Page 53 of Trail to Trouble

Her brother answered on the first ring. “I just finished speaking with Chief Ricco. Jeez, Hannah, I don’t know what to say. This is all so unbelievable.”

“I know.”

“Between what happened to you and your friends today, and Mom and Dad, the chief thinks you are in real danger. Who would do this to you?”

“What do you mean about Mom and Dad? Someone intentionally did this to them?”

The question she asked made her head spin.

The longer the silence from her brother, the faster her pulse pounded.

“According to the witnesses, it appears the other vehicle intentionally ran Mom and Dad off the road. Who would do that to them? For heaven’s sake, they are...were, just your normal, everyday people.”

“What are we going to do?” she asked.

“I don’t know. But what I do know is that we need to get you home. I need you here. I need to watch over you.”

Kane was always the overprotective older brother, as was Lance, and as a teenager, it drove her insane, but now, she wanted nothing more than to be with them. Comforted and protected by them.

But did she really want to be home? Home would be different now. Forever changed.

ChapterFourteen

Hunter shifted.Pain shot through his entire body. His temples throbbed. His eyes felt glued shut. He groaned.

“I think he’s coming around again. Maybe this time he’ll stay awake,” his sister’s voice sounded in a whisper.

Was she talking about him?

“Thank heavens,” Mom said. Relief laced her tone.

Why relief?

“It’s about time,” his brother replied.

“Hunter. Can you hear me?” Dad asked.

“Dad,” Hunter replied in a voice so raspy he hardly recognized it as his own.

He fought to open his eyes, and his dad came into focus. Mom stood at his side. Her eyes were watery.

“Yeah. I’m right here. Welcome back,” Dad said.

“Back?”

Mom leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “You had us worried. You were in surgery for a long time.”

“Surgery?”

“Don’t you remember what happened?” she asked.

He thought for a moment. He recalled working—guiding the three ladies. Today, they would hike to Lover’s Leap Falls. Hannah. Sweet Hannah. He recalled her lovely emerald eyes and those luscious lips of hers. He planned to kiss her at the top of the falls today. That kiss they’d shared in the small cave and the hotter one they’d shared at the campsite had his juices flowing. Everything was fine. Wait! Why did he have surgery? Why did he feel like he got hit by a semi? His brain felt jumbled.

After refocusing on Mom for a beat or two, he glanced around the room. When he tried to sit up, pain shot throughout his body, and when he attempted to use his right hand to help lift himself, something restricted it.

Mom placed her hand lightly on his shoulder. Even that hurt.

“You need to lie still. Rest. I’ll raise the bed a bit for you.”