Читать книгу Fugitive Trail - Elizabeth Goddard - Страница 17

Bryce continued following the footsteps through the nearly thigh-deep snow. With the way the snow was falling, soon the tracks left behind would be completely gone.

The snow was to his knees, and hip-deep in some places. He tried to step into the shooter’s steps to ease his efforts, but it was still slow going. Without snowshoes, he had no hope of picking up the pace, and this kind of exertion was going to exhaust him too quickly. He wasn’t out of shape but navigating the snow-covered rocky terrain took all his effort and focus.

Bryce stopped to catch his breath and take in his surroundings. It was pitch black out here. The only illumination came from the town lights that reflected from the clouds. That reflection helped him to see the way, but it wasn’t nearly enough to let him track down the man who had shot him.

What was Bryce doing out here?

This seemed like a suicide mission.

Standing beneath the low-hanging branches of a spruce tree, he considered his options. If he didn’t silence his gasps for breath they would give him away—that is, if someone was watching and waiting for the chance to take Bryce out. Except Bryce had no doubt the shooter had come for Sierra specifically and taking Bryce out would simply be a bonus.

Anger coiled in his gut. He couldn’t let Raul get to Sierra. His efforts might fall short, but he wouldn’t stop trying.

He drew in a sharp, cold breath. Bryce wouldn’t give up so easily.

Even though Raul wasn’t the typical perp.

Shoving from the spruce tree, Bryce continued following the tracks before it was too late and the shooter was gone for good.

He pushed harder and hiked farther than he thought he could. Finally the snow clouds thinned, allowing the moon to illuminate the forest into an eerie, foreboding scene.

Glancing back, Bryce noticed Crescent Springs was growing smaller. He was putting himself in danger by going deeper into the cold without proper clothing. He wasn’t prepared to face off against the elements.

But he’d only been thinking about getting his hands on Raul, ending this once and for all so Sierra could be safe.

He caught a glimpse of the mountains that stood watch over the small tourist town. Bryce flexed his cold fingers in both hands to shake the stiffness away. He wished he’d worn ski bibs instead of jeans layered with thermals. He hadn’t thought through what having dinner with Sierra would look like—and he certainly hadn’t expected the evening to end this way, with Raul taking a shot at her.

Bryce should have been better prepared.

Regardless, he couldn’t stay out here much longer.

The clack of tree trunks rustling with the wind drew his attention to the south. A crunching sound followed. Was Raul pushing on too now that he knew Bryce would follow?

Frustration boiled through him and warmed him—good.

Just a little farther. God, the tracks are here for me to follow. Help me find this guy before he hurts Sierra!

He allowed the hot anger to fuel his steps.

A shadow moved in the trees ahead of him.

Yes!

Bryce was catching up. His weapon ready, he prepared to pull the trigger.

He aimed at the silhouette of a man in the trees. “Stop, police!”

Only he wasn’t the police anymore. Old habits die hard.

His prey fled deeper into the woods. He was so close! Bryce would get his hands on Raul. Adrenaline pushed him farther and deeper.

A force slammed into his body. The breath whooshed from him. He crashed face-first into the biting snow that rushed into his mouth and nose.

Bryce fought for purchase, grappling with the snow. Reaching for something, anything, to push the weight from him. He twisted around to face the barrel of a weapon.

Reflex kicked in.

Bryce rolled as gunfire blasted into the space where he’d been mere seconds before. Using his training, he knocked the weapon from the man’s hand. Kicked his attacker to the ground as he twisted away and scrambled to his feet, despite the snow impeding his efforts. Bryce searched, digging through the snow and found his weapon. Gasping for breath, he shoved the fear down.

Aiming his weapon, he turned in a circle looking for Raul.

No.

No, no, no.

Bryce had lost him. He’d fled into the night again. Bryce could follow the tracks farther, but the cold was making him numb and slowing both his moving and thinking. Grousing that he’d let the man get the best of him and get away on top of it, he decided to follow the footprints left behind. The cold seeped through his inadequate clothes all the way to his bones. From now on, he’d dress for unexpected treks through snow on cold winter nights. Maybe even drag snowshoes around with him so he’d be prepared.

He took one more step.

A crack resounded directly under his feet—a familiar and terrifying sound.

He stilled and listened. Gurgling water. A river? A stream? Whatever it was, he’d just stepped on the thin layer of ice covering moving water—thin and dangerous.

Another crack and then his foot plunged into the icy water.

Sierra heard the snap and the plunge into water that came after.

Oh, no!

“Bryce!” she shouted.

Gasping for breath, she pushed forward through the snow, following his tracks. She’d seen a man standing there not fifteen yards away through the trees. She had just decided it was Bryce at the moment he’d stepped on the ice.

Now she couldn’t see him at all. “We have to hurry!” she shouted to the sheriff who trailed her.

“Bryce, I’m coming.” She pushed faster, breathing cold hair into her lungs.

“We’re on our way!” Sheriff Locke shouted. “Hold on!”

Holding on when you fell into a frozen river wasn’t always an option. Oh, Lord, please let us reach him in time!

She hiked as fast as she could, wishing she could push faster. “Answer me, Bryce!”

Another splash of water resounded.

“No!” Sierra cried out.

Then she was at the river that weaved through these woods. It was wide and deep enough to be lethal.

Bryce was clinging to a frozen branch as more ice gave away again beneath him. He held tight…for now. She knew that he would soon succumb to hypothermia and would no longer be able to hold himself up on that branch.

“Stay back.” His voice was commanding, but she heard the hint of fear. The shivering in his words.

That sound shook her to the core.

“No.” She crawled along the thick snow-covered branch and scooted along until she reached him. The sheriff found a boulder nearby so he wouldn’t risk stepping through the ice. Together they hefted Bryce up and out of the river.

They dragged him away from the riverbank.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “Scratch that. It’s a stupid question. Let’s get you back.”

He wasn’t out of danger yet.

Shivering, he gasped for breath. “Thank you. But you shouldn’t—”

“Let’s get you back.” Sheriff Locke’s voice was authoritative. No nonsense.

As was Sierra. “Of course we should have. Now, let’s go and get you warm.”

“But he’s still out there. Raul is still out there.” Bryce teeth chattered. “I can’t let him get to you.”

What was it about Bryce that made him feel personally responsible for protecting her from Raul? It confounded her and warmed her heart at the same time. But she needed to stick to the no-nonsense attitude. Experience had taught her it was the best way to push past his stubbornness.

“I’ll get more deputies,” the sheriff offered. “We’ll follow the tracks until we find him, Bryce. In the meantime, you’re going to freeze to death if you don’t get out of those clothes.”

“Sheriff Locke,” she said. “It’s too treacherous to go after Raul at night. You see what happened to Bryce. He almost got swept away in the river. You can’t send deputies out there after him.”

The sheriff growled. “I’ll let the state boys know and we’ll see if they want to join in the search tonight. He’s too close to let get away. We all know the risks. Leaving him out there is also a risk.”

“I agree. That’s a big risk to Sierra.” Bryce forced the words out through his shivers.

Sierra didn’t want to argue with the two of them. They had a point, but the danger was real to anyone who was going to search for him in this terrain on a cold snowy night.

She kept her mouth shut as they hiked the rest of the way back to town, Bryce between them. His legs weren’t moving too well—numb and cold—and he was unstable on his feet.

What if they hadn’t followed him? What then? Bryce would have died out there tonight.

“Are you sure it was Novack?” Sheriff Locke finally asked.

“I fought with him. But I didn’t get a look at his face. It was too dark and happened too fast. But it must have been the same man who attacked Sierra today in town. Who else could it have been tonight?” Bryce’s words slurred as his body grew colder. “I shouldn’t have let him get the best of me.”

“Need I remind you that you’re not law enforcement? You should have waited on me and my men or the state officers in town.”

“Do we have to talk about this now?” Sierra asked. She wanted to get Bryce somewhere warm before it was too late and frostbite took his legs or worse. The sheriff could wait until later to dress him down. But he seemed to disagree as he continued his scolding.

“You can’t go chasing people through the woods and think you’re going to detain them.”

“I might not have the power of the law behind a badge,” Bryce said again through chattering teeth. “But you can bet I’ll detain them.”

Sheriff Locke finally chuckled. “At least you’re single-minded. I wouldn’t stand in your way, honestly. Just doing my duty to remind you to keep it legal. I can’t really say I object to you trying to keep our town safe. My department is spread thin with this ice festival. And we certainly don’t need a shooter scaring off tourists from our one claim to fame.”

Sierra thought they would never make it to the toy store. The cold had seeped into her bones so much her hands shook as she fumbled to unlock the door.

“I think we should get him to the clinic,” Sheriff Locke suggested.

“They’re not open this late.”

“They are with the festival. Let Doc make sure he’s okay.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I just need to get warm.” He started to cross the street.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked.

“To my hotel room.”

She grabbed him and swung him back around. “Oh, no, you don’t. Not until I’ve made sure you’re going to be okay.”

The sheriff took this opening to back away. “Call me if you need anything, Sierra. I’m going to let the other agencies know about what happened tonight. We might start combing the woods soon. But you stay here. I don’t want you out there. Understand?” He gave her a pointed look.

“Sure.” She focused back on Bryce as the sheriff left them.

“I’m soaked through,” he said. “I need new clothes and those are in my room at the hotel.”

Despite his protests, he let her lead him through the store and into the back apartment.

She ushered him next to the fireplace. “Dad has a pair of pants you can borrow while we dry those,” she said. “And I’m going to take a look at your arm. If it’s more than a graze, then you are going to the clinic after all. Do you hear me?”

Bryce said nothing. Concern crawled over her. She should force him to go see a doctor anyway.

Dad rose from the recliner. Samson sniffed Bryce and released a low groan.

“What happened?” Dad asked. “Don’t tell me you—”

“He took a tumble, that’s all,” she said and gave Dad a warning look.

“You don’t need to sugarcoat it,” Bryce said. “I fell through the ice.”

Dad’s eyes widened. “You—”

“Dad. Will you please get Bryce some clothes?”

Dad nodded. “All right. Can you follow me?”

“Sure,” Bryce said through gritted teeth.

Was he trying to hide the chattering?

Dad led him upstairs to his bedroom. Now that both men were out of sight, Sierra collapsed into a chair, pressed her face into her arms on the table.

“Oh, Lord,” she whispered. Raul was in town and closing in. He was after her.

Samson nudged her and whined. She weaved her fingers through his fur and held on tight. Held on for dear life. Would this ever end?

If and when it did, would she survive? Would the people around her get hurt—or even killed? Bryce shouldn’t be here putting himself in harm’s way for her. Somehow she needed to find the strength to push him away for his safety, and that of her heart.