Free Nowhere to Run by Valerie Hansen Page A

ears the way she always did.
    Seth avoided answering. Instead, he lifted the edge of the tattered blue tarp, handed her the car’s keys and changed the subject. “Trunk or back door?”
    â€œBoth. Some of Patty’s toys are in the backseat, but a lot of stuff is in the trunk, too.”
    As Marie fingered the key ring, looking for the right key, headlights swept the station yard like the rotating beacon of a lighthouse.
    Seth instantly grabbed her and pulled her into a crouch beside him, one arm around her shoulders, the other hand cupping her head. He hadn’t intended to touch her, let alone embrace her, but circumstances had dictated a faster, more sure response than she’d made and his survival instincts had taken over.
    Barely breathing, he held very still. The scent of her hair was like vanilla, its silkiness even finer than he’d imagined. She was trembling as if the nighttime temperature was icy cold.
    â€œYou all right?” Seth whispered.
    Her head nodded slightly. “Was that him?”
    â€œI don’t know. It could have been anybody. Even if it wasn’t that van, we don’t want to attract attention and make folks think we’re robbing your car.”
    â€œGood point.” She shifted her weight away from him so she was no longer leaning against his chest and pushed back her blowing hair once again. “I think they’re gone.”
    â€œYeah.” Seth was reluctant to release her even though he knew there was no reason to continue to hide.
    He straightened and took her hand to help her up. “I’ll hold the edge of the tarp and you sneak underneath. If another car comes by, I’ll drop the flap down and you can hide under there till it’s safe again.”
    â€œGotcha.” She hesitated and smiled at him. “Thanks. For everything.”
    â€œMy pleasure, ma’am.” His gaze shifted to the nearly deserted street before he looked back toward his truck. “Just make it snappy. The sooner we’re done and out of here, the better it’ll be.”
    All Marie said in response was a fervent, “Amen.”
    Â 
    Marie had gathered up some of the plastic grocery sacks in which she’d hurriedly crammed so many of their belongings. Their departure from home hadn’t been organized the way she’d have preferred, but cramming things into sacks and pillowcases still beat leaving their personal possessions behind merely because they’d lacked adequate luggage.
    She ducked out from under the tarp and handed Seth the plastic bags she’d chosen. Clearly he was standing guard in spite of the large raindrops that had begun to dot the landscape.
    â€œIs this all?” His head swiveled from side to side.
    â€œAlmost. One more peek in the trunk and I’ll be done.”
    â€œWell, hurry it up. I’m about to get soaked standing out here.”
    â€œYou don’t have to snap at me.”
    Although his reply was muffled as she ducked back beneath the tarp, she was certain it was gruff.
    Terrific. She made a face. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Seth to take her plight seriously; it was just that she didn’t need him or anyone else ordering her around. She had enough problems without adding a taciturn stranger to the mix.
    But he wasn’t really a stranger, was he? She’d only known him for a couple of days, yet he was already such a necessary element of her life that she didn’t know what she’d do if she couldn’t rely on his expert assistance.
    Except for the increasing wind and thunder, the country night was quiet, especially when compared with the constant city background noise she was used to in Baton Rouge. Here the air smelled fresh and there were no sirens, no constant drone of traffic, no shouts or shots in the distance to spoil the ambience.
    Consequently, when she heard a sharp, yipping bark, Marie froze and took notice. She closed the trunk with a soft