Free On Thin Ice by Anne Stuart Page B

skin, and she shivered.
    She heard the rustle of bushes and froze. She’d been a fool to fall asleep – she should have kept going, following the water. It could flow in no other direction but downhill, where towns and cities lay. If MacGowan was as good as he said he was he’d be more than capable of catching up with her if he wanted to. Even if he didn’t want to, she was better off taking her chances than staying there like a sitting duck, waiting.
    It was too late now, she thought irritably. If she got caught it was her own damned fault for being so trusting. Trusting MacGowan would come back, trusting that things would work out for the best. Hadn’t she learned first-hand that life wasn’t particularly fair? She might die on this mountainside because of her stupid belief that helping people was her responsibility and her calling.
    The night birds were silent now, and she wondered what kind of four-legged predators roamed around here. She already had enough trouble with the two-legged kind. Would she prefer to be raped and slaughtered by someone like Carlos, or torn to pieces by a jackal or puma or whatever prowled the mountainside? Neither option seemed particularly delightful. Someone, something was getting closer, and she looked around her for a weapon, but there was nothing. Should she try to run, or stay where she was, hoping whatever it was would miss her?
    A shadow loomed out of the darkness, suddenly, and she screamed, then slapped her hands over her mouth when she recognized MacGowan. There was a faint sliver of moonlight, enough to illuminate his gaunt figure, and she could see the trace of an ironic smile.
    “Good thing the Guiding Light are looking miles away, or you would have brought them straight to us, princess,” he growled. “You wanna try not to scream so much?”
    “That was the first time I screamed,” she shot back, indignant. She couldn’t begin to count the number of times she wanted to shriek in total panic, and each time she swallowed it. “Did you find Dylan?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    Beth’s heart sank. “Damn,” she said softly, getting to her feet. Her legs were cramped, and she stumbled a bit before she righted herself, but MacGowan didn’t make any effort to help her. “He was so young.”
    “Still is,” MacGowan said in a disgruntled voice. “Hey, brat, show yourself. Our little nun thinks I killed you.”
    The lanky teenager appeared out of the heavy foliage, a sullen expression on his face. “I can take care of myself,” he muttered.
    “Yeah, right. That’s why you were still trussed up like a Christmas goose when I found you,” MacGowan drawled.
    “I thought the others had killed him, not you,” Beth snapped. “And I told you, I’m not a nun. I’m not even Catholic.”
    “Close enough, Sister Beth,” he said. He was deliberately taunting her, and she knew she shouldn’t rise to the provocation, but she couldn’t help it. She bit back her retort. “And I’ve already lost one meal ticket – I’m not about to let go of another.”
    “Such nobility of spirit,” Beth said under her breath.
    “You betcha, lady,” he shot back. “I’ve been stuck in a hellhole for almost three years – I want the good life when I get back to civilization.”
    “Three years?” She didn’t bother to hide the shock in her voice. “I didn’t realize . . .”
    “And I don’t need your bleeding heart fixating on me. Money will soothe my wounded soul just fine. And if you feel like throwing in a mercy fuck on the side I’d be grateful.”
    “Dude, that’s no way to get a chick,” Dylan scoffed.
    MacGowan glanced at him, amused. “Really? You can give me pointers while we head down the mountain. Based on your vast experience, no doubt.”
    “Hey, I’ve had lots of pussy in my life.” He cast an uneasy glance at Beth. “Excuse me, Sister Beth.”
    “I’m not a nun,” she said through gritted teeth as they started, single file, down the winding