Cowboy In The Crossfire(9)

Blake booted the computer and typed his ex-partner's name into the search engine. He would discover the truth and protect Amanda and her son, whether she wanted his help or not.

*

AMANDA WOKE TO SUNLIGHT streaming through the slats in the room where Blake had bandaged her, not on the floor next to Ethan. She remembered shivering beside her son's bed, knowing she couldn't leave him alone except to throw his blood-soaked jeans in the washer. He'd hardly had any sleep since they left Austin. Each time she'd thought he'd rest for more than an hour, he'd jerked awake, screaming for Vince. Begging the bad cop to go away.

That's how she'd learned what really happened. That's why she'd veered from a trip to the hospital. She'd pressed her son to tell her more, but Ethan refused to say a word about what he'd seen. Except in his dreams.

And last night she hadn't been there for him.

She covered her eyes with her forearm. Blake must have moved her last night. But what about Ethan? She lay there for a few seconds, listening for his cries.

Not a sound.

She didn't like the quiet. Not one bit.

Amanda threw off the blankets piled on top of her and tried to sit up. Pain stabbed at her side. She groaned but didn't surrender to it. She could handle anything as long as she knew Ethan was safe. Holding her torso stiff, she opened her bedroom door and hurried into the next room, her bare feet cold on the hardwood floors.

Amanda nearly tripped over a rocking chair that hadn't been in the room last night. Ethan's clean jeans were folded neatly on the dresser. An afghan was placed in perfect order on the seat. A coffee cup sat on a coaster near the chair. Ethan lay huddled beneath a thick quilt.

He was safe. And asleep.

He clutched a small, much-worn teddy bear in the crook of his arm. Amanda blinked away tears at the sight of her son clinging to the toy. They'd had no time to bring anything with them. She'd taken him away from everything he knew and loved. And Blake had provided Ethan a small bit of childhood to hold.

She had no doubt Blake had watched over Ethan after putting her to bed last night. The nightmares must have come. Again.

And she hadn't heard them. Blake had.

Slowly, she walked back to her bedroom to dress. God, how had this happened? All she'd wanted for Ethan was a good life, for him to feel safe and protected.

She wished she could ask Blake for help. Her heart had gone pitter-patter the few times he'd smiled. When he'd held her in his arms last night, he'd made her feel small, but not vulnerable. Only protected. For a second, she'd wanted to lean her head against him and forget the danger. But she had no choice. She had to hide the car she'd stolen and vanish under the radar. She couldn't ask a sheriff to break the law for her. Especially one who had been through what Blake had.

Amanda left the bedroom and headed toward the kitchen. Keeping as quiet as possible, she opened the door and stepped onto the porch. The sun's brightness made the ice sparkle like glistening diamonds. The place looked like a winter wonderland. One thing about West Texas, if you wanted the weather to change, all you had to do was wait a minute.

The ditch to her right wasn't deep, but last night it might just as well have been the Grand Canyon. She shivered. She could have easily frozen to death.

She followed the line of the driveway as it curved in front of the small barn. Where had the car landed? She remembered hitting the brakes and skidding. Then little else. Shoving her hands into her pockets, Amanda crossed the yard and stared in disbelief at the scars marring the ice-covered snow on the road.

The car was gone.

She whirled around and ran into a wall of muscle.

Blake clasped her shoulders to steady her. "In a hurry?"

"Where's the car?" Oh, God. That beat-up station wagon was the only way out of town and into oblivion. Her hands trembled. Her money. The gun. Gone.

"Amanda." Blake shook her gently. "What's wrong with you?"

"Where. Is. The. Car?" She tried to keep the panic out of her voice, but she couldn't stop it from quivering.

"Scooter towed it to his garage. It's probably totaled."

"This can't be happening." Amanda's legs wobbled beneath her. What was she going to do? "Please tell me it's drivable."

"Your suspension is damaged. The tire was practically bent underneath."

"How much to fix it?"

"At least a thousand. Maybe more."

Amanda swayed. She could have crumpled into a heap on the snow and cried. She needed that car. But she had only a couple hundred in her purse.

Her purse. Her ID. Panic vibrated through her body. She had a vague memory of grabbing the bag as she stumbled out of the car, but had she? If the Austin cops found the car... "I've got to get Ethan. We have to go."

She started to run to the house, but her feet slipped on the ice, and she landed hard on her backside. The fall jarred her ribs. Fire seared through her. She doubled over and clutched at the wound, rocking to and fro. She couldn't stop the moans.

How could she protect her son like this?

Blake knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Whoa, there. Take it easy. You're trying to foul up my bandage again."

She shoved herself to her feet, barely able to stand the burning at her side. She teetered, fighting against the spots dancing in front of her eyes. She couldn't pass out. "We have to disappear. He'll find us."