The Target (16 page)

Jaime frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, eventually, when we get out of here, we’ll tell them where she is.” Celia met Jaime’s eyes. “Will she still be there?”

Jaime closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about it. She certainly didn’t want to tell these women that most likely, wild animals would find Sandra before they did. So she lied. “She should be fine, Celia. It’s cold at night.”

He huddled inside his tent, his dinner long cold. The wind whistled around him, bringing cold air across the water. He again checked the receiver, and shook his head. The signal continued to move away from him at an alarming rate.

“It’s in the goddamned river,” he muttered. How in the hell had they found the transmitter? But it didn’t matter. He could track them. They were heading upstream. He didn’t think any of them were savvy enough to get them out of the mountains without a trail. Not even the cop. No, they would most likely follow the river, thinking they were safe, thinking he was following the transmitter.

“Bitches.”

He didn’t bother cleaning up his dinner. He crawled inside his sleeping bag, wishing he’d thought to move away from the water, where it would be warmer.

“I’m like Celia,” Sara whispered. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”

“You’ll sleep fine.” Jaime took her boots off then moved her sleeping bag to face Sara. “Come here.”

Sara moved closer, her eyes shutting as Jaime’s arms wrapped around her. “Why do I feel like I know you so well?” she murmured.

Jaime smiled. “Maybe because we’ve crammed a whole lot of togetherness into nine days.”

“It’s more than that. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Jaime laughed. “So you want to put your finger on it? I can help with that, you know,” she teased.

Sara relaxed. “I like the way you smell.”

“After what we’ve been through today, I’m afraid to know how I smell.”

Sara smiled and turned to face Jaime. “I have a confession to make.”

“Oh yeah?”

Sara cleared her throat. “This morning, when you woke up.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And your hand was on my breast.”

Jaime stiffened. “Oh, God, Sara. I’m so sorry. You acted like you didn’t know. I don’t know how—”

“Shhh. Jaime, I’m the one who put it there,” she whispered.

“What? But you—”

Sara took Jaime’s hand. “Like this,” she said, pulling Jaime’s hand to her like she’d done the night before.

Jaime’s hand instinctively closed over Sara’s breast. “Sara?”

“I pretended not to know because I was too embarrassed,” she said. “But then, when you thought you’d done it, I didn’t want you to take the fall. So I pleaded ignorance.”

Jaime swallowed, her hand still resting lightly on Sara’s breast.

She moved her hand, her fingers brushing the fabric over Sara’s nipple, feeling it harden from her touch. Damn, if there wasn’t a madman after them, if they didn’t have nine other women within hearing distance … she closed her eyes, wondering what it’d be like to touch flesh.

“Maybe when this is over, we might be able to have … I don’t know, have dinner or something. If you think—”

Sara laughed quietly. “We’ve got a killer after us, we’re both exhausted, you’re making plans to date if we get out of this alive … and all I can think about is making love with you,” she finished in a whisper. “Right now.”

Jaime’s hand again covered her breast, then she pulled Sara closer. “We both know that’s not possible.” She brushed her lips lightly across Sara’s cheek, wishing they had time.

“It’s been so long since someone’s made my heart pound like this,” Sara admitted.

Jaime nodded, feeling the thundering heartbeat under her hand. “The feeling is mutual, sweetheart.”

“Why won’t you kiss me?”

Jaime smiled, finally moving her hand from Sara’s breast, sliding it safely to her waist. “I’m afraid to kiss you,” she admitted.

Sara sighed then finally let out a small laugh. “I’ve known you what? Barely more than a week? This day alone has lasted at least a week. But regardless, nine days.” She rolled her head, facing Jaime. “I’m lying here in a tent with you, wanting your hands on me and I feel like I’ve known you for years. And yet you’re practically a stranger.”

“Not a stranger,” Jaime whispered.

“No. I’d like to think I would not put my life in the hands of a stranger.” Sara sighed and turned her head away. “And I can’t believe she’s dead,” she whispered. “And we just left her up there.”

“Sara, we had no choice,” Jaime said gently. “You know that. We would have been putting all these other lives in danger if we’d tried to move her.”

“I know. It’s just all so horrible. Like we didn’t even care about her.”

“Sometimes you just do what you’ve got to do to survive. And we did that.” Jaime shifted, pulling Sara into her arms again. “And when we get out of this, we’ll give Sandra the respect she deserves.”

Sara nodded, resting her face on Jaime’s chest. She finally closed her eyes, letting sleep claim her as Jaime’s hands moved soothingly across her back.

Sara woke first, feeling safe with Jaime’s arms still around her.

They were in much the same position as when they’d fallen asleep, when exhaustion finally claimed them. It was still dark out but her internal clock told her it was nearly five. She pulled her arm from under Jaime, illuminating her watch. Four fifty. They were on the west side of the mountain, so daylight would come more slowly.

“What time is it?” Jaime murmured.

“Nearly five.”

“Good.” Jaime kept her eyes closed, allowing herself a few more seconds of warmth, a few more seconds of contact. Then she sighed, slowly pulling her hands away from Sara. “I slept great.

You?”

“Yeah. Like a rock.”

“I’ve also got to pee.”

Sara laughed. “Funny how we lose all sense of dignity up here.”

“Do you think we can chance having a fire?”

“It would be nice. It must be in the thirties.”

“Okay. I’ll get one going if you’ll wake the others.”

Before long, eleven sleepy women huddled around the fire, trying to stay warm while water boiled for coffee.

“I didn’t wake up once,” Judith said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired.”

Jaime smiled. “We’ll ask you again tomorrow morning. It won’t be a walk in the park today.”

“Do you think he’ll find us?” Lou Ann asked.

“Yes. We have to assume he’s a professional.”

“Will we make St. Elmo today?”

Jaime shook her head. “No.”

“But maybe we’ll come upon some people today,” Beth said hopefully.

Jaime wanted to tell them no, they wouldn’t come upon any people today, not bushwhacking across the mountains like they were. But she smiled and nodded. “Perhaps we’ll get lucky.”

“Water’s ready,” Abby announced.

Everyone spooned instant coffee into their cups, waiting somewhat impatiently as Abby dispensed the boiling water. Jaime and Sara exchanged glances then, without a word spoken, walked together.

“Is it too early to start?” Sara asked quietly.

“It should be light enough soon.”

“Do you think he’s already on the move?”

“No. He’s down in a canyon. It’ll stay dark longer down there. We should be able to get a good head start.”

Sara glanced at the others, knowing most of them were listening to their conversation. She moved her hand between them, touching Jaime’s arm, squeezing lightly. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Yeah? I know you’re really just using me to keep you warm at night.”

“Well, that too.”

Jaime bent closer, her mouth at Sara’s ear. “We’re going to be fine, Sara. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Sara nodded. “I believe you.”

Jaime moved away, handing her cup to Abby to fill. She blushed slightly at the grin Abby gave her.

“Despite all we’ve been through, it’s still good to see you and the Sarge flirting.”

“I wasn’t flirting,” Jaime insisted.

Abby bent closer. “Sandra would be happy,” she whispered.

Their eyes met and Jaime nodded slightly. She sipped her coffee, glancing occasionally to the sky, trying to hurry the dawn.

By the time they broke camp and their packs were ready to go, the sky had lightened enough for them to travel. By flashlight, Jaime had shown them the route she wanted to take. They would go over the top of one peak, nearly twelve thousand feet, then hook up with a trail to Cumberland Pass. Once on the trail, they should have an easy shot to St. Elmo. The problem was getting over the peak. She had no idea how passable it was.

They walked slowly, cautiously, until full light, then Jaime picked up the pace. Once they cleared the ridge, the hike down would be easy. Then they would begin their climb.

“It’s colder this morning,” Lou Ann said.

“And windy,” Jaime noted. “May have had a front blow in during the night.”

“How far ahead of him are we?”

Jaime looked at her watch. “I’d say a good three hours. But we’re also moving slower than he is. I’m hoping it takes him awhile to find our trail from last night.” She ducked under the branches of a low-growing spruce then slipped on the rocks, landing on her ass. “Damn. Careful there,” she called back to Lou Ann.

She found a relatively flat area and stopped, pulling out the map and compass again.

“Problem?” Sara called from around the tree.

“Just making sure we’re not off course.” Jaime looked up.

“How’s everyone doing?”

“Celia’s got a slight blister. Other than that, we’re keeping up.”

Jaime nodded. “From the wet boots last night.” She pointed up ahead. “After that ridge, we’ll climb down into a small canyon. Then we start the climb to the top.” She stood, addressing them all. “This is where it gets tricky. We’ll be exposed. If our guy happens to be at the top of that ridge there,” she said, pointing to where they’d come. “Then we’ll be in his view. If he wanted to take a shot, I’d guess it’d be over four hundred yards. A tough shot.”

“Impossible shot?”

“No. Military sharpshooters can make that shot.”

“Do we have a choice?”

“Not to make St. Elmo in a day, no. With luck, he won’t see us. We can stick to the trees as much as possible. But like it is here, there’ll be open spots.”

“Let’s get a move on, then,” Abby said. “I, for one, don’t want my ass shot at.”

They made the trip down the mountain quickly, in single file, with Jaime leading the way. Conversation was nonexistent, all concentrating on the steep incline down. Celia lost her footing once but Jaime turned, catching the older woman before she tumbled down. Celia smiled her thanks.

Jaime laughed when she reached the narrow canyon bottom.

“Wonderful.”

“What?” Celia asked, bending over to catch her breath.

“Water,” Jaime said, pointing to the small stream. “Fill your water bottles,” Jaime instructed. “Don’t forget to purify.”

She hopped across the stream, walking upstream a few steps then dipped her nearly empty bottle into the fresh water. She looked up, watching as Sara bent down, filling her own bottle. She stared, transfixed, as Sara cupped water into her hands, then splashed her face. Across the stream, their eyes met. For just a second, Jaime forgot about their plight. She fell into the bluegreen eyes, thinking she’d never seen a sexier sight than Sara Michaels splashing water on her face.

Then sounds intruded, the others jumping the small stream, gathering, waiting for instruction. Jaime stood slowly, finally sliding her eyes away from Sara, feeling nearly shaken. It was amazing how quickly she’d become attached to Sara. But as she’d told her last night, they’d crammed a whole lot of emotion into only a few days.

She took a deep breath then turned her eyes up the mountain they had to traverse if they were going to hit the old Cottonwood Pass trail that would take them to St. Elmo. It looked steeper from this angle. She tensed slightly when a warm hand wrapped around her forearm.

“Can we make it?”

Jaime stared, letting Sara’s eyes capture her own. “I think so. I’m more worried about the lack of cover,” she admitted. “And it’ll be windy. We’ll be on a north-facing side.”

Sara nodded. “Single file or spread out?”

“Spread out. If we can. We might need to help each other at the really steep parts though.”

Sara nodded again, realizing her hand was still resting on Jaime’s arm. She squeezed lightly then let it slip away.

Jaime gave her a brief smile and headed up. “Spread out and try to use the trees and rocks for cover. About thirty yards up, we’ll be visible from that mountain over there,” she said, pointing to where they’d stood early that morning. “Let’s go, ladies. No time to waste.”

The climb was easier than Sara had thought it would be. Steep, yes, but there seemed to be enough low-growing shrubs and trees for them to use for support. She glanced occasionally both to her left and right, making sure Celia and Judith were making it okay.

There was no conversation, just quiet determination as they made their way higher up the mountain. She saw where Jaime and Megan had pulled away from the others, moving some ten to twenty yards ahead of them. She paused, watching Jaime, enjoying the sight of her as she pulled herself along with the help of a spruce limb.

She was about to call to her when a rifle shot sounded. In slow motion, she turned. It seemed like many seconds passed before dirt kicked up where the bullet had hit. Before she could move, another shot sounded.

“Get down! Get down!” Jaime yelled. “Sara! Goddammit,
move!
” she screamed.

Sara dove behind a rock as another shot rang out. She covered her head with her hands, looking over as Celia hid behind two spruce trees.

“Is anybody hit?” Jaime called. Before anyone could answer, two more shots landed within feet of her. “Goddamn bastard,” she said as she crouched lower. “Megan? Where are you?” she called.

“Jaime?
Jaime?
Are you okay?” Sara yelled.

“We’ve got to go back down,” she called. “It’s too windy for him to get a clean shot. We’ve got to take a chance and go back down.”