Page 59 of Searching Blind

Someone had shot at them.

Someone wanted to kill them.

And that person was still out there somewhere, possibly tracking them at this very moment.

She shook her head, trying to dislodge the terrifying thought, but questions kept running on a loop through her mind.

Was it the same someone who had killed Maya and attacked Sawyer? The same person who had sabotaged the radio? Were they trying to stop her and Sawyer from calling for help?

But why?

She wished she could check in with Blue Mountain Tower, make sure her hikers were all safe, and see if anyone had disappeared from the group. Maybe then she would finally have some answers, some clue as to who was doing this.

But with the phones dead and no working radios, they were cut off.

Alone.

So she needed to stop wondering about the hypotheticals and focus on their immediate problems—getting dry, getting warm, and finding a safe place to hole up and regroup.

A branch snapped nearby, and she nearly jumped out of her skin, heart slamming against her ribs. Sawyer froze beside her, his head cocked as he listened intently. Zelda’s ears perked up with interest, but she didn’t seem too concerned. That had to be a good sign, right? If the dog wasn’t worried, there was probably nothing to worry about.

Still, Lucy held her breath, straining to hear over the pounding of her pulse in her ears.

A squirrel scampered across their path, disappearing into the underbrush with an irritated chitter. Zelda trembled with excitement, watching the squirrel with rapt fascination, but she didn’t leave Sawyer’s side. She really was the best dog ever.

Sawyer squeezed her hand. “What was it? Rabbit?”

Lucy let out the breath she’d been holding in a shaky exhale, some of the tension draining from her shoulders. “Squirrel.”

Just a squirrel. Not a crazed killer with a gun.

She tried to inject some lightness into her tone. “Looks like Zelda wants to chase it.”

He shook his head, and a smile—his first since they climbed out of the river—flitted over his lips. “No, she wants to cuddle it. She thinks everything should love her as much as she loves it. She doesn’t understand when small animals are afraid of her.”

Lucy let out a small laugh, surprising herself. “She’s not wrong, though. Everyone should love her. She’s the best girl.”

Zelda’s tail wagged at the praise, and she looked up at them with a doggy grin, tongue lolling. Lucy’s heart melted. She reached down to pat Zelda’s damp head.

Sawyer’s fingers tightened around hers. “Both my girls are pretty amazing.”

His girl.

A few days ago, having any man claim her would’ve sent her running for the hills. But coming from Sawyer, the words sent a warm glow spreading through her chest, momentarily chasing away the chill. Being his felt right. Safe.

And also still terrifying.

Ugh. Why were her feelings for him so messy and complicated?

She squeezed his hand back, leaning into his solid strength. “We make a good team.”

His thumb rubbed soothing circles over her abraded knuckles. “The best.”

They walked a little farther until Lucy spotted a lean-to. It looked like it had been there a long time, the roof covered in moss. “There’s a shelter here.”

She led Sawyer and Zelda over to it, eyeing the slanted roof dubiously. It wasn’t much, but it would at least help hide them from anyone nearby.

Sawyer ran his hand along the rough-hewn logs forming the wall. “Feels solid. Good spot to hole up for a while.” He ducked inside, Zelda padding after him.

---