Beholden (30 page)

She glanced over at Luke’s profile, saw that he was concentrating on traffic in that focused way he had. Studying the hard
angles of his face, the grim expression, her doubts returned. He wouldn’t let her call, citing a dozen reasons why she shouldn’t
phone. She’d have to be content with hearing news thirdhand from Bob Jones to Luke and then to her, each of them editing along
the way. She didn’t even know exactly where they were headed.

“I don’t suppose you’d tell me where we’re going?” she asked, thinking it was worth a try.

At this point, he saw no reason not to. “Bob and his wife own a cabin somewhere between Grass Valley and Reno
near Truckee. He gave me directions. No one knows about this place, so it’s particularly safe.”

What did it matter where? Terry thought. The real question was how long would they be there, and that Luke couldn’t answer.
She slid on her sunglasses, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“Get some rest,” Luke told her. “You’ll feel better.”

She had rested, but she hadn’t slept much. She’d been too stimulated by Luke’s lovemaking, too worried about her future, too
saddened by the prospect of one day soon having to give up what she’d just found. Life so rarely was fair, she decided as
she heard Luke snap on the radio.

Willie Nelson’s gravelly voice began with “On the Road Again.”
You can say that again
, Terry thought.

It was early evening when they stopped outside of Sacramento at Pomeroy’s Country Store. Luke decided it was as good a place
as any to stock up on supplies they’d need for an indeterminate stay in the mountain cabin. The air had turned much colder
as they’d driven north. Radio weather predictions were for snow on the way and colder temperatures. As he stepped out, he
spotted the first snowflakes.

He walked around the van to help Terry down, but she’d beat him to the punch and jumped down herself. She’d been quiet most
of the day since reading the upsetting newspaper article, leaning back, hiding behind her sunglasses and pretending to sleep
though he knew she hadn’t. He’d decided it would be best to leave her to her thoughts. They’d talk things out once they got
to the cabin and were safely entrenched.

He fell in step beside her as they walked toward the door. “Pick up everything you think we may need. If a storm hits, we
may not be able to get to a store again for a while.”

Wordlessly, Terry went inside and grabbed a basket.

It took half an hour for them to push the cart through all the aisles, piling in food and staples that they’d need. They had
no way of knowing just what the cupboards at the cabin
held, if anything. Terry added a few personal items, including hair dye. Her wig had pretty well been ruined yesterday and
she was tired of wearing it anyway. She chose a warm light brown shade and decided that the cuts on her scalp were healed
enough to handle the dye. Then she could leave off the knit cap she’d been forced to wear today.

At the register, Luke reached for his wallet as Terry shoved the loaded cart within reach of the cashier. He glanced out the
window and saw that the snow was picking up. “Maybe we should pick up a couple of sandwiches and eat them in the van. We have
another two hours to go and I’d like to be there before the storm worsens.”

“Fine with me.” The short-order counter was off to the side. “I’ll go put in an order. What would you like?”

“A sub with roast beef, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and mayo. And a real Coke, not that diet stuff.” He handed her a twenty.

Taking it, she gave him a look of disapproval. “If the cholesterol won’t kill you, the sugar will.”

He grinned. “Gotta die of something. Might as well enjoy the trip.”

Shaking her head, Terry went to the counter.

She accepted the sandwiches and drinks from the slim blonde behind the deli counter as Luke joined her with the bagged groceries.
She handed him the change then glanced around, finally spotting what she wanted. “I need to make a stop at the ladies’ room.
I’ll be out in a jiffy.”

He saw the two rest rooms side by side in a small corridor past the deli counter. “I’ll wait for you in that hallway.”

He was back to dogging her every step, Terry thought as she walked to the rest room. Just doing his job or because he didn’t
trust her not to take off again? Remembering her fear when she’d thought she’d seen Ozzie, she supposed she should be grateful,
but moments like this, that smothered
feeling returned. Shoving the door in, she saw that the room was unoccupied, both stalls empty. She hurried into one.

Finishing, she came out and stopped at the sink to wash her hands. It was then that she spotted the wall phone just under
the closed window. Her heart leaped into her throat as she dried her hands.

Terry glanced toward the door. Was Luke just outside? Could he hear her? She had left the money she’d earned at the Metropolitan
Café in her suitcase and she’d returned the sandwich change to Luke. But in her jeans pocket were two quarters from the night
she’d been in the theater.

Making a quick decision, she pulled out a quarter and lifted the receiver before she could change her mind. She inserted the
quarter and dialed the long-distance operator as she checked her watch. Seven in California, which would mean eight in Arizona,
with the winter time change. In a hushed voice, she told the operator she wanted to make a collect call, and recited her parents’
number. With heart pounding, she waited.

“Hello?” The voice was male, sounding faint and some-what fuzzy.

The operator came on. “Collect call for anyone at this number from Terry. Will you accept charges?”

“Terry? Did you say Terry?” The voice seemed stronger, as if the man had been asleep and now was wide-awake.

“Yes, sir,” the operator said. “Terry. Will you accept charges?”

“Yes, yes,” John Ryan said impatiently, sitting up in his easy chair in his Phoenix living room. “Terry, is that you?”

Tears sprang to Terry’s eyes as she heard the operator click off. “Yes, Dad, it’s really me.”

“Oh, thank God you’re alive. I wasn’t sure until this very minute.”

Terry huddled toward the phone, speaking softly. “How are you? I read you were hospitalized again with heart problems.”

“Me, I’m okay. Just some chest pains, not another heart attack. What about you? Oh, God, I can’t believe it’s really you.”
He suddenly remembered. “The accident. Are you fully recovered?”

“I’m all right.” She paused to swallow, choking with emotion. “Don’t worry about me, Dad, please. I’m okay.”

John Ryan ran a trembling hand over his thinning brown hair. “Where are you, Theresa Anne?”

“I’m not sure exactly where, but don’t worry. We’re headed for a safe house. It’s owned by the head man’s family.”

“He’s with you?”

“No, I’m with a federal agent who never leaves my side. You know, the Witness Protection Program.”

“Why? Why did they take you away? If they only knew what it was doing to your mother and me.” His voice broke on a sob.

“You know why, Dad. I only called to make sure you’re not sick again.”

“Your mother’s not home. Give me a number where I can call you back. She’ll want to talk to you.”

Terry felt her heart squeeze. “I can’t, Dad. They don’t know I’m calling. Please, you mustn’t tell anyone or I’ll get in trouble.
Please, be patient and I’ll be home. One day soon.” She heard voices in the hallway outside the rest room and realized time
was running out. “I have to say good-bye. It’s beginning to snow and we have a two-hour drive ahead of us. Luke wants to beat
the storm so we have to get started. I love you, Dad. Please don’t worry.”

“Wait, Terry. Don’t hang up. Are they treating you all right?”

“Fine, Dad, really. Good-bye for now.” Hastily, she hung up, struggling to hold back the tears. Taking a deep breath, she
moved to the sink and splashed cold water on her face. She was patting herself dry with a paper towel when the door swung
open.

The slim blonde from behind the counter stood in the doorway. “Your husband wants to know if you’re all right?”

Terry nodded. “Yes, thanks.” She followed the woman out into the hallway and found a frowning Luke waiting.

“Is anything wrong?” he asked, his voice concerned.

She placed a fist on her stomach. “Cramps, but I feel better now. Ready to go?”

He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as he took her arm, but finally turned and walked her outside. “Don’t scare me like that,
will you?”

“Next time, you’ll have to come in with me,” she said with no small amount of sarcasm as she hopped up into the passenger
seat, praying her little performance had fooled him.

Better. She felt better. Her father was home, he hadn’t had a heart attack. She leaned back as Luke finished loading their
supplies, then climbed in.

He started the engine, still watching her. “You drink too damn much coffee. That’s probably what’s got your stomach all upset.”

She smiled to herself. “You’re probably right.”

Less than an hour into their trip, the storm began in earnest. Luke pulled into a gas station and had chains put on the tires,
a requirement at the higher altitude when a heavy snowfall was predicted. After that, the four-wheel-drive seemed to barrel
through and over even the heavier drifted snow. Visibility was the problem, especially when they left the main highway and
started up the mountain, following the map Jones had faxed him.

“It looks like a picture postcard or a scene out of a movie,” Terry said, gazing up at bare tree limbs balancing snow accumulations.

“It may look pretty, but it’s damn treacherous to drive in,” Luke commented, his hands tightening on the wheel as they eased
around a narrow curve. Unfamiliar roads, darkness
and a snowstorm. Not ideal traveling conditions. He turned the windshield wipers on high.

“I’ve never been out in snow,” Terry confessed.

“You’re kidding? You mean you never drove up into northern Arizona in the winter? Great ski country.”

“No, I never went. My brothers used to go and even my sister. But none of my friends ski so I never bothered to learn.”

He wished he had time to teach her, but he didn’t mention the thought aloud. It would lead to suggesting that he might one
day, which would indicate they had a future together. And Luke knew they didn’t.

His own future was unsettled at the moment. He was uncertain whether he wanted to continue with the marshals service or stay
on his ranch and raise horses. His house was paid for, the renovations nearly complete. His needs were few, so he wouldn’t
have to make a lot of money. He’d be truly independent, with no one over him telling him what to do and when. Perhaps the
time had come to hang it up.

Still, although he’d been a loner, he’d always been among people. At the ranch, he was truly alone and though he’d preferred
it that way so far, would he want that for the rest of his days? He truly hadn’t known anyone he wanted to share that solitary
life with.

Until Terry Ryan came into his life.

Luke turned the wheel sharply to the right, then around to the left, tensing as he maneuvered a hairpin turn. Suddenly, the
road straightened a bit and he relaxed.

Yes, he could picture Terry on his ranch. In one of their talks, she’d told him she liked horses and rode well. But that would
be far from the only requirement. What about that large, loving family she had, the one she missed more each day? She’d want
to be with them and he didn’t think he could handle a steady stream of Ryans invading his space.

And what about his love of danger and excitement, which he rarely admitted out loud, but was astute enough to
acknowledge quietly. Being free of the pressure of his work would be a plus, but would he miss the thrills, the satisfaction
of a job well done? Would he feel tied down if he wasn’t free to go when he felt the urge, which was the way he’d lived his
life for as far back as he could remember?

He wanted Terry in his life, but he couldn’t imagine checking in constantly with someone, explaining his need to take an occasional
job for Jones or maybe just setting out with his truck and Yuma for parts unknown until the need passed. What woman would
put up with that?

Luke downshifted, then glanced over at Terry. In the dim light of the dash, he could see a look of almost childish delight
on her face as she peered out at the winter landscape. In many ways, she appeared very young. After all, he was twelve years
older than she. But in other ways, she showed a maturity beyond her years.

And in the bedroom, she matched him superbly, unapologetically making her own demands, then letting him set the pace, open
and enthusiastic about each new thing they did together. He didn’t want to lose that rare bonding, but he didn’t know if he
was willing to pay the price for keeping it. There were times when he caught her looking at him and knew she was weaving forever
dreams around him. He’d have to straighten her out about that and soon. Luke Tanner and forever were distant cousins, not
even on speaking terms.

The van suddenly lurched sideways before Luke got the vehicle under control again. He heard Terry’s quick gasp of fear. “It’s
okay. We just hit a slick spot.” To prove his point, he slowed even more and crept around the next bend. “It shouldn’t be
too much farther now.” A drive that he’d estimated would last two hours was now well into the third. However, he didn’t dare
go any faster.

“I trust you,” she said, more calmly than she felt. This sort of outing in a snowstorm always looked like more fun in the
movies than it was in reality.

I trust you
. Luke hoped her words wouldn’t haunt him.

The cabin was tucked into the side of the mountain, the snow camouflaging it so well that they nearly drove on past. The yard
had a cyclone fence with barbed wire along the top and a heavy iron gate. Standing on the wooden porch after Luke had checked
out the interior, Terry shivered. He’d picked up a heavy jacket for her that morning since she’d left her other one behind,
but they hadn’t thought to get boots and her Reeboks were wet, her feet cold in the short walk from the parked van.