Free Tailspin by Elizabeth Goddard Page B

away from making their original meeting place. He could have asked help to come to the cabin, but he and Sylvie couldn’t outlast a gun battle there and would be long dead by the time help arrived. So he’d kept to his original plan, hoping he could evade their pursuers and arrive around the same time as their rescuers.
    He’d asked that they come as soon as possible.
    Now he wished he would have begged.
    Come on, Chief Winters, where’s the helicopter? Where’s our rescue? Didn’t I make it clear we were on the run from killers?
    Not clear enough, apparently. Will’s back and legs ached, but he kept moving toward the rendezvous point and in the opposite direction of the men after Sylvie. At least he hoped.
    Finally, Will was spent. The muscles in his arms had been cramping for an hour. Still, even carrying a woman on his back, over rough and difficult terrain, they had made good time.
    He let Sylvie off his back and nestled her against the thick trunk of a Hemlock. Moss grew at its base along with the vast greenery found in the temperate rainforest. He wished for the bluff with the boulders. That had been good, quiet and safe cover. But they could hide here, too, melt into the forest and wait it out until their rescue helicopter came.
    Will leaned against the tree and hung his head to catch his breath. Gather his composure before she looked too long and hard at his face and saw the truth. Sylvie reached up and squeezed his arm. Reassurance?
    â€œThank you,” she whispered.
    He peered at her. Those hazel eyes would get to him every time. “Don’t thank me yet.”
    â€œAre we going to keep moving? What’s the plan?”
    â€œNo. We stay here. This is our rendezvous point—or near enough. But we need good cover until help comes. When we hear our helicopter, we’ll make a run for the meadow up a ways where it can land. From here, though, if we must, we hold our ground.”
    She held up Snake’s weapon, a grin contrasting the somber expression in her eyes. “Like in an old shoot-’em-up movie.”
    â€œSomething like that, but let’s hope we don’t have to get into a shoot-out.” He hoped all that was left to do was wait and watch. Wait for the rescue helicopter. Watch for their assailants. He perused the woods. Heard nothing. Saw nothing.
    â€œRight, because I’m no marksman.”
    â€œI don’t know how many there are but I suspect two. Three at the most, but I’m hoping for one. I should be able to pick them off if I see them in time.”
    Admiration filled her eyes, surprising him. Something warm tugged at him, fighting to get inside, but Will wouldn’t let it. He didn’t like that he cared what she thought about him. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized her opinion of him mattered. He wouldn’t let himself give in to the draw of her beauty, both inside and out. No, Sylvie wasn’t a manipulator like Michelle had been. Far from it. But that didn’t mean Will would allow himself to be vulnerable again.
    â€œYou’re full of surprises, Will Pierson.”
    â€œThere’s more where that came from.” He didn’t just say that.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” She angled her head.
    He paused before he answered, listening to their surroundings and watching the forest for signs of the men after them. Prickles crawled over him.
    A bullet pinged against the tree above Will’s head. “Get down!”
    Then another cracked the bark.
    Will peered around the tree.
    Aimed.
    Fired twice.
    The man ducked out of sight.
    Again, Will watched and waited. He prayed they could get out of here without facing off with the men, but that was not to be. How many men were out there? Just the one he’d spotted, or were there more? He couldn’t be sure. After too much time had gone by without any more sound or movement, he thought he should check and see if he’d injured the man. He