I'll Be There Part 5

"Is there a problem?"

"No."

"Then get into the back before someone sees you."

He checked the mirrors and the parking lot. Back to reality... and her companion's surliness. Despite the camaraderie she'd felt developing between them at the creek and the easy way they'd held hands, as soon as they'd gotten in the car, he'd gone all intense, clearly intent on unloading her so he could be on his way.

Jenny did as he said. As she moved things around trying to get settled, her mind did what it had always done; churned with questions.

"Can I ask you something?"

No response, but she forged ahead, like she always did. She'd made a career out of coaxing answers from reluctant people. Cord was just another person for her to work her magic on. "How'd you get out of the cabin? Did you use the tunnel?"

"No."

"Then how?"

He paused a long moment, then said, "What difference does it make? Are you set back there?"

It made all the difference. She had to have answers. They were all she had now. "Almost, and humor me," she said with a smile. Even though he couldn't see it, maybe he could hear it and would feel comfortable enough to answer.

Silence. Then Cord muttered a blistering expletive and started the car.

"What is it?"

"Stay down and be quiet."

He put the car in gear and got them moving. Jenny tried to find something to hold onto as he took a curve out of the parking lot onto the road and hit the gas. She slid across the back of the Jeep into something solid and grunted as a sharp pain pierced her side. Jenny wedged her feet against one panel of the car with her shoulders pressed up against the other panel. She held her side as pain tore through her midsection.

"You all right?" he muttered.

"No," she said through clinched teeth. "Not that it matters."

"Sorry," he grumbled.

"What happened?"

"It didn't feel right."

"Did you see someone?"

No response.

Still holding her side, she eased up so she could look out the window. Maybe someone was following them.

"Are you crazy? Get down! The roadblock is just ahead. Cover up and don't move."

"What if they decide to search the car?"

"They won't."

"If they're looking for me, they likely will."

"Settle down and be quiet."

Cord got in the line of stopped cars and waited as the patrolmen spoke to each driver and then let them go. Car after car moved up and pulled out. Finally, he pulled up alongside the highway patrolman standing in the road. Since he didn't have a traditional window in the Jeep, he opened his door and stepped out. "Morning, officer. Mighty cold morning for a roadblock," he said, hunching his shoulders against the wind while he scanned the tree-lined roadside.

"Mornin'. We'd like to see your license and registration." The officer looked over the car. "This sure is some vehicle."

"Thanks," Cord said as he handed over the requested doc.u.ments.

"'65?"

"'66."

"Wrangler CJ-5?"

"Yeah."

"You've took real good care of it."

"Yes, sir."

"Everything seems to be in order here. Where you headed?

"Home."

"Looks like you been hiking," the officer said, looking at the backpack behind the pa.s.senger seat. Cord shifted to block the man's view of anything further.

"Yes, sir."

"Where 'bouts?

"Up around Elkmont," Cord lied.

"We been looking for a little lady that got lost up on Laurel Mountain. Haven't seen any strangers on the road have you?"

"Hard to say with as many tourists as we get around here this time of year." Cord forced himself to be calm when the deputy shined a flashlight inside the Jeep.

"Bein's you've been out of touch while you were hiking, I guess you ain't heard about the storm headed this way."

Any idiot with eyes in their head could tell there was a storm coming, but he said, "No, sir."

"Yep." The big man hooked his thumbs in his gun belt and rocked back on his heels. "Big snowstorm. They're predictin' it might rival the '93 blizzard. But you know, when they're callin' for it, we usually don't get a drop. Just the same, it might be smart if you stock up before you head home. Up where you live, you won't be getting out for awhile if there's bad weather."

That was the plan, just as soon as he dropped off his unwanted guest. "Thanks. I'll do that."

"All righty. If you see any strangers around, anybody suspicious lookin', we'd appreciate you givin' us a call."

"Will do." Cord got back into the Jeep and wasted no time putting the car in gear.

When they were on their way, Jenny peeped out from under the blankets and sneezed about a half dozen times. "I didn't think I was going to make it. These things you call blankets are stiff with dust!"

"Keep your head down," Cord mumbled.

"Stop barking orders at me. I'm no happier to be with you than you are having me."

Ignoring that, Cord retreated into his thoughts. How stupid could you get? If this was how the police were handling such a sensitive situation, what would happen to her when he turned her over to the sheriff's department? He looked out the windshield up at the sky. The first snowflakes floated down. If he left her in Angel Ridge, she'd get snowed in there. With blood thirsty criminals crawling all over the area, she'd be a sitting duck.

Jenny sniffed. "What are you thinking?"

"Anybody ever tell you that you ask too many questions?" He could barely hear himself think, she talked so much.

"Occupational hazard."

What did he care if she lived or died? It was none of his concern after he turned her over to the sheriff. He'd go back to his cabin and forget all about her. He looked over his shoulder and their gazes met. Her unguarded blue eyes looked huge in her pale face. Dark smudges under her eyes told of too many sleepless nights. His heart constricted involuntarily. How could anyone want to harm anything so gut-clinching gorgeous?

He dragged a hand down his face. How had that happened? He wanted her to be safe, and he hadn't cared about anything or anyone in a long time.

"There's a snowstorm coming."

"We've established that."

"I don't know who these people are that want to harm you, but they're determined to get to you. Being snowed in so close to where we last saw them is suicide."

"That's not your concern. All you have to do is turn me over to Grady and be on your way."

"When it snows, I can't get off the mountain where I live, sometimes for weeks. If a blizzard hits, who knows?"

Cord looked in his mirror and saw Jenny roll onto her back. The movement stirred up more dust.

Somewhere between sneezes, she managed to say, "Sounds perfect... for you."

"If I can't get out, no one can get in." He reached into the glove box, grabbed some napkins, and handed them to her. Jenny blew-an inelegant sound. Cord couldn't help smiling.

"If there's a point to this, state it."

"You could hide out at my place. No one would ever find you there. If these people lose your trail, maybe they'll give up and go back to where they came from."

Jenny laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"That's the worst idea I've ever heard."

"I'm sure the sheriff will agree."

"I'm sure he won't, not if I have anything to say about it. Let me tell you one thing-there is no way in h.e.l.l I'm holing up in some cabin in the middle of nowhere, snowed in for G.o.d knows how long, with you."

"Why not?"

"It's not happening. I can't believe you'd suggest such a thing."

"It's the safest option for you. If the sheriff takes you back to Angel Ridge, you're sure to get stuck there, and that's the worst possible scenario right now."

Jenny sat up. "Are you saying you're not taking me to Grady?"

No response.

"What if it doesn't snow?"

"It's already started."

"It could blow over or turn out to be just this. A few flurries."

"I've lived in the mountains most of my life. I know the signs. It's not blowing over."

"No. Take me to the sheriff like we planned."

"You'd be safe at my cabin."

She folded her arms across her chest. "No."

"It's remote. There's no one and nothing for miles, no phone, no mail."

"No electricity."

"I have electricity."

"We'd kill each other inside of twenty minutes."

He waited before he spoke, weighing his words carefully. "If it means you live to see another spring, I'm willing to tolerate you if you're willing to tolerate me."

"What do you care if I live or die? Turn me over to Grady and be on your way."

"I can't do that." Hearing the words, it sounded like someone else talking.

"Why not?"

He could tell from the edge in her tone that she was frustrated and focused on getting away from him. From everyone. He'd heard it before when he was in the military and then later in the bureau, transporting prisoners, officers and civilians. When things went bad, this happened. Jenny was there. Desperation. That made her a danger to herself and everyone around her. What if she ran when the sheriff got her to Angel Ridge? What if she wound up dead?

He sighed and said, "I have to live with myself. That's why." It was one thing to have to live with an op that had gone bad. He had the nightmares to prove it. It was another thing when he knew what to do to save someone and willingly walked away. That was not an option.

He glanced over his shoulder and caught her nervously chewing on her thumbnail. "You know I'm right," he pressed She glanced up at him, then focused on the side of the Jeep again. "I want to talk to Grady."

"You'll get your chance soon enough."

"I am not, do you hear me, not going to hole up in a remote cabin with you for the foreseeable future."