Brink of Danger

by Christy Barritt

  Ansley glanced around, almost looking like she was fighting despair. They were surrounded by nothing but dark forest. Anyone would feel frightened at the possibility of staying here.

  “So we stay here?” Her voice cracked. “In the middle of the woods?”

  Ryan glanced behind Ansley and saw a wooden structure in the distance. He thought he’d spotted it earlier, but now that he focused, he definitely saw that something was there. “There’s a cabin right up there. We could sit on the porch and wait.”

  “What about bears?” This was the time of year when they came out. At dusk. There had been a lot of sightings lately too.

  Ryan’s face hardened. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

  At that moment, a sound caught her ear. It almost sounded like . . . a rumbling.

  Ansley grasped Ryan’s arm. “Do you hear that?”

  The rumble got louder and louder.

  Finally, Ryan nodded. “I do. It sounds like a car.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “We should go flag them down—” Before Ansley could make a move toward the road, Ryan tugged her back. He stashed her behind a cluster of trees and edged close, keeping her out of sight.

  “What are you doing?” Ansley asked. Had Ryan lost his mind?

  He nodded toward the road, his face rigid. “Ansley, that car . . . the lights are off.”

  “Okay, so they forgot—”

  “You don’t forget things like that around here.” Ryan’s voice sounded low, serious. “The driver doesn’t want to be seen.”

  All the blood left Ansley’s face as the reality of Ryan’s words hit her. “You mean . . .”

  “I mean the person who did this has probably come to see if their plan worked.”

  Her knees nearly buckled with fear. If this person had tried to kill her on a zipline, had slit Dustin’s throat . . . there was no telling what might happen if he found them alive.

  Ryan pressed into her, using his body to shield her as the car came closer. Ansley’s back remained against the tree. She couldn’t see anything behind her. Maybe it was better that way.

  “Well?” she whispered, desperate to know what was happening.

  “The car is coming past now . . . slowly.”

  Silence fell for a moment, and Ansley was keenly aware of Ryan’s heartbeat against hers. Of his solid muscles beneath her hands. If she had to be stuck out here with someone besides her brothers, there was no better person than Ryan Philips.

  He could both protect her with his strength and distract her with his good looks.

  Her mind jerked back to reality. To the threat they faced. To the urgency of the situation around them.

  How easily she slipped back into her old ways.

  “Can you tell what kind of car it is?” she whispered.

  Ryan’s gaze scanned the area behind her. “It looks like a truck, I think. It’s too dark to make out details.”

  “Great. Everyone drives a truck around here, so that doesn’t narrow it down.”

  “Stay still. We don’t want the driver to see us.”

  Ansley did as Ryan told her. But as she froze and quieted, her thoughts escalated between fear of being found and the reality of how close Ryan was standing to her. Her heart beat out of control, and fear materialized as perspiration invaded her skin.

  Dear Lord, I don’t deserve Your help. Not at all. But if You’d give it to me anyway, I’d be forever grateful.

  Ryan’s gaze remained focused on the road. Ansley didn’t dare speak again—not yet. She was not going to be the one who gave away their location, who messed this up.

  “It went past,” Ryan finally said. But he didn’t move.

  “What now?” she whispered.

  “We’re not out of the woods yet.” Just as he said the words, Ansley heard a car door open.

  The killer had stopped and was approaching on foot, she realized.

  Fear smacked her in the face—and smacked her hard.

  She’d beaten death more than once. Would she be lucky enough to beat it again?

  Ryan stepped closer to Ansley—if that was possible. He had to keep them concealed. One wrong move right now might mean life or death.

  He could feel Ansley’s heart beating into his chest. He could feel her fear. Feel the tremor in her hands.

  Anyone in their right mind would be scared in this situation.

  Ryan pulled his eyes away from the road just long enough to meet Ansley’s wide, probing gaze.

  His finger went over her lips, signaling Ansley to not ask any questions. The night was too still out here. Even a whisper might give them away.

  Footsteps sounded on the mountain.

  His pulse quickened. The killer was walking toward Ryan’s truck. Checking to see if his plan had worked.

  Why would someone target him? Ryan would think more about it later . . . but the other victims seemed to be connected with Ansley. Had the killer somehow made the connection that Ryan was a threat to Ansley?

  Another footstep.

  This person was getting closer.

  Ryan peered around the tree—but just barely. All he could see was a light. The brightness of the beam concealed everything about the person—height, size, any details.

  Ansley’s fingers dug into his arm. Ryan wanted to reassure her. To comfort her. To tell her that everything would be okay.

  But he couldn’t lie. He had no idea how this was going to turn out. His gun was still in the glove compartment of his SUV. He thought he’d have time to grab it, but everything had happened too fast.

  They had a choice here. Fight or flight.

  In this case, there was a third choice also.

  Hide.

  Ryan knew the best thing for them to do was remain out of sight.

  The person with the flashlight moved closer. Closer. Closer.

  Ryan didn’t want to give away their location. The darkness was their friend right now.

  But that didn’t stop the anxiety from stretching between him and Ansley. They both knew how deadly this situation could turn. Too deadly.

  He saw the light at the SUV now. The killer was examining it. Possibly realizing that Ryan was still alive.

  Did the killer know that Ansley was with him?

  As the light spread across the mountain, Ryan ducked back behind the tree.

  His heart thrummed harder. Sometimes the most heroic thing a person could do was to wait. To be patient. To try not to trigger a reaction.

  A gasp of air escaped from Ansley as she stood in front of him.

  Ryan squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her that things would be okay. He continued to stand in front of her. Their chests rose and fell with every passing second, and they waited. Waited. Waited.

  Sticks cracked and stones skidded under the weight of the visitor in the distance. As a wind swept over the landscape, branches above them clacked together.

  The killer froze. Light swept around them.

  Ryan closed his eyes, lifting a prayer.

  If only he had his gun . . . but there was no use dwelling on the impossible right now.

  A new sound came from the right side of them.

  Ansley’s startled eyes met his. What was that?

  More underbrush rustled under a heavy weight. Whatever made the sound made no effort to remain quiet or hidden. No, it almost sounded like . . .

  Ryan sucked in a breath as he realized where the noise came from.

  The killer’s light swept toward the sound.

  A huge black bear appeared, lumbering toward the scene of the accident.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  As a roar cut through the air, Ansley felt the remaining supply of her strength fade.

  That was a bear.

  A bear was out here. And a killer.

  She and Ryan were defenseless to fight either and caught between the two.

  Dear Lord, what now?

  She glanced up at Ryan, studying his expression. His face had gone still.
His jaw rigid. His eyes dead set.

  He wasn’t panicking under pressure. That was good. Because all she wanted to do was run.

  Logically, Ansley knew that would be the worst thing. But none of this left her feeling good.

  She found a strange comfort in having Ryan here. Something about him beckoned her to trust him, told her he was a protector. Would he let her down like others in her life had?

  Her hands fisted his shirt. She was clinging to him for dear life, she realized.

  Pathetic . . .

  Despite her inner reprimand, she didn’t loosen her grip. She needed Ryan right now. He was the only thing keeping her sane.

  The bear roared again, and her skin crawled. The beast was close. Where was the killer? What was going on out of her line of sight?

  “Ryan,” she whispered, her voice almost too faint to hear.

  He motioned for her to remain quiet, his eyes still soaking in everything happening in the distance.

  More underbrush rustled and broke and shifted. Ansley heard footsteps.

  Wait . . . was the killer fleeing? That’s what any logical person would do in this situation.

  Maybe that bear had saved their lives. Or would it turn on them now?

  Ansley knew bear attacks weren’t common, but they did happen. It had been dry this season, and that bear could be searching for food.

  She froze, hardly able to breath. An engine started. Tires turned on gravel.

  The killer was leaving.

  Her relief was only temporary. The bear. The bear could still tear them limb from limb.

  Ryan remained in front of her, almost like a shield—a strapping, muscle-bound shield with eyes that could turn women into a puddle.

  Ansley supposed that was the best kind of shield to have around.

  More underbrush rustled. But . . . was the sound getting farther away? That’s almost how it seemed.

  Ryan still didn’t make a move. Minutes seemed to tick by. Slowly. Too slowly.

  Ansley’s leg ached. Her thoughts rushed. Her lungs felt as if they’d been filled with cement.

  Finally, Ryan took a step back, and his gaze locked on hers. “Let’s head for that cabin just up the hill. We need to take shelter there. Do you think you can walk?”

  As soon as he asked the question, pain jolted through her leg again. Something about the accident must have awoken her old injuries. Her entire body ached right now.

  Ansley wanted more than anything to say yes, to not be a hindrance to their safety. But . . . she wanted to be truthful. “I don’t know.”

  Ryan only hesitated a moment before saying, “I’ll help you then.”

  Before she realized what was happening, Ryan swept her into his arms and began to climb toward the cabin.

  She wanted to argue. Wanted to not enjoy the feel of his chest beneath her.

  Instead, she let her head rest on his shoulder, and she fought the pain radiating from her leg.

  The man barely breathed hard as he climbed the mountain. She knew it wasn’t an easy walk either. It was rocky. Filled with roots. Thick with underbrush.

  How had this nightmare even started?

  Ansley would think about that later. Right now, it wasn’t the time to feel sorry for herself.

  Finally, they reached the little cabin, and Ryan lowered her back down to her feet. “You okay standing for a minute?”

  She nodded, trying not to wince.

  As soon as he let go of her, Ansley missed the safety his touch brought. How could one person do that? With little effort make her feel like an army surrounded her?

  Ryan tugged at the door. It was locked—of course. After scavenging around, he found a key beneath a rock and opened the door.

  Without asking, Ryan swept Ansley into his arms again and carried her inside.

  The place smelled dank and dusty, like it hadn’t been used in a while.

  With his foot, Ryan closed the door and then strode across the room, depositing Ansley on the couch. The dusty cushions left a lot to be desired, but at least it wasn’t so cold inside here.

  “This must be an old hunting cabin.” Ryan glanced around. “I doubt there’s any electricity out here, and it’s too risky to start a fire.”

  “I’ll be okay.” Even as Ansley said the words, her teeth betrayed her and began to chatter.

  “Maybe I can find some blankets.” Ryan began searching the place.

  Ansley glanced around. The place was only one room, at least from what Ansley could gather in the darkness.

  A small iron stove stood in the center of the space. There was a couch, a flimsy dining table with a couple chairs, and a small kitchen area. Above them, a loft stretched.

  Ryan returned with a few blankets from a closet.

  “I’m surprised they’re not dustier than they are,” he said, shaking one out.

  He draped a couple over Ansley before striding toward the window.

  “You see anything?” Ansley tried to prepare herself for the reality that danger could still be lurking close, waiting to pounce at any minute.

  Ryan stepped back and shook his head. “No, I think the bear scared off whoever was in that truck.”

  Whoever was in that truck? They both knew without a doubt who was in that truck.

  The killer.

  Ryan sat beside her, their legs touching, and pulled the blankets over him. Before Ansley realized what he was doing, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

  “Body heat,” he explained.

  “Of course.” That didn’t stop electricity from dancing across Ansley’s skin.

  This was going to be a long night. A very long night. In more ways than one.

  Ryan wished there was something else he could do, but he knew there was nothing. Their best bet was to wait for help. With no signal and no way of getting off this mountain, they just needed to make do with what they had. The good news was that this cabin had been close enough for them to walk to.

  He would thank God for his blessings in the middle of hardship.

  Darkness hung around them. The air was crisp—so crisp it seemed to crackle in the cold. Ryan pulled the blanket up higher, knowing they needed to stay warm. The temperature was forecasted to drop into the thirties tonight, making it unseasonably cool.

  Ansley’s soft voice cut through the stillness around them. “I know I told you that I was abducted by a serial killer.”

  Her words caused Ryan’s stomach to twist. “You did. I can’t imagine what that was like.”

  Was Ansley about to open up to him more? A surge of satisfaction passed through Ryan at the thought. Ansley was a tough nut to crack, as the saying went. He wanted to see beyond the image she showed the world. He wanted a deeper look.

  “I thought I was going to die,” Ansley continued, absently rubbing the pilling on top of the blanket. “I really did. I’ve never been more terrified in my life. I knew what that man had done to those other women, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to do it to me. If Harper hadn’t been down in that basement with me . . . I think I might have lost my mind.”

  Ryan could only imagine her terror. He reached for her hand and squeezed it between his, wanting to offer some kind of comfort. She didn’t pull away.

  “It’s a lot of trauma for someone to go through—not just physically but mentally,” he said.

  Ansley nodded stiffly. “It was a real wakeup call. I’d done everything in my power, up until that point, to numb the pain from everything that had happened in my life. I knew that wasn’t working, and I had to get serious. It’s been a long process. Things haven’t happened overnight. I’m still tempted to go back to my old ways at times.”

  “Your old ways?”

  She shrugged. “Thrills, men, and alcohol. I was living on the edge.”

  “I see.”

  “I haven’t had a drink in almost a year.” Her gaze wandered to his, almost as if hoping for approval or to watch his reaction.

  “Good job. I know that’s
hard.”

  “I started going back to church, really trying to get my life together. I’m even taking an online class. Well, I will be starting next semester. But I’ve already signed up and ordered my books.”

  “Oh, yeah? What are you studying?”

  “Business. I figured that would help me here in Fog Lake since most of the jobs are in tourism.”

  “I bet it will.”

  “I dyed my hair back to my natural color. I guess I wanted an outward sign of my inward change. It seemed like something small but doable. I want to show that I’m not who I used to be. But it seems I have to remind people of that more than I’d like.”

  “Change takes a lot of courage, Ansley.” He squeezed her hand, her fingers feeling nice against his.

  “I . . . I just thought you should know. I mean, I feel like we’ve been through a lot together. You’ve stuck your neck out for me, and now this. I don’t like to talk about it too much. I want it to be more than talk. I want to walk the walk.”

  Ryan was impressed. He really was. An urging inside him pushed him to open up more also. He hadn’t talked to anyone about his real reasons for coming here, and that fact had felt like a burden at times.

  Before he could, Ansley quietly said, “Sometimes I have too many jagged edges.”

  “Have you ever seen a rock with jagged edges? Put it in water and let the water move, and you know what happens? Those edges become smooth. It may not be a quick process, and it’s not without pain. But those rough parts can be smoothed into something beautiful.”

  She offered a grateful smile. “I like that. Thank you.”

  “If there’s one thing I’m trying to learn, it’s that we’re more than the sum of our past mistakes.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  Several minutes of silence ticked by.

  “One of my crew died on my watch back in Philly.” Ryan’s chest tightened with the memories.

  She stiffened and turned to look at him. “What happened?”

  “There was an apartment fire. Going in was risky—the building was already compromised. But I knew there were people inside who needed help. If I chose to save them, my men would be at risk. If we didn’t go in, the people inside would die. We had ladder trucks outside, rescuing as many people as we could. But I had to make a call.”