Page 46 of Peril in Piney Woods

Her weapon in hand, she moved in the direction of the back door. She turned the knob and slowly opened the door, wishing it not to squeak. Had it squeaked when she closed it? She couldn’t remember. No squeak. Thank God.

She stuck her head out far enough to peer around. Listened hard. No new sound, no movement.

She eased out the door. Rested each foot in the grass with care.

Griff slipped out behind her, pulled the door to without making a sound. Smart guy.

She grabbed his hand with her free one and tugged him close enough to whisper directly into his ear. “We’re going into the woods. We need to go far and fast. But I don’t know these woods. I need you to get us as far away from here as quickly as possible while making the least amount of sound possible.”

His lips pressed against her ear. She shivered in spite of herself.

“I understand.” He squeezed her hand. “Trust me. I won’t let you down.”

His words wrapped around her chest and squeezed. She nodded, turned her face up to his. “Lead the way.”

He’d been in these woods before. Many times as a kid, he’d told her. She had no idea when he’d last hiked in the area, but he was the only shot they had of escaping.

She was counting on his recall not only to get them out of here but to get them out of here fast.

Otherwise, they were dead.

Chapter Eleven

10:15 p.m.

Griff was still buttoning his shirt as they slipped deeper into the woods. The sound of the cabin’s front door being kicked in had his heart banging harder against his sternum. He wasn’t sure how many there were, but he suspected more than two.

How long would it be before they realized the cabin was empty and his truck was still there?

Five, six minutes at most.

His heart rammed harder with worry. Had to get Meg out of here. He ran faster, dodging trees and clusters of shrubs in hopes of minimizing the noise from their desperate race. The stars and the moon weren’t providing much in the way of light to see where the hell they were going. But the longer they were in the dark, the easier it was to see. Meg stayed close behind him. He gave himself a mental shake. Not Meg, Elle—Eleanor.

Not that it mattered what he called her. She had planned to leave him. Disappointment and no lack of hurt twisted inside him even now with trouble not far behind them.

That whole make-out session had been about getting him in a vulnerable position. The reality added anger to the emotions throttling inside him. Damn it.

As if she’d sensed his anger, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to a jarring halt. He glared at her as she leaned close. Close enough to have his body reacting as if she hadn’t shown her cards already, as if he were a fool and would fall for her tricks again—and he was.

“We need to hide now,” she murmured against his ear.

He forced back all those distracting emotions. Had to think a moment. The sound of air sawing in and out of his lungs had his brain struggling. Or maybe it was just her. Didn’t matter. Focus!

Where exactly were they? He closed his eyes and pictured the area in daylight on one of those many summer days he and Ernie had played here as kids. Had prowled around like hungry bears as teenagers. The images flashed one after the other, and then he knew. There was a good hiding place nearby. It was not exactly the safest place to hide, considering snakes were on the move this time of year, but it beat the hell out of the hired guns who would be coming up right behind them any second now.

He took her hand, held it tight in his and moved more slowly, this time going westward. Whenever a twig cracked or undergrowth brushed his leg, he flinched but didn’t stop. He paused at a massive tree he recognized the dark shape of, felt over the bark for the place he had carved his and Patty Hall’s initials into the bark. There. His fingers traced the letters. A smile nudged his lips. They were close now.

He eased forward, free hand extended until he hit the outcropping of massive boulders. Large clumps of eerie grayness in the near darkness. There were all manner of stories about how the giant stones had ended up piled in this spot, but Griff wasn’t sure which, if any, of those tales were true. He and Ernie had used the pile for everything from a pirate ship to a castle. He knew all the gaps between the rocks and all the hiding places beneath the overhangs of ones levered atop others.

Moving cautiously, he reached into the gap he knew provided the best cover from anyone passing by. He locked his jaw and held his breath as he felt around inside, swiping at overgrown weeds and what felt like spider webs. He encountered nothing that reacted—like a snake or raccoon or maybe a possum that might have taken refuge inside. The spot wasn’t ideal for a bear or bobcat.

He tugged her closer. “Feels clear in there.”

“Go,” she muttered, the single syllable a frantic sound.

He climbed in, twisting his body so that he eased through the slot between rocks.

She moved in next, nestling her bottom against his lap. Not that there was any other way for two of them to fit together in the space. Then she tucked her backpack next to their legs and leaned against his chest. Instinctively, his arms went around her waist in a protective manner, despite the weapon nudging into his gut. He doubted she would appreciate the effort. She didn’t need his protection. She was more than capable herself. Maybe he just needed to feel the comfort of her body in his arms.

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