Chapter Sixteen
“We haven’t got too long to go,” Ross said as Jenny yawned next to him in the backseat. “Although we’re going to have to find somewhere to hide the truck.”
"That's fine with me," Jenny replied quietly. She wished that they'd all managed to get a decent sleep at the B&B because then they wouldn't have to stop, but it just hadn't happened. "We're going to walk the last few miles?"
Ross nodded. “I don’t want Davidson to find us or go anywhere near the East River pack.” He gave her a slightly rueful smile. “It means you’ll have to leave your stuff here, but they’ll have clothes and things for you there.”
“You’re not going to be staying at all?”
He shook his head. “I’m going to talk to Luke, the pack leader, about what we know, but then Connor and I are going to have to go back to the agency. It’ll keep up the ruse of us going in search of information about you. At the end of the day, Davidson doesn’t know anything for sure about us. He just suspects we’re shifters. You’re the one we have to worry about.” Putting his hand on hers, he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “I’ve got to keep you safe.”
Jenny smiled at him, still wishing that they wouldn't have to be separated. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him to stay with her, to not leave her at the East River pack, but instead, she just sat back and kept her mouth closed. She knew Ross was right. Davidson was after her because she was the only one he knew for sure was a shifter. She had to stay hidden. Suddenly anxious, Jenny grasped Ross's hand harder, folding her fingers between his own.
Sucking in a long breath, she let it out slowly, trying to calm her frantically beating heart.
“What’s the matter?” he asked softly.
Glancing at him, Jenny tried to explain. "Just a bit nervous, I guess. They feel closer now. I know that we've made a good attempt at fooling them, but it won't be long until they realize the mistake. Then what?"
He gave her a reassuring smile. “Then they’ll try and find us, but we’ve got a good head start. We’re going to keep to these back roads anyway, which means the chances of them finding us are slim.”
“But he’s got shifters working for him,” Jenny responded softly. “Doesn’t that give Davidson an advantage?” She watched Ross closely, catching the slight furrows that spread across his forehead as he thought.
“It does a bit,” he admitted eventually. “But we should be able to cover our tracks once we shift. The East River pack live, well, obviously, beside a river. Walking through it should mean we hide our scent.”
Jenny settled back in her seat, a little more relaxed. Of course, Ross had a plan—she should have known he'd have thought of some way to keep their scent away from Davidson and the Damson shifters. Just then, Connor's cell phone rang and, since he was driving, he handed it to Ross.
“Sarah, hi,” Ross began, smiling down the phone. “What have you found out?”
Watching Ross closely as he talked, Jenny tried not to attempt to listen to his conversation with Sarah. His face showed surprise, glancing to Jenny for a moment before looking back out the window. She was itching to ask him what Sarah had found out but forced herself to look out her own window until Ross had finished speaking.
“What did Sarah say?” Connor asked. “Is everything OK?”
Ross nodded before passing Connor’s cell phone forward so his brother could take it. “She had some interesting news about Davidson’s place in town.”
“Oh?” Connor murmured, glancing at Ross. “What’s going on?”
A slight grin appeared on Ross's face. "Apparently the police became concerned about his absence from town. For someone who was incredibly worried about his girlfriend's potential kidnapping, it seemed strange that he'd disappear himself."
Jenny couldn’t help the slow smile spreading across her face. She could almost predict what had happened.
“Thanks to an ‘anonymous tip’,” Ross continued, with a chuckle, “the police searched his home. They found some of your clothes, Jenny, as well as the room he kept you in down in the cellar. On top of that, there were a few other items Sarah said they were concerned about, although she didn’t manage to find out exactly what they were. I’m guessing the man probably has quite an array of guns and knives.” Remembering the animal skin he’d seen on the floor in Davidson’s hall, he shuddered slightly. “Or maybe tools for skinning animals.”
Jenny touched his arm. “So, what does this mean?” Her eyes searched his face, wondering if it meant what she thought.
“Davidson’s not exactly going to be rushing back home any time soon,” Ross replied with a quick bark of laughter. “I’d guess he’ll stay hidden for a long time, especially since now the police are after him.” He grinned at her. “Even if you do turn up back to town and tell the police you’re OK, they’ll still be chasing him. It looks like he can’t come back to Rockshore.”
A long breath of relief escaped her. “Then, can I come back to Rockshore with you?”
Ross studied her for a long moment, his fingers pressing against his chin as he thought. "Let's get to the East River pack and take things from there," he said carefully. "Just because Davidson might not be able to come back doesn't mean the Damsons can't. No one's chasing them." He shook his head. "I'd still feel better if you were with the East River pack for a while. They're a much bigger pack, Jenny." He must have caught the disappointment in her eyes because he leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her temple. "Let's talk about it once we're there," he said in her ear. "Luke might have a different idea." Leaning back slightly, his dark eyes looked into hers, sparking that same longing she'd had since the first day she'd set eyes on him. "I don't want to be apart from you either, Jenny."
That made her smile in spite of the disappointment she felt. “Good,” she replied quietly.
“Don’t start any of that when I’m driving,” came Connor’s voice, from the front of the truck. “I’m warning you now, I won’t put up with it.” Mischief filled his voice, making Jenny laugh and Ross growl quietly. “Anyway, I’d say we’re about ten miles away by road. Maybe five or six miles for us. Do you want me to try and find somewhere to hide the truck?”
Ross came to attention immediately, sitting forward and looking out of the window. “Yes, definitely. I don’t care if you have to go off road—just find somewhere that’s away from the road and well hidden. It can’t be an obvious place either. I don't want Davidson driving along the road to spot a pair of tire tracks in the mud."
Connor shook his head. “Making it real easy for me, Ross.”
Jenny couldn't help but laugh, and Ross grinned at her. While the two brothers discussed where to go, she looked out of the window to see where they'd be headed. Nothing but green stretched out ahead of them, a few hills in the distance. There were plenty of trees around with what looked to be a big forest on one side of the hills. She hoped that was the direction they'd be headed in since it would give them the most protection.
“Woah!” Hanging on to her seat, Jenny was jostled back and forward as the truck turned off the road, going down a small embankment.
"Wait," Ross ordered. Connor shoved his foot down on the brake. "I'll cover the tracks. Wait for me." Without another word, he jumped out of the truck, leaving Connor and Jenny to find a place to hide the truck.