had to be closer to two tons, she silently admitted, giving a grunt as she pulled him through the open door of the barn. Still, she refused to halt until she’d hauled him across the wooden floor and into one of the horse stalls that ran along the side of the barn.
Tucking him at the very back, she carefully covered him with a horse blanket that’d been tossed over a low bench, and then gathered up loose straw to pile on top of him. Only when he was completely covered did she step out of the stall and take a close inventory of her surroundings.
It was a traditional barn.
Lots of farming implements placed in corners and hanging from the open rafters. A wooden wagon in one corner. Stacks of straw. And two tractors that looked like they should have been taken to the junkyard long ago.
What she didn’t see was a vehicle that could help her escape.
Either the farmer didn’t have one, or more likely, he was currently using it.
She was searching for a weapon when she heard the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. Fear twisted her stomach as she glanced out the window to see two men headed directly toward the barn.
Dammit.
Crossing the floor, she grabbed a pitchfork and wedged herself behind the stacks of straw. It was the best place to remain hidden while keeping a close guard on Bas. No one would be able to sneak into the stall without her seeing them.
Just seconds later she heard the men entering the barn, their breaths rasping through the thick silence.
“Do you see anything?” one of them demanded.
Myst peeked around the edge of the straw, watching as the men made a quick circle of the interior, not bothering to pull open the stalls or check behind the various tools.
They’d obviously been commanded to do a sweep of the area, but they weren’t overly eager to run across the missing Sentinel.
“No, it’s empty,” the second man muttered.
Together they gave a last glance around before they were headed out the door and jogging toward the distant vineyards.
Releasing the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding, Myst cautiously inched her way back toward the stall, setting aside the pitchfork so she could kneel beside Bas. Carefully she brushed away the straw from his too-pale face, allowing her fingers to linger on his cheek.
He was still warm, although not as hot as before. Was that a good thing? Or bad?
Frustration blistered through her like acid.
She had no way of knowing if he was getting better or worse. Then, almost as if sensing her violent emotions, Bas gave a low groan.
“Myst?” he rasped.
Terrified he might try to move, Myst stretched out beside him, carefully wrapping her arm around his neck and pressing her lips to his cheek.
“I’ve got you,” she whispered softly as he drifted back to sleep. “Just hold on.”
Chapter Fifteen
Bas had never been a big believer in heaven, although there’d been a time or two he was convinced he was in hell. But he was fairly certain that waking to find Myst pressed close to his side, her arms wrapped around him, was as close to celestial paradise as was possible.
Of course, he could have done without the savage pain that was radiating from the center of his back down to the tips of his toes. And the debilitating lethargy that was making it almost impossible to drag himself out of the clinging darkness.
Concentrating on the feel of Myst’s warm, delectable body, Bas forced his heavy lids to lift. It was a lot more difficult than it should have been, but at last he was able to take in the sight of the pale face only inches from him.
Exquisite.
“I smell honeysuckle,” he said, struggling to make his lips form the words.
The tiny female stiffened, her eyes widening. “Oh my God. You’re awake. I’ve been so . . . so worried. . . .”
Without warning Myst gave a choked moan and abruptly burst into tears.
Shocked out of his mind, Bas ignored the pain that pulsed through him with ruthless force as he reached to gather her trembling body in his arms.
“Shh, cara,” he murmured, rubbing his hand up and down her back. He knew he should feel regret at her emotional outburst. The poor female was clearly tired, terrified, and near the edge of collapse. The last thing she needed was to be forced to take care of him. But he couldn’t deny he was ridiculously pleased by the knowledge that she’d