Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Laura Scott (christmas read aloud TXT) 📗

first she didn’t see anything, then heard the sharp snap of a twig. She realized it was the same sound that had brought her awake.

A dark shadow moved and the light of the moon fell across the deer’s golden coat. He was an impressive animal with a large rack of antlers stretching up to the sky over his head. The animal sniffed the air for a moment, and she wondered if he’d smelled them because he abruptly turned and headed down the mountain.

“Beautiful,” she whispered.

She felt him give a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Yes,” Duncan agreed.

A blush crept up her cheeks and she was glad it was still dark. She shifted slightly, hoping she wasn’t squashing him too badly. “What time is it?”

“About four thirty in the morning,” Duncan said softly. She really needed to figure out how he spoke so quietly. “In another hour, we’ll need to move.”

An hour. She closed her eyes and tried to fall back asleep. It was no use.

Fifteen minutes later, Duncan led her back to the stream so they could drink again. It may have been her imagination, but she thought the area looked a little brighter. Dawn rose early, because the mountains didn’t block the sunrise from the east.

“Let me check your feet,” Duncan said when she finished drinking from the stream.

She pulled up the edge of her wedding dress, revealing her tattered ballet slippers barely held together by the strips they’d wrapped around them.

Duncan frowned with concern. “We need more strips from your gown.”

“Hiking boots would work, too,” she quipped trying to lighten things up.

He didn’t smile. “Maybe I should try to have you hide somewhere until I can get help.”

She reached out and grabbed his hand, her chest squeezing with fear. “Please don’t leave me, Duncan. I’ll be fine.”

Duncan didn’t look convinced. He pulled out the larger knife he’d taken from the assailant and went to work cutting away more of her gown. When he was finished, he wrapped the strips around her feet and up her calves, then back down again in a way that reminded her of the old gladiators. It seemed to work—the fabric added good support.

“Thank you.”

Duncan rocked back on his heels for a moment, regarding her thoughtfully. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but then slowly stood and offered his hand. She took it, allowing him to help her to her feet.

Once again, he led the way through the forest, taking some sort of route that only a mouse would call a trail. She pushed the bobby pins back in her hair to keep the curls from falling into her eyes and concentrated on keeping pace with him, stepping where he did to avoid rocks and sticks.

Moving quietly seemed an impossible task and she had no idea how Duncan was managing it. Even when she followed in his exact footsteps, she made more noise than he did.

Was he right about other assailants being out there? Were they combing the side of the mountain, looking for them?

Lord, please keep us safe in Your care, amen.

The sun rose as they walked, brightening the area around them. Time had no meaning—without a watch or a phone she didn’t have a good way to know how long they’d been on the move.

But it felt like forever.

Duncan slowed and lifted a hand in warning. She froze, straining to listen. After a moment he turned toward her. “Need a break?”

“Yes.”

He nodded and gestured to the left. “There’s an outcropping of rock that way. Follow me.”

She nodded. After all, she’d been following him since this mess started, which seemed like a long time ago, but was really just over fourteen hours.

A lifetime.

They reached the rock slab five minutes later. She leaned against it for a moment, trailing her gaze over the area. It almost looked like a spot where someone would hike to in order to get a nice view. Even though they were tucked beneath the overhang, she could tell the rock was high enough that one might be able to see the entire valley below.

“We’ve come farther than I thought,” she said in amazement.

Duncan nodded. He pulled out his cell phone and lifted it up. “I’ve got one bar, but my battery is less than fifteen percent.”

She tried not to show her disappointment. “Probably because I used the flashlight app.”

“You saved our lives, no need to apologize for that.” Duncan punched in a number on the phone and listened. After a long moment, he grimaced. “Nothing. Even with one bar, I can’t get through.”

She shivered, realizing they were really on their own. She looked out over the landscape again, her gaze stumbling over what appeared to be a square corner.

A structure? She stared hard, trying to make it out. As dawn brightened, the corner became clearer and more evident. “Duncan, is that a cabin?”

His gaze sharpened. “Where?”

She lifted her hand, pointing toward the bit of brown that could be seen through the trees. “See the two pine trees that are taller than the others?”

“Yes.” He narrowed his gaze. “I see it now. You’re right, I think it’s a cabin. The square angle isn’t natural, but appears man-made.”

“I say we head in that direction.” Chelsey couldn’t hide her excitement. “Maybe there will be something in there we can use, or food to eat.”

“Maybe.” Duncan’s voice held a note of caution. “It’s a good idea to check it out.”

“Lead the way,” she said, feeling giddy with relief. A cabin meant a roof over their heads if nothing else.

Unless it was occupied.

No, she refused to go there. The cabin would be empty and provide them something to eat.

She refused to consider any other options.

Duncan had to give Chelsey credit for finding the cabin. Her eagle eye had caught something he’d missed. At the same time, he hoped she didn’t have high expectations of what they might find inside.

The place could be something that had been abandoned years ago, falling apart without anything useful left behind. Food