Page 4 of Wild Runaway
My tummy rumbled at the cakes and sticky pastries in the cabinet, but I couldn’t risk spending any money unnecessarily.
When I left home this morning, I only had time to grab the backpack I kept stashed in the bottom of Rose’s diaper drawer, the one place Ian would never go.
The cafe let me use their phone to call Hailey, but it didn’t connect. I found the only taxi in town and used the last of my money to take it up the mountain. My cash didn’t quite cover the fair and I said I’d walk the rest of the way, but the kind man insisted on driving me all the way.
When I took the cash from what Ian thinks is his secret stash this morning, I thought there would be more, but it barely covered the cost of getting here. I’m at the mercy of my sister and strangers, and that terrifies me.
I couldn’t choose the time of my leaving, so it wasn’t a surprise that Hailey and Kobe weren’t in. But it was five hours waiting on their doorstep until the giant man in the mud-splattered pickup turned up.
I watch Joseph out of the corner of my eye as he speaks on the phone. He’s the biggest man I’ve ever seen, even bigger than my brother-in-law, Kobe. Joseph has a full rugged beard and the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. They seem out of place in his weathered, tanned face. Too bright and blue for a mountain man.
He ends the call and slides the phone into his pocket.
“They’ve gone away for a few days.”
The words make my heart sink and I sag to the ground, feeling the weight of what I’ve done.
Hailey was my last chance, the only place I could turn. I never expected she wouldn’t be here when I turned up. But I can’t go back, and not just because I don’t have the funds. I’d rather camp out in the woods than go back to Ian.
Tears threaten my eyes and I blink them back quickly, but not before Joseph sees.
“Hey.” His voice is a gentle rumble and soothes a deep part of my soul. “You can shelter at my place until they get back.”
I jerk my head up. He seems nice and he’s been kind, but I just met this stranger.
“We’re fine.”
He keeps his eyes on me, not convinced.
“You don’t know me, Trish, but you need shelter and that baby needs milk. You can heat the bottle in my kitchen and do what you need to do to look after that baby, and I’ll stay out in the pickup if that makes you feel better.”
It does. Kind of. But also a little disappointed. I might not know this mountain giant, but the way he looks at me makes my body come alive in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. I push the thought away. I have to do what’s best for my daughter.
A gust of wind whips my hair around my face, and a drop of rain hits my cheek. I look up at the darkening sky. Rose howls, and I snap my gaze back to her. The way her face puckers with hunger makes my heart hurt. Whatever I do, I need to do something soon.
“I don’t have much choice.”
Joseph stares at me. “You do have a choice,” he says slowly. “I can drive you somewhere, anywhere you want to go, or back to wherever you came from.”
I shudder, and he notices.
“Or to a hotel if you prefer.”
I lower my eyes, not wanting him to see the shame that heats my face. I don’t have any money. I’m completely reliant on the kindness of this stranger.
I look at Joseph long and hard, mentally running through the things I know about him. He’s a friend of Kobe’s, and Kobe doesn’t suffer fools, so he must be a decent guy. He’s ex-military, but for the first time I notice what he’s wearing over his faded flannel shirt: a motorcycle club jacket with a patch.
“You’re in an MC?”
My danger sense goes up a notch, and I pull Rose close.
“The Wild Riders. We’re ex-military guys who love to ride. That’s all. No funny business, no hassle.”
Where I come from, an MC means bad news. They ride around on their big bikes intimidating the locals and getting in trouble with the law. But again, what choice do I have?
“Okay,” I say, hoping like hell I don’t regret it.
I go to grab my bag from the porch, but he gets there first. As I straighten up our arms brush, and a spark of heat jumps from his body to mine. I gasp, and my eyes meet his. From this close up, I see all the shades of blue in their depths. There are lines around his eyes, a weariness that tells of hurt.
