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Pretending to fuss with her hat, she brought her hands up to help shield her face as she scoured the gathering crowd watching for a tall, blonde man and his companion in the blue shirt.
Or a handsome Scot.
Chapter 3
When she reached the benches, Tait followed the actions of almost everyone around her and took a spot. Hunching her shoulders, she ducked her head, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
A young couple took a seat beside her, whispering and giggling together, oblivious to everything but each other.
After a couple of minutes, Tait slid over and nudged the girl. “I’ll give you a hundred dollars for your sweatshirt.”
“Ya, right,” the girl snorted, looking down at her faded, ragged shirt.
Reaching into her pocket, Tait pulled out her last hundred-dollar-bill and shoved it at the girl.
“You’re serious?” The girl gasped, grinned at her boyfriend, and reached for the money. “Deal!”
“Only if you make it quick, and I’ll throw in the hat.” Tait said, keeping a grip on the cash.
“Give it to her,” the boyfriend urged.
Seconds later, Tait had the ratty sweatshirt on and the hood pulled up over her hair. While the girl pocketed the hundred, her boyfriend settled Marcus’ hat on his head.
Feeling somewhat less conspicuous, Tait looked for a discreet way to exit while everyone else was coming to the bench area to watch Old Faithful erupt. She noticed a few people taking the boardwalk that curved around the north and west sides of the geyser where steam vents and bubbling hot pots shrouded the area in mist. Her pulse kicked up a notch. That could be her answer.
As casually as possible, Tait rose and crossed the short distance to the small bridge that took her there. Mingling with other people wandering the same path, she slowed her pace, kept her head down and pretended to study the bubbling hot pots while working her way to the far end. If she could reach the Inn, she might have a chance of staying ahead of anyone following her.
She was halfway there before realizing she’d unwittingly placed herself in a potential death trap. If she’d been recognized, the two men chasing her could enter the boardwalk from both ends, trapping her in the middle. All it would take was a nudge from one of them for her to plunge into a mud pot or scalding pool of water, easily making it appear like an accident.
Panicked, she peered through the mist trying to determine if her assailants were behind her, or even ahead, but it was difficult to see clearly. She picked up her pace, needing to get off the boardwalk as quickly as possible.
Hopefully, once she reached the Inn, she’d be able to find a place to hide until she could arrange transportation out of here. She prayed the little bit of cash she had left would be enough to get her back to West Yellowstone—the closest and cheapest option at this point. Once there, she’d have to figure out her next move.
But right now, she knew she couldn’t stay here. This entire basin, even this cluster of buildings, was a potential trap. She’d be penned in no matter where she tried to hide.
I was such a fool to get on that bus!
Suddenly two arms went around her, pinning her within their strong embrace. Her heart in her throat, Tait scratched, twisted, and kicked at the solid wall of strength behind her.
“There ye are, Sweetheart!” he said, tucking his head beside hers as she drew in a ragged breath. “I thought I’d lost ye.”
Finally, Marcus’ brogue registered, and her fight-or-flight instincts settled into a ragged heartbeat. Weak-kneed and shaking, she turned inside the circle of his arms to face him. “What were you thinking?” she growled. “You scared the—”
He dipped his head for a searing kiss before whispering low. “Play along, Tait,” he mimicked her earlier words. “Make it look real. After yer reaction, some o’ these folks might think I intended tae do ye harm.” He kissed the tip of her nose and pressed another to her cheek. “Put yer arms around me. Make it look convincin’.”
“Harmis exactly what I thought was happening,” she snarled low, but did as he asked, wincing as a group of teenagers coming up behind them cheered and applauded.
Drawing everyone’s attention was the last thing she needed. If her assailants were around and hadn’t already recognized her in her new clothing, they might now. They’d recognize Marcus, for sure. How many men here could fit his description? How had that woman described him, earlier? Tall, muscular with long hair?
He was that, and more. Marcus had the physique of a man who wasn’t afraid of hard physical labor and the look of someone who could handle whatever came at him. Which was why she’d singled him out in the first place. But that had been a mistake. Even a strong, capable Scotsman couldn’t stop a bullet.
“Why didn’t you just let me go?” she cried, letting him cradle her in his tight hug. “Getting you involved was a mistake. Walk away, Marcus.Please.”
“Lass, ’twill take more than a different shirt, and this wee hood tae hide ye. I picked ye out o’ that crowd and spotted ye out here, even in this mist. So I’ve no doubt the two searchin’ for ye can do the same. I havenae seen them anywhere, but that doesnae mean they’re no’ here somewhere, waitin’ and watchin’.”
He held her gaze with a narrowed stare. “I ken ye had a reason for racin’ off earlier, Tait, which we’ll discuss later, but if those men are the threat tae ye, ye say they are, they’re no’ likely tae give up. Ye cannae deny ye still need my help. Aye?”
When she didn’t answer, he raised a brow, angled his head, and waited.
