She looked up at him, noting the unfamiliar breadth of his shoulders. His hair gleamed with good health. She reached up and fingered a strand, placing it on his chest and pressing it into place.
“They didn’t make you cut it,” she said. His hair still reached to his chest and she was so glad.
“Nope. Just made me wear it tied back and under my shirt or in a bun.”
“A bun?” Imagining that made her smile. He smiled, too.
His wide mouth drew back to reveal white, even teeth. He’d had the chip in the front repaired and now she could not even remember which tooth he had damaged. His jaw was more prominent, as were his cheekbones.
“You’re too skinny,” she said.
He pressed his mouth closed, still smiling as he nodded. “That’s what Ty says, too.”
“You see him? How is he?”
Colt shook his head. “I don’t talk to him.”
Her brow wrinkled. “But you said—”
“He comes sometimes. He talks to me. I let him see me. But I don’t speak to him. I don’t speak to anyone.”
Her frown deepened.
“But me?” she asked.
He blew out a breath through his nose. “I guess so.”
“How long have you lived like this?”
“Since they released me.”
“Released?”
Didn’t she know? But she didn’t. He could see it in the wide earnest expression that showed nothing but confusion. Well, he sure wasn’t going to tell her.
His lips went tight. He led her down to the car. “Let’s get you out of here.”
She took a few steps and then stopped. “I can’t go to one of the settlements or the police.”
“Why?”
“They’re looking for me. They’ll take me again.”
His eyes shifted and one hand went to the strap of his rifle. “Who?”
“Those two and I don’t know who else. I heard more of them. But I’ve only ever seen Oleg and Anton. Oh, and one other guy. I don’t know his name.”
“Oleg?”
“Russians.”
He looked back toward the road. “They have an armored car.” He swung the rifle before him, lifting it to his shoulder. “Plug your ears,” he said.
She did and he took a shot. The bullet punched a hole in the rear door of the car she had stolen.
“That one isn’t armored.” He swung the rifle so the strap held it behind his back. “Okay. Let’s go farther up into the ridge. There’s a second cabin.”
“Anyone know that?”
“Ty.”
“Let’s go.” She allowed him to help her to the car and flushed as he pulled the safety belt over her distended belly and clipped it in place. She sank into the seat, closing her eyes.
“How long did they have you?” he asked.
She turned to him, opening her eyes. “Since February.”
“February!” He straightened, his brow sweeping down over his dark eyes. That was eight months.
“Yeah.”
“Everyone said you ran away.”
“I didn’t.” She reached and gripped his hand. “Colt, there are more of us. More like me and they’re all from Turquoise Canyon.”
Now he was staring down the road where they had gone. “I could call Jake. Maybe he could pick them up.”
“You have a phone?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“They’ll kill Jake.” The next contraction built across her middle.
He gripped her door frame and glanced down the empty road. “But you said there were others.”
Her eyes widened. “Yes. Three others. They have Marta Garcia. She was in my class in high school. They took her before me. And Brenda Espinoza. She’s five months pregnant. And Maggie Kesselman. They’re all like me.” She motioned to her belly. “Marta’s due any day.”
“What will happen to them now that you escaped?”
A cold shot of terror ripped through her. “I don’t know.” But the possibilities terrified her.
“We have to tell Jake,” said Colt.
His brother was the newest hire on the tribal police force and she knew he could be trusted.
“I think so.”
Her back cramped. “Oof!” she said and clutched her middle.
“We’re getting you somewhere safe. But I need to find a woman to help you.”
“No. Anyone who sees this baby is in danger. Colt, I wish I could have thought of a way by myself. But I’m scared. I need your help.”
“But I’ve never—”
“Neither have I.”
He shook his head and she saw something she had not seen before in him: fear.
“Colt Redhorse, you left me once. Don’t you dare do that again.”
She’d told him not to go. She’d felt something terrible would happen to him. As it turned out, something terrible had happened to both of them.
“I promised to come back.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did. But you were gone.”
She glowered at him.
“I’ll get you somewhere safe, Kacey. I promise.”
Kacey sighed. The air here was so sweet and clean. She thought of the musty basement where she’d been kept for months and shuddered.
“So, call Jake. All right?” he asked.
She nodded.
He rounded the hood at a run. A moment later, they were in motion on the rough road, heading back toward the center of Turquoise Ridge.
* * *
COLT HEADED FOR David SaVala’s claim. It was close and David could be trusted to deliver a message to Ty. Ty could get to Jake. Then Colt was going to take Kacey to his cabin and help her bring this baby into the world. Colt planned on keeping this car hidden but close in case he needed to get Kacey to a hospital. With luck, Ty would be here soon.
Colt had three older brothers and his younger sister. The oldest brother was Kee, newly board certified as a doctor. Colt wished he could bring Kacey to him, but she would not go near the clinic. He planned to find out why. His next oldest brother was Ty, who, unlike Colt, had made it through his service in the US Marines to be honorably discharged. His tales of the service had convinced Colt to join.
But Ty had not chosen to enlist. He had signed to avoid federal prosecution after he and their father were arrested for armed robbery. Ty had already been in the Wolf Posse, the tribe’s gang. The tribal leadership felt he needed discipline, so a deal was struck. Charges dropped if Ty enlisted. His father had previous arrests, so the tribe allowed federal prosecution. Now Ty lived between the gang who had claimed him and the family that couldn’t keep him from choosing that life. Ty had often said it was easier to leave the military than a gang.
Finally