Page 74 of Shadowing You

Ethan grabbed her arm and kept her from falling.

“You okay?”

She nodded. She didn’t have breath for words.

The sirens cut off. Did that mean the police had found the car? Were they coming?

If she couldn’t push harder, the authorities would catch up. And then, all of this would have been for nothing. She’d end up back in prison. She could live with that. But Ethan in a Chinese cell because she couldn’t make her body do what she needed it to do?

That, she wouldn’t be able to live with.

She was so stupid. She should’ve left the country like Ethan had wanted to do. She shouldn’t have done this.

Lord. Please.

They reached the top of the hill and leaned on the nearest trunk.

“You’re doing great.” Ethan pressed his hand to the small of her back. “We can rest for a moment.”

“I’m fine.” But she gasped the words.

“Michael,” Ethan said. “You still there?”

He didn’t answer.

“Michael?” After another few seconds, Ethan took the phone from his pocket and glanced at it. “I’m guessing the earpiece thing uses a cell signal.” He turned his phone for her to see the screen. “We’re out of range.”

He pulled the earpiece from his ear, and she did the same and shoved it into the pocket where she’d put the electronic card Han had given her.

Her breath had returned—enough, anyway. Every minute she rested was a minute those men could close the gap.

She met his eyes. He looked worried, but not angry.

“I’m so sorry, Ethan.”

“No reason to be sorry. We’re both doing our best.” He faced the clearing. This was the spot where she’d usually turned around and jogged back to town. Beyond the few trees in front of them was a view of mountains stretching as far as the eye could see. “Do you have a plan?”

“There’s a place we can take shelter.” She started walking, making an effort to look as if she knew exactly where she was going. But it had been a long time. Would she be able to find it?

Lord, lead us. And shield us. We need Your help.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

An hour ago, Ethan had followed Mei Lin off the wider trail and onto a path, which had narrowed to a thread of earth probably created not by people but by wildlife.

Now, even that was disappearing under wet leaves and slick stone. Branches caught his pack, limbs creaking overhead, occasionally showering them with moisture and swallowing the light.

They’d climbed high enough that they were basically walking through clouds, the mist so thick it might as well have been rain. The cold worked its way through his layers like it had a personal grievance.

Ethan kept his eyes on Mei Lin’s back, staying close enough to catch her if she fell.

She hadn’t stopped to rest again, but she’d slowed considerably. Her breath was ragged, and twice she’d staggered and caught herself on a tree trunk before he could reach her. Each time, she’d barely paused.

He was almost a foot taller than his wife—and not coming off years in a Chinese prison—and he could use a break. The backpack he’d bought in Hong Kong was digging into his shoulders, his shoes were soaked through, and Han’s messenger bag had banged against his hip enough that he figured a bruise was forming.

Mei Lin was in much worse shape than he was, but she just kept walking. She was amazing, this woman he’d married. Determined to the point of stubborn.

Was she lost? He was afraid so, but he didn’t dare ask. Mei Lin was carrying enough burden already.