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Panic seized her vocal cords and her bowels turned to water.
He held out her bodywash. “Hi. I’m Wyatt.”
She stared at him, mouth slightly hanging open, her brain unable to produce a single useful thought. He stared back, face blank.
He thinks I’m stupid.
Fine. She could work with stupid. Playing stupid would keep her safe.
Hopefully.
“Jolene.” The false name landed on her tongue out of nowhere.
He studied her face too long. “Are you lost? Is anybody with you?”
Terror racked her body, and she curled her fingers into her palms to steady herself. “My boyfriend.” Her lie burst out as if practiced. “He’s real tall. You can probably see him through the trees.”
She pointed, and he stared past her into the dark at absolutely nothing. Immediately dismissing her claim, he returned his attention to her.
Her pulse drummed in her ears. “And my dad,” she added because once the lie started she didn’t know how to stop. “And my brothers.”
She winced the second the embellishment left her mouth.
His eyebrow hiked upward. She’d gone too far. He’d never believe an entire extended family was camping on the mountain. Her tale was too tall even for a woman who was playing dumb.
“I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.” His voice was even and low, the same tone she used with her patients in the hospital.
“I’m fine,” she said too fast, too bright.
She wasn’t fine.
Fact was, her back had been screaming at her for three straight days. She’d been shoving the truth down deep inside because she didn’t know what else to do.
The man searched her face, seeing through every last lie she’d given him. But the pinch of his brows told her that he might really be worried about her.
He held the jar out, and she took it from him, hoping that he didn’t notice how unsteady her hand was. The action tugged at the skin and muscle of her back, and she winced at the sharp stab of pain ripping through her.
He took a step closer. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.” Why did her voice have to betray her now?
“I can help. I’m a forest ranger.”
She eyed him. “Since when do rangers wear camo?”
“Since I’m training in mountain rescue.”
“I don’t need rescuing. I’m fine.”
She’d survived two months on this mountain without a single man showing up to carry her down it, and she wasn’t about to rely on one now.
“I’ve got a first aid kit back at camp,” he said. “I could take a look at your injury.”
Oh god. She almost forgot.
There were more of them. A whole camp of men who might be associated with Lance and his group.
She started to whirl away, all her muscles burning to run far and fast, but her back was on fire.
