Page 38 of Rescued By the Mountain Man Cowboy
“Luke,” I whisper under my hand.
It’s me. Outside Luke’s cabin, sitting on his porch with coffee.
Tears I can’t hold back any longer start overflowing, one after the other.
“Oh, God,” I whisper, choking back the sob as I let Madi’s hand go and stand. “I have to leave.” I start pacing the back of the couch. “They know I’m here. They know where Luke’s place is.” I cover my face, raking my fingers into my hair. “How the hell did they find me? I haven’t even used my phone to call anyone. I’ve only texted. Can they trace that? Is that a thing?”
I face the room, panic welling up, aching in my chest. I can’t breathe.
Luke stands abruptly, rips off the gloves, tossing them on the floor, and advances toward me.
“I don’t want anyone else to get hurt,” I cry, shaking my head as he gets closer.
Without a word, Luke pulls me into his arms and holds me tight. I grip his flannel and release the storm that’s been brewing in my gut. His hand digs into the back of my head, gripping my hair. The pressure is just right to ground me, remind me where I am.
I dig my face into his chest.
Luke’s lips press into my ear. “Breathe, Brown Eyes, I got you,” he says quietly.
Never has he called me anything but my name before. The endearment slows my heart rate.
“I swear to you, no one will touch you,” he fiercely promises, his voice still low, only for me to hear.
“What about you, Madi, Gabe, my parents?” I whimper into his shirt.
His arms squeeze my frame. “I will do everything in my power not to let anything happen to anyone you care about. But in order to do my job, I need you to be steady. Stay strong for me, Brown Eyes. Can you do that?”
I release my hold on his shirt and slowly reach around and embrace him. I tip my head up to rest it under his neck and exhale.
“That’s my girl,” he rasps. “So strong. And you don’t have to be strong alone. We got you.”
I believe him.
The people in this room have my back. I’m not alone.
“There’s a letter inside,” Madison says.
I pull away, but Luke keeps his arm around my back, and we face Madi and Gabe, who holds it up with gloves.
Luke gives him a nod.
“Hide all you want. Keep your mouth shut. Wait for instructions. We’re watching,” Gabe reads, his face turning to stone, glaring at the paper with printed words.
“Creek Lodge,” Luke says.
Gabe looks up, glaring at Luke. Again with the silent man conversation.
“I recently stocked it two weeks ago,” Gabe finally says.
“Creek Lodge?” Madison asks.
“Old cabin, at the far edge of the northeast property. Miles away. Not registered. You have to know it’s there at all to find it,” Gabe answers.
“Harold took me there once. He offered it as an escape,” Luke tells the room. “We’re gonna wait for nightfall. Get our stuff, and I’m taking the horses up there. Less tracks.”
“Wait, what?” I ask, trying to follow.
“Take the radio. No cell service,” Gabe says.
