by Cindy Bell
“Oh, you're safe,” Bekki cried out with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“It's over, Bekki,” he assured her and gazed into her eyes. “The ranger confessed to everything. He was in over his head. Penny stumbled upon the distillery and told her friends what she had found. Penny went to the ranger herself to tell him what she had found. Then he killed her to keep it quiet. Only after he visited Penny's campsite did he realize that Penny had told Danielle and Kim as well. He took them hostage, but was just waiting for the roads to be clear to kill them,” he frowned as he stepped closer to her. “If we hadn't gone in when we had, this would have ended very differently,” Nick insisted and kissed her firmly. Then he looked into her eyes. “Don't you ever do that to me again. Do you understand?”
“Do what?” Bekki asked incredulously.
“I never want to think that your life is on the line because of me,” he said through gritted teeth. “Because, whether you understand it or not, Bekki, I would gladly give my life to protect you, I wouldn't survive if you did the same for me.”
“And whether you believe it or not, Nick, I feel the same way,” Bekki frowned softly as she looked into his eyes. “You can't ask me not to feel that way, too.”
“No, I guess I can't,” he sighed and pulled her close against him. She could feel from the tension of his muscles that he had no intention of ever letting her go. “What I still don't understand, is who called 911?” Bekki asked.
“I did,” Nick admitted. “When I was disarming the man at the distillery, I felt a cell phone in his pocket. I figured we are pretty high up here and it might have service. I dialed 911, but I had no idea if the call even went through.”
“You're a genius,” Bekki said and kissed him again.
“And you're a pretty good shot,” Nick smiled.
“Can we go home?” Bekki asked. “Can you get me off this mountain?”
“Absolutely,” Nick promised her.
“We'll give you a ride back to your campsite,” the driver of the SUV offered. “You’re lucky you didn’t try and get down the mountain. We just got a report of a vehicle submerged in water half way down. Luckily the driver and his friend survived. They were camping and left their campsite to try to make it down the mountain before the roads were unpassable.”
“That was probably the abandoned camp we came across,” Nick said thoughtfully. “It’s through there,” Nick said as he pointed in the direction of the campsite where they had found the knife.
“We're getting local law enforcement up here to take care of this as soon as possible. I can tell you which roads to use that have already been cleared as safe to drive,” the driver explained.
Bekki barely heard him. She was lost in the warmth of Nick's hand in hers. She couldn't imagine what her life would be like without it.
***
When they returned to their campsite, Bekki realized it didn't look so bad. She was so exhausted, she might have even curled up in the tent. But Nick and Morris broke it down quickly and packed everything up.
“Let's get out of here,” Nick said firmly. “I'm driving. I know the roads a little better,” he explained to Morris. Morris didn't seem to mind at all. He settled into the backseat with Sammy. Soon, both of them were snoring. Bekki had her arm resting on Nick’s leg as he navigated the narrow roads.
“I still feel terrible for leaving you behind, Nick,” Bekki whispered. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“Bekki, if you hadn't taken Danielle and Kim out when you did, I never would have been bold enough to do what I did,” he grimaced.
“What did you do?” Bekki asked with surprise.
“When the ranger showed up, and sent his men after you, I just couldn't stand the idea of you being hunted down. They had already disarmed me and I took a risk I shouldn't have. I fought for a weapon and I used it to take out the ranger and the other man in the cabin,” he frowned.
“That was the gunfire I heard,” Bekki nodded and closed her eyes. “You're so brave, Nick.”
“I was stupid,” Nick said with a shake of his head. “I could have gotten Morris and me both killed. But I was lucky, too. All I could think of was getting back to you, Bekki. Whether you were there or not, you still saved my life.”
Bekki smiled at his words. They helped her to feel a little better. She closed her eyes as the bumping and rocking of the SUV over the rough roads lulled her into a sleepy state. At some point she must have fallen sound asleep.
***
“Bekki, Bekki, wake up.”
Bekki closed her eyes tighter. She didn't want to wake up. She wanted to sleep for a thousand years and forget about ever camping again.
“Bekki,” the voice said louder. “Wake up.”
Someone rocked her slightly in her sleep. Bekki reluctantly opened her eyes. She found Nick smiling at her.
“What?” she asked sluggishly.
“I've got a surprise for you,” he smiled so wide that she could barely see the glint of mischief in his eyes.
“No,” she said firmly. “No more surprises.”
“Aw, don't be like that,” Nick pleaded and kissed her softly. Bekki was starting to wake completely.
“Where are Sammy and Morris?” she asked as she glanced around the SUV.
“I've dropped them off already,” Nick explained. “Morris let me borrow the SUV so that we could continue our special weekend together.”
“What?” Bekki stared at him. Her eyes widened. “Nick, I love you so much,” she grabbed his hands with her own. “But if you make me go back up that mountain we are going to have a serious problem!”
“Bekki,” Nick laughed a little. “Look out the window,” he titled his head towards the window. Reluctantly, Bekki turned her head towards the window. What she saw was possibly the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on. The grand hotel rose high up before her. There was a fountain in the middle of the well-lit parking lot. Everything sparkled with the promise of luxury.
“Oh Nick,” she sighed as she looked back at him. “Are you serious?”
“I called in a favor,” Nick said with a shrug. “We have one of the presidential suites for the night.”
“Oh, Nick, thank you,” Bekki said with excitement. “It looks wonderful.”
“The best part,” he smiled as he turned off the car. “It has electricity. Which means,” he drummed his hands lightly on the steering wheel. “Hot water!”
“Yes!” Bekki cried out with glee.
Nick slid out of the car and walked around the other side of the car to open her door for her. They walked through the lobby which was scattered with a few late night travelers and some staff. Everyone seemed so relaxed and cheerful. They didn't even seem to notice how disheveled and exhausted she and Nick looked. Soft music was playing in the lobby that was already beginning to soothe Bekki's nerves. It was a far cry from being trapped on a mountain and being hunted by criminals. In the elevator on the way up to their room, Bekki hugged Nick.
“I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be able to let go of you again,” she confessed.
“Good thing it's a big shower,” Nick chuckled. They stepped off the elevator and into the suite. Bekki was enamored by the plush furnishings and the chilled water waiting for them. She grabbed a bottle, and then raced Nick to the bathroom. The hot water felt amazing, and Bekki couldn't wait to wash off the memories of their camping trip. She still felt sadness for Penny's death, but at least her friends had been saved.
After their shower, Bekki wrapped herself up in a fluffy white robe. It felt so soft against her skin. Her body ached from being on the run all night. She caught sight of the bed as Nick stepped out of the bathroom behind her.
“Oh yes,” Bekki said with pure pleasure in her voice. She fell back on the luxurious bed and sighed as the soft mattress and thick pillows swallowed her up. She might as well have been laying in the middle of a cloud, drifting through paradise. “Now, this is my kind of vacation,” she purred.
Nick spra
wled out on the bed beside her and stroked her cheek gently with his fingertips.
“I'll keep that in mind,” he smiled.
The End
More Cozy Mysteries by Cindy Bell
Wendy the Wedding Planner Cozy Mysteries
Matrimony, Money and Murder
Chefs, Ceremonies and Crimes
Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mysteries
Hairspray and Homicide
A Dyed Blonde and a Dead Body
Mascara and Murder
Pageant and Poison
Conditioner and a Corpse
Mistletoe, Makeup and Murder
Hairpin, Hair Dryer and Homicide
Blush, a Bride and a Body
Shampoo and a Stiff
Cosmetics, a Cruise and a Killer
Lipstick, a Long Iron and Lifeless
Dune House Cozy Mystery Series
Seaside Secrets
Boats and Bad Guys
Treasured History
Hidden Hideaways
Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mysteries
Murdering the Roses
Dead in the Daisies
Killing the Carnations
Drowning the Daffodils
Suffocating the Sunflowers
Books, Bullets and Blooms
A Deadly Serious Gardening Contest