Bonnie - Iris Johansen [90]
“The hell I won’t argue. This is the end of the line for you. I don’t trust you. If we’re getting close to Danner, I’m not going to have to risk looking over my shoulder every minute.”
“That’s your problem. I’m either going with you or following behind. Make up your mind.”
“I could put you out and there wouldn’t be a decision.”
“But you’d hesitate to do that. Because there’s a part of you that believes that I’m what I seem on the surface and not one of Danner’s demons.”
The priest was right, Joe realized in frustration. His time with Father Barnabas had allowed a strange, complex relationship to develop between them. He alternated between liking and believing him and a distrust that was probably what he should be feeling.
Father Barnabas’s gaze was on Joe’s face. He nodded. “I’ll get my sleeping bag from the car.”
“Sleeping bag? You came prepared.”
He smiled. “I’m the urban type. I don’t like sleeping on the cold ground. I might even let you and Ben take a turn using it.”
“I’m sure you’d consider that your duty,” Joe said dryly.
“Not necessarily. It might be my duty to strengthen your physical stamina or to strip you of all creature comforts to give you both time to contemplate your sins.” He grinned. “I have choices.”
* * *
STOP. REST. SLEEP
Those words had been repeating in Gallo’s mind for the last two hours. He had to ignore them. He had to keep going.
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
Crazy.
Perhaps it was just his body telling him that it was best to take a break.
“We can stop for a while and get our breath.” Gallo looked up at Catherine from where he was kneeling by the side of the path. “Danner stopped here and took another break. That’s the third in the last seven hours. He’s letting Eve rest.”
“Maybe he’s letting himself rest,” Catherine said. “He’s not a young man any longer, Gallo.”
“He hasn’t changed that much. You saw him at the bayou. He’s still very tough.” He leaned back against a pine tree. “We’re making good time, and he’s losing it with every stop. I figure we’ll be almost on top of him in about five hours.”
“Then we should keep on going. I don’t need to rest.”
No, Catherine would never admit to a lack of strength and endurance, he thought. Hell, maybe it wasn’t a matter of pride. She did have amazing staying power. Everything about her was amazing.
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
“It’s been over twenty-four hours. We have to be at the top of our game when we overtake them. Rest,” he said. “Forty-five minutes. If you can nap, do it.”
She shook her head. “I can’t sleep. I’m wired.” She sank down beside him before taking out her iPhone and checking the apps. “These last hours we’ve traveled right in line with the coordinates Joe gave us for that camp. That’s got to be where he’s heading.” She frowned. “No, not exactly in line. We’re a little east. But he might veer back.”
“Or he might not. Stop worrying. We’ll find out when we reach him.”
She was silent. “No, I can see you’re not worrying.”
He opened his eyes. “I’m not stalling so that we’ll lose him, Catherine. We can afford this rest.”
She studied his expression, then settled back against the tree beside him. “I know we can. I know all the rules about conserving strength and all that bull. It’s not a code-red situation. Danner has a destination, and he’s not mistreating Eve yet.” She added through her teeth, “But we’re not there, dammit. And this is Eve.” She drew a deep breath. “Okay, forty-five minutes. Though I’d be a hell of a lot more relaxed going full tilt after Danner. I don’t understand why you don’t feel the same way.”
“I do. I can’t tell you how much I need this to be over.” He closed his eyes again. “But this is the right thing to do, Catherine. I feel it.” And that feeling was tugging, nagging at him with increasing intensity.
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
“Well, I don’t feel it.”
“And you’re so damn tense that you’re about to break apart.”
“I’m not. I wouldn’t—” She suddenly broke off as he pulled her into his arms so that her cheek lay against his shoulder.