Eli caught his breath as she touched his skin, and he knew his emotions were highly charged. That was the only explanation.
“I’ve been growing my beard to infiltrate the group to see if you were here. I’m not one of them.”
“You’re real. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. You’re real.” Her arms went around his waist and she gripped him tightly.
He held her for a moment with her head tucked below his chin. “We have to go. We don’t have much time. Can you handle a long walk?”
She drew back. “I’ll do anything to get out of here.”
“When we leave, be quiet, very quiet. Don’t make a sound. We have to run for the fence and freedom. The FBI will be waiting, but we have to make it past Buford and his clan.”
“Okay.”
“Do exactly what I tell you.”
“Okay.”
“Caroline, do you understand me?” Eli asked, not sure if she was comprehending him or not. “Say something beside okay.”
“Yes. I understand you. You’re a Texas Ranger and you’re taking me out of here. And we have to be quiet.”
“Good.” Gripping her hand, he led her from the room. He closed the shelf, then helped her up the steps and outside.
Caroline stared at the sky. “Oh my. Oh my. The stars, the moon. I thought I’d never see them again.”
Eli gave her a second to adjust. “Let’s go,” he said, and they slipped into the woods.
They didn’t get far before Caroline faltered and fell to the ground. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she muttered, gasping for breath.
Eli saw how weak she was and realized this wasn’t going to be easy. “Are you okay?”
She looked toward the sky again. “Yes. As long as I can see all that light, I’m fine.”
Eli doubted that. He lifted her to her feet and they diligently pushed on. He had studied the compound and the people thoroughly and knew exactly where Peter was on his rounds with the dogs. He went in the opposite direction.
Caroline fell again and Eli again helped her to her feet, then they trudged on toward the fence.
Caroline stumbled once more, but this time she didn’t get up. Darkness surrounded them and Eli couldn’t be sure that she was aware she was out of the room. Or if she was functioning rationally. She seemed lifeless and spent, but he would not give up on her. He’d get her out of here.
He picked her up and carried her, while she whimpered in protest. He kept walking through the bushes.
Freedom wasn’t far away.
Eli kept his mind and sight on that one thing—freedom. His arms ached, as did the muscles in his back, but he didn’t stop. He hadn’t saved Ginny, but he was determined to save Caroline Whitten.
The farther they went into the woods, the thicker the darkness became, impeding their progress. Eli moved through the brushy areas on pure instinct. Branches scraped their skin and tugged at their hair, but he didn’t pause. He stepped into a hole and almost went down, but managed to stay upright with Caroline in his arms.
Just when the journey seemed endless, Eli saw the silver fence glistening in the moonlight. He stopped beside a fallen log and sank down, loosening his hold on Caroline, who eased to his side.
“You okay?” he asked, taking a deep breath.
“Yes.”
“The fence is about fifty feet in front of us. It’s eight feet high and made of barbed wire and mesh. You have to climb over it. Do you think you can?”
“I’ll try.”
Eli shook his head. “No. You have to do better than that. Ahead is freedom and behind is Amos Buford. If you don’t make it across, he’ll kill both of us.”
She trembled. “I’m so weak and my head’s fuzzy.”
“I know, and I’ll help you all I can, but you have to help yourself. You have to make it over the fence. When you reach the other side, run as fast as you can. Don’t look back and don’t wait for me.”
She wrapped her arms around herself.
“Do you understand?”
She nodded, but Eli wasn’t so sure she did. It didn’t matter. He’d literally carry her across if he had to.
“Rest for a bit, then we have to go,” he said.
“What did you say your name was?”
He was taken aback for a moment, but pleased. She was asking questions. That meant her mind was functioning.
“Elijah Coltrane, but everyone calls me Eli.”
“Thank you, Eli, for getting me out of that room.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied, loving the way she said his name, soft and low with a husky undertone.
“I lost part of myself back there—my pride, my dignity and my self-esteem.”
“It’s called brainwashing. Buford and his cult are very good at it.”
She shivered and tightened her arms.
“It’s almost over. We just have to get over the fence.” He paused. “Are you ready?”
She took a ragged breath. “Yes.”
He stood and cocked his head, hearing a sound in the distance. The Dobermans were coming. Damn. Buford knew they were gone, and the dogs were on their trail.
Their time had just ran out.
“What is it?” she asked in a worried voice.
“They’re coming. I can hear the dogs.”
“Oh no!”
“Remember what I told you. Get over and run, and don’t look back.”
He grabbed her hand and they sprinted for the fence. Eli heard the yelps of the dogs, getting closer and closer.
CHAPTER THREE
AT THE FENCE, Eli caught her around the waist and lifted her in the air. “Reach for the wire and start to climb. Even if the barbs cut you, keep going.”
Her bare feet brushed against him. “Dammit. Where are your shoes?”
“Back there,” she replied, grasping a wire.
There was nothing he could do about that now. He climbed behind her, acting like a shield as he boosted her up. He’d forcefully shoved her to the top when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement as the dogs charged toward the fence.
Caroline was over. “Run, run, run!” Eli shouted.
He made to swing over the top, but one of the dogs leaped into the air and clamped its teeth on his right arm, banging him against the fence. Suspended in air, the canine fiercely held on to his prey. Eli struggled to dislodge it, but the dog’s jaws were strong.
Caroline turned and saw Eli struggling with one of the dogs. She ran back. The Dobermans saw her and switched their attention to her, lunging against the fence. This broke the other dog’s concentration and it fell to the ground, freeing Eli, who also tumbled to the ground—but on the right side of the fence. He quickly jumped to his feet and grabbed her hand. They hurried into the woods as the first clan member reached the fence, yelling unchristian words at them.
Eli kept running, pulling Caroline behind him. On and on they raced through the thicket. Eli’s arm burned, but he didn’t pay any attention. He had one goal—to get them to the country road and safety before the clan caught up with them.
They