The Immortal Hunter(74)

"Run." The word was a desperate plea. "I'll hide in the bushes. You can send help back for me."

Hazel peered at her uncertainly, obviously battling a real desire to flee, and then the sound of a low, rumbling engine sounded from the back of the house. Hazel glanced toward it, relief obvious in the set of her body, then grim determination settled in her face and she stepped back to Dani's side.

"We aren't leaving you behind," she announced, catching Dani under the armpits and dragging her upward with a surprising show of strength. "We are all three getting out of here, little girl. So you'd better set your mind to it and get your feet moving or I'm just going to drag you around the house to the car on your back."

Dani shook her head, not helping when Hazel shifted to her side to draw one arm over her shoulder and then tried to urge her forward.

"It's just around the house to the barn and then we're on our way," Hazel said almost pleadingly. "Five minutes and we'll be safe. Please, Dani, try."

Five minutes. Dani let the words tumble around inside her head. She only had to control herself for five minutes and then Decker would take over everything. He'd keep the Parkers safe from her, he'd put her out of her misery, and then he'd come take care of Leo. Five minutes. Surely she could manage to control herself that long?

Dani forced her legs to straighten and took a staggering step forward with Hazel's help. She heard, but ignored, the woman's gasped "Thank God" as they headed for the corner of the house.

"I heard that Leo fellow say we're right next door to where you were," Hazel grunted breathlessly as they crossed the lawn. "I'm thinking he must have meant the Sanderson place. It sold a couple weeks ago. Are the people there friends or relatives?"

Dani had no idea who had owned the house before, but doubted if the houses on both sides of this one had been put up for sale and sold, so nodded weakly.

"Do they have a phone yet? If so, we can use it to call the police."

"Yes," she rasped, knowing that wasn't likely to happen. Hazel and John would probably be put under someone's control the minute they reached the house, and then the men would come after Leo themselves. She hoped they tore him limb from limb, but suspected they'd merely stake him and decapitate him or something to make sure he was dead. Then they'd probably remove every trace of what had happened from this home and remove everything from John and Hazel's memories so that they continued on in what had most likely been a peaceful and content life. After that they'd no doubt turn their attention to her.

"Oh, John." Hazel sighed with relief as they stumbled around the corner.

Dani glanced up to see the man hurrying toward them.

"Here, let me help." John took Dani's other arm over his own shoulders and they began to move more quickly as he explained, "There were no keys for the car and I don't know how to hot-wire the damned thing so we'll have to take the tractor."

Dani let her head drop back down to rest her chin against her chest. She was afraid of what might happen if she saw or smelled the bloody wound on his forehead again, so it was Hazel who answered.

"That's fine," the old woman yelled to be heard over the engine as they drew near the farm vehicle. "We're going to the Sandersons' old place anyway. We can cross the field on the tractor and not risk running into him on the road."

"Good thinking, wife," John yelled back as they reached the side of the tractor. When he came to a halt then, and hesitated, Dani risked lifting her head to peer at the vehicle. The first thing she saw was a green metal two-step ladder used to climb onboard. Her gaze then slid to the open glass door and the cab. It was obviously pretty new, the interior looked as fancy as an airplane cockpit with a cushioned seat, gears, and buttons, and even a little screen that made her think of the GPS on her car. But she couldn't help but notice there also wasn't enough room for all three of them inside.

"Get in Hazel," John shouted. "You'll have to drive. I'll set the girl on the floor once you're in and stand on the step to be sure she doesn't fall off."

Hazel slid out from under Dani's arm to climb into the cab. Dani glanced to John then, to see him watching his wife. He wasn't a very tall man, and his face was just above hers, leaving her staring at the trail of blood that ran from his forehead and down his cheek to his throat. She swallowed and turned her head away, so was caught by surprise when he suddenly turned, grasped her by the waist, and lifted her to sit on the floor of the cab with her legs dangling out.

"Hang on," he yelled.

Dani sagged against the door frame, clutching at it as he reached up to grab the frame of the open door on each side and climbed up to stand on the steps in front of her. It blocked her in and left his face level with hers. John smiled at her almost kindly before glancing to Hazel.

"Go on, Hazel," he yelled. "Let's get out of here before he gets back."

Five minutes, Dani reminded herself. All she had to do was hold out for another five minutes. Or maybe less now, maybe only four, she thought, and then the tractor lurched forward and she fell against John, grabbing at his shirt to keep from falling over. She held on for a moment, and then became aware of a tantalizing smell coming from the cloth. Lifting her head a little, she peered at the bit of shirt caught in her left hand, spotting a dark stain on the tuft of material that stuck out of the circle made by her clenched thumb and first finger.