Karen Duvall, Author | Desert Guardian

Desert Guardian continued . . . Page 3 of 3

Sam knew it was crazy, a total fabrication born of a madwoman’s hysteria, but his mother had believed it with all her heart. What had always disturbed him was the method the cult would use to hitch their ride. They claimed the human body was too heavy for the ship to carry, meaning they’d have to kill themselves to free their Essence and travel as weightless passengers.

A familiar rage laced with grief lifted the hairs at the nape of his neck. Thanks to Star Mother’s onerous leader, and his own error in judgment, his mother hadn’t lived long enough to make the trip.

Kelly squinted at him. “What’s wrong with you? You’re white as a sheet.”

The explanation was too complicated to go into now. Rather than get bombarded with her questions, he took a second to erase all expression from his face. “Let’s get you out of here before they turn you into one of their mindless drones.”

“Excuse me?” She pushed her back stiffly against the camper wall. “I already told you I’m not going anywhere without my brother.”

She and this brother of hers must be pretty tight, a foreign concept to Sam. He had no brothers, no cousins, no aunts or uncles, no family at all. And he didn't need any. “I’ll come back for Jake later.” As much as he’d like to free every follower in this demented cult, he wasn’t Superman. A fresh wave of guilt flooded his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. He couldn’t save everyone. He couldn’t even save his own mother. “Get your things and let’s go.”

They glared at each other. Kelly’s eyes widened, a brief look of fear swimming in their blue depths before her gaze turned steely again. The abrupt shift was like having a door shut in his face.

He didn’t have time for this. Holding back a sigh of exasperation, he reached out to touch her arm. “Come on.”

“Like hell,” she said, and bolted down the narrow hallway toward the bathroom.

Sam lunged after her.

By the time she reached the doorway, he was on top of her. He grabbed her arms and clasped her hands behind her back. She heaved in a breath as if preparing to scream so he covered her mouth with his hand.

“Damn it!” he said through clenched teeth. “Don’t scream. I’m here to help you, for Pete’s sake.” He shouldn’t have grabbed her this way, but what other choice did he have? Now that he knew the cult planned to make good on its death wish, there wasn’t time to wait for Kelly’s cooperation. She would leave here now whether she liked it or not. Besides, if the entire squadron of sentries came after them, they wouldn’t stand a chance of getting away. And Sam was painfully aware of the persuasive tactics the cult used to make people behave. Kelly might not survive with her sanity intact.

He dragged her down the short hallway, her powerful legs kicking as she squirmed in his arms, her feminine scent making his head swim. Damn, she was strong. Lucky for him he out-weighed her by a good hundred pounds. He was a foot taller as well, though she wasn’t petite by any means.

He tugged her with him to the trap door and prayed he could count on his decoy, Sheriff Longbottoms, to help him pull this off.

“Listen to me,” he said, one hand firmly clamped over her mouth as his other held both her wrists. This won him a hard kick to the shins and he almost lost his grip. “Damn it, you’ve gotta trust me! I know what these people are capable of and it’s not something you want to find out for yourself.”

She struggled and forced out a muffled scream.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” he said, desperate to get out of the trailer and on the road as far away from there as possible. “I’ll let you help me get your brother out.”

Kelly grew calm.

“So you’ll cooperate?”

She nodded, then kicked his shin again, and he let her go.

Her face red with exertion, she glared up into his eyes. Her lovely chest that stretched the too-small T-shirt rose and fell with a couple of deep breaths before she opened her mouth to let out an ear-popping scream.

“That’s it!” Sam grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder. He spotted her backpack on the floor and seized it as well.

“Bastard!” she yelled, pounding her fists against his back. “You’ve seen way too many old pirate movies. I’m a grown woman! Put me down. I’ll sue you for sexual harassment. My uncle is an attorney and he’ll have you thrown in jail! You’re going to regret ever coming here to get me--”

“I already do!” So much for a calm and quiet exit. He’d have to settle for fast.

End Chapter 1