Page 47 of Bridge to Safety

“Sheriff?”

“Yeah?” He turned from the door.

“Could you let Shiloh know? She’s watching Rachel for me. Oh, and Melinda Larson wouldn’t say anything about who beat her.”

Sheriff Westbrook shook his head. “I’ll try asking her some questions, but I won’t get to it until tomorrow. She’ll be home by then. I’ll send Deputy Hudson or Matchett here to give you a ride home.”

“No need, sir. Shiloh can take me home.” He knew without a doubt that she’d bring Rachel to see him.

The sheriff gave a nod and left Rowan to the PA’s ministrations.

He sighed and laid his head back, hating that Rachel and Shiloh were alone. With him in the ER, they were vulnerable. They couldn’t come see him fast enough.

~

Duke cursed and punched the door of his office at the garage. The deputy had to be one of the luckiest men alive. He should’ve died on that mountain.

Even worse was the fact that the Billings kid saw his van. Duke could’ve been working for someone. That might be a good reason he was there, but something easily checked.

Was Melinda home yet? She’d be his alibi if she was. He gave her a quick call.

“If anyone wants to know where I was all day, I was working on your barn. Got it? I came by today to do estimates. You home?”

“Got home earlier. Okay, Duke. I’ll tell them.” The woman sounded like a meek mouse. Where was her spirit? Why couldn’t she be more like Shiloh?

“Good.” He hung up and grabbed the keys to a sedan that had been brought it for repairs after it occurred to him that the deputy was at least temporarily out of the picture, which meant Shiloh was alone.

Duke parked out of sight of her house and peered around the corner of the Nelson house which gave him the perfect vantage point. He shrank back as the sheriff’s car drove across the bridge and stopped in front of Shiloh’s. Most likely he was there to tell her about Reynolds. That meant she’d be going to the hospital to see him. Which put her right in Duke’s reach.

~

The doorbell rang, which set Peanut barking and scratching at the door. Shiloh peered through the peephole and froze at seeing Sheriff Westbrook on her porch. The man’s grave expression told her he didn’t come bearing good news.

Her hand trembled as she turned the knob and opened the door. “Sheriff?”

“Could you step out here, Miss Sloan? I’d rather the child not hear.”

Her heart leaped into her throat. “Of course.” She stepped out and closed the door behind her, but not before Peanut slipped out and sat at her feet, her dark eyes fixated on the sheriff.

He cut the dog a wary look. “Deputy Reynolds asked me to stop by and let you know he was involved in a car accident.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “Is he all right?”

“A bad cut on his arm, a concussion, lots of bruising, but he’ll be good in a few days. He’d like you to watch Rachel until he gets home. He should be released later today, if you could pick him up.”

“Can we go see him before he’s released?” The thought of him lying in the hospital alone cut at her heart.

“I’m sure you can.” He gave a nod and marched back to his car.

Shiloh would need to choose her words carefully so she didn’t alarm Rachel. Taking a deep breath, she entered the house. “Rachel, come sit by me.” She patted the sofa cushion.

“Okay.” With a reluctant glance at the cartoon on the television, Rachel sat next to her.

Shiloh pressed off on the TV remote. “Everything will be okay. The sheriff said so, but your daddy was in a car wreck and is in the hospital. You’ll be staying with me in the meantime. Would you like to go with me tobring him home?”

“Yes. Right now.” Rachel stood. “He needs me.”

“I’m sure he does.” Shiloh grabbed her purse and car keys. “You have to stay here this time, Peanut.” She set the alarm and followed Rachel to the car.

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