Project Produce(47)

I risked a look over my shoulder and saw Khaki Man ditch the path, same as the horse had. I clutched the edge of the saddle, ducking low under branches and shrieking as the horse jumped rocks and fallen tree limbs. Blood rushed through my veins and hoof beats thundered in my ears. I blinked rapidly, struggling to see through the wind whipping my hair in my face. I was going to die. The horse led me on a series of hairpin turns, and my pathetic, boring life flashed before my eyes, until he finally doubled back the way we’d just come.

Right in Khaki Man’s direction!

The man came to a stop and held his side, breathing heavy, his head hanging low. Silver didn’t seem to notice, or care, and just kept charging straight for him.

“Move out of the way,” I screamed.

Khaki Man’s head popped up just as I yanked on the reins for the millionth time, and the crazy horse chose that moment to finally listen. Digging in his hooves, he stopped short, and I went sailing over his head straight for my stalker.

I knocked the wind out of Khaki Man in a full-frontal tackle. Sometimes being six foot came in handy. Well, now that I was on top of him, I had to do something. And by something, I didn’t mean check out his produce. I rolled him over onto his belly. He wheezed as though trying to catch his breath, and I wrenched his arm up behind his back as I sat on his butt.

“Hey, lady. Ow, ow. Aw, c’mon, let up. You’re gonna break my arm. Is it a crime to get a little exercise?”

“Exercise, yeah right. No way, pal, I’m not buying your bull. I’m going to find that police officer and have him haul your sorry butt off to jail.”

“Haul my sorry ass off to jail? I’m not the one who stole his goddamn horse. When he finds you, he’s going to throw the book at you, babe.”

“I’m not your babe,” I ground out, then glanced at Silver.

He perked his ears and snorted as if to say, You are so busted, lady.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. How had I missed the NYPD logo on the side of the saddle? And with my contacts in, no less. Besides, who else but a cop would have a horse in the city?

When the horse started to trot away, Khaki Man said, “Better get lost, Annie Oakley. If he’s running, it means his partner’s close by.”

I hated that he was right. I wanted to question him further and get to the bottom of what was going on, but I had to get out of there before the officer caught me. He’d throw me in the slammer for sure.

Khaki Man didn’t waste any time jumping to his feet and sprinting into the trees, laughing as though he’d won. For that alone, I considered giving chase, but then the officer in question came barreling through the trees like the Jolly Green Giant. Or in this case, the Angry Red Beast. I jumped behind a shrub but couldn’t miss the dark look stamped across his face. Oh, boy. That didn’t bode well for me.

His horse came to a stop right in front of him, and he checked the animal for injuries. My cue to get lost, so I made a mad dash for the trees in the opposite direction before he saw me.

So much for blending in and hiding out.





CHAPTER NINE





Once I was deep in the woods, I glanced over my shoulder but didn’t see anyone following me. Then I proceeded to run smack into a tree, throwing my arms around it to keep from falling. Feeling safe for the moment, I hunched over, hands on my knees, and sucked in a few quick breaths.

Note to self: Twenty, I am not.

The cold air stung my lungs, exiting in a billowy white cloud of steam. I’d lost the Angry Red Beast, thank God, but I wasn’t foolish enough to think the cops weren’t still looking for me.

Exercise? What the heck had I been thinking? Jogging on the shoveled path had been doable, but detouring into the woods might as well have been a ten-mile hike up a vertical glacier. Wet snow had slipped into my sneakers, squishing between my frozen toes.

I tugged my mittens on tighter and my hat down lower as I looked up. The sun had started to set, the February days growing dark so early, and the rumble in my stomach told me it had to be around dinner.

Crunch!

I whipped around and surveyed the bare trees swaying in the breeze. Paranoia strikes again. I shook my head and tried to catch my breath but started walking. I didn’t dare linger any longer. Even I knew this section of the park wasn’t safe. Besides, that officer was still looking for me. Having my face all over the news was not something I wanted to relive, ever.

Snap!

I froze, honing in all my available senses. I wanted to believe that noise had been a brittle twig breaking off its branch. But the sound grew closer. My skin prickled, and a creepy feeling washed over me. My heart pounded harder than it had when I’d attempted to run. Maybe it was an animal.