Page 50 of Bridge to Safety

“I won’t argue with you. These meds are kicking my butt.” He wouldn’t be taking them again because he needed his wits about him.

~

Duke hadn’t thought about the deputy calling for help. What did the man think he would do with a child and a woman in the car?

He didn’t hurt children, and unless Shiloh kept playing games, he wouldn’t harm her. Now, he’d have to lay low. But, where? Melinda’s place was his first choice. She’d never snitch on him. His cousin knew better. But, the sheriff’s department was sure to look for him there.

Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Duke stared down the dirt road where he’d intended to ditch the vehicle. He needed an abandoned building that would still provide comfort. Roughing it was not his style. Laying low in any property owned by a Larson wouldn’t work. Think, man!

It couldn’t be too far away. He needed to be close enough to keep an eye on Shiloh so he didn’t miss the opportunity to take her. He cursed the fact the deputy still lived. Having him dead would have solved a few problems. Now, Duke was back at square one, needing a new plan. Why couldn’t it be easy to convince Shiloh of his feelings for her? All she needed to do was spend some time with him, then she’d see.

He scratched his head. There had to be a place in the woods behind her house. A hunter’s cabin, a manufactured home, something.

He shoved the car door open and stepped onto the hard-packed surface of the road. Time to get moving. Once he found a place, he’d gather some supplies from the garage, and settle in. Then, he’d wait.

~

Shiloh listened in shock as Rowan filled her in on his brake lines. “You could’ve been killed.”

“That was the intention.” He slowly lowered onto a deck lounge. “I don’t want Rachel to know.”

“Of course not. I’m also taking a few days off work. It seems I’m needed here.” She leaned against the railing and stared at the trees—a view that usually filled her with peace, but no more. The shadows looked threatening. The forest loomed like a giant beast waiting to devour her. She shook off her dark thoughts. “I’m going to clean up the wrappings from our burgers. Will you be okay out here?”

“Yep.” He closed his eyes. “I’moing to take a little nap.”

Tears stung her eyes as she cleaned up. Things were growing more dangerous with each passing day. If the other two deputies hadn’t shown up today, who knew what would have happened on that highway? All she could think about as they drove was that if she could just reach the bridge, they’d be safe.

Were they? Someone tried to kill Rowan. Twice, it seemed, and she and Rachel would have died, too. She should never have come back to Misty Hollow.

Rachel moved past her and stared out the window in the back door. “Is Daddy sleeping?”

“Yes, sweetie. Let’s not wake him, okay?” She forced a smile to her face.

“But…Sasquatch is back.”

Shiloh’s heart leaped into her throat as she rushed to the window as tires crunched gravel out front. Her gaze swept the woods behind the house. “I don’t see anything.”

“It was watching Daddy sleep. It’s gone now.”

The doorbell rang.

Peanut barked.

Shiloh kept her gaze on Rowan to see whether he’d wake. When he didn’t, she ordered Rachel to hide in the pantry, then went to answer the door, grabbing a meat cleaver from the kitchen drawer on her way.

She peered through the peephole to see a middle-aged man in faded overalls standing on her porch. “Who is it?”

“Hank Owens, ma’am. The sheriff ordered some guard dogs to be delivered here.”

Guard dogs? “I’m sorry, you must be—”

“He’s right, Shiloh.” Rowan stood next to her and eyed the cleaver. “Where’s Rachel?”

“In the pantry. She saw Sasquatch again, outside, watching you. I thought…when the doorbell rang…”

“An intruder won’t ring the doorbell. Put that down and come meet our hired four-legged friends. Rachel, come on out.” He opened the door, looking better than he had all day.

“You should’ve told me.” She set the cleaver on a small side table and joined him on the porch.

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