His question catches me off guard. It feels like ice water poured onto my heart. I trip over a fallen branch and would have completely fallen flat on my face if it weren’t for his quick reflexes. I pull out of his grasp and wipe my hands on my pants, thanking him for the assist as my heart does cartwheels in my sternum.
God, I hope I can trust this man because I need to get this weight off my chest, even if it just means sharing the burden with someone to get me through this.
Because I’m a coward through and through.
I can handle being shot at, chased, and nearly killed.
But coming face to face with the child I willingly gave up?
I’m absolutely terrified.
“I, um—” My voice cracks as I swallow, trying in earnest to smash down the guilt building in my chest. “I actually don’t know.” He raises his brow at me, but says nothing as I continue. “I gave her up for adoption when she was born. It was a closed adoption, so I have no idea whoshe is. I just know that I have to save her.” I pull the note Pierce left for me from my pocket and hand it to Lochlan. “This can probably explain it better than I can.”
He reads the letter, then hands it back to me before wrapping me in a fierce hug. My whole body tenses, then relaxes as I lean into him. I didn’t realize how much I needed this. A listening ear. Someone to share the burden of this massive secret I’ve had to carry myself since the death of my parents. It’s like an invisible weight melts off as Lochlan holds me in a much-needed embrace. A sigh of relief escapes my lips as I take a much-needed moment of silence amongst the chaos that my life has turned into over the last couple of days.
A caring stranger turned ally. A friend, even.
Lochlan gently releases me, looking down with that mischievous upturn of his lips. “Ready to meet your daughter?” He turns me so my back is against him, then he points toward a small overgrown path. And just past it sits a log wooden cabin.
My daughter’s in there.
I don’t even remember moving, but suddenly I’m rushing up the front steps and through the front door with Lochlan hot on my heels.
The most surprising aspect of the cabin is its warm, homey, and welcoming scent. It smells of apples and cinnamon spice. I hesitantly walk further into the cabin and take in my surroundings.
The faded brown couch has red and yellow throw pillows tossed onto it, with a dark green fuzzy blanket pushed to the edge. The fireplace is lit, and the mantle is covered in little wooden horses.
“What happened to all the dead heads?” Lochlan whispers from behind me. I look back at him, raising a brow in confusion. “When I woke up, there were animal trophies covering every inch of wall space. This cabin looks like the rustic Martha Stewart took over and kicked thedrunk lumberjack out, along with his horrid decor. I don’t know which version is worse, honestly.”
“Says the man with the crazy gator shoes,” I chastise, chuckling at his gasp.
“You’ll be happy to know Lexilovedthem—”
A door slams in the hallway, cutting him off. We eye each other and raise our weapons as we slowly inch down the hallway.
We haven’t run into the Ghillieman or the Axeman. I’m starting to wonder if coming here was exactly what they wanted.
What if they planned this and waited until we left here with my daughter to ambush us? I shudder at the thought of the Ghillieman killing us the way he killed the other two guests in their tents.
There’s a muffled noise coming from behind the door on the left. Lochlan signals me to get behind him, then he turns the doorknob and pushes the door open. He steps into the room holding the axe tightly, ready to swing at a moment’s notice. I follow right behind him.
My pulse pounds loudly in my head as I scan the room. It’s decorated similarly to the tent. All hues of pinks, teals, and lavenders. This room clearly belongs to a young girl, but is that girl my daughter?
There are photos strung with twine and clothespins hanging above the twin bed. I can’t stop myself from getting a closer look at her life.
I don’t know her name, but I’d recognize her even if I haven’t seen her since the day she was born.
Before I can get a real glimpse at the photos, a noise behind me catches my attention.
Lochlan lets out a small gasp of surprise as I turn toward him, then follow his gaze to what he’s locked on.
My heart stops in my chest.
There’s a bright yellow bean bag tossed into the corner of the room, and sitting on it, like some type of mythical creature turned real, is a young girl.
She’s got a pair of white headphones on, and she’s looking down intently at a book in her hands.
I choke back a sob, bringing my hands to my mouth.
