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At the cabin, Michael stood in the back doorway, protective vest on and rifle raised. He stepped from the doorway, toward the corner of the cabin, scanning his surroundings through the sights of the long, black gun.
Deb froze. She didn’t want to startle him—getting shot would make it very difficult to bake. Was she better off staying still, moving forward, yelling, or maybe speaking loudly? “Michael.”
He spun, pointing the rifle at her, but lowering it immediately. “I thought they got you! Where did you go?”
Deb grimaced and walked down the hill. She really should have left him a note, but she’d thought he’d stay in the shower longer. “I needed a walk. Sorry.” She wasn’t really sorry, but she didn’t want to get in a fight either.
Michael scowled. “I thought you were smarter than that. They’re looking for us with helicopters, remember? We’re not that far from where we were yesterday, and they followed us to this area. Wandering around outside with your head in the clouds will get you captured or killed.”
“I was paying attention, I’m wearing a hat, and I had to leave, or attempt to smother you with a pillow.” Deb pushed past the annoying grump. Inside the door, she found his backpack and pulled the satellite phone from the strap. “I have to return today or kiss my business goodbye. I have a wedding cake to bake. The bride is probably panicking. If she’s already gone with someone else, I’ll have to return the deposit, and it was a big one.” Michael slammed the door behind her. She jumped. “Hey, this isn’t our house. Take it easy.”
“I’m not taking it easy when you’re determined to get yourself killed. Do you not understand your life is at risk?” He swiped at the sat phone in her hand.
Miraculously, she pulled it away before he could grasp it. “I do understand that. I also understand I can’t keep running or I won’t have anything left to run to.” She put the sat phone behind her back, and poked her forefinger at Michael’s face. “You have the same problem. We have to find a better solution.” She stomped away from him and into the living room, plopping into a chair, then texted Wiz. “Need to return. Big wedding order.”
Seconds later, a text replied. “Saw it on your calendar; contacted customer with reassurance. Sending transport. ETA 1.5 hours. Luggage allowance of 1 small bag; leave everything else. Have retrieved work truck; monitoring both cell phones.”
Deb put a hand over her aching heart. She should have known Erin, Sam, and Wiz wouldn’t have left anything to chance. As small business owners, they knew how hard it was to survive, let alone thrive. They’d do everything possible to support her.
Michael yanked the sat phone out of her hand. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He stomped away, clicking the phone’s keyboard.
She chuckled. The man had to be in charge—but he was doomed to disappointment. With this change, he’d undoubtedly be even grumpier. She rose to pack. At least she’d learned what items were important and what she could leave behind, although Michael probably wouldn’t agree with her priorities. But he didn’t agree with anything she said or did, so why bother trying to please him? The attempt was doomed to fail and she was so over head-strong, bossy, grumpy men trying to make decisions for her.
Michael had saved her business from literally blowing up, and kept her safe when the bad guys chased them. But she made the decisions about her life and her business, not him, and she wouldn’t allow her attraction to overcome her common sense. Head, not heart. That’s how she’d survive the next few days, not by relying on an overprotective grump who couldn’t see the bigger picture.
She added her toiletries and a change of clothes to her backpack, and checked that the headlamp, water filter, and other emergency gear was still inside. Then she went through the tiny cabin, checking for any personal items that might give their identities away, but found nothing.
“I’m patrolling the grounds. Stay inside.” The door didn’t slam, but it wasn’t quiet, either.
Deb got a glass of water, a snack and a magazine, and plopped into one of the comfortable chairs. She hated to leave the beautiful cabin, but she was more than ready to return to her business, even if she had to adapt to a new way of life.
She could return to baking custom requests only, and maybe the farmer’s markets. Closing her dining room and retail space wasn’t ideal, but it was better than going under. Perhaps a drive-up window, open only in the mornings. Wiz and Michael had installed metal security shutters on her apartment window that shut with the press of a button, so she could have something similar done for take-out. A sliding drawer like a bank, only larger, and maybe a separate drawer with cup holders for drinks? Or she’d stop offering beverages entirely. The coffee was more hassle than it was worth, and offered only to appease her regulars. The older men and women who gathered at her shop would have to find another home, but there were plenty of coffee shops in the valley, including Erin’s. She could easily sell more cupcakes to those businesses.
A thumping noise drew her to the windows and she peered out the gap. A helicopter dropped into the meadow below the cabin. The bad guys had found them. Deb grabbed her pack and ran for the backdoor. She’d run up the trail, and hide.
Michael opened the back door. “Come on, our ride is here.”
“What?” That made no sense.
He frowned. “That helo is for us. Come on.” He grasped her wrist, tugging her from the cabin. “Got everything you need?”
“Yes, but I’m not getting in that spinning death trap!” She stopped walking. Michael didn’t let go of her wrist, and she stumbled forward in his wake. He wasn’t gripping her hard, but he wasn’t letting go either. “I’m not getting in that thing!”
He turned to her, scowling. “The enemy is literally at the gates, cupcake. If we use the ATV, we’ll get caught. Same with hiking out of here. We’ll be lucky if we don’t get shot down.” He tightened his grip and marched forward, towing her in his wake.
Deb surrendered to her fate. If they fell out of the sky, all her troubles would be over, quick. She followed Michael to the helicopter, the thump of the blades deafening, the wind whipping her hair around her face. Michael slid open the back door of the aircraft and pointed at the seat. Deb swallowed hard and climbed in, sitting on the very comfortable cushioned bench. Michael slid her door shut, then entered the other side. He took her pack and put it on the seat between them, along with his, and looped a seat belt through the straps. He pointed at a headset in front of her.
Deb picked it up and put the ear pieces on, the thumping roar lessening. “Please fasten your safety harness. We’ll get going after you’re strapped in.” The woman’s voice was calm and authoritative. Deb found the harness on both sides of her body and clicked the straps together over her chest, then fastened the bottom buckle between her legs. “Excellent. Sit back and relax. To avoid any unpleasantness, we’re taking the scenic route over the mountains, so enjoy the ride. If maneuvers make you ill, there are air sickness bags in the pocket in front of you. Welcome aboard.”
Before Deb could ask questions, the thumping noise sped up and the volume increased. As they rose, the meadow below them dwindled. She clenched the seat with both hands and hunched, expecting to fall from the sky. They flew over the cabin and into the mountains as the pilot said.
Michael’s big hand reached across her body and grabbed the wire leading to her headphones, clicking a small controller. “Now you can hear me and the pilot. If you need to speak, push the big button.”
They skimmed above the treetops, rising and falling with the hills, then flew through a valley, surrounded by tall, snow-covered mountains. The pilot had a death wish; they were going to crash!
“The flight should take another twenty minutes, but if we have to avoid aircraft, it might be longer. Ever used that rifle from a helo?” The pilot’s voice held an undercurrent of amusement.
Michael tilted the weapon, looking down at it. “Not this particular rifle, unfortunately, but the military version? I’ve fired from helos a lot, mostly in the desert.”
