Page 59 of Oliver (The Golden Team #7)

Faron

W e made it as far as the dry creek bed before Chuck nearly bled out on my boots. I laid him in the shade, patched him as best as I could, split the last water bottle three ways, and whispered Cherokee prayers under my breath I hadn’t used since my father died.

Joel drifted in and out, mumbling about his sister’s cooking. Chuck cracked jokes every time I told him to shut up and breathe.

Then I heard it — footsteps. Soft. Careful. Not a soldier. Not a hunter.

I grabbed my knife and turned.

And there she was.

Blue Davis, with her hair braided down her back like a warrior, a battered rucksack slung over one shoulder, and at her heel—my mutt Bear, alive and smug as hell.

Blue stopped at the creek bed, looking at us as if she was deciding whether to shoot or laugh.

“Lose something?” she asked, her voice surprised to see us.

My mouth worked. I looked at Bear, bandaged paw and all, then back at her.

“That’s my dog. I thought he was dead. We were running from the Iranian army. I heard a shot, and Bear fell to the ground. He was shot. I saw it with my own eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose to keep the tears away. I loved Bear. My Dad gave him to me before he died.

She laughed — God, she laughed. It cracked open something in my chest I didn’t know was still alive. I haven’t seen her in two years. What the fuck was she doing here?

“We found him lying in the dirt, and I felt a little pulse. So I brought him here and helped him stay alive.

“He’s still my dog.”

“Not tonight, Cherokee. Tonight he’s mine. And so are you idiots if you bleed on my canyon trail again. I’ve got water and a cave that doesn’t care who you think you are. Are you coming?”

We followed her up the mountain to the cave she was talking about. “Why are you here?”

“Because I found some teenagers who were lost, so I helped them find their home. I’ll leave soon, I think I’m being hunted.”

“Then you need to get the hell out of here.”

“I said I’ll leave soon. I still have a couple of things to take care of.”

Chuck wheezed a laugh behind me. “Marry her, Lightfoot. Didn’t you have a thing for medic Captain Blue Davis?”

I shouldered Chuck to shut him up. Joel limped behind. Bear wagged his tail like he’d won.

I didn’t know then that I’d just met the only woman who’d ever scare the hell out of me — and make me want her anyway.