Page 21 of Holiday Hostage
Reed and I knew better than to poke this particular bear when he reached this stage.
Reed was tempted.
I saw it in the way he eyed Maverick’s retreating form. “You might want to take a break, big guy. You don’t even know if you’re going the right way.”
Maverick grunted and lifted his leg for another step.
Reed rolled his eyes. “That’s what I thought.”
The clouds turned into a roiling fury that whipped snow up from around us and whirled it in dizzying loops.
Tiny ice particles dug into my cheeks and eyes. “How much further?”
“Almost there.” Reed pushed ahead of Maverick, using his legs to break a trail for Maverick to follow.
Less than a dozen steps later, a large structure broke up what had been an endless line of trees.
“Home sweet home.” Reed clapped his gloved hands and found enough energy to break into a jog.
Maverick turned his face away from the storm’s fury and trudged up the steps.
Reed wrenched the door open and rushed inside. “I’ll start a fire. It’s gas, so there’s no smoke.”
“Put Payton on the couch, Maverick. I need to check her for injuries.” I kept my voice quiet, my tone soft and cajoling, the kind of voice I’d use for a scared patient. “Let me look at her.”
He stood in the center of the living area, his body backlit by the fading sunlight and the storm bearing down on us. Snow fell from him in thick globs.
He wavered on his feet, and yet he still clung to Payton.
“Snap out of it, man.” Reed snapped his fingers in front of Maverick’s face. “Mission’s complete, soldier. Time to turn it off.”
Maverick blinked. The stiffness eased, and he blew out a rough breath.
Two steps forward brought him up to a low couch sitting in front of the fire.
He lowered Payton and took a step back.
I’d worked my way out of my thick coat and gloves while I waited on him, and I hurried over to crouch beside Payton. “We should have covered her better.”
Reed had wrapped one of the spare blankets around her when we left the snowmobiles, and Maverick used his coat for additional protection.
“I don’t see any frostbite.” I checked her fingers and toes first, then her face.
Her cheeks were rosy, her lips chapped, but there were no signs of serious injury.
The cut on her lip had stopped bleeding a long time ago, but I jerked the zipper on my bag and pulled out antiseptic and some bandages.
A lump had formed on her forehead, and the spread of a bruise drifted toward her eye.
She’d done a real number on herself.
I pushed up her long sleeves, being careful of the bruises ringing her wrists. My gut burned hotter with every injury I uncovered.
They were all minor, but fury did not follow logic. The fact that she’d been kidnapped and subjected to any kind of injury infuriated me.
Reed came over to stand behind me. “She looks so gentle when she’s asleep.”
“She can’t stay that way forever.” Maverick removed all his outer layers and dropped into the chair closest to Payton’s head.
