Emmitt's Treasure: Judgement of the Six Companion Series, book 2 Read Online Free Page A

move.  Their conversation was equally easy to hear in the still of the night.
    “I’m up,” she said.  “What’s wrong?”
    “Emmitt’s knocking on the door,” Liam said.  “I looked out the window and saw it was him.”
    The rustle of covers told me she was getting out of bed.  I watched the peephole as she leaned against the door.  A second later, she pulled the door open and motioned for me to enter.  The dark circles under her eyes looked even more pronounced despite her increased alertness.  She needed more sleep.
    I stepped in, taking my time to pass by her so I could inhale her scent.  The fear was lighter now.  Not gone, as I would have liked.
    Liam and Aden watched me closely as I set the food on the table.
    “There’s a fast food place nearby.  Since everything’s been quiet, I made a quick run.”  I held out the plastic shopping bag.  “I noticed you didn’t have much, so I also picked up a few things.”
    She took the bag and stared at the contents.  It wasn’t much.  Toothbrushes, paste.  Some clean socks.
    “Thank you,” she said softly, not looking up.
    Her gratitude was real, but not strong enough to wipe out her doubt and suspicion.
    The boys watched us, waiting to see what Michelle would do.  She closed the bag and waved them toward the bathroom.  Aden looked back at the food, but dutifully listened to his sister.  He reminded me of Jim, and I couldn’t wait to get home with them.
    While they brushed their teeth, I ate three sandwiches and set the rest of the food out for them.
    As soon as the boys were done in the bathroom, they came to sit at the table while Michelle sat on the bed.
    She studied her hands for a minute before finally looking up at me.
    “Sorry for waking you up so soon.  I could hear the boys saying they were hungry,” I said, glancing at Liam and Aden.  They were watching us closely as they ate hungrily.
    “Slow down, you two, or you’re going to choke,” she said.  She met my gaze again.  “We haven’t been eating right, so it’s good that you woke me.  They needed this.”
    “And you need more sleep,” I said before I could stop myself.
    “I’m rested enough for you to tell me who you are and why you’re helping me.”
    “My name’s Emmitt Cole.  I was recently discharged from the military.  Now, I’m just taking my time seeing the country as I make my way home to Montana.  And I’m helping you because, back at the restaurant, you looked like you could use someone on your side.”  I paused, trying to think of what else I should say to help her believe my motives.  “As long as it wasn’t anything illegal, I had no reason not to help.”
    “I appreciate what you did.  I wasn’t doing anything illegal.  Those men had no right to take us back with them.”
    “I figured as much from what David was saying.”  The need to ask questions about the names I’d heard was there, but the distrust in her eyes stopped me.  “I’m guessing you’re running.  Going anywhere particular?  I’d be happy to tag along to make sure you safely get to where you need to be.”
    She didn’t answer right away.  The hand holding her coffee started to shake enough that she had to use her other hand to steady it, and her scent changed, light traces of guilt lacing it.  Something I’d just said had caused it, but what?
    “Emmitt, we could use help, but I don’t think it’d be right to accept it.”  She looked at the boys.  “There’s a lot going on that I can’t explain.  And, I didn’t have a place in mind when I left.”
    “Can I make a suggestion?”
    She nodded.
    “Keep moving.  As long as you’re awake, get further from the last place they found you.  That David guy knows you’re exhausted.  He’s going to count on you needing to stop.  If I were him, judging from how rundown you looked, I’d bet you would crash hard, too.  He’s going to start checking likely places where you might have stopped, calling and