Murphy's Law

by Jennifer Lowery

  “No!” She darted around his arm, took off running before Murphy could stop her, and dropped to her knees at the river’s edge to pick up the doll. With a choked sob she clutched it to her chest and began rocking back and forth, repeating Abby’s name over and over. The torment in her voice almost undid him. He took a step forward at the same time a raindrop bounced off his nose.

  Damn.

  Clenching his jaw against the run of bad luck they were having, he strode to Sara’s side, grabbed her by the arms and hauled her to her feet. She met him with an accusing glare that would have cut straight through if he didn’t know where it came from. She was strung out and thinking the worst. The stress of what might be hurtled her over the edge of control. To make matters worse, the clouds that had been threatening all morning suddenly opened up and dumped icy cold rain on them.

  Sara let out a howl of pain and lifted her face to the sky. The anguish in that one look cut through him.

  When she lowered her head and looked at him, he could see she’d lost hope. It tore him apart.

  “The rain is washing away her trail,” she cried over the force of the storm. Rain plastered her hair to her head and clung to her long lashes. She looked small and defenseless.

  “No, Sara. This isn’t over. I can still find her.”

  Sara held up the doll and shook it in his face. “Abby never lets go of this doll. She’s carried it around with her since she could walk. It’s her favorite toy and she…she…”

  Her voice rose with every word until she choked on them. Murphy squeezed her arms and gave her a little shake.

  “She may have dropped it out of her pack. She may not even know it’s gone. You can’t assume anything, Sara.”

  “But it’s by the river! What’s the chance she dropped it here without knowing? No, I think she dropped it and wasn’t able to go back for it because she…fell… Murphy, she can’t swim!”

  That broke her. A strangled sob escaped her throat and her hands fisted on the front of his parka. She began chanting a mantra that Abby couldn’t swim as she pounded on his chest. Rain continued to pour down on them, soaking them to the skin as cold wind gusted past and whistled through the trees. The river crashed over rocks as it moved rapidly down the mountain, swirling and throwing buckets of water over the bank.

  Murphy stood still, letting Sara take out her hurt and anger on him. He barely felt the blows from her small fists, but he felt every emotion. It had been a long time since anyone stirred feelings inside him. Damn. Much easier not to feel.

  Finally, she collapsed against his chest and clung to his shoulders. She buried her face in his parka and shook with sobs. Her gut-wrenching sounds carried over the storm.

  He lifted his face to the sky and closed his eyes as Sara cried into his coat. He should’ve found the girl sooner and prevented Sara from this pain. He doubted the girl had fallen into the water, but he couldn’t be sure. Odd that they’d found her doll at the river’s edge, but he wasn’t done yet.

  Come hell or high water, he would find the girl.

  * * * *

  Her heart ripped in two. The pain sliced through her so deep, Sara wondered how she would recover. Abby couldn’t swim. This was all her fault. If she hadn’t lost her footing…fresh tears filled her eyes and she didn’t hold them back. They fell on Murphy’s coat until there were none left. She didn’t care if they stood in the middle of a storm getting soaked by icy cold rain. Or that the man standing rigid against her didn’t wrap his arms around her and offer comfort. She didn’t care that her head felt like splitting in two, or that her entire body had been run over by a Mack truck. All she cared about was her daughter.

  “I want her back,” she wailed into Murphy’s wet coat, fisting her hands in the material at his shoulders above her head. “I can’t lose her now. Not like this. I’ve kept her safe for so long. I can’t lose her.”

  She was losing it. The stress of the past six years plus this topped the charts of what she could handle. She had suffered so much at the hands of her husband and his family, she just couldn’t bear the thought of losing her daughter now, after they’d made their escape.

  “She’s mine, dammit. She belongs with me!” she sobbed. “How could I let this happen?”

  Rough hands gripped her shoulders and set her firmly away from the chest she cried on. He gave her a rough shake. Murphy bore down on her with a fierce expression. The scar stood out dramatically against his tanned face as he leaned in close and forced her to meet his eyes. His grip was strong through her jacket, but he wasn’t hurting her.

  She blinked rain drops out of her eyes and tried to focus on his face, blurred by her tears, then wished she hadn’t because his granite expression made her pull back to escape its intensity.

  “Pull yourself together,” he ordered in a stern voice that held no sympathy. “We don’t have time for you to break down. Your daughter was here, but she walked away.”

  His words cut through her misery. “How do you know that?” she shouted over the wind gusting around them.

  Murphy pointed down at the ground. Sara followed the action and gasped. She dropped to her knees and picked up the broken piece of a zipper, holding it like a piece of gold.

  She looked up at Murphy. “I had to keep fixing Abby’s zipper because she wouldn’t part with her backpack. The doll must have fallen out when the zipper broke. Do you think that’s possible?”

  Murphy gripped her arm and propelled her forward. A few steps later he stopped and knelt on the ground. Sara watched him study the rocky ground, then reach out and trace a finger over an overturned rock. She clutched the doll to her chest and waited for him to speak.

  “She went this way,” he said, rising to his feet and scanning the area around them.

  “Thank God,” Sara breathed. “Can you still look for her with the rain?”

  Murphy didn’t answer. He stared at the trees ahead of them. Sara followed his gaze, and glanced back at him. She may not see anything, but he did. He had gone rigid and still, his jaw clenched tight with nothing moving but his eyes. He reminded her of a jungle cat sensing its prey.

  Unsure what to do, she stayed in place, her heart beating a mile a minute. She wasn’t afraid of Murphy, but his abilities made her uneasy. Silent, intense and dark.

  It made her think of her brother-in-law, Stephen. The thought made her shudder. Stephen was bad through and through; she had seen it in his eyes, but she didn’t see that same darkness in Murphy. He was gruff and aloof, but his soul wasn’t black like Stephen’s. No one compared to Stephen. Not his brother--her husband, Kent--or even their mother, Chelsea. She was cold as ice and demanded too much from her boys, but she didn’t have that same evil Sara sensed in her oldest son. Often Sara had wondered if Chelsea had any idea who Stephen really was. If she saw the darkness inside him. And if she did, how could she send him after her grandchild? Someone that dangerous would stop at nothing to do her bidding.

  Pushing those thoughts away, she focused on Murphy. Later, there would be time to worry about what Stephen would do to her if he found her.

  Chapter 3

  The hairs on the back of Murphy’s neck bristled as carefully honed instincts alerted him to things he normally would have missed. He’d learned years ago to trust his instincts and he wasn’t about to change that now, so he scanned the tree line for signs of the girl. She was close, he could feel it. Deep behind enemy lines he’d sometimes sensed the enemy long before they were made known. His instincts had saved his life more than once and he counted on them to save the girl now.

  Though he couldn’t see her, he started walking toward the tree line. Twigs snapped as Sara hurried after him. Moments later she latched onto his coat. He led her into the woods and began slowly circling, looking for the girl.

  An hour later Murphy was frustrated and Sara struggled to keep up. She kept stumbling from exhaustion. She’d only had an hour’s worth of sleep in the past twenty-four and she had hiked steadily most of the night. She needed a br
eak, so he veered off in search of a nearby cave. It would give Sara a place to rest out of the storm while he continued his search.

  She protested when he led her inside the cave and pushed her gently to the ground. He was about to light a lantern when the hairs on the back of his neck bristled again. He held up a hand to silence her and she immediately snapped her mouth shut. Awareness zinged down his spine.

  He turned the lantern on and soft light illuminated the cave. Sara gasped and lunged. There, huddled in the corner sat a terrified little blond-haired girl. Dirt smeared her face, twigs tangled in her curls. The knee of her jeans was torn, but otherwise she looked unharmed.

  No wonder he’d lost her trail. Relief flooded his chest in an unexpected wave of emotion.

  Mother and daughter met in a hug that caused Murphy to look away and stare out the mouth of the cave. He tried not to listen to the soft weeping as he waited for the reunion to end. He was relieved they’d found her, but he didn’t want to stay here too long. Sara needed to get somewhere warm and dry before she caught pneumonia.

  He glanced over his shoulder to see Sara signing frantically to her daughter, who nodded and signed in return. Though he couldn’t understand the language, he understood the emotion written on their faces and saw a bond that would never be severed. Tears rolled down Sara’s cheeks as she hugged her daughter for dear life. The little girl returned the hug and clung to her mother. They communicated without words and Murphy watched the exchange without remorse.

  Sara turned toward him and pointed before signing something to Abby, who glanced at him with eyes as blue as the sky. Sara’s eyes. He couldn’t help but notice the resemblance. She was a miniature Sara.

  He knew he should shift so the shadows concealed his scar, but it was too late. She stared directly at him. Rigid, he waited for her reaction.

  She asked her mother something, her tiny hands moving with lightning speed. Sara smiled at her, then at Murphy, and he felt the power of it like a punch to the solar plexus. Sara Sheldon had the softest smile he had ever seen. She nodded as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Murphy watched her hands slip off her daughter. He broke out in a cold sweat when Abby took a step toward him. Before he could bolt, she was on his lap and hugging him with her tiny arms. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before returning to her mother and snuggling into Sara’s embrace.

  “Is she hurt?” Murphy asked after a moment, his voice more gruff than intended.

  “No, she tripped and fell a couple times but she’s okay.”

  “Then we have to get moving.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes.” He took off his rucksack and dug inside it for a flannel shirt. “Wrap it around her.” He followed it with a wool cap that would keep heat from escaping through her head.

  Sara did as told and tied the gigantic shirt around Abby’s small body. It wasn’t much, but it would help keep her warm.

  “Murphy, it’s still raining. Can’t we wait until it stops?”

  “It isn’t going to stop. There’s a hunting cabin a mile from here. We can go there.”

  Sara nodded. “That’s where we’re staying. Are you sure it’s only a mile?”

  His instincts had been right on. She was staying at the cabin. Were they alone?

  “I’m sure. We can move faster if I carry the girl.”

  He put the rucksack back on and looked to Sara to see if she would allow him to carry her daughter. He’d rather not, but they would move twice as fast if he did, and Sara wasn’t in any shape to do it. She could barely stand.

  “Okay. Let me tell her.”

  Moments later he had the girl zipped inside his parka with her head resting on his shoulder. She fit right inside and would stay warm next to him. Soon she settled in and closed her eyes. Five minutes later she was sound asleep.

  He ignored Sara’s gentle smile and picked up his pace. Sara held onto his parka, weighing against it. He knew she was nearing collapse but he had to get them to shelter. It wouldn’t take long for hypothermia to set in, given her wet clothes and the cold weather.

  Halfway there, Sara stumbled to her knees. Murphy stopped and turned to see her collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily and swaying. He reached down and lifted her to her feet. She looked up with a pale face and tired eyes.

  She glanced longingly at her daughter and said, “Got any room in there for me?”

  “We’re almost there.” He nudged her forward but didn’t let go of her arm.

  “I’ll make it. I’m just a little tired.”

  He ended up slipping an arm around her shoulders and hauling her along beside him. Her arm wound around his waist beneath the rucksack and she leaned into him more with each step. Abby snuggled into his jacket and didn’t stir.

  Rain continued to pour down on them, making the ground slick. Murphy kept Abby’s face tucked inside his collar to shelter her from the rain, and pulled Sara along with him until finally the cabin came into view.

  “Is anyone staying with you?” he asked as they rounded a bend and began the final climb to the cabin nestled in the pines.

  “No.”

  He didn’t pry any further. It wasn’t his business what brought a woman up here alone. They were a good forty miles from the nearest town and this wasn’t exactly easy living. The mountains were harsh and unforgiving; a novice wouldn’t go far up here. Sara had learned that the hard way.

  As they neared the cabin, he noticed a shiny new SUV sitting in the drive. There was something off about it… He saw it before Sara did and came to a stop. The tires were flat. His instincts flared and he pushed Sara behind the nearest tree. She opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head and began unzipping his coat.

  “What’s going on?” she hissed, watching him lift the sleepy girl out of his jacket and hand her over.

  “Let me go in first. Stay here until I come get you.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?” She clutched Abby protectively to her chest. The little girl roused, looked at Murphy then at her mother, yawned, and went back to sleep on her mother’s shoulder.

  He wasn’t going to take any chances. There were plenty of dangers in the mountains and he didn’t like surprises.

  “Just stay here.”

  Without giving her a chance to protest, he moved silently through the trees toward the cabin, reached behind him and pulled his Beretta from his waistband. He liked being prepared.

  In a low crouch he moved around the SUV and inspected each tire. By the time he’d reached the last one, he had thumbed off the safety and felt a familiar tightening in his gut. One glance at the open cabin door had him cursing.

  He looked over his shoulder to where Sara stood on the hill. She had some explaining to do and he was damn well going to get answers.

  Murphy maneuvered around the porch and peered through a window into the cabin. He looked into the kitchen and didn’t see anyone, but the cupboards were open and dishes were broken on the floor.

  Not liking what he saw, he searched through the windows for intruders. Seeing nothing but a demolished living room, he slipped inside and checked the bedrooms and bathroom. The place was empty. Sofa cushions were slashed, tables overturned, lamps broken. The mattress had been flipped and Sara’s clothes were shredded. This wasn’t a random act, it was angry and calculated. A message to Sara. So what the hell did it mean?

  Someone wanted to keep her here, which meant they would be returning. And if the destruction of the cabin indicated that someone’s intentions, Sara was in trouble.

  Cursing, Murphy stalked out of the cabin and up the hill. He had enough supplies to last them until they reached his cabin, but he didn’t want company. He’d much rather drop off his cargo and get home, back to his solitary life. He didn’t have room for a woman and child in his life. He didn’t want a woman and child in his life. But he couldn’t leave them here in danger.

  Damn it to hell, he didn’t want to get involved. Probably a jilted boyfriend or husband out there wanting her to co
me home. The last thing he needed was to get in the middle of a custody battle or messy divorce. Obviously, Sara was hiding up here. Why else would she be in the middle of nowhere? No one came up here unless they were hiding from something. He should know.

  So who and what was Sara hiding from?

  Knowing the child couldn’t hear him, he pinned Sara with a hard stare. “Who the hell are you, and who knows you're here?”

  * * * *

  Sara flinched as if he’d struck her. Her arms instinctively tightened around Abby and she twisted away from Murphy in a protective manner more out of habit than necessity.

  His questions echoed through her head and for a minute she thought her knees were going to buckle. Murphy plucked Abby out of her arms and once again tucked her inside his jacket. Abby didn’t seem to mind being passed from one to the other and settled onto his shoulder without opening her eyes.

  “W-what do you mean?”

  Murphy wouldn’t let her look away; he held her gaze as he searched her soul for truth. She began to wonder if he could indeed see what secrets she hid.

  “Your tires have been slashed and your cabin is destroyed. Someone didn’t want you to leave and they aren’t very happy that you did.”

  Sara felt the blood drain from her face and her knees really did buckle this time. She sank to the ground and clamped a hand over her mouth. Fear coiled inside her like a snake ready to spring. A sob broke free from her lips.

  “He found us,” she whispered in disbelief and horror. “What am I going to do now?”

  She had nowhere else to hide. They’d traveled from one coast to the other, using false names and disguises, only staying in one place long enough to avoid suspicion and never leaving a trail. Everything she bought, she paid for in cash. She’d traded in her Mercedes for an SUV. She didn’t have a cell phone and she never left Abby’s side. Yet they always seemed to find her. What was she doing wrong? Why couldn’t they just leave her alone? They couldn’t live like this forever. If they hadn’t gone for a walk last night and if she hadn’t fallen, then they would have Abby right now…