Christmas Undercover

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“Are you warm enough?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“How about another blanket?” He snatched one off a chair and placed it on the floor.

Her trembling fingers reached out and pulled the blanket beneath the bed. “Thanks.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” he said.

“No, thank you.”

He positioned himself in front of the fire. A few minutes of silence passed as he stared into the flames. The adrenaline rush had certainly worn off, because he was feeling the aches and pains from the beating he’d survived.

Survived because of Sara. She’d saved him from an ugly, painful death.

As energy drained from his body, he struggled to stay alert. Will needed to protect Sara, take care of her.

He glanced left. Her hand was sticking out from beneath the bed. Was she trying to make a connection with him? He positioned himself on the floor and peered under the bed. She’d changed positions and was lying on her side, bundled up in the blankets.

Bending his elbow, he brushed his hand against her petite fingers. She curled her chilled fingers around his.

“Wow, you are warm,” she said.

“Yeah,” he said, barely able to speak. This connection, the fact that touching Will comforted her, filled his chest with pride.

“Do you have a fever?” she said.

“Nah. The warm body temperature is a family thing. My girls run hot, too.”

“Your girls.” She closed her eyes and started to pull away.

Will clung to her hand. “No, don’t. I...I need the connection.”

She opened her eyes. “You do?”

“Yes.”

“But I’ve been horrible to you. Accusing you of being an assassin, tying you up.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God, that’s why your wrists were bleeding. You had to cut yourself free.”

She snatched her hand from his and rolled away.

Well, good news was she’d returned to reality and was no longer caught up in some trauma from her past. The bad news was she blamed herself for whatever pain Will had suffered.

He went to the other side of the bed. The fire didn’t light this part of the room so he couldn’t see her face, but he still tried to connect with her, there, in the dark.

“It’s not your fault,” he said. “You were terrified and confused, and most likely suffering from dehydration.”

“I gave you a bloody nose.”

“I startled you.”

“You were trying to help me.” She sighed. “I’m so ashamed.”

“Why, because you were protecting yourself from men who wanted to harm you? You should be proud. You escaped. You survived.”

“No, they were right. I don’t belong out here.”

“Where, in the mountains?”

She didn’t answer him.

“Sara?”

She rolled over again and he went to the other side of the bed. He bit back a groan against the pain of bruised ribs as he stretched out on the floor next to her.

“Could you do me a favor and stay in one position so I don’t have to get up and down again?” he teased.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not that bad. But the ribs are a little sore.”

“I meant, I’m sorry for everything that’s happened.”

“Sara, it’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it really is.”

Silence stretched between them, punctuated by the sound of the crackling fire. Will sensed there was more behind her words, but he wasn’t going to challenge her. He tried another strategy.

“Thank you,” he said.

“For what?”

“For saving my life out there.”

“You saved mine first.” She extended her hand again and he grasped it. Unfortunately it was still ice cold.

“Do you want to sit by the fire to warm up?” he offered.

“Maybe later.”

He sensed she was still frightened and probably felt vulnerable. But the more he knew about her situation, the better he could help her.

“Are you up to talking about what’s going on?” he asked.

“Sure.”

“Men are after you because you witnessed a murder?”

“Yes. They want to know what I saw, and what I heard.”

“Did you hear anything?”

“Yes.”

He waited.

“I shouldn’t involve you further,” she said.

“How can I help you if I don’t know what’s going on?”

“I would never forgive myself if you, or your girls, were threatened because of your association with me,” she said.

She was a strong, determined woman, and an honorable one, as well. He couldn’t fault her for that.

She yawned and pulled the blanket tight around her shoulder. She hadn’t coughed in the past few hours, so he felt hopeful she wouldn’t come down with pneumonia.

“Perhaps we should sleep,” he suggested. “To be fresh for tomorrow. We’ll need to hike a bit to find a cell signal.”

“Okay, sleep sounds...good.” She yawned again.

Although he knew sleep would help him function tomorrow, he doubted he could relax enough to drift off. He decided to brainstorm the necessary steps to get them safely back to town.

As options whirled in his brain, exhaustion took hold, making his mind wander to other things like his girls, his latest work assignment, Megan’s death and the gray cloud of grief that hung over his house for so many months afterward. Could he have done something differently to help his girls adjust? No, ruminating about the past wouldn’t help him raise his girls with love and compassion.

Sara squeaked and squeezed his hand. She must have fallen asleep. Will focused on the feel of her cool skin clinging to him, and decided he’d been given another chance to help someone.

And he wasn’t going to blow it this time.

* * *

When Sara awoke, it took her a minute to figure out where she was, and whose hand she clung to.

Will.

Embarrassed, she considered pulling abruptly away, but didn’t. She wanted another moment of peace, and it felt so comforting to be holding on to him.

He slept on his back, breathing slow and steady. She envied him for such a peaceful sleep. Since childhood she’d struggled with nightmares that often left her feeling exhausted in the morning.

With a sigh, he blinked open his eyes as if he knew she was watching him. He turned his head toward her.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“Good morning.”

“Did you sleep okay?”

It was then that she realized she hadn’t been plagued by nightmares. “Yeah, actually, I did.”

“Good.” He eyed his watch. “It’s eight. We must have needed the sleep.” He stood and offered his hand.

“I’m good,” she said.

“Want me to make coffee?”

“That would be great.” Sara climbed out from beneath the bed and stretched. “Uhh,” she moaned. Her body ached from her fingertips to her toes.

“Hey, easy there.” He went to her, touching her arm to help her sit in the chair.

“I’m okay, just sore.” She looked up into his eyes. “Coffee will make it better.”

“You got it.”

A sudden pounding on the door made her gasp.

FIVE (#ulink_e13297cc-7eb2-5562-8e64-0151d8deeb79)

“Where’s the gun?” Sara said, anxiety rolling through her stomach.

“Outside in the wood container.”

The pounding continued.

Will grabbed a log from the woodpile by the fireplace and motioned for Sara to get behind him. But she was no weakling, and no matter what injuries she’d sustained, she wasn’t going to let Will fight this battle for her. He’d done enough.

Ignoring the pain of her injured wrist, she also grabbed a log and got on the other side of the door. If someone broke it down, he was going to get an unpleasant welcome.

The muffled sound of men talking on the other side of the door echoed through the thick wood. There were more than one of them? Not good. How had they found the isolated cabin? Then again, Bill had found it easily enough.

Another knock made her squeeze the wood so tight a sliver edged its way into her forefinger.

“Will? Will, you in there?” a male voice called.

“Nate?” Will dropped the log and reached out for the door.

Sara darted in front of him.

“Nate’s a friend of mine, a cop,” Will said. “It’s okay.”

She didn’t step out of his way. She trusted Will but didn’t trust the situation. It was too much of a coincidence that Will’s friend happened to be hiking nearby.

“Sara, it’s okay,” Will said, touching her shoulder. “Trust me.”

Maybe it was his gentle tone, or the sincerity of his rich green eyes that eased her worry. With a nod, she stepped aside, but didn’t drop the log.