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I took out my pepper spray. Then I backed up, hoping to get a look at a jacket or pants or anything that would tell me it was Rafe goofing around. But as I moved, so did the other guy, circling the tree to keep out of sight.
I fingered the pepper spray. If it was Rafe, then I could say he deserved it for sneaking up when he knew I'd be on high alert for cougars. Still, a blast of pepper wasn't something to take lightly.
"If that's you, get out here before I call my dad and tell him I've found Marv."
No answer. I adjusted my grip on the can, fingers clammy now. I kept moving backward, not taking my eyes off that tree.
I thought about calling for help. But no one could make it here in time, and if I was wrong, I'd only get Rafe in trouble--maybe even alert the guy looking for him.
I gripped the pepper spray, took a deep breath, and started toward the tree.
"Okay," I said, raising my voice. "Hide-and-seek is not a game to play in the forest. If a hunter's around--"
The guy lunged at me, and I sprayed him. He howled in pain, yelling, "You bitch!"
I ran. He was able to follow, meaning he'd only caught a spritz of pepper. I picked up speed. This was a race I knew I could win. My strength and my territory. I'd easily outpace--
"Stop!" he yelled.
When I kept going, a bullet whizzed past.
"I said stop, bitch, or next time I won't miss."
I dove for the ground. He fired. The bullet hit a tree, splinters raining into my hair. I heard him curse as he tromped through the undergrowth. I crept along the ground, and when he came around a nearby tree, I could see him, his eyes streaming tears. He peered into the forest and swore again.
I tugged out my cell phone and opened it.
No service.
Please no. Not now.
I held the phone at every angle and at arm's length. Nothing.
The guy kept stumbling around, clearly having no idea how to move in a forest. I crept on my belly toward him, ready to leap up and blast him again. Then I stopped.
He had a gun. This was the time to run, not fight.
I rose onto all fours and crawled away from him, sweeping aside dried sticks and dead leaves and anything else that might crackle. As I moved, I kept looking up into the trees. I couldn't help it. My gut instinct didn't just say to run, it said where to run. Up.
That was nuts. In the time it took me to find a suitable tree, he could shoot me. I fought the impulse and concentrated on moving slowly and quietly.
"Do you really think you can get away?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the forest. "I've got a gun, you stupid bitch. It's a half mile back to town. You'll never make it."
I could do a half mile. Inch by inch if I had to. I continued forward without pause ... until I reached a dry creek bed full of dead vegetation. No way I was getting through that without making a racket.
"I'm not after you, kid," the guy yelled. "Just tell me what I want to know
and you're free to go."
I started along the creek bank. When it threatened to take me too close to the guy thundering through the woods, I stopped and looked around. A fallen tree crossed the stream-bed. Staying in the long grass, I crawled to it, got my balance and--
A hand clamped over my mouth, yanking me back as I started to tumble. My fists flew at my attacker, but he held me tight, pulling me against him, one hand over my mouth, the other around my waist.
"Shhh. It's me."
I twisted to see Rafe. He motioned for silence, then let me go.
"I heard a shot," he whispered, checking me over. "What's going on? Who is that?"
