Page 2 of Toxic Truth

Leave. Check it out.

The second he reached it and looked inside, she’d tear through the forest as well as she could.

He faced her, weird glasses on his eyes.

Night vision goggles.

Her heart slammed into her throat. If his equipment detected a thermal signature, she hadn’t a chance to escape detection.

She snatched back her hand and hid it within her jacket, hoping he hadn’t seen anything.

He and the horse stepped closer.

Sucking air, she withdrew an equal distance from him and stepped on something.

Snap.

She flinched.

His horse made a funny noise.

“Easy.” He rubbed its neck, his attention never leaving where she hid. “Hey. Do you need help?”

His resonant voice boomed in the relative quiet, proving his youth. Early thirties, she guessed, and more trouble than she needed. No way would she make a sound to bring him closer. Feeling sick, she pressed her lips together.

He lowered his head then lifted it. “I know you’re out here. I saw you and your car.” He shouted, “Do. You. Need. Help?”

Despite the cold air, heat prickled her face, fear and indecision making her sweat. If he were with the others and trying to trick her into revealing herself, his voice would clue them into where she’d stopped. If not, he’d unknowingly help them and might possibly get murdered in the process.

“Look, I’m trying to—”

“Quiet.”She stepped from behind the tree. “Don’t shout.”

As he took her in from top to bottom, his hood bobbed up and down. “Why?” He leaned to the side and regarded the surroundings then pulled a rifle from a holster tied to his saddle. “Did you see an animal?”

Facing one seemed less daunting than this. Outrunning a mountain lion or bear held some hope, a bullet none. She trembled uncontrollably. “Yeahhhh.” Fear she couldn’t fight sounded in her voice. Damn. “Over there.” She pointed away from her.

He looked.

She ran. Rocks stubbed her toes. Mud pulled off her right shoe. Crying, she cursed both.

“What are you doing?” He caught up and grabbed her arm.

A shriek tore from her. She pummeled his chest. “Let go! Don’t hurt me!”

“Hurt you? I’m trying to help.”

She twisted her arm, releasing herself. “Like hell.” She lurched back. “My friends know I’m here. I called them a few minutes ago. They live at the top of the road. They have guns, too. They’re coming to get me.”

“Yeah?” He rubbed his chest where she’d hit him. “That’s damn remarkable, considering I live where you’re saying, which means your friends don’t. Since I don’t have smartphone reception down here, you couldn’t. Why won’t you let me help you? Your car’s stuck. You’re obviously lost and soaked. At least let me do something about that.”

She hugged herself but couldn’t stop shivering, her lightweight jacket not keeping the rain or wind out. “Something as in what, exactly?”

“I have a waterproof blanket, all right? It’s yours if you want it.”

“Back at your place, you mean.” She shook her head. Raindrops wiggled down her lenses, making him and the surroundings wavy. “No thanks.”

“The blanket’s in my saddlebag. Once you have it, you can stay here if you want while I go back to my cabin and call for help.”

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