Page 16 of PenPal Hero

While Bonnie clung to the back of her driver, getting soaked to the skin in the warm summer rain, she decided on the spot that the three days of her missing memories no longer had the power to hold her back. Maybe someday she would remember what happened to her during her abduction. Maybe she wouldn’t. But three days didn’t define a person. God did.

According to the Bible, He’d known her while she was being formed in the womb. He knew the number of hairs on her head. He had a plan for her life. Those were the things that defined her. The only things.

She couldn’t wait to tell Holt. And while she was at it, she was going to tell him one more thing.

Yes.

CHAPTER 4: SHOCKING REVELATION

It rained for the rest of the morning and afternoon. During Bonnie’s final session of the day at the retreat —an interactive panel discussion about managing stress and keeping the right balance between her career and personal life — she discreetly sent a text message to Alice.

I’m scooting out early. Need to take care of something personal.

She didn’t tell Alice what it was, because she didn’t want to worry her. Hurrying back to her room, she traded her cowgirl boots for a pair of hiking boots.

Instead of taking the elevator down, she moved stealthily toward the stairwell at the back of the building. After watching the rain through the windows all afternoon, she wasn’t surprised to find herself stepping around scattered puddles as she hiked across the pastureland toward the hills beyond.

While she walked, she dialed Holt. Now that he was working two jobs, she wasn’t sure if he would pick up, but he did.

“Hey, babe,” he greeted her in a cheerful voice.

“Hey, Holt,” she answered shyly. She liked being his babe. “How’s the new job going?”

“Really well, actually. It’s a new adventure.” Some of the joviality in his voice faded. “I’m enjoying everything but the occasional flash of light in the distance that makes me wonder if someone is keeping tabs on me through a long-range lens.”

Her insides chilled. “Are you serious?”

“This is the part where you tell me I’m being paranoid,” he said dryly. “Then we’ll laugh and move on.”

“I wish it was that easy.” She hated to break it to him that she’d just this morning experienced the same thing. He already had enough on his plate to worry about.

“Go on,” he ordered quietly.

Here goes nothing. “The same thing happened to me.”

“When?” Holt’s voice rose in alarm. “And why am I just now hearing about it?”

She should’ve been annoyed by his show of overprotectiveness, since her brothers dished more than enough of that her way. Instead, she was charmed. “Relax. It was only once. This morning at the rope bridge obstacle. Alice saw it, too. It was before the thunderstorm hit. We were swinging through the treetops like Tarzan when it happened.”

“Did you call the police?”

“What would we tell them?” The question puzzled her. “All we saw was a flash of light, Holt. It was blinding, but there’s nothing illegal about someone being in possession of a piece of glass.”

“I’m more worried about the odds of it being a long-range camera lens.” He sounded agonized. “This is serious, Bonnie. Someone might be targeting you because of me.”

“What do you mean?” She couldn’t imagine why.

“I recently helped put some really bad dudes behind bars, babe. It’s possible they’re going to retaliate, which means everyone I care about might be in danger.”

Oh. She hadn’t considered that. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re only pen pals,” she said lightly. Since nobody else knew about their status as pen pals, there was no way she could be targeted for it.

“We’re more than pen pals, Bonnie, and you know it,” he protested. “Anyone who’s seen me hanging around you lately can probably connect the dots.”

She blushed hotly. “Well, I’m about to get us some answers, cowboy. I’m hiking out to the spot right now to see if I can figure out what caused that flash of light this morning.”

“Alone?” He barked out the word.

“I’m doing it in broad daylight,” she assured. “There are ranch hands everywhere. Literally crawling all over the place like ants.”

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