Page 60 of When the Silence Breaks

Was he really going to resort to this? “I know a few places where we could lay low.”

“Lay low? For how long?”

“Until we figure things out.”

“Are you serious? You want to run? That’s not exactly my style.” Sarah moved closer to the woodstove, determination and fear etched in her features. She rubbed her arms, clearly feeling the chill in the air.

“Isn’t it?” he asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“When I met you—more like ran into you—you were running. You were hiding.”

That’s probably not how she saw it, but he wasn’t wrong.

But he continued before she could speak. “Or we could just storm the plane without a plan. Is that what you want?” Ryder had to calm down. He didn’t let emotions control him, so whywas this situation getting to him? Oh yeah, an experimental bioweapon on the mountain near his hometown, his family and friends, and people he cared about might have something to do with it. He turned and moved to the stove and threw in another log. He just couldn’t get this place warm enough.

Sarah said nothing, which surprised him. He turned to find her peeking out the window like he’d done earlier. He approached and stood behind her. She didn’t turn to look at him.

He was the one to soften his voice this time, and that helped calm his thoughts. “We need to use our heads instead of our emotions.”

As if he’d ever used his emotions before when making any kind of important decisions. But apparently, he’d let this woman convince him that he wanted to help her. He held his hands out, as if to gently grip her arms and turn her to face him, but he didn’t touch her. Instead, he lowered his voice. “You know I’m right.”

Sarah pulled the ponytail out of her hair, then lifted it off her neck as she turned to face him and twisted the long strands into a knot at the back of her head. Her expression grew soft, but her eyes still held a fiery edge. “I’m not afraid.”

Why had she said that? “I never said you were. You’re one of the bravest souls I’ve met.” And that was saying something.

Her gaze searched his. “I’m not afraid to finish this climb and find the plane.”

Oh. That was the angle. As ifhewas afraid. Well, sure ... for her. For the town at the base of the mountain. For the surrounding wildlife. Anyone would be afraid.

“You said that I know you’re right,” she said. “I’ll admit, you’re correct that we can’t sit here and wait for them to come for us—and just to be clear, I want to get nice and warm before we ascend the top again.”

She was going to try to force them to the crash site. But it wasn’t that easy. To do that, they needed supplies. He was not going to lead her to the top. End of story. But he wouldn’t argue with her.

“Let’s consider the options.”

There. Maybe that would appease her. They would discuss the plan and agree to it. “Run from here and hide. Go down the mountain back to town. Or find the plane and stick to the original plan.” The original plan. Her original plan. “You must have had a plan for what you would do after you found the evidence you needed. Why don’t we start there? You tell me—what wasyourplan?” He’d asked that already, and she still hadn’t answered.

As for Ryder? His plan had only been to help her find what she needed to find and then guide her back down the mountain where he would say goodbye to Sarah Ellison, who was sharp and feisty. He admired her capacity to keep up the pace. She was tough but also compassionate. And he couldn’t exactly ignore that she was gorgeous.

He should look forward to the moment when he would be rid of her and her trouble. And the town of Mercy Ridge would be safe. But it was too late for Ryder—Sarah Ellison had gotten under his skin the moment they’d survived a mudslide together.

Twenty-Five

Down on one knee, he leaned forward, moving logs around and stoking the fire as if he hadn’t just done that. As if he needed to do something with his hands. Something to distract him. Too bad they didn’t have marshmallows they could roast.

The glow cast flickering lights across the room. This man—this wilderness guide, Ryder Goodwin—was a mountain man through and through. He was a hero who carried a burden, and she’d just dumped an even heavier one on him. How dare she intrude into his peaceful life? But he was involved long before she ever entered the scene—and that was thanks to his grandfather. And now he wanted her to share her plan.

What was my plan again?

For now, at this moment, yeah, she had a plan—put some space between her and Mountain Man. Sarah had to get away from Ryder. She grabbed her coat off a chair and rushed outside into the darkness and sucked in the cold, fresh air. Being inside the old, musty cabin—such a small space to be confined with a man like Ryder—made her edgy. She wasn’t someone to run or hide. Right. Wasn’t that exactly what she was doing? Would Ryder follow her outside or give her time to cool off and think?

She headed for that lake she’d seen. Through the canopy,she caught a star or two, and over near the higher summit, the clouds were building. She groaned inside at the thought of snow, a blizzard, colder weather up on that mountain.

Footfalls crunched behind her. Ryder. Yeah, he’d followed. What had she expected?

Maybe she’d even wanted him to follow. After all, he was a hero before, and even now, when she looked into those intense eyes, she knew she could trust him. The problem was, he couldn’t trust her—not really.