Maybe he was right. This wasn’t the world she normally lived in. Worrying about bad guys and hiding from murderers had never so much as blipped on her radar screen.
Until now.
After what seemed like forever, the two US marshals came back inside the cabin, twin grim expressions marring their features.
Colt held up a small circular device. “Someone tried to put a tracker on the SUV.”
A tracker? She stared at the thing in horror.
“We need to get out of here.” Duncan’s tone held a hint of anger.
“We agreed to wait until dark,” Slade countered. “And waiting will only make it more difficult to track us by sight.”
“I’ve reengaged the car alarm,” Colt added. “They won’t make the mistake of trying to put a GPS device on again.”
“I don’t like it, Slade. We’re sitting ducks here, and they know it.” Tension radiated off Duncan. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm.
“We’re also in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming.” Slade spread his hands. “There isn’t a lot of traffic out here. We could be easily tailed back to Jackson.”
“They may guess we’re heading there anyway,” Colt said. “I mean, there’s only so many places to go on this side of the state. If we were closer to one of the bigger cites, like Laramie or Cheyenne, it would be easier to disappear.”
Duncan straightened beside her. “Can we swing by Jackson, then hit the highway toward one of those larger cities?”
She tightened her grasp on his arm. “Duncan, both Laramie and Cheyenne are on the opposite side of the state without a lot of ways to get there. Wyoming is all about wide-open spaces.”
He grimaced. “Okay, so what is the alternative? Fly out of Jackson?”
The two US marshals exchanged a look. “We might be able to make that an option,” Slade said slowly. “The airport is tiny, but we can hire a private prop plane to get us out of there before anyone is the wiser.”
“Could work,” Colt agreed. “I’ll make those arrangements.”
The tension eased out of Duncan. “Good. I like that plan.”
Chelsey frowned. “We’re all going to fly out together?”
Duncan looked at her in surprise. “Why wouldn’t we?”
“I just meant, you’re free to go home anytime, Duncan.” She had to force herself to stay the words. “I know you asked your boss for extra time off work, but you have a life back in Milwaukee. A job, your family.”
Duncan turned so that they were facing each other. “I’m not leaving you until I know you’re safe, Chelsey.”
Beyond Duncan’s shoulder she could see the US marshals had moved off to the side to talk in private. No doubt, making plans about when to cut Duncan loose.
She’d always known it would happen sooner or later. Her desire to have him stay was her problem, not his. The only good thing about entering witness protection was that she wasn’t leaving her parents behind. She didn’t have siblings, and no extended family, either.
“I don’t want to leave you,” Duncan said in a low voice.
The urge to throw herself into his arms was strong. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to take one step back, then another.
“Excuse me, I need to find the bathroom.” A lame excuse, maybe, but one that ensured Duncan wouldn’t try to follow her.
She ducked into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her. Now that the point of losing Duncan forever was near, she could hardly bear it.
Tears threatened. She swiped at her eyes and took several deep breaths in an attempt to ward them off.
She splashed cold water on her face to hide the evidence of her distress, burying her face in a towel that smelled of laundry soap.
Enough. She’d be fine. She’d do this. God would show her the way.
Bolstered by the thought, she straightened her shoulders and opened the door. A dark shape caught the corner of her eye. Someone was in the bedroom!
“Duncan!” As his name left her lips, a man lunged at her, his strong hands digging into her flesh. She clawed at him, hoping and praying he didn’t have a gun.
Duncan rushed forward first, followed by the two marshals. They quickly wrestled the guy off her, pinning him to the floor.
She eased backward, her heart hammering in her chest, her breathing uneven. Being grabbed like that had been more frightening than being shot at from a distance. She lifted a trembling hand to finger the fresh scratches on her face and neck.
If she hadn’t caught a glimpse of him, he would have gotten to her before she could react. If he’d gotten her out of the cabin, where would they have gone?
She didn’t want to imagine how that scenario might have played out.
“Who are you? Who sent you?” Duncan peppered the guy with questions as Slade tossed the guy’s weapon aside and yanked his arms behind him to handcuff his wrists. Colt went into the bedroom where they guy had gotten in through a window, and quickly locked the door to prevent anyone else from getting inside.
The man sneered but didn’t say a word.
“You’ll want to cooperate with us,” Slade said in a low voice. “Think about it for a moment. I’m sure that gun of yours will match ballistics of at least one unsolved crime, maybe more, which means you’re going to be in federal prison for a long, long time.”
The guy muttered something harsh and nasty under his breath.
“See, that’s not going to help you,” Slade drawled. “Let’s try again. Who are you and who hired you to come after Chelsey?”
The captured guy didn’t speak for a long moment. Finally he said, “I’m just a low man on the totem pole.”
“Yeah, we already figured that out,” Duncan said in a harsh tone. “After all, you failed to get Chelsey, didn’t you? Once we put your mug shot out there for everyone to see, your boss will know you’ve failed him.”
The guy’s face turned beet red. “Fine, it was
