Page 53 of Unexpected Danger
Ten minutes later, she exited the clinic and walked in the direction of the optometrist's office. Just knowing God washealing her and that soon her life would return mostly to normal—as normal as it could be with the exception of a crazy stalker—caused her to feel lighter than she had in months.
The rain was intermittent now, and a mild breeze blew. Spring in Pronghorn Falls was her favorite season—when it wasn’t snowing or hailing. She rounded the corner and entered the vacant alleyway a short distance from where she’d meet Aileen.
As she stepped out of the alley, she eyed Aileen’s SUV just steps away in the front row, where only two other vehicles were parked, one beside two vacant spots. One would think it was a holiday with the lack of people out and about. As far as she could tell, she was the only person in the parking lot.
The realization caused her pulse to quicken and hairs on the nape of her neck to stand on end. She sped up her pace.
Londyn heard the gunning of an engine and smelled the diesel fumes first.
Then she saw him.
A familiar maroon-colored truck with a dent in the right fender swerved into one of the vacant parking spots. Londyn peered behind her and to the sides. No one was around. She sped up her pace to cross the street and dash inside Pronghorn Falls Eye Center.
But Dustin was quicker.
He’d bolted from the truck and flung open the back door of the truck all in one fell swoop. He grabbed her arm. “Not so fast, Londyn.”
Bile rose in her throat. “Let me go.”
“Unfortunately for you, the two buildings on this part of the complex are vacant.”
“Not true. The eye doctor up ahead…” Did Dustin detect the tremor in her voice?
She could reach that office if she were able to tug out of his grip. She screamed, a piercing and shrill shriek. Would anyone hear her?
“That is enough of that!” Dustin squeezed her arm tightly, directly on the wound from her accident. The pain nearly brought her to her knees, as her legs attempted to fold beneath her. She winced as he dug his fingernails into her flesh. Dustin gritted his teeth. “You’re coming with me.”
Londyn wouldnotgo anywhere with him. She spun and kicked him as hard as she could in the kneecap.
Dustin grunted, but held fast to her arm. She squirmed, bemoaning the fact that her injuries made her less capable.
How had Dustin known about her appointment? She’d process that question later.
“Do as I say, Londyn, or I will see to it that that older woman you arrived with seeks medical care from more than just the eye doctor.”
His words stunned her, and she simmered with rage. “You willnothurt Aileen.”
“Aileen. Oh, yes, that’s her name.” He snarled a distorted smile that made him appear like a depraved villain in the worst of nightmares. She regretted instantly mentioning Aileen’s name. Loyalty, love, and fondness for the woman would cause Londyn to do whatever was necessary to protect Brodie’s mom.
Dustin dragged her toward the truck, and she fought him, clawing his face with her free hand. A brief perusal indicated no one walked about on such a dismal day, and inside the occupied buildings were other noises that would compete with her screams. No one else was in the immediate vicinity save elderly Mrs. Rumberger, who inched their way.
“Londyn, is that you?” Mrs. Rumberger adjusted her cat-eye glasses with their jeweled strings as she drew near with an oversized pink-and-purple umbrella.
“Do anything foolish and the old lady dies,” Dustin hissed in her ear.
A rush of panic flooded her, but she’d do her best to hide it. “Yes, it's me. What are you doing out on such a bleak day?”
“I had to gather a few things from the corner store. My car wouldn’t start, so I figured God gave me two good legs, so why not use them?”
Mrs. Rumberger looked the same as she always had, with her thinning gray hair wound into a sparse bun, brightly-colored moo-moo, knee-high stockings that had begun to roll down her calves, and plain white tennis shoes. As was her trademark, she’d tucked a silk flower behind her ear. “I’m so glad to see you, dear.”
Londyn held a special place in her heart for the woman who’d once been her family’s neighbor and whom she’d known most of her life. “It’s nice to see you too.”Please, Lord, please don’t let Dustin hurt her.
Mrs. Rumberger shifted her floral needlepoint purse on her forearm and squinted. “Is this your boyfriend?”
“Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” said Dustin, his countenance suddenly changing from a threatening demeanor to the charming man Londyn had once thought him to be. He released his hold on her, and Londyn debated running.
But she couldn’t. Not with Mrs. Rumberger at risk. Londyn had no doubt Dustin would make good on his word to harm her.
