AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s because you’re tired. Take some advice from the dog.” Buck pointed to Poirot sleeping on a blanket across the room. “Get some sleep. The captain’s couch is available.”
“I guess an hour would help.” Gabe stood. “Maybe then I’ll think of the thing that I feel like I should remember that would give us a clue.”
“Something one of them told you maybe?”
Gabe thought through his conversations with Chloe this week. They’d talked about Owen. How had that come up? When Poirot got hurt. “She said that she ran into a brother and sister who’d lost someone, and that Josh and Chloe had found the brother, but he had died. But I don’t know how . . .”
“Let me do a little digging while you sleep.”
Gabe nodded and went to the captain’s office for a better nap than the table could provide.
As light peeked into the makeshift teepee, Josh woke up. Chloe stirred against his chest. Despite being cold, he’d slept much better with her in his arms.
Staying as close as she could, she rolled to her back and looked him in the eye.
He propped himself up on his elbow and stroked a strand of hair away from her face. “Hey, beautiful.”
Her cheeks grew rosy. “Hey.”
“Looks like the sun is up; we should probably get moving.”
She sighed. “If we must.”
“For being the one to hesitate to lie close to one another, you’re awfully reluctant to leave.”
Her face scrunched up.
He laughed and slid his arm under her, drawing her even closer. He’d be happy to stay here with her forever, but he also knew he couldn’t stay here any longer without temptation becoming difficult to fight.
A twig snapped in the distance. The reality of why they were in the woods hit him full force. Was someone out there?
They both sat up and pulled their coats on.
In quick, quiet movements, he made sure everything except the tarp was in the backpack. He wanted to be sure they took it with them, but he was ready to abandon it if someone was out there. He pulled the flap aside and looked out. No one in front of them.
He put his hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “I’ll check it out. Stay here.”
“Josh.” Her eyes pleaded with him.
He leaned close and kissed her forehead. “I’ll whistle once if there’s danger. Twice if it’s safe.”
“Fine.” She sat back on her heels.
Cautiously, he exited the shelter and glanced around. Nothing but snow. About an inch of white powder covered the ground and trees.
The sun wasn’t up completely yet, but there was enough light to illuminate the forest around them. He scanned the trees. Only more trees. He ventured about ten feet away from the teepee and walked a hundred eighty degrees around it.
He wished he had a weapon, even Chloe’s bear spray, but that was in her pack safely at her house. He let out two soft whistles.
Chloe came out with the pack.
He pulled off the tarp and folded it, but his gut told him to keep an eye out.
Chloe untied the lashing, and they each picked one of the poles to use as a walking stick. They were a bit long, so he pulled out the saw and cut them to appropriate sizes.
Once packed up, they walked toward the drop-off, but not too close. Josh paid close attention to Chloe’s demeanor. He needed to get the lay of the land and which direction would be most beneficial.
He understood the logic behind what they believed happened to Owen.
