Page 57 of Light My Fire

That’s what Tucker would have done.

The path edged away from the river, through the woods, and as he ran, he spotted a lake through the thinning trees. Crystalline blue under the bold sky. The wind raked fingers down his neck, into his T-shirt, still soggy and chafing as he ran.

Please, let him be running in the right direction. Because he’d seen no sign of March or Archer or even Stevie.

Skye set a grueling pace, and he had to give her credit. Maybe she hadn’t needed his protection as much as he’d thought.

You can’t stop bad things from happening. And you don’t need to save everyone.

Okay, maybe not, Lord. But if Stevie is in trouble, I’d like to save her.

He spotted a sign for the Troublesome campground and slowed down to a walk, breathing hard. They came out to a gravel road. RVs, pop-ups, and tents were tucked into campsites. Civilization of sorts.

Which meant people in the way. He caught up to Skye and grabbed her arm.

“Wait.”

He thought he’d heard a shout.

She nodded, drew back, and he stopped to listen.

A shot cracked the air.

He glanced at Skye, then took off running.

The road curved, and he came around the corner just in time to spot March standing in front of his truck, holding Archer by the collar. The man seemed white with pain.

And standing across the road, Stevie, the wind blowing back that sable hair, her jaw tight, her expression unmoving. “Let him go.”

Tucker grabbed Skye and pulled her with him into the forest edging the campsite. A rusty, ancient trailer squatted in the middle of the campsite, and he moved around the edge of the forest, watching as Stevie took a step toward March.

Tucker crouched behind the arms of a shaggy spruce, his heart banging hard. “You stay here,” he whispered. “I’m going to try and get behind March and tackle him.”

“Don’t die,” Skye snapped, taking off the PG pack.

“Right. Radio in to Seth, tell him our position so the marshals can get here.”

She nodded again, and he edged out from the woods to scamper behind the trailer. He couldn’t see Stevie, but he heard March shouting. “Throw the keys!”

No, Stevie, don’t—

Tucker came out around the trailer, behind March. The man pointed his revolver at Stevie, and Tucker’s knees nearly buckled.

Archer took a step toward Stevie.

Somehow Tucker kept his mouth shut as Stevie tossed the keys to March.

The next seconds played out in a flash. Archer, shouting, launching himself at Stevie.

A shot that turned Tucker’s bones to liquid.

Archer, collapsing on top of Stevie.

Now.He should tackle March—

March grabbed Stevie around the neck and hauled her to her feet.

A terrible heat sparked to flame inside Tucker when he saw March hit her.

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