“Thank the stars for small miracles,” Ivy said, exhaling.
“We need to go.”They’d just given away their location by making all that racket.“Fast.”
“Right.”Ivy’s gaze landed on his shoulder.“You’re bleeding.Are you sure you can run?”
“No choice.”There was no way he intended to stick around and give Royce and Clay a crack at them.A quick glance revealed blood blooming on his sleeve.Nothing could be done about it right now.He’d deal with it once they reached safety.
Beau took her hand, linked their fingers, and then took off running.His shoulder was wet with blood.He’d most likely aggravated the injury; it was still too fresh for all this running around.
Hours had passed without a meal and it was getting dark.Lack of food was most likely causing the exhaustion he started to feel in his bones.A haze settled over his brain, too.A power bar and a bottle of water would keep him going until he could get back to the ranch.With no laptop in the pickup, he needed to get home so he could track his phone.
Home.It dawned on Beau that he now thought of Rescue Ridge Ranch as home.
Chloe had packed an emergency food kit for him to take with him when he’d decided to take off to look for his mother.His injury and lack of information on where to begin his search had held him back a day.
Having a big family was new to Beau.Hell, having anyone besides his mother to call family was beyond strange.He’d made mistakes with his siblings.The relationships were new, still taking shape.Trust was a thin thread that could snap with the slightest trigger.
He’d never wanted to be part of the Sturgess clan.Never dreamed he could see them as anything close to family.Yet here he was missing them.
Did that make him weak?
He planted his foot.His knee buckled, causing him to faceplant.He issued a grunt.They were already making too much noise.And now this?They might as well draw a map to their location and hand it over to the enemy.
“Are you okay?”Ivy dropped down beside him.
“I’m good,” he lied.His head was spinning, and he thought he might throw up.Glancing over at his injury might not have been his smartest move.Knowing how much blood he was losing didn’t make him feel less lightheaded.Any hope that his weakness was food-related died on the vine.
“You’re not good, Beau.”
“We have to keep moving.”He tried to stand, but ended up on his backside again.
A look of panic crossed Ivy’s features.It was quickly followed by determination.If her expression had been the first line in a book, it would’ve read: There’s no chance we’re giving up.
“Let me help you.”She hooked her arm underneath his good shoulder and helped him to his feet.“We can take it slow.”
“We have to move.”Who knew how close Royce and Clay were?
“Only two of them want to find us.The driver is practically a child.When we ran into each other, he looked as startled as I probably did.I took off, and he didn’t yell or follow.I get the impression the kid doesn’t want anything to do with this.”
Responding with words would take up precious energy, so he didn’t.
“Stay with me, Beau.If you pass out, I have no idea which way to go.”
“Walk a straight line.”He fished out his keys and handed them over.“Leave me here and take the pickup to the nearest sheriff’s office.”
“I can’t do that to you.”She positioned her shoulder underneath his, then wrapped her arm around his waist.“Besides, I won’t need to.You’re going to make it to the pickup, so you can put those keys back in your pocket.”
He had to hand it to her; she was determined.She was also delusional, but this didn’t seem like the best time to point it out.Plus, he hoped she was right.Being left behind sounded about as good as intentionally lying on top of a fire ant mound.
“We got this together,” she reassured.
He stumbled, almost bringing her down with him.
“It’s okay,” she said a little too fast.He heard a hint of shakiness in her voice.She hid her fear well.
With her help, he regained his balance.The earth spun faster, and the mental fog thickened, settling around his brain.He wanted a bed.And maybe a glass of water.His throat was drier than Texas soil in the heat of summer.
“We’re getting closer,” Ivy said in a whisper.“Keep going.”
