Page 213 of Valor

Sudden hot tears mingled with the cool raindrops.

“But there were two survivors,” Oliver placed his hand on hers, then searched the riverbank.

She couldn’t tell him how much she wished for him to wrap his arms around her. For his embrace to soften the impact of his harsh reality. Her great-grandfather was responsible for the murder of a Jewish family. A baby? She gasped for breath. At the mill she now owned.

“Hedvika and Jakob, their two older children, made it out—Fred, your grandfather, and his cousin Mark helped them to escape. They hid in the mountains. I do not know all the details, but?—”

He gently brushed her face with the back of his hand.

She looked at him through her tears.

“We have to cross the river,” he said softly. “Are you ready?”

Meghan closed her eyes. All of this happened before she was even born. Why, then, did she feel the weight of crushing responsibility? Why had she not listened to her mother and had some lawyer handle this? She asked herself that question for the hundredth time. What was she supposed to do? She desperately wanted to shake off the tendrils of fear persistently wrapping themselves around her mind. Meghan was the owner of that mill, and until she got rid of it, it would be her responsibility to take care of everything that came with that, including the four graves. She let out a long sigh.

“What am I going to do with that place?”

Oliver got up and stretched out his arm toward her.

“Let’s go. There is one more thing I didn’t tell you.”

She accepted the offered hand and pulled herself up.

“I don’t think I can handle another horror story today.”

* * *

A drone flewover the treetops above their heads—time to move on, fast. They needed to get to the other side of the river and find the cave. It was their only chance to escape the heat-seeking cameras of the drones. Someone had invested a lot of money into this chase. The rain could help, but it would take a torrent to prevent the drones from flying.

If they stayed here any longer, the armed men would catch up to them in no time, and he was in no position to defend Meghan against Russian mercenaries. Their only option was to run. He tightened the grip on her hand and wished he would never have to let go of her.

Oliver studied the sky. The drones seemed to change direction.

“Follow me.”

Oliver led Meghan down the steep riverbank. Thankfully, the water had not swelled up with the impending rain. Crossing it during a summer storm would be almost impossible. If luck were on their side, the looming downpour would take care of that.

“Watch my feet and use the same stones.” He stepped into the current. She squeezed his hand.

“We will be okay.” He turned to face her.

Meghan nodded. He took the next step. She followed. Ice-cold water instantly soaked through their shoes. The rock wobbled under his foot, but Oliver kept his balance. His eyes searched the foaming surface. He located the next stone that looked sturdy enough. Oliver glanced back. Meghan struggled to keep her feet steady. He half-turned and reached for her with his other arm, knowing perfectly well that one wrong step would send them both down the riverbed.

“Take a breath,” he said loudly enough so she could hear him over the rushing current. “You are doing great.” Their gaze locked.

She regained her equilibrium.

Oliver spotted a flat boulder. “Follow me.” He reached over the gap between the rocks with his foot, then shifted his weight. “Come,” he turned and offered his other hand for support. “A few more steps, and we are out of the worst of it.” He carefully guided her over the mountain stream, one cautious step after another. The rain intensified. “There.” He pointed to a log wedged against the steep bank. “We can climb that.”

Oliver hauled himself up the slippery trunk and turned to help her. She gripped both of his hands. He pulled her up the bank. Suddenly, her arms were wrapped around him. Her unexpected move took him by surprise.

“Do you think we can outrun them?” Wet hair was sticking to her face.

“Yes.” He touched one of the dripping strands, then released her from the embrace. If only their situation weren’t deadly serious. “Give me a moment,” he said softly. “We are higher on the mountain; I might be able to get reception here.” He took the phone out of his pocket in hopes of calling for a much-needed backup. Yarda needed to know what was going on. It would require the entire team to get them out of here. His message was sent. Hopefully. “We must keep going.”

“Going where?”

“I know of a place we can hide. There is a cave not too far from here.”

---