Page 27 of Ghost
He studied the depth of her prints.They were barely filled in.He’d guess they were fresh.He could take his truck, but if she’d gone off the road he wouldn’t find her.He’d have to go on foot.
Muttering a stream of words he’d never called a woman in his life, he carved up the snow.His stride ate up her steps, washing them out.Anger pulsed behind his eyes.When he found her, he’d wring her goddamn neck.
Ifhe found her.
That realization struck him in his core.She wouldn’t survive out here long.They were a good thirty-minute drive to town, and there were no neighbors for miles.
She was half naked and barefoot—and clearly out of her fucking mind.
The cold air stung his nostrils and whipped against his face and exposed hands.The beam of his flashlight bobbed as he slowed at the bottom of the driveway.
Her footsteps went directly across the road and then disappeared into the woods.
Fucking hell, woman.
He stifled a grunt and followed her path, skidding down the small hill and through the trees.The snow in the brush wasn’t as deep, but her steps had disturbed enough for him to track her.He hadn’t hiked this way in a while, but a wide river wasn’t far away.
This early in the season the water wouldn’t be frozen yet.Unless she knew how to fucking fly, he’d reach her soon.
He broke into another run, training his ears for any sounds.He had to be close.Forcing his attention for signs of her path, he sucked in one breath after another, swiping the light over the large pines and fallen trunks.
He caught something in its beam.A flutter of burgundy material—the quilt!The figure disappeared behind some trees.
Pushing through the prickly branches, he stalked.His throat ached with the need to call out to her, but that wouldn’t do any good.He caught another flash of burgundy.
She was moving slowly.Laboriously.For fuck’s sake, if he had to carry her ass back to the cabin, he’d tan it when they got there.
The mosaic of trees thinned and his light illuminated her full body.Standing at the edge of the river.The creek was deep and at least twenty feet wide.He’d fished in it before.
“Anna, stop!”he called, knowing full well he wasn’t using her real name and feeling stupid as a bag of hammers because of it.
She spun to face him, her eyes wide and stony.Turning back to the river, she stepped onto the ice.
Shit!
“Anna, don’t!The ice is too thin.You won’t make it across!”And neither would he, but he didn’t say that.
Irritation made his blood fizzle as he watched her continue.She was ignoring him—big surprise.He reached the edge of the river and halted.
Anna limped over the crystal-clear surface.The blanket billowed around her, revealing her nearly unclothed body.If she made it across, he’d have to run back and get his truck.
Craaack
She went rigid.Her shoulders hunched.
“Anna, listen to me,” he shouted over the wind.“You need to spread out your steps.Don’t stand there—”
Craaack
Her sharp gasp pierced the night.He inched over the surface, not daring to get too close and make it crack more but needing to reach her.“Turn around and take a few steps back.Give me your hand!”The wind gobbled up his voice.
She shuffled in a slow half circle.Her eyes were wide and glazed with terror, her expression full of indecision.
“Come on,” he urged, stretching out his arm.“I won’t let you fall through.Move closer, but slowly.”
Her lips trembled, and the plump flesh was damn near blue.He clung to the flashlight as if it were a lifeline that’d carry her back to safety.
The ice cracked and popped again.She stopped midstep.“I can’t,” she wheezed.
