Out of Control by Mary Connealy Page A

turned her horse and headed straight for that cave on a trail that twisted into the heavy forest and was swallowed up in darkness. He expected Ethan to go stubborn and turn back for home. But he tagged along, bringing up the rear.
    â€œThe trail I climb is straight west of the cavern.”
    Rafe knew there was no trail, but dealing with a half-wit was teaching him to just be quiet and let her figure it out for herself. Especially since, somehow, she had reached the cavern. So she might well be right. The fewer words he spoke, the fewer he’d have to eat.
    She rode her horse astride with no complaints. Sidesaddle was more correct for women, Rafe had heard. But the Kincaids didn’t own a sidesaddle, or a woman. He had to admit that, for the last five minutes, she’d been steady as a rock.
    Then she kicked her horse and got ahead of him, staying on the wider trail when they needed to veer off to the south.
    â€œYou don’t know where you’re going,” Rafe called after her. “So just calm down and let me get us as far as the cavern—then you can take charge.”
    He shuddered at the very thought.

    Wendell slammed his way back into the cabin. “I can’t find her anywhere. A night outdoors’ll teach her a lesson. Why’d she go off like that?”
    Audra had just made a vow of turning over a new leaf. Now, faced with the same old Wendell, her selfish, cranky husband, she wasn’t sure how a woman took control of her life.
    â€œWe know something happened to her. She wouldn’t stay out overnight.”
    â€œShe’s always going off. And she never has a decent word to say to me when I’m home. I’ll betcha she’s just hiding to be spiteful. She wants to go back East.” Wendell drew deep on his cigar and stank up the cabin when he exhaled. It little mattered; he stank up the cabin just by walking inside.
    â€œYou’ve brought us to a place that isn’t safe.” Audra had heard Wendell say those very words many times. “Why else are we hidden here so far from town? She worries about the baby. She wants us to be close to a doctor after that episode with my labor pangs. She wants a life that isn’t so hard.”
    â€œShe’s lazy is what she is.” Wendell jabbed his fat, black cigar at her. Left-handed. “Don’t hurt her to do some heavy work.”
    â€œThat girl works from before sunrise until after dark every day. She’s the hardest working person I know. And she won’t let me help because of the baby. Her concern is for others, not for herself. We have to leave here, Wendell.”
    â€œThis is your home now. If Julia’d had any sense, she wouldn’t’ve wandered off. I can’t find her in the dark. If she’s hiding to worry me, she’ll come home on her own. If she fell off one of these steep trails, I’ll find her in the morning. Now get to bed. You look like a wrung-out dishrag when you’re tired.”
    â€œWhich is all the time.” Audra heard her voice rising. She didn’t intend to have a shouting match with her husband. She’d heard him yelling plenty and knew she couldn’t best him. But she could be honest. She could speak up instead of letting herself be cowed into silence. There was strength in that. “She won’t let me do the heavy chores, chopping wood, tending the garden. I don’t want to lose this child. We need you, Wendell. You’ve got to move us into town. This life is too hard for two women alone with a baby and another on the way.”
    â€œYou’re staying out here.”
    â€œTown can’t be any more dangerous than this place. Julia being missing proves that.” Audra glanced down and saw that little Maggie had fallen asleep while Audra stood bickering. She ducked into the bedroom and laid the baby down on the pallet Maggie shared with Julia. Audra closed the door quietly and stepped away from it, hoping the