The Minister's Maid by Jamie DeBree Read Free Book Online

you can't. You'll--"
    "Stop." The word wasn't a request, but a command issued in a tone of voice she hadn't heard from Ian. It was strangely comforting, and if she were completely honest, a little arousing too. Realizing he was still speaking, she forced herself to pay attention.
    "I'm going up. Hold the light just above me, like so." He took her hand and repositioned it to light the area he'd indicated. "As long as you keep the light just above me, I'll be fine. Stay close to the wall and don't let go."
    He moved to the wall and reached over his head, his fingers latching onto a piece of rock. Betsy trembled as she watched him pull himself up, carefully placing one foot, then the other on the wall and finally starting to climb. She moved the light as he'd told her, keeping it just above him as he hugged the face of the wall, and then his arm disappeared to the side and he pulled himself onto the ledge above.
    Playing the light on the underside, she was relieved when his head appeared above her.
    "Go to the ladder, Bets...hold your hand up as high as you can for me."
    Wishing she could stop shaking, she did as he asked, holding the phone in one hand, and reaching up with the other. His long fingers came down, down over the side of the ledge, but his arm wasn't quite long enough. She could hear him breathing in the stillness, the sound almost eerie in light of what she knew he'd say next.
    "You're going to have to climb to where I can reach you."
    Betsy shook her head, even though she knew he couldn't see her. "I can't. Really, Ian. You know how clumsy I am. I just--"
    "You can, and you will." He leaned over the side to look at her again, and she couldn't see his eyes, but she could feel the intensity of his stare. "You can do this. You don't have a choice. Put the phone down on the ground pointing up, and then take it one hold at a time. Just two steps and I should be able to reach you. We'll get out of here, and go find your treasure before Derek does. He wants you to die - you heard him. You don't want him to win, do you?"
    He was right. Betsy took a deep breath, set the phone on the ground and rubbed her sweaty hands on her jeans. Grabbing a hold above her head, she pulled herself up, setting her foot on the highest step she could manage before bearing down with all of her weight. Her other hand searched for a grip and she tried to ignore the pounding of her heart as she felt along the wall, her fingers finally settling in a wide crack. One more step up, one more pull, and her hand landed in Ian's warm, sturdy palm.
    More confident with his support, she found another foothold that allowed her to shimmy up beside him and half-fall into his waiting arms.
    "Good job," he said, hugging her tight as he rocked her back and forth. "I knew you could do it."
    She nodded, not trusting herself to speak as she waited for her heart to slow down. Cooling down, she started to shiver, unable to stop even with Ian's body surrounding her.
    "We'd better get you out of here," he said, standing up and pulling her to her feet. "I'm going to boost you up, okay?"
    Once they were both back in the tunnel, he took her hand and started walking. She wasn't sure which way they were headed anymore, her brain refused to cooperate in the dark as he led her around a corner and through another passage. Then he stopped, and something scraped the ground ahead of them, sending a rush of panic through her again as she squeezed his hand.
     
    * * *
     
    Ian squeezed Betsy's fingers as he pulled the wooden door open. "It's okay," he said quietly, pulling her forward. "There should be a flashlight just over..." he leaned to his right and found the rough wall with his hand, then followed it down to the ground. Finally his wrist bumped a hard, square object, and he smiled. "Right here. Hang on for a second - I need both hands." He pulled out of Betsy's grasp with some effort, then opened the cooler and retrieved the flashlight, thankful it was still there. Pressing