Page 71 of A Brambleberry Summer

By the time he left the station, the sun was beginning to set.

He knew from the other officers on scene that Rosa had refused transport to the hospital, though she had allowed Eli to clean and bandage her cuts.

Stubborn woman.

Only now, as he walked up the front steps to the house hours later, did Wyatt feel his own adrenaline crash.

He had never been so scared as the moment when Jenna had called him, her voice thready with panic. All he had registered were her words that Rosa was being hurt.

It seemed odd to be here without either Hank or Logan, but Carrie had offered to keep both of them overnight.

“You do what you need to for Jen and Rosa,” she had told him when he called from the station. She had been half out of her mind with worry for her friend and only his repeated assurances that Rosa’s injuries appeared to be minor had kept Carrie from rushing to the house herself.

He half expected to find Rosa in the flower gardens around Brambleberry House, seeking peace and solace amid the blossoms and the birds, as she so often did. But from what he could see, the gardens were empty except for a few hummingbirds at the bright red feeder. They immediately flitted away.

The big house also seemed quiet when he let himself inside. He walked to the third floor and knocked, but Rosa didn’t answer. He couldn’t hear Fiona inside, either.

He frowned, not sure what to do.

As he headed back down the stairs, the door on the second-floor landing opened. Jenna peeked out. “I thought I heard you come in.”

“Yeah. How are you?”

“I’ve had better days.”

“It has to help to know that Barker is in custody, doesn’t it?”

She shrugged and he could see she wasn’t entirely convinced her nightmare was over. He couldn’t blame her for the doubt after the way the system had already treated her, but Wyatt was quick to reassure her.

“You should know that Barker won’t be going anywhere for a long time. He’s facing extensive state and federal charges. And we haven’t even started on the stalking charges. That will only add to his sentence. He won’t bother you again.”

“I hope not.”

He knew it would probably take time for that reality to sink in.

“Is Rosa with you?”

“No. I heard her take Fiona out about a half hour ago.”

She paused. “I never wanted her to get hurt. I hope you know that. I thought we would be safe here. If I had for a moment dreamed he would find me and would come here and hurt Rosa and Fiona, I never would have come.”

“I know that and I’m sure Rosa doesn’t blame you for a second.”

Jenna didn’t look convinced about this, either. “She was amazing. I wish you could have seen her. She was so fierce. Aaron was twice as big, but that didn’t stop her. She’s an incredible woman.”

“Agreed,” he said, his voice gruff.

“She risked her life to protect me and Addie.” Jenna’s voice took on an edge and she gave him a hard stare. “For the record, I will do the same for her. Anybody who hurts her in any possible way will live to regret it.”

Was that a threat? It certainly sounded like one. He couldn’t decide whether to be offended that she could ever think he would hurt Rosa, or touched at her loyalty to her friend. He settled on the latter.

“You and I are the same in that sentiment, then,” he said quietly.

She studied his features for a moment, then nodded. “I saw her from my window as I was putting Addie to bed. She and Fiona appeared to be heading for the beach.”

He smiled and on impulse reached out and hugged her. After a surprised moment, Jenna hugged him back.

He headed for the beach gate, his heart pounding. As he went, he carried on a fierce debate with himself.

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