“I’ll have to add mind reading to your growing list of talents.” He accepted the mug and took a healthy swallow, enjoyed the heat and freshly brewed taste. “You’re up early.”
“You said we were leaving today. Some of my clothes are still at Tammy’s—those that weren’t destroyed—but I’m guessing you don’t want me going back there to get them.”
He shook his head. “They could be watching the place, figuring you’ll be back sooner or later.”
“Then I need to go shopping.”
He nodded. “You can do that in Arizona.”
She studied the pile of equipment he had pulled off the shelves. “Looks like you’re ready to go.”
“I talked to Maggie earlier, told her we were moving up the timetable, and asked her to arrange air transportation.”
“We’re flying?” Abby asked. “I thought we’d be driving.”
“Private charter,” Gage said. “We need to get down there. We’ll be carrying weapons along with our gear. Dealing with the airlines would take too much time.”
“So you’re waiting to hear from Maggie.”
“That’s right. We’ll have a chance for another look at the maps and with any luck, your FedEx delivery will arrive. As soon as we get the flight information, we’ll load the car and head for the airport.”
Abby looked up at him with those big golden eyes he was beginning to find nearly irresistible. “What if they’re watching us? What if they follow us to the airport?”
“We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“How?”
Gage couldn’t stop a grin. “My brother’s on his way over. He’s going to run interference.” Twenty minutes later, Gage’s cell phone rang, signaling Edge’s number.
“Fifteen minutes out,” Edge said.
“Take your time. We’ve still got work to do here.”
“No problem. I’ll just hang around, keep an eye out for the bad guys.”
Gage grunted. God forbid Edge got his hands on the men who had attacked them last night. “Just don’t kill anyone.”
“You mean unless I have to.”
His lips twitched. On the other hand, at least one problem would be solved. “I’ll see you soon.”
* * *
Abby went upstairs to take another look through the stuff she’d brought from Tammy’s and make sure she had everything she could use. It was still cold in Denver, but in March, the weather in the Superstitions was warmer, with daytime highs in the seventies, lows in the forties at night.
Unfortunately, in the desert mountains, the weather was highly unpredictable. The days could climb into the nineties, the nights drop to near freezing. Clouds could bring an unexpected downpour and flash flooding. The wind had been known to blow up a sandstorm.
Abby had just zipped the bag when she heard Gage calling from the living room.
“Abby! Come on out; there’s someone here I’d like you to meet.”
She hurried down the hall and saw a tall, lean-muscled, blade-haired man standing next to Gage. Recognizing the blue eyes, hard jaw, and notched chin, she knew it had to be Gage’s brother.
“Abby, this is Edge,” Gage said. “He’s going to make sure we get to the airport without any trouble.”
She smiled up at him. “Nice to meet you, Edge. Thank you for helping.”
“No problem,” he said. Though she could see the family resemblance, the two looked completely different, Edge with his black hair, high cheekbones, leaner face, and blade of a nose. There was a cynical twist to his lips that was missing from Gage’s features.
