Page 26 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

She walked up to the fresh mound of dirt, resting the flowers that Wes had picked up for her on top.

“I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there for you, Mom,” Shanna said softly.

Wes cleared his throat. “I think I’ll go wait in the truck. Take all the time you need.”

“Thank you,” she said.

Wes looked at her oddly again before heading back to his truck.

Shanna stood there several minutes, thinking about her mom, and whispering words about the past, telling her how much she’d loved her, even though she’d hadn’t appreciated her the way she should of.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of a branch breaking somewhere near the edge of the woods. And when she glanced over, a man was there, staring at her intently.

Recognizing him right away, she tried not to appear shocked since she knew Wes would be watching.

He definitely recognized her as well, but what was strange was the connection she felt when her eyes met his.

It was like she’d been struck by lightning, with that intensity in his gaze. She could feel it from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

She couldn’t help thinking that he appeared to be greatly relieved.

He looked like he was ready to approach, but Shanna shook her head gently. It wouldn’t just put him in danger, but possibly Anya as well. Shanna was sure she was still here in town.

She held his gaze for one long moment before glancing back down at her mother’s grave.

“I love you, Mom,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Spinning on her heels, she walked back toward Wes’ truck.

Chapter Twelve

Rick knew now why he’d never been able to forget about Shanna. Even as a teenager, he supposed he’d been attracted to her, without really realizing that he was.

Somehow, she’d survived all the terrible things that had probably happened to her since she’d been a child. There appeared to be some sort of trust she’d established with this man, who was more than likely her captor, Wes Montgomery.

It was good to see what he looked like up close. Rick knew that he wasn’t young, and he looked much older than the sixty-two years he was supposed to be. Even though he’d made an eventual success of his business, which appeared to be on the up and up according to Jake, his hard life of drinking had apparently caught up with him.

Jake was trying to discover what was happening with the trafficking money Montgomery was more than likely taking in.

The ad for help at the marina was still in the paper. Jake had wanted Rick to get in better shape before he made Montgomery’s acquaintance. Currently, he was building him an identity that wouldn’t be questioned if he went in to apply for the position. Jake had a feeling that everyone who worked for Montgomery was checked pretty thoroughly.

And he was willing to bet that Montgomery had a silent partner in the trafficking business who remained out of sight—maybe even from Shanna as well. Whatever connection she had to the trafficking besides being a victim was probably done with some form of blackmail, both Jake and Rick figured.

After Rick saw Montgomery drive away with Shanna, he headed back through the woods to the street on the other side of the cemetery where he’d parked his new vehicle, an old beat up pick up.

There was no use following them, even though he’d like to know where Shanna was being held. He’d parked himself at the cemetery this afternoon just on a hunch. After Anya and a few other townspeople had left, he’d sat there eating the lunch he’d bought from the fast-food place, messaging Jake on his phone.

“That reminds me,” he muttered, pulling his phone from his pocket and sending Jake a text.

‘It’s her with Montgomery,’ he wrote. ‘They’re headed south.’

‘I’ll try to get someone on their tail,’ Jake messaged back.

‘I’ll send you the plate number, but it’s probably registered to the marina.’

Rick typed in the number, sending it off, and revving up the engine of his truck, he drove onto the road that would take him home.

About an hour later, Rick got a text from Jake when he was settled in front of the TV, watching football. ‘He parked at the Crystal Rock Marina and drove off with the girl in one of the cruisers, heading across the lake. My guy couldn’t get the registration, but he’s waiting there for Montgomery to come back.’

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