She awoke to nick gently shaking her arm. She let him lead the way back up the hillside. The debate still waged in her mind and Cora didn’t know whether to trust or distrust him. Her heart wanted to listen to him, but her mind held out for further proof that he truly was on her side. He could be honestly trying to help her . . . or laughing at her behind those gorgeous eyes.
One thing was for sure: she needed to get some distance and cool things between them. She wanted him too much.
She grabbed her bag and hid in the bushes to change. Nick went the other way. When she came back, he was laying down on the sleeping bag over a grassy spot. Really? She wasn’t sure if he felt exhausted like she did, or if he had other things in mind.
“Aren’t we headed back to Eugene now?” She knelt down next to him.
“Hmm, mmm.” He slid a hand up onto her leg. His peaceful face rested on his arm as he slept. He had a few days’ growth darkening his jaw. She wanted to touch him, to feel his face and the stubble, to trace his lips, but why hurt herself more?
While still watching him, she rose to her feet and took little, careful steps backward. She wanted to trust him, but he had drugged her. He’d kidnapped her twice now!
He didn’t move. She watched him, her heart tearing in two. At some point, while lying next to the water, it occurred to her that the river would lead her out of the mountains. It had to meet a road or town eventually. That’s what she needed. Thinking about it was just slowing her down, so she turned and hurried back down to the river. It wasn’t the same spot they had just swam in, but that didn’t matter. She stood at the edge of a giant boulder, watching a trout suspended in his world of water before darting out of view.
She was losing her determination by standing here too long. Her palms broke out in sweat. Just then a wide piece of lumber bumped its way through the rapids and floated out into the pool before her.
That would work. She dove in.
Coldness washed over her and relieved the heart stopping tension. She reached the lumber and grabbed on. The water’s surface was smooth, almost tranquil. The depth of the water hid the current, but she realized the river was growing more shallow as she floated downstream.
The current picked up and carried her along at a good pace. With the wood wedged under her arms, she kicked and paddled to speed herself up. She had no way of telling how long she had before Nick woke up and saw that she wasn’t there.
His name brought on regret and sickening guilt. What she just did was horrible, even if it was necessary. She almost wished she had let down her guard long enough for one passionate night with him. She wanted to confide in him, really confide in him, but some things are too good to be true, and Nick had to be one of them. Just like her father’s job for Keith.
Her teeth were chattering already. Her wet clothes rubbed against her while she swam, but she kept going. She held onto the log with one arm while stroking with the other and kicking her legs. She stopped every so often to listen, but only heard normal forest noises. She took one break to stop by a salmon berry bush, loaded with almost ripe berries. She was too hungry to care about how sour they were.
Insects flew above the water, but that was the only sign of life. There weren’t any bridges to pass under or any roads beside the river. She pressed on, knowing that once out of the mountains, the river had to meet a town of some sort.
And she kept telling herself she did the right thing by running away from Nick.