Page 41 of Hero Unbound

“Okay, but I just want to check in on the Mad Zoo one more time.”

He stepped closer then reached out and cupped her cheeks. “Wyoming storms aren’t to be trifled with—especially not one this size. Flooding and damage can be extensive.I need to know you’re safe. The Mad Zoo will be fine. You just get yourself to the hotel before this hits.”

She nodded. “I won’t mess around, I promise.”

He stroked his thumbs down her cheeks. “Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed her quickly. “I’ve got to go. But when this storm is over, you and I are going to talk. No more avoiding.”

“I know.” She dropped her eyes.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “It’s going to be so good.”

He was gone without another word, leaving her staring after him.

* * *

Thirty minutesafter the storm hit, Eva realized she’d made a huge error. She’d thought she and the dogs would be okay here hunkered down inside the shed, but water was already starting to get in. And the wind was screaming so loudly outside, it was all she could do not to cover her ears.

She’d taken out what she’d thought they’d need, then hidden her car behind the garage by the office so Theo wouldn’t see it. He would freak out if he knew she hadn’t left like she’d said. Hopefully he wouldn’t be on that side of the property at all.

He hadn’t been kidding when he said Wyoming storms like this weren’t to be trifled with. Both dogs were whining and moving around in the small space they’d carved out for themselves in the shed. Finding a dry spot was becoming more difficult.

Eva had put on all the clothes she’d brought with her from the car to try to keep warm. She’d thought that being out of the storm would be enough not to worry about that, but the rains and winds had lowered the mild temperatures until she’d become concerned that hypothermia might be a problem before too long. Especially now that she was getting wet.

“I’m not sure what to do, you guys.”

The other shed where they’d stayed until the night Theo tackled her would’ve been better. It was a newer structure, less likely to leak, providing more warmth. But walking over there would take a long time in the current conditions. All three of them would be soaked and freezing by the time they got there.

Eva looked around, trying to figure out what to do. She didn’t have much means of fortifying the shed, more water was getting in, and the temperatures would continue to drop. Spice kept nudging her legs, and Sugar had climbed up in her lap in an attempt to keep warm and dry.

Eva rocked back and forth. What should she do? Was trying to move to another location a better plan than just staying put?

She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, trying to decide. Making decisions had never been her strong suit, which was how she’d ended up staying with Gareth for way longer than she should’ve.

She’d stayed until things had gotten so ugly the only choice had been to go. Was that what she was going to do here—stay until it was almost too late? Her clothes were already damp, she was freezing, and the wind was threatening to tear this shed apart.

No, not this time. She wasn’t going to do nothing like she’d done for far too long with Gareth.

She still had the cash in her pocket from when Becky had paid her a few days ago. She hadn’t wanted to spend it on a hotel, but it would be ridiculous not to. The important thing was to get herself and the dogs out of this storm.

She stood up. “Okay, guys. We’re going to the car. I know it’ll be quite a hike in this weather, but I promise to give you extra food and we’ll lie around and snuggle for hours.” She scratched Spice’s head. “You can even lie up on the bed too.”

Making a decision felt good. Empowering. Within a couple of minutes, she had everything she’d brought packed into her backpack, and they were heading out into the storm.

It wasn’t long before she worried that this plan had been an even bigger mistake. If she had thought she was cold and wet inside the shed, it was nothing compared to being out in the storm itself.

Spice stayed at her side, but Sugar was too small and was struggling to keep up in the wind and rain. Eva scooped him into her arms and tucked him inside her jacket.

Running wasn’t an option. At points, the wind blew so hard they weren’t making any progress at all. Branches and debris hit them every few steps, and the rain made it impossible to see.

Eva forced herself to keep her bearings. If they missed the spot behind the office where her car was parked, it would be nothing but wilderness beyond.

They would die.

Eva was already getting tired. Sugar didn’t weigh much, only about twenty pounds, but keeping him pulled against her while being battered by the storm was taking more energy than she had. She wanted to sit down and rest for a minute, but that wasn’t an option.

She reached down and touched Spice’s head to make sure she was still at her side. She was. She sped up when Eva did and slowed down when Eva couldn’t keep the pace. Spice was such a good dog. If Eva collapsed, down Spice would stay—and probably die—with her.

So Eva kept going, despite the exhaustion pulling at her. She sobbed when she saw the office. It had taken much longer than she’d expected to reach the car, but they finally did.

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