Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1) Page 12

  “I was walking the streets, looking for a second job when I heard shouting,” she continued. “Excited outcries. You know … when people are cheering their team or something. I was bored, so I investigated. The men were circling two young girls who were fighting. I couldn’t believe it.” She huffed. “A man saw me and pushed me forward, barked out a number. Next thing I knew, a man wearing a suit was asking me if I wanted to fight.”

  Sam shook his head. “I can’t even imagine …”

  Nora shrugged. “It’s not the worst thing one can do for money. Some of my friends …” She dropped her head. “Honestly, I was one of the lucky ones. I was strong. All the hiking I’d done with my father as a child had given me stamina. So I did that for nearly ten years, then I got out … Moved to North America. And the rest, as they say, is history.”

  Sam knew there was more, but he was happy to have learned that much about Nora. “So how did you get to L.A.? How did you come to fight for MMA?”

  Nora stretched and moved back to her belongings. “I don’t want to talk about myself.”

  She didn’t want to talk about Sergio was more like it, and Sam couldn’t bring him up. It killed Sam wondering. Was she running from the man, or was Nora doing exactly what she said, just hiking? The moment she was finished hiking, would she run back to Sergio? Back to wherever home was? Of course she would. He was an idiot to think she’d stay here. She’d made three million for her last fight. Sam hadn’t even come close to a million in the seventeen years he’d worked search and rescue.

  He should demand they turn back right now — Sam whipped his gaze to the valley … to the peaks above the ridgeline.

  Nora’s head popped up at his rapid movement. “What is it, Sam? What did you hear?”

  He sniffed, then stared down at his watch. “Do you feel that?”

  She examined the camp, the valley below. “Feel what?”

  “The fall in barometric pressure.” He pointed to the snowcapped peaks, which were nearly impossible to see now because of the sudden cloud cover. “Those cumulonimbus clouds, thunderheads. We’re in for one hell of a storm. Come on, pack up!”

  “I’ve decided I’m going back,” she blurted out.

  “Now you decide?” He shook his head. “I’m not screwing around, Nora. We need to get to safety. Last summer, a storm dumped more than six feet of snow on this mountain … in less than twenty-four hours. Please … you have to trust me. We need to get to shelter. The time for turning back is long past.”

  Chapter 11

  ~ Nora ~

  Years ago, before Nora had left Buenos Aires, a hurricane had hit the city with sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. She’d been knocking on doors, looking for any type of work she could find other than fighting. The authorities had driven the streets, using bullhorns to instruct everyone to find shelter. Good Samaritans from churches and orphanages had scoured the city, bussing people to shelters.

  Although she’d accepted refuge, she’d fled at the first sign that the storm had passed. Unfortunately, the storm hadn’t actually passed; she’d been in the eye. The city street, normally bustling and noisy, had been quiet as a tomb. She felt as if she were trapped inside an insulated tunnel that would whoosh her to outer space, like one of those sci-fi shows she’d watched when she was a kid. Blocks away, an ominous black cloud loomed. Tree limbs, trash, even a street sign bounced and swirled, as if a puppet master controlled their movements, making them dance. But where she’d stood, it was clear to the heavens. Not even a piece of paper stirred on the street. The surreal scene had reminded her of a post-apocalyptic movie, where no signs of life remained. Even the birds had disappeared.

  Without warning, the wind had howled like an oncoming train, and she’d found herself staring at a house, watching as it split in two. The wind, like a giant invisible hand, had reached through one window and popped out the other side. Just as she’d felt the powerful fingers of the storm reach her, a man had barreled into her, carrying her back into the shelter.

  She felt that eerie feeling again now. Right there in the Denali wilderness, it felt as if she were in the eye of the storm. Any second, the wall would break and a colossal tornado might drop down, sucking her up along with the massive pine trees. While she hadn’t noticed the drop in the barometric pressure as Sam had, she detected the absence of birdsong. The skittering of squirrels and other tree dwellers had also ceased. Every living thing around her had known to seek shelter.

  “Hurry, Nora!” Although Sam stood only feet from her, his words emerged hollow. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think that a glass wall had dropped between them, creating a sound barrier.

  Nora carefully stowed her items while Sam moved through the camp like a twister.

  Finished packing her bag, she glanced up at him. “Maybe we should just hike out?”

  “No time for that now!” he snapped. “There’s a spot a few miles up ahead.”

  “A spot?”

  “A dry cabin.” He hastily checked Arwen’s pack, making sure it fit snugly. “Homesteading in America ended in 1976, but here in Alaska, it continued until 1986. A great many cabins are still livable, and the one I know of isn’t too far off.”

  Sam was all business, not noticing the shock that must surely be on her face. She turned away and cleared her face of any emotion, then donned her pack.

  In seconds, he was at her side, checking her straps, as if she hadn’t already hiked thirty-some miles.

  “Let’s go!” Sam clicked his tongue, and Arwen darted to his side.

  As much as Nora wanted to hike the opposite direction, just to prove she didn’t need Sam or any man telling her what to do, the cold front hit her like a strike to the solar plexus, taking her breath away. The sudden change in temperature felt as though she’d walked into an invisible wall of ice. Nora reared back, thinking maybe they should just stay put. After all, she had a zero-degree bag.

  Sam shook his head and took the lead again. “Follow me.”

  Nora followed, placing her sticks in front of her to balance. Sam reached the path, then held out his hands to her. She stared at his outstretched hands, deciding whether to crawl down the two-foot drop.

  “For God’s sake, Nora, we don’t have time for you to prove that you can do this without my help. And if you hop down, you might twist your ankle.” He raised his hands to her again, and she allowed him to lift her off the rock and set her on the path.

  As soon as her boots were on the ground, he took off. Sam was serious. He was concerned.

  Nora’s feet burned where the boots rubbed raw skin, but she kept pace with Sam. He headed up another hill, faster than he’d been hiking. She let her sticks fall slack by the wrist straps and gripped the boulders, pulling herself up. On level ground, she stopped to catch her breath. Hiking was one thing; bouldering was another.

  “You coming?” His dark gaze seared her.

  She closed her eyes, cutting off her view so she wouldn’t be tempted to snap. Instead of responding, she moved forward, finding it nearly impossible not to limp.

  Sam stared at her feet. “Blisters?”

  She offered him a stiff nod and shooed him forward.

  He turned and walked off, but she was positive his lips had quirked up. “If you’d stayed for my entire class, you might have avoided them.”

  Pompous jerk. Why did men always have to be right? Why was she even following him? If she thought he wouldn’t follow her, she’d turn around, but that didn’t seem like an option. Sam was adamant that they take shelter. After they settled again … after he fell asleep — and she didn’t — she’d slip out. After all, she had her snowshoes. If they were really getting a storm, maybe the snow would cover her trail so Arwen wouldn’t be able to track her.

  Yes, that’s what she’d do. Until then, she’d just keep her wits about her. She curled her fingers around the bear spray.

  They’d been hiking for about an hour when Nora started to lose her patience. Not to mention that the snow was c
oming down harder and faster. She should have gone back the way she’d come. The trail was certainly a lot easier than scaling fallen trees and inching down steep rockslides. She was also thoroughly confused. Sam had taken so many switchbacks, and the sky had darkened so quickly, she wasn’t sure which direction she was headed. Even her compass wouldn’t help her much, as all she’d know to do was head east. But just heading east could leave her stranded on a cliff, and then she’d have to backtrack.

  The fact that Sam might be leading her to danger entered her mind again. Like the huntsman in Snow White, was it possible that he was taking her into the forest to kill her? Sergio had enough money to turn a good man bad. She didn’t really know Sam, and he’d said he wasn’t good. She shook off the thoughts and decided to go on offense, a strategy that Sergio had taught her. It had always worked in a fight. Instead of waiting for the first punch, whatever Sergio or Sam had planned, she would strike first if necessary.

  She stopped, deciding she wouldn’t take one more step until she knew they were actually heading to a cabin. “I thought you said this so-called spot was nearby. How far’s the cabin? We should stop and camp now.” A chill prickled her neck, traveling down her back. The temperature, along with the snow, was dropping fast.

  Sam pointed. “There. Just ahead.”

  Nora squinted, focusing in the direction he pointed. She saw it. There really was a cabin. Set against a rock wall, two small buildings blended in with their surroundings. Probably because they were made of the same material. The trees that had been cleared to make room for the homestead had obviously been used to build the cabin — cabins. Although, the one was considerably smaller than the other.

  “You sure it’s okay to stay there, Sam?”

  “Everything in Denali is owned by the government now, so yes.”

  Nora turned, looking behind her. An eerie feeling traveled up her spine. Not just the cold, but that feeling when someone was watching you. After that bear had snuck up on her, she had no doubt that animals were watching. Cougars … wolves … Who knew what lurked behind a tree? If a grizzly could sneak up on her, anything could.

  Sam stepped up on the small porch, then kicked his boots free of snow and dirt. He lifted the latch for the door, and pushed it open. Wood scraped wood. Leaves fluttered from inside the cabin, as if seeking an escape.

  Nora stood just outside the door, peering in. She glanced behind her again. No way could she make it back to the parking lot with her feet blistered as they were, but the idea of staying here scared her too. If they stopped, how long would it take for one of Sergio’s men to find her? Surely, he’d sent someone by now.

  She’d spoken to Sergio every evening after she’d left L.A. until she’d started her hike. It’d been how many nights since they’d talked? Six … seven? She couldn’t remember. But she knew one thing … it’d been long enough that he would have sent someone to find her. The question was … if Sam had figured out which way she’d gone, would someone else be able to figure it out too? Or worse, as she’d thought before, was Sam the tracker Sergio sent?

  Nora kicked the snow and dirt from her boots too, then unbuckled the strap around her waist. As she entered the cabin, she shifted the backpack to the side, lowering it toward the floor. Catching her pack before she could drop it, Sam set it on a built-in bench next to the door.

  The interior was one room containing a double bedframe in the far left corner — no mattress. In the right-hand corner was a small counter with a tiny sink. Above the counter was a shelf, and beneath it was a cabinet. A stone fireplace was centered against the back wall. To her left, a hanging rod with shelves beneath it, sat just beyond where the door opened. Apparently, the minimalist movement was in full swing here, since the area would store — at best — six to eight clothes items and a few pairs of shoes. Directly to her right a two-person dinette sat below a small window. Cozy for a day or two. But to live?

  The cabin was missing a major amenity. At least in her mind it wasn’t livable without it. Sure, she’d been using the woods. But to live … in the same place without a … “Bathroom?”

  Sam turned to her, resting his hand against her cheek. He winked. “That’s the other cabin. The shower and outhouse. You wouldn’t want that inside your living quarters, honey.”

  “Oh. Yeah. That makes sense. I guess there’s no running water.”

  “Nope!” He laughed. “Hence the name dry cabin. There’s also no heat, which means I need to chop enough wood to outlast the storm.” He stepped toward the door.

  “Umm … I can help, Sam. I have my camp ax.”

  He shrugged. “Get settled. It’s going to be a long couple days.”

  She swallowed hard. “Days?”

  “Yes, Nora.” He pointed outside. Already the snow was coming down so hard it was difficult to see the trees only a hundred feet away. “We ain’t hiking anywhere once this system drops its load on us.”

  Sam instructed Arwen to stay, and the loyal shepherd settled onto the planks outside the door. He moved to pull the door behind him, and Nora stopped him again.

  “Shouldn’t … umm … Arwen come inside?”

  He laughed. “She’s got her winter coat on. As long as she’s out of the elements, she’ll be fine. Of course, if she wants to come in, she’ll ask, trust me. If you make her come in, she’ll pace and pace until you let her out.”

  “But … you said …”

  “She’s part wolf, Nora. Wolves sleep outside. I never chain her up, of course, so she can protect herself if she needs to.” He shrugged again. “But as I said, if she wants in, believe me, she’ll let you know.”

  “Okay.” Nora watched Sam dart off into the woods, ax at his side. She stared down at Arwen, and the half-wolf, half-shepherd just lifted a dark eyebrow, but didn’t move from her position. “Okay, then.” Nora stared in the direction Sam had run. Nothing. In seconds, he was one with the woods … just like her father had been. She surveyed the surrounding woods. Quiet. Even the snow fell silently.

  She pulled the door shut and went to her backpack. “Get settled?” She didn’t want to get settled. She wanted to take off the first chance she got. But if Sam was right … One night wouldn’t hurt. She’d give him a night. See if he was right about the storm.

  In the meantime, she figured she could make herself a little bit comfortable. She eyed the bed. Big enough for two, but Sam was accustomed to sleeping on the ground. She spread out his sleeping bag in front of the hearth, so he’d know exactly what the sleeping arrangements were. She rolled out hers on the wooden bedframe.

  She still didn’t want to unpack everything, since she planned to leave the first chance she got. She took the time to blow up her camp pillow, unpacked her mess kit, and actually pulled out her eReader, deciding to take advantage of the first time she’d actually felt safe in months.

  Yes, she actually felt safe. Sam wouldn’t be doing everything to protect her if he intended to hurt her. She glanced out the dusty windowpane … at the shadow of the dog stretched out. Not just Sam, she had Arwen protecting her. Nothing — no animal or hired hitman — would get past Arwen.

  ~ Sam ~

  Sam sprinted toward the trees, seeking cover. Heavy snowflakes, nearly quarter sized, fell unrestricted in the clearing. Around him, all he saw was white. An invader of any size could sneak up on him. Thankfully, most animals hunkered down during storms.

  Beneath a large evergreen, Sam examined his SPOT again. He had never been concerned about traveling off the beaten path, as he’d always had his lifeline. With one click, help would be on the way. Not now. He shook the thing again, but didn’t open it in fear the insides would get wet.

  “Well, Sam,” he grumbled. “You always said you wanted to escape, so here you are. You might freeze to death or starve if the snow keeps up, but this was your dream … getting lost in the wilderness.” He sighed and stuffed the useless piece of plastic in his pocket.

  He searched for dead tree limbs, preferably pieces that had fallen close to
the trunks, which would be drier. He chopped several of the larger pieces where he stood. He probably should have accepted Nora’s offer to help, but he’d wanted to inspect his SPOT again, without alerting her that he was concerned.

  He hadn’t traveled anywhere in Alaska without it. Since the cell signals were so limited, even on major highways, he kept it on him at all times. He bought each updated version as soon as it became available. After all, the device was worth its weight in gold — more actually — if he ever needed it.

  “Snowed in … Hah!” Sounded like something he would have planned when he was seventeen. He should be happy the device had failed. There was no lack of water around them. They had two weeks’ worth of food. What was the worst thing that could happen?

  With that thought, Sam gathered up the pieces of wood and kindling and hurried back to the cabin. More than likely there was a pile of cut wood behind the cabin. He hadn’t bothered to check, as he’d needed a moment away from Miss Nora.

  “Nora,” He whispered her name aloud. “Will you continue to lie to me, or will you finally tell me the truth?”

  Anxious to get out of the wet cold, Sam broke into a jog as he left the shelter of trees. A narrow stream of smoke spiraled up from the chimney.

  Had Nora checked the flue?

  The reedy smoke trail seeped from the top, but that didn’t mean the chimney was clear. Based on the thin ghostly wisps, smoke could be pouring into the cabin. She could be dying of carbon monoxide poisoning.

  “Nora!” He dropped the firewood and sprinted toward the cabin.

  Chapter 12

  ~ Nora ~

  Within minutes of Nora cozying up the cabin, setting out a few items from hers and Sam’s packs, Arwen’s growls resounded, low and guttural.

  She abandoned her fire-building task and rushed to the dirt-smeared window to see Arwen on all fours, her gaze fixated on the eastern trees.