“Remember that argument my father heard this morning when he was out in the barn?”
She nodded, and a crease formed between her eyebrows.
“I found a woman by the line camp. She’s scared and doesn’t want anyone to know she’s here. And there was a truck that stopped in front of our driveway...” Michael still wasn’t sure about the truck. Was the driver lost, or was something more sinister at play?
Isabel frowned. “Do you suspect domestic abuse?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
Ellie was facing some sort of threat—that much he was sure of—but why had she said she didn’t know? He hadn’t gotten the sense she was lying... Michael blew out a breath. “She’s soaking her feet in the tub, but a little soup would help her warm up.”
“Of course.” She grabbed a mug from the dishrack and ladled a steamy scoop. “What do I say to your father if he asks where you are?”
Michael couldn’t bring himself to ask her to lie. “Tell him I’ll give him the details later. The woman doesn’t want anyone to know she’s here.”
She handed him the mug and a large bag of trail mix. “Let me know if you—”
“Did you hear that?” Michael could have sworn he’d just heard a cry. Ellie’s cry.
Isabel shook her head. “Not sure what you’re talking about...”
“Lock the door behind me.”
Michael didn’t hear her reply. He was already running out the door toward the greenhouse.
THREE
Ellie sat on the wooden bench, huddling over the tub of warm water, as she combed through the chain of events that had started in the cave, searching for something that would help her understand what was happening. How could she protect herself if she didn’t know what she was running from?
Maybe it was just a coincidence that the people in the white truck had stopped in front of the Tang Ranch driveway. If it wasn’t, who were they? The man who’d attacked her wouldn’t have had time to get a truck and track her down so quickly...would he?
Ellie shivered. Something about being followed, being tracked, was ringing a bell, distant and muted, from behind that hazy veil in her mind.
You are safe, she told herself, but it didn’t help. The greenhouse was designed to offer an unbroken view across the valley and the mountains, with floor-to-ceiling windows that opened out into the snowy landscape. And under any other circumstances, it would have felt idyllic to sit there, but right now, Ellie felt exposed despite the fogged panes. She craned her neck, checking the windows behind her. The driveway and the other buildings of the ranch were out of sight. All she could see through the streaks in the moisture and melting snow was the faint darkness of the forest and lots more snow.
The moment Michael had walked out of the little building, she’d had the urge to follow him, to get out of this glass box that put her on display. But where would she go? Inside, where people she didn’t know would see her? One of those people could very well be the person who’d attacked her. No, she had to wait for Michael, to keep a low profile until she figured out who she was running from.
Ellie shifted for another visual sweep of the vast expanse of land behind her, but when she turned, her breath caught in her throat. Two figures moved from the direction of the corner of the house, the corner where she and Michael had come from. She jumped up and ran, barefooted, across the cold stones toward the door, trying to get a better look. She peered through the streaks on the glass. She couldn’t make out the details, but one wore a navy blue coat with a black knit cap and black all-weather pants, and the other wore a gray jacket and pants with a black hat. Both men—their wide shoulders and narrow hips made her almost sure they were men—wore gators pulled up over their noses and mouths. They were following the path she and Michael had made through the snow, heading straight for the door to the greenhouse.
Ellie’s heart pounded harder, threatening to jump out of her chest. These could be people who work here, she reasoned. Michael had said there were other people on the property.
“Don’t get paranoid,” she whispered to herself. “Just pretend you belong here.”
But the intensity of the way both men stared at the greenhouse door—at her? Yes. She wasn’t just being paranoid. These men were looking for her.
Ellie shuffled backward until she hit the bench. She stumbled, stubbing her toe on the tub. The water splashed out as she searched the little building for somewhere to hide. Before she could assess her options, the man in the blue jacket pulled open the door and charged in.
“Leave!” she yelled. “You’re trespassing.”
“Oh, we are leaving,” grumbled the man in gray. “And you’re coming with us.”
Ellie scrambled around the table, hitting her shin on the opposite bench. Gray Jacket headed around the left side of the table and Blue Jacket went right.
“Michael,” she gasped before a large gloved hand clamped over her mouth.
She sucked in a breath then jabbed her elbow at Blue Jacket. He dodged it, but his hand loosened from her mouth.
She heaved in a breath. “Mic—”
The man growled and the hand tightened over her mouth again. Ellie wriggled, lifted her legs and slipped out from under the man’s grip. But the guy in the gray coat caught one of her legs, pulling it out from under her, and she tumbled back onto the assailant in the blue coat. She struggled and squirmed, but both men held her tight.
“I didn’t agree to break into this house,” Gray Jacket muttered. “Someone knows she’s here. They’ll look for her.”
“It won’t matter if we get out of here,” the other man said. “Now.”
Gray Jacket muttered something else, but whatever debate was being waged, he wasn’t winning because they headed for the door. Her feet were bare and vulnerable. Even if she did escape, how could she run in the snow without boots? Ellie struggled and yelled muffled cries through the hand that was firmly clamped over her mouth. Please hear me, Michael. She managed to free one leg and aimed her foot between Gray Jacket’s legs. Her kick connected.
“Oooff.” Gray let out a groan and doubled over, swearing.
Adrenaline surged through her, giving her hope. Her legs were free, and she twisted, trying to escape, but the other man still had a firm grip on her, one hand on her mouth and the other across her chest.
“Grab her feet,” Blue Jacket snapped. “Don’t mess this up.”
“He said this was an easy job,” the other man growled.
“Just get the door.”
Ellie sucked in breaths between the fingers of the man’s gloves, trying not to hyperventilate. They were going to take her somewhere, and as soon as she left this greenhouse, her chances of getting away would dwindle.
