Page 53 of Lethal Pursuit

She glanced at Jackson to check his reaction. His face was set, his eyes wary, but his weapon was still in his waistband. Maya didn’t feel brave enough just yet to put hers away, even though her wrist was killing her and every breath jarred her injured ribs. Her chest felt too tight, as if an invisible vise was squeezing her lungs.

Leading them to the largest mud-brick house at the end of the village, the old man called ahead, and someone opened the door for them. Maya hesitated and turned, not wanting to give her back to anyone. The men had followed them through the village, talking among themselves, but none were doing anything hostile or even remotely threatening. Still, she couldn’t relax. There had to be a catch and she’d be damned if anyone would take her off guard again.

She was a little surprised when Jackson entered the house with Haversham and the old man without hesitation. Keeping one eye onthe men outside, Maya ducked her head and followed them. Inside the dwelling, she found the boy from the MEDCAP lying on a pallet on the floor. He beamed up at Jackson, speaking excitedly with his grandfather. Then the old man helped settle Haversham onto some cushions, using more to prop his wounded leg up.

Jackson hovered close by, his back to the wall to keep his line of sight open. Maya did the same on the other side of the room until the old man looked over and beckoned to her. After glancing at Jackson for reassurance, she moved forward hesitantly. The man said something in a coaxing tone and waved his hand toward the back of the house, probably where the women were. Maya balked at the implied command. There was no way she was leaving Jackson’s sight.

As though he understood her reluctance, the man sighed and gestured for her to sit. She did, probably violating all sorts of etiquettes as she held tight to her weapon, half expecting someone to burst through a door with guns blazing.

Instead, an old woman came shuffling out of the back room a moment later, babbling at the man. He issued some sort of gruff order and she returned soon after, carrying a tray full of food. Maya’s stomach howled when she caught the scent of the rich spices wafting up from it. She didn’t care what it was on that platter—she’d eat bark right now if it smelled like that. The lady set the tray on the floor and left without glancing at any of them, though she had to be wondering who they were and why her husband—if that was who he was—had invited them into their home.

When none of them made a move to take any food, the boy darted a hand out to snag a piece of flatbread and earned a slap on the back of the head from the old man. Their host looked up at Jackson and Haversham with an encouraging smile and took a piece of bread for himself, dipping it into a dish with some sort of orange sauce, then proceeded to eat it with great relish.

Guess it wasn’t poisoned, then.

Maya’s mouth watered.

Haversham stared at the food like it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “It’d be beyond rude for us to refuse his hospitality now,” he said in a weak voice. “And besides, I’m starving.” Reachingout to the tray, he copied the old man, tearing into the bread without another thought.

“Go ahead and eat, Maya,” Jackson said quietly, and she realized he was waiting for her to eat before taking his turn. Even now, his Southern manners were still intact. It blew her away.

Not about to turn down fresh food, she finally tucked her pistol away and came forward to kneel beside Jackson. The old man cast her a curious glance, and she did her best to ignore him while she ate, trying not to look like a starving animal as she did so. God knew she looked like one with her face beaten and her hair a tangled mess, with dirt, blood and grime streaked across her skin. They looked bad, even Jackson, who was in the best condition of them all, despite the cuts and bruises all over his face. He scooped up his own portion, his gaze moving around the room, likely taking in each possible exit and entry.

The meal was silent and tense, and Maya was starting to feel like a sacrificial calf, being fatted up for the big finish. By now everyone in the village knew they were here. It was only a matter of time before someone either made a call with a cell phone or left to inform someone in another village about them.

They had to move out of here, fast.

She swallowed another blissful bite of the bread and was reaching for more when a coughing fit seized her. With her right arm up to muffle the noise, she turned away out of politeness, but the movement tweaked her ribs and the agonizing shock of pain took her breath away. Immediately Jackson had his arms around her, tipping her backward.

“Maya, lie down.”

She shook her head, gasping for breath, horrified that she’d appeared so weak and ill in front of people who might well be the enemy.

Before Jackson could argue, the old man barked something. Jackson tensed beside her, and Maya went rigid. Was this it? Was someone going to attack them? Her hand instinctively went to the weapon in her waistband.

The old woman reappeared, this time with a teenage girl. The man said something to them and they reached for Maya. She shrank backagainst Jackson. Their host frowned at her and made a sweeping gesture with one hand, telling her to go with the women.

“I’m fine right here,” Maya insisted, though he couldn’t possibly understand her.

“I don’t think you have much of a choice, lieutenant,” Haversham said. “We’re his guests now, for better or worse, and women are supposed to be sequestered from the men. If you stay, you’re insulting him and challenging his authority.”

Her shoulders went rigid, but Jackson sighed. “He’s right, Maya. No point in doing anything that might make him change his mind about helping us.”

Going with the women was the last thing she wanted. Not only would that mean being separated from Jackson, she also wouldn’t be able to see if there was any danger to him and Haversham. Who would watch their backs if she wasn’t there? “How do we know it’s not a trick?”

“We don’t,” Jackson answered, “but he owes us and he’s already offered us his hospitality. If I understand the Pashtunwalai code right, it means he and his family are honor-bound to protect us with their lives.”

She knew what it meant, she just wasn’t sure she believed it. Or if the old man and his family would hold up their end of the bargain. “I think this is a bad idea.” She barely got the words out before another coughing attack hit her. Jackson said something she didn’t catch. When she recovered and unscrewed her eyelids once more, he was holding her and had a hand on her uninjured cheek.

“Baby, you’re burning up,” he said softly.

She knew it. The chill and ache in her body wasn’t something she could ignore. Yet for some reason that gentle tone, combined with his touch, almost undid her. The ache suddenly spread into her throat.

She swallowed past it. “So I have to do this,” she whispered hoarsely.

He nodded, face solemn. “For now.”

Pulling in as deep a breath as her ribs would allow, she found her center and started to push to her feet. Jackson helped her up and they followed the women to a doorway on the other side of the livingspace, where he stopped.

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