had found them, he might’ve guessed that they were tricking him. He grappled with the shotgun, getting it firmly against his shoulder.
He’d never leave his firearm behind again.
Slowly pushing to his feet, he peered around the meadow. It was empty of any sign of life. After about a minute of waiting, he gestured for Eva to come. She ran to him while he covered her. As soon as she reached him, they headed for his truck at a quick pace. He noticed the tracks behind his wheels where the other car had parked.
Peering through his windows, he noticed Eva’s sweater, though some of it was hidden in the folds of the blanket that was still crumpled on the floor on the passenger’s side. Yeah,thathad been a close call.
“Quick! Get in,” he said.
He didn’t leave her side until she was inside of his truck, and he had the door shut behind her. He hurried to the driver’s side and jumped onto the bench seat. Peeling out of the mud and dirt, they raced for home. He wasn’t sure if it was their wisest target, but as far as he knew, the men were on their way to Nashville to cut Eva off.
Cole wouldn’t rest easy until they reached the homestead. Turning to Eva, he studied her with new eyes. Her hand landed against his. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“You don’t have to apologize,” he said. “I just wish I’d taken any threat against you more seriously. If anything had happened to you…?” He couldn’t finish. His devastation would defy all imagination.
They’d made it safely through the horrible experience, and she was alive and in one piece. He had to make sure she stayed that way. She meant everything to him.
After about twenty minutes of driving, they entered the circular driveway that took them past the barn near his family’s home. Momma’s flowers and shrubbery were dying, their leaves turning brilliant colors against the familiar three-story red brick building. The peaceful sight was a beacon under the afternoon sky that darkened under the coming storm.
There were no cars… besides West’s.
Cole groaned. That wouldn’t be fun, but at least it wasn’t a life or death situation. He wasn’t sure how he’d explain to West what had happened… if ever.
And yet, his brother could help.
Grunting out in reluctance, Cole parked in front of the barn and pushed out of his truck. When he opened Eva’s door, he laughed grimly at how dirty she was after their misadventures. This was nothing like last time. They both dripped in a thick layer of sludge. Her blonde hair hung in black strands and her white dress was a dingy brown, plastered against her body. It was almost impossible to see where the fabric ended and her skin began.