Amber Eyes (Amber Eyes #1)(42)

“Yeah, I know. I don’t know what the hell to do, to be honest. I can’t really hold her here. Margaret isn’t pressing charges for the packages of ham she tried to lift, but I feel like I’ll be doing the wrong thing if I just let her go. What if she has no place to go? I’d like to help her if she’d just talk to me.”

“Hell of a note when a pregnant woman ends up alone and having to steal food to eat,”Nick said darkly.

“Maybe I’ll do down and see Margaret. Your idea of having a woman talk to her is a good one. Margaret has a soft streak a mile wide.”

He stood and grabbed his hat, plunking it on his head as he started toward the door.

“Why don’t you see if you can get her to talk to you while I’m gone?”

Nick cast him a doubtful glance but nodded.

***

Hunter pulled up to the general store and cut the engine. He was beyond exhausted, and what he really wanted was about three straight days of sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw Kaya frightened and alone, thinking he and Jericho had abandoned her.

Would he sleep until they found her, and would they ever find her?

He nodded at Duncan Kennedy, the sheriff, when they entered the store at the same time.

“Hunter, it’s been a while. Have to say, you look like hammered horse manure.”

“Thanks,”Hunter said dryly. “Just got back from an assignment.”

“Get some rest. Looks like you need it. I’ll see you around, okay? I need to talk to Margaret.”

Hunter dipped his head in acknowledgement and then went to do his shopping. A few minutes later, he walked through the produce section to see Margaret stocking bananas while Duncan stood next to her, a frown on his face.

As he neared, he couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

“If you could just come down and talk to her,”Duncan said. “I’m at my wit’s end. She won’t say a word to anyone. She just sits in that cell looking terrified.”

“Poor thing,”Margaret said, her face creased with pity. “Of course I’ll come down. You did tell her I wasn’t pressing charges for stealing food, didn’t you?”

An uneasy prickle took hold of Hunter’s neck. He edged closer, pretending interest in the apples.

“Yeah, I did, but I hate to let her go until I know who she is and that she has somewhere to go. I know she’s scared witless, but at least she has a dry place to stay and food to eat.”

The gnawing in his gut had become too much to bear. Dropping his basket, he bolted down the aisle toward the front door, Margaret’s and Duncan’s startled exclamations ringing in his ears.

He ran down the street toward the sheriff’s office, pain jolting up his spine the entire way. He heard Duncan’s shout from a distance, but he ignored it and burst through the doorway of the jail.

His gaze registered several things. Kaya lay huddled on a cot while a deputy stood over her, his hand reaching to touch her shoulder.

With a snarl, Hunter lunged for the open jail door, yanking it wider and leaping inside. The deputy tried to reach for his pistol, but Hunter was on him too fast.

“Get away from her,”he snapped.

His hands gripped the deputy’s shirt, and he slammed him against the bars opposite where Kaya lay. She didn’t even flinch.

“Hunter, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”Duncan demanded.

Hunter looked up to see Duncan standing on the other side of the bars, his pistol raised and aimed at Hunter.

“Let him go. Now.”

Hunter slowly released the deputy and took a step back, purposely putting himself between them and Kaya.

“Nick, out of the cell.”

The deputy cast a wary glance in Hunter’s direction before heeding Duncan’s order.

“Now suppose you tell me what the hell’s going on,”Duncan said when the cell had been cleared.

“She’s mine,”Hunter said in a near growl. Then, ignoring the gun pointed at him, he turned and fell to his knees in front of the cot.

“Kaya,”he whispered. “Kaya, honey, it’s me, Hunter.”

He ran his hand up her slight body and then stopped when he saw the delicate line of her distended belly.

“Oh God.”

Pregnant. They’d left her pregnant. Alone. No food.

Carefully he gathered her in his arms. Finally she turned her head, her amber eyes flashing with pain and recognition.

“Hunter,”she whispered. “I prayed you would come, but you never did.”

He held her tightly against his chest, his breaths coming out in stuttered hiccups.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, honey. We didn’t mean to frighten you. I swear if we’d known you were pregnant, we would’ve never left you. We’ll never leave you again.”

She clung desperately to him, her tears wetting his shirt. “I’m so scared. They kept me in this cage. I couldn’t escape. I think I’m in trouble.”

“No, honey. I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”

He turned to stare at Duncan who was watching them with interest. “I want her out of here. Now.”

Duncan sighed but backed away from the door, allowing Hunter to carry her out of the cell.

“Don’t get any ideas,”Duncan said. “You can take her into my office, but neither of you is going anywhere until I get some answers.”