Hostage To The Stars: A Sectors SF Romance by Veronica Scott Read Free Book Online Page B

blisters.”
    “Feet are highly important. A soldier needs his or her feet to be in good shape, protected.” He pulled an energy bar out of the pack for himself and sat carefully on a nearby rock, rather than next to her. Sara Bridges was a woman fighting a potentially crippling anxiety attack, and with good reason. He wasn’t going to make any move that might cause her to lose her hard-won self-control. “We’ll rest here today and tonight as well. Travel tomorrow.”
    She sat bolt upright, staring at him with raised eyebrows. “I can hike. Won’t the pirates be searching for us? Shouldn’t we get as far away as we can, as fast as we can?” Lowering her gaze, she bit her lip and spoke in a soft voice. “I’m not trying to second guess you. You’re the expert here.”
    “I understand the concern. Ask me anything at any time. I won’t be offended or irritated.” He didn’t want her to feel the least bit uncomfortable with him. Their survival might depend on how well they could team up. He needed her to trust him.
    Her expression less concerned, shoulders relaxing, Sara sat against the rock wall and took a few deep breaths. “Reassuring, thank you. So why are we going to stay here until tomorrow?”
    “I’m pretty there won’t be a search mounted for us. The landing field was an inferno last time I checked. Even the prison was on fire, so if we’re lucky Umarri will think you died. And I overheard some guys talking – the pirates believe the military all left with Ms. Immer. The workers will blame themselves for the fire today. They were pretty high.”
    “Hence no search.” She nodded. “Makes sense.”
    “Can you sleep?”
    “Will you be here if I have nightmares?”
    “Yes, ma’am, that’s an affirmative.” He dug out a microblanket from his pack and unfurled it for her. “Here, wrap yourself in this. It’ll put a cushioned layer between you and the cold ground and keep you warmer.”
    “What about you?” She stifled a yawn.
    “I’ll be right here. Soldiers don’t sleep deep, don’t worry. Nothing is going to catch us by surprise.” He waited patiently while she curled up on the cave floor and dropped off to sleep. So far, so good. He hoped the next segment of his half-baked plan would go as well. Good thing he excelled at inventing on the fly.

CHAPTER FOUR

    Sara squirmed, trying to get comfortable but a rock dug into her back. What was a rock doing in her bed? Memories flooding her consciousness as she surfaced from a vague dream, she gasped and sat upright, heart pounding. Frantically she assessed her surroundings, puzzled at first to be in a cave, dimly lit by a handlamp on the floor close to her. As the confusion lifted, she saw a battered service blaster lying next to the light and grabbed it, although she had no idea how to make it work. “Johnny?” Keeping her voice low, she called out but the cave was empty. Nothing but echoes of her rescuer’s name. Had he told her he was leaving? Her memories of last night were inexact but she clung to how calm and reassuring he’d been. Competent. If he’d left her by herself, he must have been sure it was safe to do so.
    Clutching the blaster, she took cover behind a rock close to the one where she’d been seated when he performed first aid on her injuries. The wall securely behind her, she held the blanket like a cape, cradled the weapon, and tried not to shiver.
    She heard sounds at the cave entrance and a low bird call. Sara bit her lip and kept quiet.
    “It’s only me.” Johnny came into the chamber. He looked straight at the spot where she crouched, hiding. “Safe to come out. I brought berries.”
    “You went out to gather berries?” She stood and did her morning stretches to loosen her muscles.
    He glanced at the blaster. “I’ll teach you how to use it today while we wait. I thought you might enjoy some fresh food with the energy bars for your breakfast.” He extended the pouch full of shiny green globes to her.