Deadly Mountain Refuge: Mountain Ambush ; Mountain Hideaway

by Christy Barritt

  Trent swerved as a tree appeared in their path. The landscape became thicker and harder to manage. They had to slow down. And that meant that the guys chasing them had a better chance of catching up.

  Just then, a bullet whizzed by, lodging itself in a nearby tree. Splinters of wood flew at them.

  Tessa looked behind her. Their pursuers were no longer running. It was worse.

  “They’ve got sniper rifles out!” she yelled.

  As he turned again, a trail came into view. Perfect. At least this would make their journey easier and less treacherous.

  Just as the thought entered her mind, another bullet whizzed by, narrowly missing them. She held on tighter to Trent as the trail became steeper.

  The snowmobile slipped, but only for a moment. They whizzed away until the bullets could no longer reach them.

  Thank You, Jesus.

  Her relief was short-lived, as a fence appeared.

  If they didn’t slow down, they’d ram right into it the tall stone structure.

  * * *

  Trent swerved, trying to miss the wall in front of them. The snowmobile teetered, and he feared it might tip. Snow sprayed behind them at their sudden movement, and Trent’s heart raced as he anticipated what would happen next.

  They came mere inches from hitting the wall, from tipping over. Thankfully, the vehicle righted. He let out a breath of relief.

  He didn’t ease up on the accelerator but kept going. They didn’t have any time to waste. But this wall, this fence, was going to be a problem. He wasn’t sure if it stretched all the way around the resort or not. But somehow, they had to get off this property. Otherwise Leo’s men would definitely find them, and Trent couldn’t let that happen.

  He followed the wall, hoping to find a gate. There had to be a service entrance around here somewhere that led to the main road.

  The snowmobile hit a stump buried under a drift and the vehicle slowed. This was going to be tough. The terrain was too thick to be navigated easily by a snowmobile, but he was going to push the vehicle as hard as he could. He only hoped that the men chasing them didn’t think ahead and search for a service entrance, also. If so, Trent and Tessa were on borrowed time.

  Bingo! Just as he suspected, there was a gate up ahead. Now he prayed that it was unlocked or at least old and rusty so he could break through.

  He slid to a stop and jumped off, instantly rattling the chain connecting the two wooden doors of the gate. It was old and rusty, yet still solid.

  This wasn’t good.

  “Here, let me try,” Tessa said.

  She pulled out a cheap-looking multitool kit, similar to a Swiss Army knife, and began fiddling with the latch. He watched carefully, curious as to what she was doing and where she’d gotten the knife. Obviously, she was attempting to pick the lock. But why in the world did she think she could?

  To Trent’s surprise, the lock popped open. She jerked the chain down and pushed the gates open triumphantly.

  “How...?” Trent started.

  She shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “In addition to my self-defense and gun classes, I also learned how to pick locks. It seemed useful.”

  “The toolkit?”

  “I found it in the glove compartment of the car. I slid it into my pocket before we abandoned the vehicle, just in case it came in handy. Looks as if it did.”

  “How fortuitous.” Wasting no more time, Trent and Tessa climbed back onto the snowmobile and took off down the service road, grateful for the smoother surface. They’d make better time this way.

  The cold air slapped him in the face and nearly took his breath away. But he couldn’t think about it now. All that mattered was getting away as fast as possible.

  As he traveled he put together snippets of a plan in his mind. Hopefully he still had phone service, because he needed to call Zach and see if his friend could pick them up ASAP. Then they needed to enlist more help. Find evidence. Put an end to all this.

  He kept his eyes open for a break in the trees. If he found one it could mean the highway was approaching. He hoped this back road had cut enough time off their travel that Leo’s men wouldn’t be able to catch up for a while.

  As Tessa’s arms tightened around him, he wondered if he was projecting his past onto her. Was that the reason he felt so determined to see this through? He knew he had an innate sense of justice. He wouldn’t leave a woman stranded without help. But it wasn’t just his nature. He knew that how he felt about Tessa ran deeper than that. Though they’d only known each other a couple of days, the stress of this situation had quickly deepened their bond.

  A clearing appeared in the distance. That had to be the road leading from the ski resort. It was going to be slick from the snow, but he hoped it was still passable. The road crews probably hadn’t made it this way yet, since the only thing up here was the abandoned resort.

  He slowed, but only for a moment, as he reached the narrow stretch. He spotted no one approaching from either side, so he carefully maneuvered the snowmobile onto the asphalt there. Once he was steady on the street, he started away from the ski lodge.

  This was a different road, he realized. They would have passed their abandoned car by now otherwise. Here, a river snaked far below, probably breathtaking in other circumstances. If he could only make it far enough that there was some sort of landmark where Zach could find them.

  “Trent, they’re behind us,” Tessa said.

  He glanced back and saw a car headed their way. The men were still far away, but that meant they only had a little time. Plus, they were running out of gas. He guessed they had five minutes max.

  “Do you trust me?”

  She hesitated before saying, “Yes.”

  “Then, we’re going to have to jump. Okay?”

  “Jump? Are you crazy?”

  “It’s our only choice. As soon as there’s a good spot, we’ve got to get off and hide.”

  “Okay.” Her voice was stained with uncertainty.

  He couldn’t blame her. The possibility was daunting.

  He saw just the place up ahead. It was a grove of trees they could duck behind. It would be perfect. But he had to time it just right.

  As the area approached, he slowed slightly. On a mental count of three, he eased off the accelerator, swung his leg over the snowmobile and grabbed Tessa. They jumped into the embankment beside them.

  He prayed the risk paid off.

  SIXTEEN

  Trent and Tessa rolled across the ground, tumbling over each other several times before coming to a stop. Snow cocooned them, burying them with cold, icy layers.

  Tessa found herself nestled on top of Trent. Her eyes widened at their closeness. Or perhaps it was the snow, the exhilaration of what they’d done or the astonishment that they’d survived. Whatever it was, her heart beat out of control.

  She had to get focused.

  Laurel, she remembered. She had no right to be attracted to or having feelings for this man.

  “Don’t move!” Trent whispered, obviously unaffected.

  She remained still, all too aware of his presence. Wanting to slide off. To run.

  But instead she stayed still, willing herself to break their gaze. Instead, her eyes went to his lips.

  Bad idea.

  All she could think about was how they might feel against hers. Which she had no right to do. It didn’t matter that she’d misread the bond between them. She had to put an end to this.

  Instead, she stared at the snow, hoping Trent couldn’t feel her heart thumping out of control against his chest.

  Just then, she heard a crash.

  The snowmobile had gone over the ledge.

  Tessa prayed Trent’s plan worked and that the men assumed Tessa and Trent had gone over the cliff, as well. If not, they were both goners.

  The sound of a vehi
cle crunching through the snow shattered the silence around them. Leo’s men. This was the moment of truth.

  Would they be discovered?

  “You’re doing great,” Trent whispered, his voice light in her ear and his breath soft and warm on her cheek.

  She forced herself to keep her eyes focused on the snow. She feared Trent might see a glimpse of her attraction to him. And that was all it was—a moment of attraction. After Leo, she knew she was better off alone.

  The vehicle slowed and finally there was a moment of silence. It had stopped, Tessa realized. Only feet from them.

  Had they been spotted?

  A car doors opened. Feet clomped on the packed snow on the road.

  “The snow must have gotten the best of them,” one of the men said. “It looks as if their snowmobile went down the embankment and into the river below. The tracks lead straight off the road. The river is still flowing, though. It must have carried everyone away.”

  Silence—except for some footsteps. Were the men lurking closer? Would they be discovered?

  Trent pulled his arms tightly around her, as if he sensed her anxiety.

  The cold was starting to get to her again, too. Though Trent was probably shielding her from the bulk of the frozen snow below, there was definitely a coat of white iciness around her. It was beginning to seep through her hair, to tickle her neck.

  They couldn’t stay like this much longer.

  “I’ll send a crew farther downstream to look for their bodies,” the man continued. “It was a big risk taking a vehicle like that out on this ice. Especially on roads like this.”

  Silence.

  “You mean Grath? We found him, and one of our guys is taking him back to Virginia. We’ll let your doctor look at him. People will ask too many questions otherwise.”

  Virginia. That was where Leo was still basing his operations. Wilmington Heights, maybe? Tessa stored away that information in case it came in handy later.

  “All right. We’ll clear the area and meet you. It looks as if this assignment is over. I know it’s not the way you wanted it to end. But we got the same result.”

  Snow crunched again.

  Tessa dared not breathe as she felt a shadow fall over her. The men were close—too close.

  She continued to hold her breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

  Finally, the shadow disappeared. Footsteps retreated. Car doors slammed.

  A few minutes later, tires dug into snow and ice. The humming motor disappeared from earshot.

  They were safe. At least for now, they were safe.

  Trent gently prodded Tessa up, and they emerged from their snowy grave. Tessa glanced around. The men were gone. Thank goodness they were gone.

  “I can’t believe they didn’t see us,” Tessa said.

  “Maybe that’s because we have someone watching out for us.”

  She caught his gaze, surprised at the sincerity in his voice. “You mean God?”

  He nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve seen Him answer prayers before.”

  She wiped the snow from her pants and jacket, unsure what to say except, “What now?”

  “I’m calling my friend. I’m hoping he can pick us up—and soon.” Trent gaze scanned the area around them. “In the meantime, we can’t stand here. It’s too dangerous, especially if those men come back to look at the crash site.”

  “Where do we go?”

  He nodded up the hill. “There are some boulders up there. We should be able to take shelter behind there until we know for sure the coast is clear.”

  He took her hand and helped her up the incline, being mindful of her injured leg. Once they were settled behind the rock, he pulled his gloves off. His fingers were red, but he didn’t seem to care. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed.

  Tessa hardly heard him talk. The dampness was starting to trickle down her neck and into her clothing. She hoped—dare she say, prayed—that they wouldn’t be out here too long.

  When Trent hung up, he looked at her. “My friend is about twenty minutes away from the old ski lodge. He should be able to find us here. It’s going to be okay, Tessa.”

  Something about the certainty in her voice brought her comfort. “What friend is that?”

  “His name is Zach. We went to police academy together and worked on the force in Richmond for a while. He was a detective in Baltimore up until recently. He’s one of the few people I actually trust.”

  He slipped his gloves back on and peered around the boulder.

  “Do you see anything?” Tessa asked.

  “Not yet. But we can’t get too comfortable. How many men does this Leo guy have?”

  “He can afford however many he wants. Money isn’t an issue.”

  “It seems as though he has a whole army.”

  “For the right price, men will do anything.” As she said the words, despair bit at her. Leo had even betrayed her for the right price, hadn’t he?

  He squeezed her arm. “Not all men.”

  The look in Trent’s eyes made her throat go dry. Maybe all men weren’t like Leo. Trent had proved himself to be honorable. It was just that she had such a hard time believing in people. She’d been stabbed in the back, and the pain of that scar made her afraid to ever put her faith in someone again.

  She dragged her gaze away. “That’s good to know.”

  * * *

  Trent saw a green SUV pull to the side of the road and the headlights flickered three times. It was Zach.

  He was just in time. If he and Tessa were out here too much longer, there would be serious repercussions. The cold was biting, but it was the wind that nearly did them in. It blew down the mountainside, all the way through his jacket and layers of clothing.

  “Come on.” He led Tessa down the mountain, keeping one hand on her arm so she wouldn’t lose her balance. Without wasting any time, they climbed into the back of the SUV. Heat filled the car, a welcome feeling after everything they’d been through.

  “You two look terrible,” Zach said.

  “Good to see you, too,” Trent said.

  Zach flashed him a quick smile before turning serious. “I need to get you somewhere dry or, as my grandmother would say, you’ll catch your death. I’m Zach, by the way,” he told Tessa.

  “Tessa,” she said with a nod. Her teeth chattered together and her arms were drawn over her chest.

  “Seat belts on. These roads are slick. Let’s get out of here. I have the perfect place reserved.”

  Trent paused, waiting to see if Tessa needed help. It took some tugging, but she finally latched the belt in place. He pulled the strap across his chest also and settled back, happy to have Zach with them.

  Zach tossed something in the backseat. “I thought you might be hungry. There are some sandwiches in there. I also have some coffee up here. Probably not hot anymore, but at least warm.”

  Trent took a cup and handed it to Tessa. She slowly took a sip and closed her eyes with delight.

  “This is just what I needed,” she said. “Thank you.”

  Trent took his own cup. The drink was tepid, but it was just warm enough to lift his spirits for a moment.

  “Any updates since we spoke last?” Zach asked, glancing in his rearview mirror.

  Trent glanced at Tessa before launching into a brief update. When he finished, his friend shook his head. “It sounds as if you’re lucky to be alive. Both of you. And these guys who are after you, they’re no joke.”

  “You don’t have to tell us that,” Trent said.

  He had the strangest desire to pull Tessa toward him. To keep her warm. Purely for survival, he told himself. But he knew there was more to it than that. There was something about her that drew him to her, that made him want to be close.

  When she’d been so near him in the snow after they’d abandoned
the snowmobile, he’d thought he’d seen a flicker of attraction in her eyes, also. He hadn’t allowed himself to even think about another woman since Laurel. But maybe something was changing inside him.

  As they ate their sandwiches, Tessa was surprisingly quiet. All of this was a lot to process. “What now?”

  Trent sighed and shook his head. She asked that question a lot, and he wished he had a good answer to give her. “I’m not sure if we’ll outrun Leo. So we need to think of a way to nail him.”

  “If we have internet, I’m pretty handy with a computer,” Tessa said. “I can probably hack into their system and see if they have anything new on file. I won’t be able to get to their hidden files, probably.”

  “You think you can pull some information from their site?” Trent asked. “Maybe enough info that we could go to the FBI?”

  She nodded slowly. “I’m sure they have more firewalls in place now, especially after what happened last night. My biggest worry is that the minute I hack into their server, they’ll be able to trace where the hack is coming from. I can try to redirect it, but I can’t guarantee how long that will last.”

  “We can’t risk that.” He shook his head. “We can’t keep running. There’s got to be another way.”

  “Maybe after this, there won’t be any more running. I mean, I can probably scramble it for a certain time period. It might be worth the risk.”

  He shook his head. “You’re in no position to run anymore. You need to see a doctor.”

  She didn’t argue. Instead, she lay her head against the window and closed her eyes.

  Good. She needed rest.

  So did Trent, but he would never admit it.

  “I don’t need to tell you how serious this is,” Zach said.

  “By no means,” Trent said, leaning forward. “I’ve been chased and pursued more ways than I can count. This nearly makes those terrorists over in the Middle East look like amateurs.”