“I’m entitled to be snarky.”
“You’re entitled to nothing whatsoever, son.”
Cullen laughed. “Sorry, sir. Moment of self-pity. Won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t.”
Kit smiled. Listening to the two of them bicker was the only bright spot in a dark journey.
Cullen made the turn, which put them on a slight incline, the path wide enough for the ATV and a more level surface than she’d imagined. Fortunate, since Tot was winding up for a good cry, turning her mouth away from the bottle and wrinkling up her forehead. Kit hoisted her enough to rhythmically pat her back like Cullen had done at his cabin. That did the trick, but it was a temporary fix. Tot bunched her knees up and writhed against Kit, rejecting the binky. What should she try now that the bottle and pacifier had lost their soothing powers? No way she was going to sing “Jingle Bells” with Nico sneering at her. She was mulling it over when Cullen hit the brakes.
“Would you look at that,” Archie said.
Cullen whistled. “I must be hallucinating.”
Kit looked through the front window and gasped.
Through the smear, she saw a filthy white truck with amber lights parked midtrail. Her whole body prickled with gooseflesh. A rescue worker, her disbelieving senses told her. An honest-to-goodness official who could get them out of there. She wanted to fling open the door and run to him, but Cullen held up a palm.
“Archie, stay in the car and watch Nico. I don’t want Kit and the baby to be out in this until they have to be.”
She felt something warm in her belly. Was it tenderness at his care? Self-consciousness? Impossible to decipher especially with her nerves cascading with excitement.
“Hey, Tot,” she whispered as Cullen got out. “We made it.”
The worker was covered in yellow neoprene overalls and wearing a National Park Service hat. His face was the same color as the grimy brim. He’d been studying something onthe ground, but at the sight of the ATV, he straightened so suddenly, he dropped his clipboard. Papers fluttered loose as he took in the sight of Cullen’s big frame, from his boots to his battered face and the gun tucked in his waistband. He flicked a hasty look at the ATV.
Kit didn’t miss the way the man’s hand flew to his holster. Obviously he’d noticed that Cullen was armed and maybe gotten a peek at Nico in the back seat with his mouth taped. He drew his weapon. Her heart beat faster.
Cullen’s palms went up.
She cracked the window, desperate to hear.
“Hello, sir. My name’s Cullen Landry. I own a ranch off Pine Hollow Road. We need help.”
Still holding his weapon, the man cocked his head. “Stay right there. Why are you here?” He jerked a look at the vehicle. “Guy in the back seat’s mouth is taped. Why?”
“He’s a human trafficker.” Cullen shook his head. “Let me start over. I’m with Kit Garrido, Archie Esposito, and a baby we found.”
The man gaped. “You found a baby? Out here?”
“Yes, sir. Guy in the back seat trafficked her mother.”
The man’s expression, even in the near darkness, was incredulous. She understood why he edged toward his truck and tightened his grip on the gun. Her entire experience since she’d crashed had been completely incomprehensible. She wouldn’t believe their story either if she hadn’t lived it.
Cullen was still talking, jerking a thumb at the ATV, but the man’s body language did not indicate he was buying what Cullen was selling. There was more talking but little progress that she could see, so she rolled down the window, Tot’s cries loud and clear.
The man stared in her direction.
“He’s telling you the truth. I’m Kit Garrido,” she called out. “I was giving a woman named Annette Bowman and her baby a ride.” She explained how they’d been shot at and she’d crashed. “But Annette ran. Something’s happened to her.” When the worker let his gun down slightly, she called, “I’m getting out, okay?” She ignored the warning look from Cullen and handed Tot to Archie. “Stay here, Tot. I’ll be right back.” When had she picked up the habit of explaining everything to an infant?
Archie thrust his chin at her. “Move slow. Guy’s got a lot to absorb and he’s jumpy.”
That made two of them.
She eased the door open and stepped out, approaching at a snail’s pace and keeping her palms up like Cullen.
“So you’re the truck driver?” the emergency worker said.
