Trouble With the Law by Becky McGraw

lean over the bed and hurl. 
    With a moan, she edged her way to the side of the bed and stood then staggered toward the door.  "Trace!" she yelled, not sure if any sound came out.
    Ronnie was only halfway across the room when Trace burst through the door.
    "Sick," she said and gagged.  He ran to her and scooped her into his arms then ran down the hall with her in his arms.  The jogging motion didn't help and she gagged again.  "Help me," she begged weakly, laying her head on his shoulder.  His arms tightened around her as he strode into the bathroom and set her down on her feet.
    Her legs felt like they were filled with jelly.  Ronnie collapsed to the floor and hugged the toilet.  Embarrassment flowed through her as Trace held her hair back while she dry-heaved.  The nausea finally passed and her shoulders slumped. 
    "I'm sorry," she said , her voice barely a croak from her dry throat.  "So thirsty," she whispered as her eyes drifted shut, and she laid on the floor.  Trace gently picked her up again and carried her back to the bedroom.
    "It's okay, Red.  You'll feel better in the morning."
    "So thirsty," she said again.  If Ronnie didn't know better, she'd think she hadn't had a thing to drink in months.  And she felt like red ants were swimming in her veins.  They were biting her under her skin and she itched.  Trace laid her on the bed, pulled the sheet over her body, then kissed her forehead.  It was an awfully sweet gesture from a man who hated her, she thought.  And he smelled so damned good.  Ronnie was glad Trace was here with her.  She was also damned thankful he had gotten her away from that ranch.  She had no idea how he had accomplished that, but she was grateful.  Lord knew what would have happened to her if he hadn’t stepped in to save her.  "Thank you," Ronnie said weakly.
    "I'll get you some more water," he said, as he turned and left the room.
    Trace stopped to grab the remote and turn on the TV on his way to the kitchen.  He needed to watch the news to see if the feds had put the word out to the media about them.  If that had happened, there wasn't going to be a lot of places they could hide.  Someone would see them, and report the sighting.  Ronnie needed to get better fast, so they could get on the move before that happened.  If it hadn't already.
    Seth had left an hour ago and was going to do some digging.  He said he would call if he heard anything.  He was also going to try to find them somewhere safer to stay.  Sarah had gone to her mother's for the night, but she would need to come home tomorrow.  Trace did not want to put her in danger, and that is exactly what he would be doing if they stayed here, especially after the media got in on the action.  It wouldn't be long before Ray Brown or the feds found them.
    Trace got a fresh glass down from the cabinet and filled it with water, then walked back to the bedroom.  Ronnie was sitting up in the bed clawing herself.  She looked at him with desperate eyes.  "Oh, god—help me!" she said with a groan.  "I need a bath, or an electric sander!"
    Trace walked over and handed her the glass of water.  " Drink this," he ordered, and she took it from him.  Like it was another hit of heroin and she was an addict, she drank it down greedily.  Thank god she wasn't an addict.  Tomorrow, the effects of the drug would be gone, and Ronnie would probably be her old bitchy self.  And they'd be right back where they started.  He knew how to deal with that woman.  This needy woman who was looking to him for help?  Not so much.
    When she emptied the glass, he took it from her a nd put it on the night stand.  Holding his hand out to her, he asked, "You think you can walk?"
    Ronnie nodded, then slid to the edge of the bed.  She tried to stand and her legs wobbled.  With a sigh, Trace leaned down and scooped her up again then carried her to the bathroom.  There was no way she was going to be able to stand to shower.  If he put