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They followed the river downstream for maybe a quarter of a mile until they came to the tall fence. Elizabeth couldn’t see through the slats. She arched back to view the vicious-looking barbed wire decorating the top. This fence was reassuring. Swiss Fort Knox? Not quite, but the Colevilles really were serious about their security.
Easton placed a call to tell whoever was manning the security center and explained what they were doing so nobody came and tried to shoot Hays. Elizabeth’s heart thumped quicker. She couldn’t stand even the suggestion of someone shooting Hays, and that might be a reality far too soon. The fence and the phone call brought reality back. Not something she welcomed, but she couldn’t escape her fate for long.
“I’ll see you soon,” Hays said to her, his deep-brown gaze reassuring.
“What if you drown?” she asked, looking at the fast-moving river.
“How could Superman drown?”
Elizabeth smiled, but it was terrifying to think of him being hurt or drowned just trying to prove to Easton that they needed even more defenses than this ranch already had. She appreciated his diligence, but did he need to risk himself?
“Liz.” He cupped her waist with his palm and fire immediately filled her. “I promise I have performed much more dangerous stunts in water than swimming down then up this river. I told you how many times I’ve swung or climbed wearing gear heavier than you and returning fire at the enemy. Those are mild feats in comparison to what I can accomplish in the water.”
Her heart fluttered. “You truly are Superman.”
“I am.” His smile was beautiful but brief. “I swear to you I will be safe, and I will keep you safe.” His gaze was intense. “You believe me?”
How could she say no?
“I do,” she said. At this moment, she believed him and her own words, but her father wasn’t here. As soon as he found them, all faith in Hays or anyone’s ability to keep her safe would disappear.
“All right,” Easton said. “They’ve got a camera focused on the fence going over the river instead of rotating like it normally does. Let’s do this.”
“All right.” Hays slipped off his shirt, shoes, pistol, knife, and cell phone again. Elizabeth could at least distract herself from her concerns by gaping at his beautiful build. Every other fit man she’d known always wore tight shirts that accentuated their muscles. Hays had no need for pomp or showiness. It was all about what was on the inside for him.
“You’ll be okay without me for a few minutes?” he asked Elizabeth.
He was serious. She loved his concern. She loved him, even if she could never fully give her heart to him.
“Yes. Easton will watch over me.”
“I will,” Easton pledged.
“I’ll see you both soon.”
Hays ran a few steps, launched himself up, arched, and dove smoothly into the churning river.
“He’ll hit his head,” she cried out.
“He’s too good for that,” Easton said, pointing.
She saw his long body angling down low in the river like he was a man with gills. He moved with the current, making quick progress downriver. He was a work of art; she only wished the water didn’t distort and hide him from her. When he disappeared under the fence, she held her breath. Where was he? She rushed toward the fence but was yanked to a stop by Easton’s hand on her arm.
“Don’t touch it. It’s electric.”
“Oh.” She stopped and waited. Easton had bragged about the electric fence at their ranch, but with her concern over Hays she hadn’t thought about it.
Another minute passed, no sign of him coming back upstream.
“Liz,” Hays called from the other side of the fence.
“Hays,” she yelled. He’d made it down the river.
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Hurry,” she urged, though this part would be the difficult feat.
“For you I will.”
