Page 35 of Running to the Mountain Man

“Dammit. The shooter is out of the frame,” I grumble.

The sheriff stammers. “And you didn’t report this footage to the department five months ago?”

He is roundly shushed.

“I didn’t have a reason to look back at it.”

Seconds later, someone walks into the frame, his back to the camera, and disappears into the woods.

It’s not Goldie. I knew it wouldn’t be.

I play it back and show it to everyone else in the room.

Mark looks heated. The sheriff is stunned silent.

Audrey gives me a nod of gratitude. “Way to go, nerd.” She turns to her brother. “So, Lucas, I assume that now is a good time for me to have a word in private with my client before she gives her statement regarding the charges against her?”

Chapter Seventeen

Goldie

“I’m out, and I’m safe. Focus on that, Barrett.”

It’s my word against The Prophet’s, who’s currently conscious and recovering in the hospital.

The investigation has not yet determined whether I was in danger, so I have a court date. For now, I’m out on bail, thanks to having no criminal record and the judge deciding I wasn’t a flight risk or an immediate threat to anyone else.

All in all, I’m fine, thanks to having perhaps the best public defender in the entire world, as far as I’m concerned.

Still, as we sit across from each other at Jenny’s Diner, Barrett can’t stop touching me, checking me over, and asking if I’m okay.

“I’m fine, baby,” I say soothingly.

“I’ll feel better when we’re back on the mountain. Away from all this craziness.”

I sip my giant Diet Coke and say, “Yeah, but I’m hungry now, and I’m cashing in this moment to get a burger. I can’t wait for the 40-minute drive back to the cabin to eat.”

“I just don’t want people from that cult of yours seeing you and?—”

I jump when suddenly I hear my name screamed loudly enough for the lady at the next table to spill her ice water with lemon everywhere. “Goldie!”

I know that voice before I see the face that goes with it.

Turning to my left, my two best friends are standing there. Louisa is cupping her hands to her cheeks in disbelief. Olivia is jumping up and down on the balls of her feet.

I fly out of the booth. “Louisa! Olivia!”

So much shrieking and screaming. I can sense Barrett shrinking in the booth as he watches us.

I have to back away and get a hold of myself.

“Everything’s fine, honey. Look! It’s my friends!” I can barely speak as emotion clogs my throat.

Barrett slides out of the booth and waits until my friends are finished hugging me. He puts out his hand for a handshake, but he gets hugged by Olivia.

Pretty soon, five cowboy-looking dudes wander up.

“What’s going on?” asks one of them, placing a hand on Olivia’s lower back.

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