Page 11 of Captive at Rescue Ridge

“Can we have this conversation later?” Panicked eyes scanned the area.

“I have a couple of questions that need answers first. Is this a crime scene?”

“Not unless driver stupidity is illegal,” she said. “But, please, let’s go before…”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you after we’re safe,” she said before pleading again.

Given how panicked she looked, Archer rightly assumed he wouldn’t get any answers from her if they stayed put. They needed to get out of the area. Besides, he had all the picture evidence he needed to show Travis. “Shut down the vehicle, and we’ll go.”

Annalee nodded. She did as requested without argument. Something was clearly working in the back of her mind, but she wasn’t ready to talk about that or anything else until they got to safety.

“Now what? Which way do we go?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“We’ll take my truck back to the cabin.” He figured they’d be safe there for the night. Asking about Owen’s connection to her situation would have to wait until he got her inside the vehicle. “Can you run?”

“I’ll manage,” she said, reaching for his hand. Contact sent more of that damned electricity coursing through him.

Rather than get too concerned, he dismissed the reaction as history repeating itself. His body might still respond to her touch, but his brain warned against reading too much into it. The response was muscle memory and nothing more.

With their hands linked, he wound his way back to The Sky’s The Limit and the only vehicle left in the parking lot—his. He realized they’d left supplies Annalee had brought in her car. After depositing Annalee into the passenger seat, he claimed the driver’s side. She dropped the key into the cupholder as he checked his cell for any updates from the family.

A message from Hudson sat there. Archer immediately opened it. It was short. Hudson checked in with the family, saying he was sorry that everyone was worried. He said his phone had run out of battery—an Owen move if ever there was one. But Hudson hadn’t spoken to their brother since the morning, and then it was only to say hello before going in separate directions for the day. Hudson apologized for missing the remembrance, stating that he got hung up straightening out one of the deals Beau had initiated and had lost track of time during the personal visit to one of Beaumont’s longtime clients.

Relief was short-lived. One mystery solved. One to go.

Archer placed his cell in the second cupholder as he glanced at Annalee. Make that two to go. The woman sitting next to him was a complete puzzle to him. This wasn’t the time to wonder if he’d ever really known the real Annalee.

“What is it?” she asked, motioning toward the phone. “What’s wrong?”

“Hudson turned up, but Owen is still dark.”

“Oh,” she said as he navigated out of the parking lot and onto the farm road, heading toward the cabin. “When was the last time anyone heard from him?”

“Check the phone for yourself.” Archer figured it would be the easiest way for her to get caught up with the goings-on from his end.

She studied the screen intently as she scrolled.

“I’m so sorry, Archer,” came out as she brought a hand to cover her mouth.

“What do you suspect happened to Owen, and how is he connected to you?” The questions popped out of his mouth like a thoroughbred out of the gate on race day.

“I’m not sure,” she said, setting the phone in the cupholder.

“Not good enough, Annalee.” He meant it. She wasn’t getting off that easy now that they were in the safety of his truck.

“I realize that,” she said with more than a hint of shame. “However, that’s all I have right now.”

“You need to come clean or tell me where to drop you.” Once again, he meant every word. He’d spent the past few hours worried sick about his twin while being haunted by the notion he’d seen her, too. The latter had been confirmed. Annalee was here in the flesh, beautiful as ever. And Owen was still missing, which was unacceptable.

“Something might have happened because of me,” she said.

“No, shit.”

She grunted.

“I’m just saying there’s no need to rehash the obvious.” He wasn’t trying to offend her. “I need the truth from you, Annalee. Are you capable of being honest?” Damned if he didn’t wish he could reel those words back the moment they left his mouth. He chalked it up to his wounded pride talking, a bad move if he wanted her to open up. “Don’t answer that question. It wasn’t fair.”

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