Page 54 of Bridge to Safety

She shrugged. “When we first got here, I thought this was where Sasquatch lived.”

“There’s no such thing.”

“Well, something was out there.”

Shiloh exhaled long and slow. “Yes, but it’s just a man. A very bad man.” One she prayed wouldn’t find them. They had nowhere to go if he stepped into the cave.

“It’s okay. Daddy arrests bad guys. He’ll save us.”

“Of course, he will.” Shiloh tightened her arm around the child. “Why not take a little nap? Maybe by the time you wake up, your father will be here.”

“Okay.” Rachel rolled into the blanket as if it were a cocoon and curled up next to the lantern.

Sleep did sound good after their flight through the woods. Shiloh’s eyes drifted closed.

A twig snapped outside. Her eyes popped open. She put her hand over Rachel’s mouth when she bolted to an upright position.

Shiloh grinned at Rachel as a squirrel scampered inside, but her relief was short-lived. The ensuing rustling of leaves alerted her to the fact it hadn’t been the squirrel that made the noise that woke her.

Rachel whimpered.

“Shh.” Shiloh turned off the lantern, pitching them back into darkness. She scooted Rachel further from the entrance and pulled her onto her lap.

Shiloh’s heartbeat so loud she was certain whoever or whatever was out there could hear. She willed her heart rate to slow and fought to control her breathing when everything in her wanted to dart from the cave and flee.

A scream almost escaped her as something charged into the cave. A wet tongue made her laugh. She wrapped her arms around Peanut’s neck. “I knew you’d find us. Where’s Rowan, huh? Did you ditch him, or is he not back from the doctor’s yet?”

She felt a hundred times better with the dog there. Peanut would alert them if Duke came. Maybe even scare the man off. If not, he’d help Shiloh fightg. She knew without a doubt that her dog would defend her when necessary. That had been proven earlier when Duke arrived.

The dog whined as she wrapped her arm around her. More gently, she ran her hands up and down the dog’s ribcage. Her skin rippled. A small bump rose under the skin. Duke had hurt her! “My poor baby.” She laid her head against the dog’s. “We’ll see that he pays, baby. You wait and see.”

Rachel scooted between Shiloh and Peanut. “I feel better with her here. She can bite the bad guy.”

Shiloh contemplated turning the lantern back on but decided against it. Since Rachel didn’t seem as frightened of the dark with the dog here, she thought it best they stay in the dark.

How would Rowan find them without Peanut to guide him? She needed to leave and search for him. Rachel would be fine with Peanut. It was Shiloh Duke was after. Not the little girl.

“I’m going to go look for your father. Peanut will watch over you.” She got to her feet.

“No, please.” Rachel tugged at the hem of her shirt. “You can’t leave us.”

“I have to. Your father won’t be able to find us in here.”

“Then take us with you.” Rachel stood. “If you don’t, I’ll follow you. I might get lost. It’ll be all your fault.”

The little imp. Shiloh sighed. “Okay, but you do exactly what I tell you when I tell you. Got it?”

“Yes.”

She could hear the satisfied grin in the child’s answer. It couldn’t be helped. She knew Rachel enough to know that she would do exactly as she said. Shiloh didn’t worry about her getting lost—not with Peanut—but there were other dangers in the woods.

They snuck from the cave and entered dusk. The sun had begun its descent, and it fell faster among the trees.

Shiloh gripped Rachel’s hand. “Find Rowan, Peanut.”

The dog woofed and headed away from the cave.

Shiloh and Rachel followed, sliding more than climbing, until they reached the bottom. Still wearing the blankets around their shoulders, she found the trek more comfortable. Still, an uneasiness settled deep into her bones.Rowan, where are you?

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