Behind the Mask Read Online Free PDF Page B

she said and his eyebrows went up. “I saw the lodge, and . . .”
    “And?” he pressed.
    “And I knew there would be a man here.” She debated whether or not to tell him what the man in her dream had said, but instinctively she knew it would more likely make him discredit what she’d told him. “That’s all,” she said firmly. “I don’t know why I’m here. I only know I felt compelled to come.”
    “Did you tell anyone about your dream . . . or your coming here, or—”
    “No, I’ve said nothing to no one.”
    Cameron couldn’t think of one good reason to believe her. But he did—perhaps because there really was no other logical explanation. Her story was too absurd to be something she’d made up. Or perhaps it was the intensity he’d seen in her eyes as she’d told him. Whatever it was, he had little choice but to believe her. He could only pray that it was the truth, and that his whereabouts would not be discovered by anyone else.
    Abbi was thinking that she might be able to ask what he was doing here, when he stood abruptly and turned his back to her. She wanted to ask if there was something he needed, if she could help him in some way. But before the words came, he turned toward her, saying, “You need to go—now!”
    “But I . . .”
    He took hold of her arm and dragged her toward the door. “I want you to get on that horse of yours and ride out of here as fast as you can. Don’t say a word to anyone—not anyone —about me or what you found here!” He hauled her out the door and took her shoulders into his hands. “Do you understand?”
    “Yes, but . . .”
    “Forget it ever happened. And don’t you ever come back. Do you hear me?”
    “Yes, but . . .”
    “There are no buts!” he shouted in her face, and she understood the source of his anger now. He was afraid. “If anyone ever finds me here because of you, I will hunt you down and eat you alive. Do you hear what I’m saying? Your knowledge could put us both in a great deal of danger.” His voice lowered and his eyes narrowed. “Lives are at stake.”
    Abbi knew it was only coincidence that her father had said that very thing to her nearly three years ago. But hearing it put that way distracted her thoughts enough that she couldn’t come up with any feasible protest.
    The anger heightened in him again and he nearly shook her. “Swear to me. Swear that you’ll never tell a soul, that you’ll never come back through that ridge.” She hesitated and he shook her again. “Swear it!”
    “But I . . .”
    “Swear it!” he repeated so harshly that Abbi couldn’t hold back a swell of tears. He looked startled by them, but his countenance didn’t soften even slightly.
    “But you need me,” she said with a cracked voice.
    Cameron’s heart began to pound as her words took hold with such force that it frightened him. Who was she to stand before him like some kind of prophetess, seeing into his soul, telling him of his needs? Still, how could he not be tempted to give in to her plea? He did need her. Didn’t he? Perhaps he could let her stay, just for a while. Maybe he could ask her to come back occasionally, just for company. But fear ruled that out; it was too risky. There was too much at stake. Far better that he put an abrupt halt to this here and now.
    “I need you to go,” he said firmly, but Abbi caught a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. “Swear to me, girl, or I’ll—”
    “All right!” she insisted, unable to bear his anger. “I swear.”
    Cameron looked into her brilliant green eyes once more, wanting to emblazon them into his memory, then he practically lifted her onto the horse’s back. He handed her the reins, hating the way her expression pleaded with him. But for what? What could her coming here possibly mean? While he found it impossible not to believe her story, he was too afraid of its ramifications to completely trust her—or himself.
    “I don’t even know your name,” she said,