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She backed away and glanced at the slight trail that led back to a cave she’d seen. Could she gather spruce branches and hide the opening? It might not even save her. Those men had likely worked here a long time and knew where to find all the nooks and crannies. But not trying wasn’t an option.
Wait, maybe she could go to the big house. The housekeeper and butler were likely still there. She could hide in one of the closets. Maybe she could get a gun. They’d have the satellite phone too. They’d be able to call for help.
But Sarah wasn’t sure how to get to the house with the men on the main path. She got so easily disoriented in these woods, especially at night. The cave would have to do until she was sure they were out of the way. Then she’d make a run for the big house.
She moved as quickly and quietly as she could, but it felt like every movement caused a small twig to snap. The noises sounded impossibly loud to her ears, but she hoped the men were making enough sound on their own to cover hers. Along the way she began to fill her arms with pine boughs. The groundskeepers had been working on trimming the past couple of days, and she had plenty of them by the time she reached the cave.
She shoved the dog inside, then knelt and backed in herself and laid out the boughs as she went. It was only three feet high, but it opened up and widened out the deeper in she went. The opening appeared mostly closed when she was done, but she could see glimmers of moonlight through it in places. That shouldn’t matter though. It was completely dark inside, and the men couldn’t see her.
Barely breathing, she waited with her hand on the dog’s head. When his ears pricked and he gave a small whine, she shushed him. They must be out there. Was there anything in here she could use for a weapon? Since it was too dark inside the cave to see, she felt around with her hands, praying she wouldn’t touch a snake or a spider. There was nothing that made her bite back a scream, but she found the right size rock to use as a weapon. She hefted it in her hand. Perfect.
Voices floated past the pine boughs. “She has to be around here somewhere.”
“She probably took the dog out to pee. We could circle back to the cabin and wait for her.”
“I think she overheard us and is hiding.”
“What if she went to the big house?”
The leader’s chuckle held a dark, mirthless note. “I hope not. We’d have to kill them all.”
The other guy snorted. “And how would you cover that up?”
“I’d figure it out. Come on. Let’s go to the cabin and wait.”
The sound of their footfalls through the rocks came as a welcome relief, and Sarah let out the breath she was holding. She couldn’t go to the big house without putting everyone else in danger. What was she supposed to do? Once daylight came, they’d see her makeshift hiding place with no trouble.
The boats.
The leader had mentioned scuttling one. What if she took it out herself while they were waiting at the cabin? The boathouse was off toward the big house. She should be able to sneak in there and get one out, then row for the mainland. It was her only hope.
Twenty-Three
Annie swatted a mosquito and ran for Jon’s cabin with him behind her. Her insect repellent must have worn off. Tonight’s fireworks had been spectacular and had lasted for an hour. The pesky insects were making a feast of her skin.
She flicked on the light as she entered, and Jon shut the door behind him. The place smelled of lumber and new paint. “I should have checked on things at the marina today.”
“Got a call from Michelle?” Jon asked.
“No, it’s just that the Fourth is often hectic.”
He crossed the kitchen and embraced her. “She would have called if they needed you. It’s after eleven. Are you tired? It’s been a crazy day.” A lopsided smile lifted his lips, and he took her hand, turning it so the ring caught the light. “I hope you’re as happy as me.”
Her gaze lingered on the ring and the way the sapphires nestled close to the diamonds. “Too happy to be tired.”
The remaining items from their picnic were inside. Jon had set up the table and chairs in the living room, and a red-and-white cooler perched on the new granite counter in the kitchen.
Jon pulled her into an embrace and rested his chin ontop of her head. “If you’re not tired, could we talk about the wedding?”
She hadn’t had a moment to think about it with the discovery of the body. Mason would probably have more news tomorrow on the poor woman’s identity, but she didn’t expect him to find much forensics or DNA evidence. They’d both been suspicious the woman was associated with the boat accident. It was the likeliest explanation for how the body had ended up off the dock.
She pulled away and grabbed his hand to lead him to the chairs. “Let’s sit and discuss it.”
Instead of letting her move to another chair, Jon settled on one and pulled her onto his lap. “Stay close. I can tell what you’re thinking by how you tense and move. If you plan to wallop me for my suggestions, I want a little head start.”
She chuckled and settled against his broad chest. His hair and skin smelled of lake, underlaid with his cologne. “I will take all suggestions into consideration. This is your wedding too. And it’s your first.”
When he tensed, she realized how crass that sounded. She shouldn’t have reminded him that she’d been married before. Not today, especially when she’d already unsettled him with a remark about Nate wanting more kids. She hadn’t realized he was still a little uncertain of how much she loved him.
