Page 7 of Mountain Shadow

“Just getting comfortable,” he replied, keeping his voice steady.

“Why?”

“It looks like we’re going to be here a while. I’ll ask Beau to get us something to eat. I don’t suppose you have anything to eat in there, either.”

“Beau?”

“Commandant Beau Grimes. He’s the man you were running away from. He’s the leader of the Annecy Search & Rescue team.”

“He stopped me on the road and shouted at me in French. I couldn’t understand him.”

Jens had to stop himself from smiling. “Beau was wondering what you were doing, walking along the side of the road, alone, in the dark. He wanted to know if he could help. He’s a friend.”

There was silence on the other side of the door as Sarah clearly replayed the scene in her mind. “I was going to walk to Damien and Tess’s place. I’ve been there once before. I thought I would remember how to get there. ”

Jens clenched his hands into fists.

She was going to walk from Annecy to Chamonix? In the rain? At night?

Jens realized she was still speaking. “… but maybe I overreacted.”

“I’m sorry he scared you. He can make up for it by getting us some dinner. Are you hungry? What would you like?”

“You’re not leaving? And you won’t break down the door?”

“I’m not going anywhere. And I promise I won’t break down this door unless you need me to, Sarah. You’re safe.”

“Safe …”

Her pained whisper made something clench inside his chest.

“You’re safe with me,” he repeated.

For a long time, she didn’t say anything. Then he heard a low shuffling sound, followed by a click—the sound of the lock disengaging.

As the door slowly opened, Jens stood up quickly and took two steps backwards, giving her space. Sarah’s face peeked out. Her beautiful caramel-colored eyes looked haunted, her cheeks hollow and pale. As she stepped out from behind the door, he noticed her jeans and the light colored parka she was wearing were dripping onto the ground. He ended his perusal at her paper-thin shoes, which also looked like they’d seen better days.

She shivered violently. Jens wanted to take her in his arms to warm her, but the obvious fear in her eyes concerned him.

Then her eyes widened. “I remember you,” she said.

“I already told you, Sarah. I’m not going to lie to you.”

Her hand had gone white against the door, she was holding on so tight. Jens clenched his fists to stop himself from reaching out to her.

“How did you get here?” he asked.

“I took several trains from London, then a bus from Lyon. But I didn’t have enough cash to get all the way to Chamonix …” Her voice shook.

She didn’t have cash?

There were so many things he wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to interrupt her.

She sniffled. “And I didn’t want to risk using my credit cards. I thought Tess could pick me up. Then my phone died, and—”

Her body wavered.

Jens took a small step forward. In his mind, he tried to calculate how many hours she’d been on her feet. “When was the last time you had something to eat?”