aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement Page B

leave yesterday.”
    “He
was hurt.” Peta looked up at her. “He needed help.”
    “Niail
stopped the bad men.” Wil sat back in his chair. “Those men would have hurt
us.”
    “He’s
the reason those men came here.” Kimi tried to keep her voice calm, but Wil wasn’t
wrong. Those men would have hurt them whether Niail was here or not. They would
never have believed that they didn’t know where he was.
    “He’s
a superhero.” Wil hugged his backpack. “Niail will take care of us now.”
    Kimi
sighed. “I hope so. We’ll probably go to Uncle Jake’s and ask him for help.”
    “Uncle
Jake won’t understand.” Peta went to the cupboard and pulled out some granola
bars. “We need to take some goodies with us.”
    “You
sit down. I’ll pack.” Kimi shushed her daughter away. “How do you know we need
food?”
    “We’re
not deaf Mom.” Peta sat with a sigh. “We heard everything. When the men broke
into the house I hid under the bed.”
    “I
watched at the door.” Wil’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Those men aimed a gun
at Niail and he still pushed them out of the house.”
    “You
didn’t see anything else I hope?” Kimi couldn’t keep the dismay from her voice.
    Wil
shook his head. “Niail blocked everything and once they were outside it was too
dark to see.”
    “Thank
God.” Kimi hugged Wil close. “Niail didn’t want you children to be involved.”
    “He
protected us.” Peta leaned her chin on the table. “I’m glad you helped him
Mom.”
    “So
am I.” Wil pushed away from Kimi. “He talks different from everyone else. I
think he really is one of the Star People.”
    Just
then there was the sound of a vehicle pulling into the driveway. She motioned the children into one of the bedrooms, shut the door and then
leaned against the counter. She would know soon enough if it were friend or
foe.
    Bobby
opened the door.
    Kimi
relaxed. “You can come out kids.”
    Niail
entered.
    He
had blood on the side of his tee-shirt.
    Her
eyes widened. “You’re injured.”
     

Chapter 9
     
    Dismay
and alarm filled Kimi. Her heart sped up and for a second, fear froze her in place.
Why hadn’t she seen he had been injured? Niail had rushed a group of men with
weapons. She should have checked him. Instead, he had been concerned about how
she was doing. She stumbled toward him.
    “It
is a scratch.” He picked up a towel and wiped his side. His eyes searched the
room as if looking for danger and then he turned to Kimi. “We left their
vehicle at the side of the road.”
    “How
long before it’s found?” Kimi took the bloody towel from him and ran it under
cold water.
    “They’ll
find it before morning.” Bobby put both hands on the back of one of the chairs.
“I think you guys should hide up in the mountains.”
    “Are
you crazy?” Kimi shook her head. “It’s June. The nights are still too cold.”
    “Maybe,
but where else will you be safe.”
    “Will
your brother, Jake, help?” Niail touched Wil’s shoulder as the boy ran up to
him. “I can take you there. Or is there someplace else?”
    “What
about you?” Kimi picked up the sweatshirt she had pulled from the closet and
handed it to Niail. “Your head still isn’t right, plus you have all those other
injuries”
    “I
heal fast.” Niail picked up another towel and turned away from Kimi before
pulling the clean shirt on. “My head injury is no reason to endanger you any
further.”
    Peta
put her backpack on. “Should we call Uncle Jake first?”
    “We
can’t stop to make a call. Time is important.” Niail handed Wil his pack. “What
about you, Bobby?”
    “I’m
heading to the bush.” Bobby shrugged. “I don’t trust anyone now.”
    “I
understand.” Kimi grabbed her bag. “Are you taking your vehicle?”
    “I’m
leaving it on the road.” Bobby started out the door. “I’ve got emergency gear
in the back. It’s not safe to go near my house.”
    “That
is wise.” Niail steered the children out of the