Safe by His Side

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“I found some food. You need to eat,” he told her firmly.

Kate seemed to consider his words then said, “Okay.” Still shrouded in the blanket she had found on the cot, she struggled to her feet and followed him to the table. After claiming one of the two chairs, she watched as he popped the tops from two cans and passed one to her.

“What is it?” she asked, trying to read the label in the almost complete darkness.

“Beans and franks.”

“Ugh. I hate beans and franks,” she complained.

Raine paused, spoon halfway to his mouth. “How do you know if you like them or not?”

Kate paused, frowning at the stuff inside the can she held. “I don’t know. I just know.”

“Eat it anyway,” he ordered, then nudged the water in her direction. “And drink. You’ll need lots of energy tomorrow.”

She met his gaze across the table. “What happens tomorrow?”

“More of today,” he said flatly.

“Oh, God,” she groaned.

Reluctantly she drank from the water bottle then poked a spoonful of the beans and franks into her mouth and chewed. She shivered when she swallowed. Raine didn’t know if it was from the cold or the cuisine. He bit back a grin and opened a second can. Food equaled survival, and the sooner Ms. Roberts learned that, the better off they’d both be.

“Have another,” Raine teased when she’d at last finished her can.

“No, thank you,” she said with another shiver.

“I’ll just save the rest for tomorrow,” he taunted.

“Great,” Kate muttered as she stumbled back to the bed. She plunked down on one end, leaned against the iron railing and hugged the blanket around herself. “I’m not moving until the sun comes up and sheds some warmth on this cold, godforsaken mountain,” she mumbled from beneath the blanket.

Raine didn’t say anything. No point in bursting her bubble, he decided. She’d find out soon enough that his day started well before dawn, and on this trip they followed his schedule.

He sat down on the other end of the bed and leaned against the iron headboard. He watched her for a long while, wondering about this woman of mystery. Raine had particularly good night vision and his eyes had long since adjusted to the lack of light.

He ran through his mental notes regarding his inadvertent hostage. She didn’t wear any rings, so he assumed that meant she didn’t have a husband somewhere searching frantically for her. Her hands were soft and her nails well manicured, indicating a white-collar job of some sort. Her clothing sported designer labels, as did her pricey hiking boots. Whatever she did, she got paid well.

Judging by her vocabulary, she appeared well educated. As her strength returned so did her confidence. She seemed in good physical condition considering her injuries. If the transformation thus far was any indication, she tended toward bossiness.

Raine didn’t know a lot about amnesia except that it could be temporary and usually returned sporadically.

“What?” she snapped from behind the blanket. All that remained visible were her eyes and that cloud of dark, silky hair.