CHAPTER FOUR

      HER breath froze inside her and her heart slammed against her chest as the voices came nearer.

      Josh took his hand from her mouth and pulled her down towards the floor, his finger going to her lips in a caution to keep absolutely silent. He needn’t have worried; Samantha couldn’t have made a sound even if he had wanted her to.

      Petrified, she could only stare at Josh’s face as they crouched together on the floor. The voices stopped and for a moment there was just the sound of the insects in the undergrowth. Samantha hadn’t realised before what a racket they made; the noise filled her eardrums as she strained to hear any movement from the people outside.

      The sound of a match striking nearby made her heart leap wildly. It sounded as if someone was standing right next to the Jeep.

      There was a low murmur of voices again.

      Samantha didn’t think she had ever been as frightened. Her hand moved instinctively towards her stomach, her thoughts for a moment veering to her baby. All sorts of weird thoughts spun around her mind in a terrifying couple of seconds. Then the voices seemed to move away from them just a little.

      Josh moved back from her with the stealth of a cat and cautiously climbed a little way up on the seat to risk a look over the branches that had hidden them. He dropped back beside her a second later and came close to whisper against her ear.

      ‘Just six of them.’

      His voice was so low that she had to strain every muscle to hear.

      ‘Looks like they’re going to make camp here.’

      Samantha’s eyes widened. If the group stayed until morning they would definitely be found. The Jeep’s camouflage might work at night, but as soon as daylight broke she felt sure they would be easily spotted.

      He saw the panic in her eyes, the nervous pulse that beat in her throat, and he reached out a hand to stroke the smooth curve of her cheek in an instinctively reassuring gesture. ‘We’ll be all right.’ Then he pulled her in close against the warmth of his body and held her tightly.

      She didn’t try to pull back from him. Strangely, the close human contact was just what she needed at this moment. It was reassuring, comforting. She buried her head against him, listening like a frightened animal for any sounds outside. The only sound that she could hear was the steady beat of Josh Hamilton’s heart.

      How long they stayed like that she didn’t know; it felt like hours, but it could have been minutes. When Josh pulled away from her she felt cold, bereft. She watched as he chanced looking out over the top of the door again.

      ‘They’re asleep,’ he whispered as he sank back down to her.

      ‘What will we do?’ Her voice was faint.

      ‘Try and do likewise.’ He smiled at her look of consternation. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch on the situation.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Approximately seven hours to dawn. We’ll stay put for six hours; if they are still here then we’ll leave.’

      ‘Leave the Jeep?’

      ‘We’ll have no choice. As soon as the sun comes up they’ll see it.’

      Samantha swallowed hard.

      ‘Come on, try and get some sleep.’ He reached for the blanket that was lying beside them and put it carefully around her. ‘Use my knee as a pillow.’

      ‘I can’t sleep,’ she hissed softly.

      ‘Try.’ He put a hand at her back and pushed her firmly down towards him. ‘It’s important, Sam,’ he whispered urgently. ‘You’ll need all your strength if we have to walk tomorrow.’

      She hesitated for a moment and then did as he asked, curling down beside him and putting her head on his lap. It wasn’t very comfortable, and she was sure she would never sleep, but she closed her eyes to please him.

      An animal howled in the distance, its cry unearthly, like a soul in torment. Samantha huddled closer to Josh. His arms went around her, his hand stroking the silky softness of her hair. For what seemed like a very long time she was tense and frightened, listening to every sound outside with bated breath. Josh continued to stroke her hair. The touch of his hand was soothingly hypnotic, and after a while she felt her heartbeats slowing, felt her eyes beginning to close as exhaustion started to overtake her best efforts to keep awake.

      When she next opened her eyes daylight filtered down on her through the leafy branches draped over the Jeep. She was alone in the vehicle and fear rushed back as she remembered last night and the danger that had surrounded them. Where was Josh? She sat up cautiously, her heart slamming against her chest, and abruptly a wave of nausea swept over her.

      She swallowed hard on the awful feeling. Morning sickness was something she had been plagued with since the beginning of her pregnancy. Desperately she fought against it; she couldn’t afford to be ill now.

      Josh was standing next to a camp fire, his hands on his hips as he stared down at a pan boiling on it He turned sharply as she moved.

      ‘Well, good morning.’ His face lit with a smile as he saw her. Then his eyes narrowed on the deathly pallor of her skin.

      ‘Are you OK?’

      ‘Yes...yes, fine.’ Thankfully the feeling was starting to subside. Perhaps it wasn’t morning sickness, just apprehension and nerves. ‘What happened?’

      ‘Well, there are two pieces of good news and one bad,’ he said easily.

      She started to relax at his laid-back manner. Relief was heady, like a good wine running through her body. Josh was smiling, so nothing could be that bad. ‘What are they?’ She pushed her hair back from her face, feeling groggy and only half-awake, but gratefully not ill.

      ‘Our neighbours left about two hours ago, and they were heading back the way we have come so we don’t need to worry about bumping into them again.’

      ‘Thank heavens for that.’ Her voice was fervent. ‘What’s the bad news?’

      ‘There’s no bacon and eggs on the menu.’ His teeth flashed white against his tanned skin. ‘Will black coffee suffice?’

      The mere thought made Samantha’s stomach protest. ‘I think I’d just like some water, please,’ she said, trying to push at the branches against the door of the Jeep to get out.

      He came across to help her. As he opened the door he held out his hand to assist her in climbing out. It was fortunate that he did because she stumbled as she tried to move, her limbs stiff from the cramped position she had slept in.

      His arms were strong as they caught her, and for a moment she allowed