The Baby Between Them

Chapter Twenty

Hunter – Your Dad had Marie fired. There's no social worker at the hospital now until they can get a new one in on Monday. It's bought us a few days. Where are you? Mitch said you didn't go to his place.

Raegan read the message, but ignored it. She was stoked that there wasn't going to be a warrant out for her arrest straight away, but no doubt it was coming.

"Hunter?" Nash asked, looking at her from the drivers seat.

"Yeah. Dad had Marie fired. We should have a few days before the cops start looking for us."

"Nice one Mitch!" Nash grinned. "You gunna reply?"

"I don't want to pull him into this anymore than he already is Nash. He's a cop. I don't want to put him into an impossible position."

"Too late for that."

Hunter – You know I can trace your location yeah? At least tell me you're safe ReRe. Please!

"Do you think he'd follow us?" Rae asked after reading the message.

"Oh for sure! I bet he only gave us fifteen minutes head start before tailing us." Rae turned and looked out of the back window, suddenly convinced she'd see either his patrol car or his blue Ford Ranger following them. Nash looked at her and burst out laughing. "He knows how to tail someone better than that Rae. Give the guy some credit. He's bloody good at his job!"

"True." Rae mused. She stroked Milly's face and then turned back to settle in her seat. "He'd be risking his job though, wouldn't he? If he came after us I mean."

"He loves you guys and will always put you ahead of his job." Nash shrugged like it was something she really should have realised already. "You should probably know something." Rae looked over at him. The sudden change in his tone, making her frown.

"What?"

"Actually, maybe I shouldn't. He'd probably smack me upside the head for it."

"You can't do that Nash!" Rae growled, but lowered her voice when Milly grumbled from the capsule in the backseat. Nash sighed and shook his head.

"Fine! Do you remember what Hunter planned on doing after high school?" He asked her.

Rae thought about it for a minute and then frowned.

"He wanted to get into marine science or something didn't he?"

"Yeah he did. He wanted to work with the Australia Zoo marine rescue. He's kinda wearing the wrong uniform for that though, don't you think?" Nash looked over at her for a second, before giving his attention back to the road again. They were nearing the border, about to head into New South Wales from Queensland.

"Why did he become a cop?"

"Because of you Rae." Nash said softly. Rae gasped. "Dad had always wanted at least one of us to follow in his footsteps, but he figured it would be me until that day in the pool when everything about you, changed for Hunt. When you stormed out after we saw what Sasha had done to you, he declared then and there that he was joining the force so that he could protect you. You, Rae. Not protect our town or anything. Protect you!"

"Oh my God." She gushed. "Why would he do that?"

"Not just him either."

"What do you mean?"

"Ty was gunna try and go pro with his football, but he decided to join that day as well. They both wanted a way to be able to legally step in if anything happened to you. Hunt, because of how he feels about you and Ty, because of how loyal to Hunt he is."