Trust (Chasing Shadows) Read Online Free Page A

as I could tell, neither one had found the other. Two people alone on a mountain with the cold dropping to the mid-40s tonight. It wasn’t freezing, but damn close, especially if you weren’t prepared for it.
    It wasn’t just the weather that had me worried, but the trail itself. Even though Ella and I had visited this area regularly, we had never extended our walks to the neighboring Backbone Trail. If I couldn’t find Ella here, there was a chance she had headed farther into the mountains and would be there.
    The trail stretched from Point Mugu to Will Rogers State Historic Park covering 65 miles, about 25,000 feet of elevation gain and loss, and all types of terrain. It was rough, rugged and dangerous, and it had my head spinning with worry over her.
    I kept walking, and on the trails I saw different prints, the evidence of the animals that I hoped would stay in hiding. And that’s when a blast of cold air hit me. It wasn’t the wind, but a vision of the near future. I could finally see Ella and I knew just where she was headed, but it was beyond my control to warn her about what was to come. I saw her lying face down, 20 feet below. There was no way to warn her for she wasn’t letting me into her mind. And, there would be no way to communicate with her later if she ended up in this condition.
    As much as I wasn’t ready to let her go, I found myself praying that Ethan would get to her soon.

Chapter 8 - Ella
     
     
    “Slow down, you’re going to break something,” Nate yelled after me.
     
    I remember how we chased each other while on our hikes, but when I would get too gung ho, he’d always try to reel me in.
     
    “You’re just embarrassed to have your ass kicked by a girl!” I called out while easily maneuvering the dips of the trail.
    “No you don’t,” Nate laughed. “I’m letting you beat me because otherwise you’ll cry like a girl.”
    “Tough talk for a Marine,” I said and eased my pace so he could catch me.
    “Did I really catch you or did you slow down?” Nate asked, wrapping his tanned arms around me. I felt so small in his muscled embrace. It felt safe as I laid my head against his strong chest and sighed as the sound of his heartbeat soothed me.
    “Put it this way...” I said, glancing up at him, “what’s the fun of not being caught?”
    “I should have your hide for that comment. Instead, you can have this,” he bent down and picked me a flower, a beautiful lavender colored one with delicate leaves that grew in a cluster. “It’ll look pretty in your hair.”
    After I had tucked it behind my ear he smiled and added, “Actually, you make the flower look more beautiful, not the other way around.”
     
    During the day I had spotted several plant communities, such as Coastal Sage Scrub, Oak Woodland and Sycamore Savannah, but on this part of the trail, only one flower was in bloom. I bent down to pick the Chaparral Currant that blooms from October through March and placed it behind my ear just as I had done the last time Nate had given it to me. I marveled how even in the darkening sky, its purple blossoms were bright.
    Nate and I had taken a few night hikes, but we had planned for them. Actually, Nate was the one who had always made plans. Now I was on my own. I had the chance to turn back earlier, but I didn’t take it; and now, I might have to admit that may have been a mistake. I stopped once again, trying to get my bearings, but it was no use. I had started running so fast to get away from my own mind and memories, but now I was a bit turned around.
    I listened intently, hoping to hear sounds of any other hikers, but naturally at this hour, there was only silence. I knew that I had covered at least eight miles going up and down, through possibly four different canyons. My knowledge of the area recalled their names: Trancas, Zuma, Newton, and Latigo, but I had no idea which one I was currently on.
    I pulled a berry off a nearby plant as my stomach had begun to grumble.