Chapter 48

Daniel jammed on the brakes as he spotted Laurie climbing into her father’s automobile. He leaped from his car and splashed through the puddles until he reached her window. “Please, tell me you’re all right.”

She drew a ragged breath. “Get in, will you? You’re getting soaked.”

He rounded the car and clambered into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind him.

Laurie jammed the car into gear and steered out onto the road without even checking for traffic. “Can you come back for your car later?”

Daniel twisted in his seat to face her. “Forget the car. What’s happening?”

“Let’s just say, I don’t want Samuel’s kind of help.”

Daniel sagged against the seat back, heart returning to an almost normal rhythm.

He glanced out the windscreen as they bumped down the road. “Where are we going?”

Laurie pressed one wrist against her mouth, but it didn’t stifle the hiccupping sob. “I don’t know. I just needed to get away from that house.” The Ford rattled down the road, lurching side to side over the ruts in the road.

He reached over and grabbed her wrist. “Pull over.”

She yanked the wheel to the side and let the wheels roll to a stop, covering her face with her fingers.

Daniel heaved a sigh as the motion ceased. He pushed open the door and stood, letting the rain wash over him. He walked around the car and opened her door.

Laurie hunched over the wheel, her face in her hands.

“Slide over.”

She shifted, giving him room to slide in before falling against his shoulder. “I’ve made such a mess. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

He shifted, turning so he could wrap his arms around her. “What’s the worst that could happen? Rumrunning convictions are mild. He shouldn’t see much time for that.”

She lifted her tear-stained face. “Samuel said he might not make it to jail.”

Daniel’s chest tightened. “What?” He reached for the ignition. “We’ll go back. Let’s hear him say that to me.”

Laurie grabbed his sleeve. “No. He’s already got other agents and police gathering out at Freshwater Cove. It won’t fix anything.”

The coldness of her fingers soaked through his sleeve. Reaching over, he covered his hand with hers. They sat in silence as the rain pattered down on the canvas top.

The seed of an idea coiled in the corner of his mind. Laurie had closed her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder. He gazed down at her face, feeling her warmth pressed against his side. What if?

He reached for the throttle.

She lifted her head. “Where are we going?”

Daniel glanced over his shoulder and guided the Model T out onto the dark road. “I was just thinking . . . ” He lifted his right arm away from her shoulder to settle both hands on the steering wheel. “I think it’s a nice night to do some fishing.”