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He lifted his head to take in the trees again. He didn’t see anyone after her, but he stayed alert.
Hollis was shaking.
“Come on.” He urged her over to a wooden fence. He sat and pulled her down beside him.
She leaned into him, like she needed the contact. He put an arm around her.
“You’re safe now.”
She looked back at the path. “You must have scared them off.”
He tipped her face up. It was still pale. “How are you doing?”
She smiled, but it was still a little shaky. “Oh, you know, girl goes for a peaceful hike, and ends up getting a little extra cardio.”
He cupped her jaw. “You’ll be fine.”
She nodded. “I will. I always am.”
“I’m going to take a look around.”
Her hands gripped his arm. “You’ll be careful?”
His lips quirked. He’d been a Navy SEAL, then in Ghost Ops, and now a deputy sheriff. No one ever reminded him to be careful.
“I’ve got it. Now, I want you to sit in my SUV, with the doors locked.”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
He got her settled in the passenger seat and locked the doors.
Then Sawyer turned and strode up the trail. As he followed it up the gentle slope, he didn’t see anyone. He scanned around. Nothing. He went on a little farther, until he reached a muddy patch of ground. Hollis’s neat shoe print was obvious.
There were no other prints.
He checked off the trail, looking for any sign of whoever had scared her.
Nothing. No sign of anyone but Hollis on the path.
With a frown, he headed back to the SUV. He didn’t want to leave her alone too long. He felt a faint prickle on the back of his neck, and turned fast.
There was no one there.
Some birds squawked loudly in the trees.
He headed back to the parking area. Another car had just pulled in, and he saw some young hikers getting out. They nodded as he walked past them.
Before he reached the SUV, Hollis opened the door. “Did you find him?”
Sawyer shook his head. “I found your footprints, but no others. There was no sign of anyone else.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she looked away. “You think I imagined it.” Her voice was dull.
He grabbed her hand. “I didn’t say that.”
She didn’t respond.
“Someone tell you that you’re imagining things?” he asked.