Page 72 of A Secret Heart
“You have to. He’s gonna shoot her.” Ed pushed the words out with force as his chest clenched.
Isaac shook his head, his hand still wrapped around the stock.
There was something terribly wrong with Ed’s brother, but this wasn’t the time to deal with it.
“You’re just as good. You take the shot.”
What choice did he have?
Ed leveled his rifle at the man who was threatening Rebekah. There was no time for more thought. That revolver could go off at any moment.
He closed his finger over the trigger. And took the shot.
* * *
A shot rang out.
Rebekah jumped, the sound reverberating through her chest.
But she felt no pain.
Thump!
She hadn’t realized she’d closed her eyes, but they flew open now to see the bandit fall to the ground. Blood seeped through his fingers where he clutched his arm.
His gun had been knocked away. It lay in the grass nearby.
Dirt and rocks rattled loose. A man was scrambling down the rise.
Ed.
Fear swelled inside her and overflowed as tears filled her eyes. He rushed forward to spring on top of the outlaw. The bandit saw him and rolled toward the gun.
“Ed, watch out!” Rebekah kicked at the bandit.
Ed launched at him, threw a punch that knocked back the bandit’s head. Their tussle pushed close, and she was knocked off the tree stump, falling hard on one shoulder.
She couldn’t tear her eyes from where Ed followed the outlaw as the man tried to run away, then wrenched his arm so that the outlaw cried out.
“I’ve got him,” Ed called out.
And there was Isaac, only steps away. She hadn’t even noticed him coming down the hill.
Ed quickly handed off the man and came to help her sit up.
“I thought we were going to be too late.” A huskiness filled his words.
She could feel the wobble in his hands as he worked to untie the ropes on her wrists.
He pulled her close. She went willingly, felt his still-frantic breathing under her cheek. She leaned into his strength, letting his warmth flow into her.
He’d come for her.
Ed slid his hands from her back to hold her arms, lifting her away from him with a gentle strength. His face grew stern as he surveyed her bruised wrists. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. What about you?” Unashamed tears streaked her face as she reached up to touch the blood trickling from his brow. “You’re bleeding.”
Ed barely seemed to notice. “He must’ve gotten in a lucky punch.”
