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“I know I’m not your mamá , Chase, but I’ll try to be the next best thing.

” I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight.

He seemed to like that because he nuzzled close and repeated the word Mamá .

We hurried along the side of the road, constantly on the lookout for anything scary, and I checked to make sure I was headed in the right direction.

It was cool out, but Chase’s fever hadn’t let up, and his hot little body kept me warm.

I searched my brain and pulled at some memories from when I used to watch the kids at the orphanage and remembered how baby Jackson loved to be sung to.

“I’ve sung a few times on stage, you know,” I said to him, “but that’s not saying much.

” I chuckled as I thought about the few fun times I’d sung in a pub in Billings, “But I’d do anything right now to help you feel safe, so here it goes.

” I closed my eyes for a moment and focused on the lyrics.

The last team I worked with used to sing Nose on the Grindstone by Tyler Childers, and before long, I’d join in with them.

I had a cry in my voice that worked well with the song as I tried my best to soothe the little guy in the only way I knew how.

The sounds of insects seemed to join in on the song and provided company for me while I continually scanned the horizon for trouble. It was just us and the moon, and I was happy it provided me with just enough light to see the ground.

Soon, Chase’s eyes grew heavy, and I felt like somewhere in the universe Talya was smiling.

My feet ached by the time I hit a major road, and the side of my head felt wet. I figured I had a gash in my hairline from where I’d hit the chair. At least I was still standing.

Headlights from behind cast my shadow in front of me, and before I could hide, I knew I’d been seen. My heart was in my throat as the stake-bed truck slowed to a stop. I moved the bag to my front and wrapped my fingers over the handle of the gun and kept my hand out of sight.

“ Hola .” A man waved. “ Necesitas un disco ?”

I stepped back nervously. “ Sí .” As much as I was scared, I knew we needed a ride. Time wasn’t on my side anymore.

“ Vamos .” He waved for me to take the front seat, but I didn’t move.

“No,” I pointed to the open back of his truck, “ me sentaré atrás .”

He shrugged. “ Bueno .”

“ Senor ?” I called him back to make sure he understood what we needed to find was a bus stop. “ Parada de autobús, por favor .”

“Sí.” He waited for us to climb in, then once we were settled, I raised a hand for him to leave.

He never asked about the baby, and I wasn’t about to offer any information.

I had to shift Chase up to lie on my chest so I could wrap my arms around him like a seatbelt.

After a bit, the vibration of the road made it hard to fight sleep, and whenever my eyes grew heavy, I’d mentally kick myself for letting my guard slip. I constantly had to ask myself how Blackstone would deal with the situation, but I couldn’t find the answer.

When the truck finally stopped, it took everything for me to lift my exhausted body. I did a quick check that Chase was okay, that I had my bag, and the weapon. I was satisfied I had everything.

I swung off the side of the truck and waved a thank you to the man. As he drove off, I felt a sense of relief that there were still nice people left in the world. That feeling left quickly when I looked around the busy Merida bus station.

“When is the next bus to Costera?” I asked the ticket booth operator in Spanish. I didn’t waste any time buying a ticket.

“One leaves in an hour.” She paused. “Actually, I have one seat left for one that leaves in five minutes.”

“I want that one, please.” I handed her some cash, and she eyed Chase, who was glued to my chest. He was awake, but his fever made him lethargic. I took the ticket and raced to find bus number four. I made it just in time and plunked my exhausted body down onto my seat.

“How are you doing, big guy?” I rubbed his back, and he made a little whimper. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well.” I dug out a drink box, and he drank almost all the juice. Then, once he settled, I closed my eyes.

I jerked awake and nearly panicked when I realized the bus had stopped. I saw a sign and realized I’d slept the whole way there. Chase hadn’t moved a muscle, but his breathing was good. I was thankful for that, but it also made me worry more about his health.

I checked the time on the man’s watch in front of me and saw the chopper would be at the landing spot in forty-five minutes. I needed to get going.

I knew the dangers of hitchhiking in Mexico as a single woman, but the locals I met were nothing but wonderful and kind. One even knew me from TV and took me a little farther out of his way.

The spot where the chopper was supposed to meet us was at a tiny private airstrip. I had been there a few times before and felt pleased to be back in familiar territory.

I entered the building where a skinny man with a wiry mustache sat behind a desk, nose deep in a novel. I felt like I knew him, but I couldn’t remember.

“ Hola. ” I waved, and when he granted me a gummy smile, I instantly remembered he was the assistant manager to this place.

“Ms. Winter,” he seemed pleased to see me, “it’s been a while.”

“It has.” I shifted Chase, who felt like he’d doubled in weight since we’d left, and gave him a little pat on the back. “We are supposed to meet an American chopper here anytime now. Could you tell me if anyone else is here?”

“No one is here.” He flipped open the logbook and ran his grease-stained nail down the rows.

“ Si , there was supposed to be a chopper, but it says here he was diverted north due to a technical problem. Looks like nothing has been rescheduled.” My eyes prickled as hope left my body.

I covered my mouth as a tired cry escaped.

“Oh, Ms. Nicole, I’m sorry.” He raced around the counter and patted my arm and looked down at Chase.

“I need to get to the El Paso border.” I felt helpless. “Please tell me someone is heading north that I can catch a ride with. I can’t hitchhike anymore.”

His wide eyes moved over my head, and I followed his line of sight to a small cargo plane being loaded with crates.

“ Si , they’re heading to that border, but you don’t want to go with them.” He shook his head.

“What family are they with?” I knew they had to be Cartel.

“They don’t have the tattoos.” He pointed to his wrist. “But they work with someone not good.”

“I don’t care. I made a promise, and I don’t know how much farther I can walk.”

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he looked like he’d made a decision. “I will make sure they take you. You stay here. I’ll be back.”

“Wait,” I pulled out some cash, “use this.” He nodded and took it then headed over to the men loading the plane.

I set my bag on the chair and dug for my dead phone, but it was gone.

It must have fallen out at some point. Shit!

I didn’t know the guys’ numbers by heart, and both Jack and the asshole would be wondering why I hadn’t checked in.

It felt like everything was against me. I gave myself a mental shake. It wasn’t an option to give up.

I fingered my GoPro strap and made the decision to strap it on in case something happened.

I finagled it on, being mindful of Chase.

It sat high up on my shoulder well away from his face, and I strapped in two battery packs in case the current one died.

Thankfully, my GoPro was the newest one on the market, and with my extra batteries and SIM cards, I could film for a week straight.

Plus, it switched to dark mode automatically, so I never missed a shot.

“Ms. Winter,” the fellow, I couldn’t remember his name, came back, “they agreed to let you fly with them. I still do not recommend it.” He shrugged.

“I have no choice.” I smiled then ripped a piece of paper from my notebook.

“If any of these American soldiers call or show up here,” I scribbled down some very vague descriptions of Cole and Paul and wrote a cryptic message explaining I had to find my way to the border, “will you give them this message?”

“ Si. ” He took it and tucked it in his pocket. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.” I squeezed his arm and hoped he didn’t notice my slip in memory as to his name.

I didn’t risk another moment and hurried out to the plane. I looked it over and said a silent prayer it could even get off the runway.

One man smiled at me with a set of black-lined teeth. He made a crude comment but shut his mouth quickly when I shot him a look. He stood back from the step so I could climb up to the door. It was barely more than a tin cage.

A big, burly man motioned at me to sit, and I sat where he pointed and strapped the belt around Chase and me, then he left the plane and shut the door.

Two men, one of them the rude one, jumped in the front without a word while the other fellow gave me a mock salute and settled into the pilot’s seat.

He turned back and studied Chase briefly.

I quickly pulled the hoodie over his face and gave the pilot a defiant look.

These types of men had very little respect for women or children, but he simply shrugged.

A short time later, we managed to take off, and as we lifted into the sky, I felt the plane shake.

I’d flown countless times before, but this hunk of junk felt like it was held together with glue and tape.

I didn’t want to know what was in the crates they’d loaded because with my luck it was either cocaine or spare body parts.

I kept my eyes shut for most of the flight. It was very long and uncomfortable with Chase glued to me like paint on a wall. A few times, he shifted about but soon was asleep again. I knew I had to get the child to a doctor.