Course of Action: Out of Harm's Way / Any Time, Any Place. Merline Lovelace
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he assured her huskily. “I’m going to help you stand. We need to get going.”
He lifted her up by her waist as if she weighed nothing. Madison was surprised because he was lean, not heavily muscled or bulky. When she got to her feet, she grabbed for his upper arms. And then she grunted with pain, her hands falling lifelessly to her sides. To lift her hands above her breasts brought nothing but red-hot pain and burning. She bit back a cry.
“It’s okay,” he rasped, slipping her beneath his arm, holding her close so she had something to lean on. “I’m putting you on this horse. Ready?”
No, she wasn’t ready. Her arms were as useless as if they were stuffed with sawdust, her fingers unable to curve or hold on to anything. Madison felt the tension, knew they were still in danger. “Yes...” she whispered.
He nodded, the look in his eyes giving her strength. Her legs did work and she was able to lift one up and over the saddle. Once she was on the horse, he held the reins up to her.
“I—I can’t hold on to them,” she whispered, distraught. “I’m sorry....”
“No problem,” Travis murmured, patting her thigh. “Just sit tight for a moment.”
Madison watched him walk over to another horse, throw the reins over its head and mount up. This man knew his horses and certainly knew how to ride. He rode back and brought the reins over her horse’s head to hold in his long, large-knuckled fingers.
“You ride?” Travis asked. He knew she did, but didn’t know if she could hold on right now, given what she’d already been through.
“I’ll hang on,” Madison promised grimly, forcing her dead fingers into the horse’s thick mane. He gave her a grin for the first time, a boyish look coming to his features. It filled her with hope.
“Good enough,” Travis murmured, turning the horse around. “We’re going to be moving fast. Got some bad guys coming our way. If you’re having trouble hanging on, yell. I’ll stop and we’ll figure out another plan of action.” He pinned her with his gaze. Travis could tell she was in shock, her blue eyes cloudy, her features stressed and confused.
“Let’s go,” she managed, her voice hoarse. “I’ll hang on.”
Texas steel. Travis nodded. He saw the determination in her eyes, in the set of that luscious mouth, now thinned with purpose. He clapped his heels to his horse. The animal grunted and leaped forward into a canter. The wind whipped by them as Travis followed a slope that gently curved to the west. His horse was tired and he didn’t want to push too hard. Looking over his shoulder, he confirmed that Madison was riding all right. That was a relief. He didn’t want to have to carry her on his horse. That would slow them down way too much.
* * *
Madison thanked God for her steel thighs gripping the horse’s barrel as they galloped in and around mountain slopes. Her hands were nerveless. Her shoulders ached like fire. But from the waist down, she was just fine, moving in sync with her cantering horse. The wind felt good against her face, drying the sweat, the air pure and sweet without that horrible hood over her head.
She watched Travis ride, his body in rhythm with the movement of the horse. Who was he? Navy in the desert? It didn’t make sense. She had so many questions to ask him. Every once in a while, he’d look over his broad shoulder, checking on her to make sure she was all right. Madison felt his protection even though it wasn’t anything she could see with her eyes. And it made her feel safe when she knew they weren’t.
Within an hour, they halted at the entrance to a cave. Madison noticed a series of caves down the length of the mountain. Travis dismounted. Gripping the horse’s mane, Madison forced herself to get off under her own steam. Her knees weren’t strong, but she could stay upright. Travis gave her a glance and she was glad to regain a bit of independence.
“What can I do?” she asked, holding the reins he handed to her.
“Nothing,” he said. He removed the clothes from the rear of his saddle and put everything near the cave entrance. “Stand over there,” he said, pointing to where the clothes were stacked.
Confused, Madison did as he instructed. She watched him lead the horses out beyond the cave entrance and drape the reins over their necks. Her mouth dropped open as he slapped them on the rumps and they went charging off at a gallop.
“What are you doing?” she cried out.
Travis turned. Picking up the clothes, he put them into her arms. “Carry these,” he ordered brusquely. “Go into the cave and stand over there.” He pointed.
Breathing hard, she glared at him. “You just got rid of our transportation! How could you?”
The man scowled, his mouth compressed as he pulled his huge knife from the sheath on his left thigh and chopped a large branch from a nearby bush.
“Stop yelling,” he told her. “Voices carry.” Her eyes widened and she did as she was told but not before giving him a mutinous look. Quickly, Travis used the brushy end of the limb and covered their tracks. Backing into the cave, he kept sweeping them away.
“See that tunnel back there?” He hitched his chin in that direction.
“Yes.” Madison was furious with him. Who the hell did he think he was? He’d just sent off two good horses that could have gotten them to safety! What was he thinking?
“Go over there and wait for me.”
Madison stood on the white, smooth tunnel surface. The tunnel forked to the right and left. The sun was just rimming the Hindu Kush peaks, rays slanting brightly into the cave where Travis was brushing out their footprints. Once he got to her side, he slid his hand beneath her elbow.
“Your arms feeling okay?”
“Yes, I can feel them a little.”
“Can you carry those clothes?”
She felt the piercing gaze of his and looked away, still angry with him. “Yes.”
Travis grunted and pulled out a penlight and handed it to her. “Can you hold this?”
Madison wasn’t sure. Blood was coming back into her fingers and she felt nothing but throbbing pain in them. Their fingers touched momentarily and she clumsily took the small light. “I think so.”
“Get going up that tunnel.” He pointed to the fork he wanted her to take. “We’ve got to go about half a mile on a gentle climb upward. I’ll catch up.”
She gulped and nodded. Why had he chased the horses away? Why? She moved on shaky knees, watching her step on the worn surface. The tunnel darkened until all she saw was the light ahead of her. Everything echoed eerily as she stumbled once, the sound reverberating endlessly.
Where was Travis? Suddenly, Madison felt terrified again. Alone. He was nowhere around. Halting, she almost turned around and went back down the tunnel, but she remembered the hard look in his eyes, the guttural order to start walking. She had to trust him. But why the hell had he let their horses run away? That was crazy!
Madison sensed more than heard someone approaching her. She turned. A gasp tore out of her as she saw Travis right behind her. Heart pounding, she froze.
“You scared me!”
“Sorry,” he murmured, giving her a sheepish look. “I walk silent.”
Gulping, Madison shook.
“Tell you what,” Travis said softly, taking the penlight from her. “You grab hold of my belt here.” He pointed to his left hip. “And I’ll take us the rest of the way up.”
Sliding her fingers around his web belt, she nodded. Madison was more than willing to let him lead. He knew where he was. He started off slowly, cutting his stride in half for her. She was grateful, since her knees were still wonky and her energy was fading. Madison didn’t know what time it was, only that she hadn’t eaten