Page 21 of Murder at Rescue Ridge

“Go on,” Hank urged. “We both know he didn’t mean any of that.”

“Then, why would he say it?”

“To protect you.”

Hank might be right or dead wrong. Either way, Nikki needed to get more information from Conrad before breaking off on her own to find the killer because he was right about one thing. Two people were slower than one.

When the time came, she intended to bolt.

Conrad madea mental map of how to get from the fort to the ranch and went over it in his mind more times than he could count as they climbed up the ladder and then dropped off supplies. The sky was darkening. It would take two and a half hours to walk to the ranch, assuming the search mission had been abandoned on the property. The temperatures were dropping, but at least they had coats. Nikki hadn’t said two words to him since his outburst. Was she plotting her next move without him?

Could he blame her if she was?

Nikki not talking to him felt like the worst thing in the world, which was saying a helluva lot under the circumstances. He shouldn’t care what she thought about him. He’d been doing her a favor back there, trying to convince her to save herself. But she’d been too stubborn. And now, she was too pissed to speak.

In his efforts to convince Nikki to save herself, he’d alienated her. Since the last time he’d opened his mouth to speak, she’d shot him a go-to-hell look. He didn’t see the need for a repeat.

Instead of talking, he picked up the flashlight and started down the ladder. She followed, and they walked through the trees toward the ranch. It was going to be a long walk to the barn. Two and half hours long. At least they were under the cover of night and in territory he was familiar with.

After walking a solid forty-five minutes without a word spoken between them, he broke down. She’d won the “quiet contest.”

“Back there…” he started.

“I know,” she said, shutting him down.

“I’d still like to say it.”

“What? That you’re sorry? That you won’t hurt my feelings again? That you won’t say something that makes me feel worthless?”

“Worthless?” Now, he really was pissed at himself. “I would never have said anything if I thought you would read it that way.” Dammit. He had some groveling to do if he was going to dig himself out of this hole.

“I know.” Those words were spoken with forced calm. Underneath, there was a vulnerability that made him want to stop everything and comfort her.

“Here’s the thing,” he started, “I don’t know why you’re willing to risk your own freedom to help me, and I’m used to relying on myself, so this is all new territory for me.”

Nikki’s silence cut to the quick. But then, what did he expect? Her to instantly melt because he’d admitted to being in foreign territory?

He’d hurt her, and he was damn angry with himself. Letting someone else in wasn’t something he could do. Not when his life had turned upside down in a snap. Not when he didn’t have the first idea how. And not when he couldn’t help but think he’d only make her angrier. Conrad didn’t do relationships. He didn’t do long-term. Hell, he didn’t know how. Everyone in his life up to now had either abandoned him or tried to control him. The latter was about Beaumont. The man had no idea how to be a father. From the stories, he hadn’t known how to be a husband, either. Based on the scars he’d inflicted on each of his children, both mentally and physically, he also hadn’t known how to be a decent human.

How much of that shit had Conrad inherited? How much of that horrible person lurked in Conrad’s DNA?

“Forget it,” Nikki said, breaking into his heavy thoughts before the last one could gain even more momentum. “I’m not all that great at letting anyone else help me, either.”

His thoughts drifted back to the current situation. He was wanted for murder. He was on the run. Now, there was a reward being offered for Nikki’s safe return, which all but announced to the world that he’d abducted her and was holding her hostage. This newsflash would put everyone who came in contact with them on guard. Few folks knew him as well as the Zilkers did. Others would treat him as dangerous.

Could this situation get any worse?

The rest of the walk was spent in silence. It was black as pitch outside. The coats supplied by the Zilkers kept them both from freezing as the temperature noticeably dropped every half hour.

Words weren’t Conrad’s strong suit. Talking to Nikki had come naturally, and he’d still managed to screw that up. He was cursed.

“You’ve been quiet for a long time,” Nikki said. “What’s going on?”

“It’s fine,” he said. “We’re almost to the barn.” They’d been walking on Sturgess property for the past hour and forty-five minutes. It was late, and internal lights would be out at the main house. External lights would be a different story. The barn would be lit as well as the pathway leading to the house.

They were coming in from behind so they could walk in the shadows until they were within spitting distance of the building, which would take another five to seven minutes.

“Can we stop for a second?” Nikki asked.

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