Rob chuckled. “Beck has a gift for you before you leave.”

“I suppose you’re not going to tell me what it is,” Slatter said.

“It’s a surprise,” Rob said and slid the wooden grate back over the hole and walked away laughing.

Chapter 4

It was late and Willow was not only feeling the cold, she was also feeling anxious about far too many things. She remained still as best she could, not wanting to wake Slatter. He had tried to assure her that whatever gift Beck had for him, it most likely didn’t have anything to do with her. She was safe and soon-to-be going home.

Willow wasn’t so sure about that. When they had been taken out of the hole for supper, she had watched Rob and Geary cast chuckles and whispers their way. Slatter had been too busy speaking with Kevin, as he had promised Maddie he would, to notice. Something was brewing and she didn’t have a good feeling about it.

Her worries had her stir a bit in his arms. Yesterday their combined body heat had helped keep them warm, but it had turned colder tonight and it felt as if the cold had settled down into the hole, wrapping around them like a chilling blanket. Or perhaps she was so concerned with tomorrow that she couldn’t get warm.

How did she trust him to take her home? She wanted to believe that he would, but since he lied with ease and little to no regret, how did she trust him? And if that wasn’t enough to cause her concern, there was the kiss.

Why had he kissed her? There was no reason for him to. No one was watching them. Had it been because it had been too long since he tasted a woman’s lips? Was she simply convenient? Or should she be asking herself why she enjoyed it? And what would have happened if Maddie and her husband hadn’t come along? Would it have gone farther than a kiss?

Don’t be foolish, Willow. You would have stopped him,” she scolded herself silently. You would not have let him take advantage of the situation. He is a liar and do-no-good and you would not get yourself involved with such a disreputable man.

“What troubles you, Willow?”

She jumped, startled that he was awake and his voice was filled with such sincerity.

Slatter quickly hugged her tight, stilling her. “Careful, we don’t want to disturbed the walls of our lovely abode.”

“You startled me. I thought you were asleep,” she said, settling in his arms.

“I felt your unease.”

“I woke you? I’m sorry,” she apologized, meaning it. It was better he slept, less chance he would kiss her again.

“It’s all right, Willow. Any bit of noise or stirrings wake me. I sleep light. Now tell me what bothers you.”

“The cold,” she said quickly, comfortable that there was some truth to her words. “It is much colder tonight than last night and I feel it in us both.