Easy to say. Hard to do.
It was especially hard since she was right behind him. She had her arms wrapped around his waistapparently holding on for dear life. No surprise there. Leigh hated motorcycles.
Of course, she probably hated him, too.
He wouldnt mention that to her yet. If she was faking this amnesia, then she already knew how she felt about him. If her memory loss was real, it would be a stupid time to remind her of their past.
Gabe drove nearly two hours before he stopped. Until then, he stayed on narrow dirt roads, using
only the moonlight to keep him out of the ditches. When he finally found familiar ground, he pulled the motorcycle into a clutter of trees and turned off the engine.
Any idea where we are? Leigh asked, climbing off the seat. She massaged her backside and made a few sounds of discomfort.
He got off, too, and stretched. Between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Actually, they were still very close to New Orleans, but hed taken the most circuitous route to get there. Hopefully, that had given Jinx enough time to get a few things under control. If not, then it would be one long night.
Are we safe here?
Gabe glanced around at the dense brush. Hopefully.
You dont sound hopeful.
He shrugged. Guarantees are a rare thing in life, Leigh, but were a heck of lot safer here than we were back at that clinic.
She stayed quiet a moment. And you dont believe those men will follow us here?
No. Well, he was almost certain they wouldnt anyway. Getting to this particular area of the bayou wasnt easy unless a person knew the way. He knew the way. God willing, the gunmen didnt.
So, is this the part when you tell me whats really going on? she asked.
Gabe groaned. He didnt want to play a question-and-answer game tonight. Keep her alive. Catch the bad guys. Oh yeah, and, Be nice to her. At no time had anyone said a thing about answering her questions.
You know whats going on, Gabe briskly assured her. Some gunmen came after us, and we got away.
Theres more to it than that. How about letting me in on who those men are and why they want to kill us?
That, mi vida, is the big question of the day.
Are you saying you dont know whos behind this? She didnt wait for him to confirm that. That breach of security at the clinic didnt happen by itself. And whos to blame for that, huh? Who was in charge of guarding the place?
Gabe spat out some profanity. The FBI.
Her mouth dropped open. Your own people? Well, thats just great.
It didnt exactly please Gabe either, but the breach hadnt necessarily come from anyone in the Bureau, especially not from Jinx. It could have been an outside source. In other words, he still had nothing definite. Gabe didnt like that. He wanted something definite.
Come on, he insisted. We need to get moving.
On foot?
Well, since theres deep mud ahead, and the motorcycle would get stuck, I dont see any other way. And with that, he took her gun, put it in the waist of his jeans and snagged her around the hips. Like a caveman claiming his woman, he tossed her over his shoulder.
Hey! What the devil do you think youre doing? Leigh complained.
Gabe began to walk, keeping the same pace he would have had she not been on his shoulder. Carrying you.
She wiggled, squirmed and otherwise tried to twist her way out of his grip. Put me down!
No can do. You have stitches in your ankle, remember? Now, lets see if I can recall basic first aid. He pretended to think about it. By now, those stitches have probably worked their way partially loose, so you have an open wound. Add to that some of this sloppy, wormy mud, and I see the potential for a really nasty infection. What do you think? He didnt let her answer. I dont have time to take you to the doctor, so be still.
Just like that, Leigh stopped struggling, and her body practically went limp against him. I suppose its too much to hope that other than traipsing through a swamp, you actually have a plan?
He made his way around a large cypress tree and its kneelike roots that stood almost a foot above the ground. I have one, but I dont feel especially good about it.
Keep her alive. Catch the bad guys. Nope, he didnt feel good about that plan at all. It definitely lacked the necessary components for a successful mission.
Itd be a heck of a lot easier if you just had your memory, Gabe let her know. Are you sure youre not faking this amnesia?
No, Im not faking it. Youve already asked me that. Besides, why would I fake something like this?
He could think of a reason. Leigh could be using the ploy so she wouldnt have to tell him why shed really returned. I dont have an answer to that one either, mi vida.
She poked him hard on the back. Dont call me darling.
Gabe grinned in spite of his rotten mood. Well, she remembered some of her Spanish anyway, along with remembering that she didnt like him to use that little term of endearment. And thats why hed done it. Maybe he could work it into the conversation again. Numerous times. It might make him feel better if she was as annoyed as he was.