Page 154 of Her Reluctant Hero
Chapter Thirteen
Sun shone through the blue nylon of the tent, waking Mallory. She reached for her T-shirt and looked over her shoulder at her sleeping husband before she tugged it on. Sand was everywhere, on the bedding, in her hair. They’d stumbled back to the tent last night, turned to each other in sorrow, in need, burning off their restlessness in a way that had seemed crass only hours earlier.
They’d fallen asleep facing each other, touching. Now Adrian slept peacefully, and she needed a shower.
The shower had been reassembled after the last storm—Linda had insisted—and the cistern was full from last night’s rain. She pulled the soap and shampoo she’d swiped from the hotel out of her pack and stepped through the nylon flap into the enclosure.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Her heart slammed into her ribs, then dropped to her toes at the brusque Scottish tone on the other side of the nylon wall. She slapped her hand to her chest as if that would keep her heart from jumping out.
“Having a heart attack! Jesus, Adrian! I thought you were asleep.”
He flung open the flap. “What are you doing going off on your own?”
“It’s broad daylight and I feel gross.”
“I woke up and you were gone. Scared the hell out of me.” His gaze flicked to her bare breasts.
“You’re here now. Keep watch while I shower, all right?”
The look in his eyes made it clear what he intended to keep watch on. She shoved his chest, pushing him out of the enclosure. How many times had they gotten wrapped up with each other in a camp shower? Often enough that people stopped walking by the camp showers without making sure where Adrian and Mallory were first.
He took a reluctant step back. “I’ll keep watch. Though it seems a shame to waste the water for two showers.” His gaze floated to her breasts again.
With a growl, she shoved again, in no mood for him. She closed the door and dumped water on her head, wishing she could vent her frustration on him.
Keeping an eye on Mallory as she went to his tent to dress, Adrian strolled over to the Land Cruiser, ready to indulge in one of Toney’s cigarettes. He didn’t have a lighter, so he needed to use the one in the vehicle.
He stopped short as he reached for the door. Footprints circled the truck—not his and Mallory’s because they would have been washed away in the storm, or at least softened. No, these footprints were very distinct, made after the rain. They surrounded the truck before disappearing on the hard-packed sand leading to the campground, in the direction of his tent. Terror slammed his heart against his ribs. Someone had been here.
Jesus. Mallory. He ran to the tent, blood roaring in his ears.
Mallory looked up sharply from tying her boots when he entered. “What is it?”
He blew a breath out through his nose, trying to calm himself, wanting to alert her, but not scare her. “Someone’s here.”
“One of our people?” Her excitement rose as she stood.
“I don’t know.” He hadn’t even thought of that. If it had been Toney, he would have made contact. No, the secrecy made the motive seem sinister. “I just saw footprints outside the truck.”
“You didn’t—outside the truck?” She closed her hand around his wrist. “If someone is out here, do you think someone may have killed Dr. Vigil?”
“I’ve considered it.” And pushed the thought from his head because that meant danger for his brother. But something in the angle of the entry wound seemed off to Adrian. Robert wouldn’t have wanted to look into the barrel of the gun that took his life. Had he shot himself with the gun in his hand, or had he been trying to defend himself? “But why would they kill the old man?”
“I don’t know! He caught them robbing or something.” Her voice carried over the dunes. “We need to get out of here, go for help.” Her eyes widened. “Maybe that’s where the others are. They took the boat for help. We need to go.” She turned toward the vehicles.
“Mallory.” He gripped her shoulders and met her gaze. “Remember how long it took for the roads to dry after the last rain? We’re stuck here, at least for another night.”
She went white and swayed. “We can’t be.”
He had to calm her, though he wasn’t feeling too calm himself. “If someone planned to hurt us, they could have done it last night.”
“What’s to stop them from doing it tonight?”
“Because we’re going to sleep in shifts. I’ll look out for you while you’re sleeping, all right? Maybe we should stay in the truck. At least we can lock the doors.” Which wouldn’t stop anyone from shooting through the windows, but he wouldn’t mention that.
She dragged her hands through her wet hair, trying to gather herself. “Why are they doing this? How did they get here and leave if we can’t?”
