Fatal Threat

by Valerie Hansen

  “It doesn’t feel like it right now.”

  “That doesn’t mean it isn’t true, Sara. God may have rescued you time after time when you were oblivious to His actions on your behalf. Think about it. You gave Him credit for tripping so the bullet missed you.”

  She sighed heavily. “You’re right. And I’m not grateful enough, am I?”

  As soon as Adam covered her hand with his free one, she mirrored him by adding hers. There was moisture glistening in her sky blue eyes when she raised them to meet his darker gaze. His imagination soared as he recognized concern and perhaps more. They would talk about their burgeoning feelings soon. He would see to it.

  And now? Now there were logistics to put in place. Defense plans to make. Arrangements to explain to his brothers so they wouldn’t put themselves in danger if—when—someone else came after Sara.

  Was he wrong to plan for the worst? No, Adam decided easily. The soldier who got lax about his duty became a soft target. And the rancher who didn’t tag or brand his cattle was asking to have his herd rustled.

  What about the man who failed to confess his feelings for a woman and then lost her? he added. Adam tightened his grip, noting that Sara squeezed back. “I’m sorry I left you all those years ago,” he said gently. “We were young, maybe too young, but I should have given you a chance to explain yourself to me.”

  She began to smile, eyes glistening. “I was really shy back then, Adam. I probably would have run from you if you’d gotten too serious. Everything is a lot clearer in retrospect.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” He cleared his throat. “If I had any doubts left, they disappeared when I thought you’d been shot.”

  “Doubts?”

  As he watched her smile widen he sensed that she was enjoying his struggle. “About you and me. Us. As a couple. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt something, too.”

  “Well...”

  Just then a door slammed and Kurt burst into the kitchen. “Bro! I saw your truck but wasn’t sure whose car that was. Hey, Sara. Welcome back.”

  Adam had instinctively jumped at the sight of his brother. So had Sara. They were no longer holding hands. When he reached to grab hers again, she eased away. The mood was gone, the moment of truth postponed, although there was little doubt in Adam’s heart and mind that they shared an emotional bond.

  Kurt took a cold soda out of the refrigerator and popped the top, offering it to Sara. She motioned to the one she already had so he took a deep drink himself. “Suit yourself. Mi casa es su casa, as they say.”

  “Since when do you speak Spanish?” Adam asked.

  His younger brother shrugged. “Guess it was just on my mind after all the fun I heard you had in town this afternoon.”

  “Whatever you heard it was probably exaggerated.”

  “Probably. You might want to give the cops a call, though. Deputy Elmer was looking for you earlier.”

  “He was? What for?” Rising, Adam circled the end of the breakfast bar and stopped to stand next to Sara because he didn’t like the sudden seriousness he was sensing in Kurt.

  “Something about somebody vandalizing her apartment.”

  “That’s old news,” Sara said, sounding relieved.

  “Uh-uh. Not the paint. This is something new. Elmer was cruising by the co-op and spotted a guy coming out of a place behind their office. He knew Sara was planning to move there so he stopped and checked.”

  Adam heard her breath hitch and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “And?”

  “And it was wrecked inside. Busted up with a sledgehammer, they think.”

  SIXTEEN

  Sara sipped at her soda to stall until Kurt left. When they were alone again, Adam started to give her instructions about staying out of sight and she balked.

  “Why should vandalism keep me from going to work?”

  “Because,” Adam said.

  “Because?” She was acting braver than she felt, yet that was the only course her pride would allow. Processing the most recent information had made her tremble inside, sure, but that didn’t mean she was going to hide from life.

  “For one thing, Hector was in jail,” Adam said.

  “Maybe he did the damage earlier.”

  Adam heaved a sigh. “Yeah, maybe. And maybe there’s somebody else around who has a score to settle with you. Did you think of that?”

  “Of course I did. As soon as they convince Hector to talk we’ll know. In the meantime, the hospital needs me. And I need wages.” Seeing his distress she mellowed a little. “Look. If you’re off tomorrow and you want to escort me to work, fine. I’ll go along with that. But I am going.”

  “You checked with your supervisor already?”

  “Yes. Gloria texted me and I agreed to the afternoon shift in ER. They’re short staffed.”

  Varying emotions flashed across his face so rapidly she wasn’t sure what she was seeing. Finally, he nodded. “Okay. Have it your way. Do you promise to stay in the house now while I go do my chores?”

  “Why don’t I come along and help you?” Sara was astonished when Adam shook his head.

  “Not a good idea. You’ll be safer inside. I’m going to saddle up and run the fences.”

  “Can I at least go to the barn with you? I spotted some darling kittens the other day.”

  “They’re feral barn cats. They’re liable to take your arm off if you try to pet them.”

  “They didn’t run away when I saw them before. One almost let me touch it. They know I love them.”

  “What you need is a big, protective dog, not a little cat. As soon as the police say it’s safe for you to move back to town we’ll work on that.”

  “Now you’re picking out my pets, too?”

  “Oh, for crying out loud, Sara. I’m trying to help you here. I care about you, okay?” He muttered something else to himself.

  “What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”

  When he made a face and said, “You weren’t supposed to,” he sounded so much like his old self she almost giggled.

  * * *

  Sara’s dreams that night were centered around a handsome cowboy on a magnificent steed who kept racing to her rescue and scooping her up to ride with him into the sunset. Waking up and leaving that perfect hero behind was a downer.

  Nevertheless, she was excited about going back to work. Her career helped define her, and although maturity had made her self-sufficient to the nth degree, there was still a place in her heart that longed for that special cowboy. She hadn’t needed to see the face in her dreams to know exactly who he was.

  As promised, she encouraged Adam to follow her to town. Thankfully, he didn’t insist on walking her into the hospital the way a parent escorted a recalcitrant child to class. She gave him a wave as she entered through the glass ER doors and paused until she saw him drive off.

  Then she turned and became the capable nurse she knew she was. Between reassuring her coworkers that she was okay and tending to a heavy patient load, time passed swiftly. This was where she was in her element, where she felt the most useful and skilled. By evening, a good weariness gave her peace and she realized she’d stayed too busy to fret much about her personal problems.

  A middle-aged nurse in blue scrubs caught up to her in the hallway. “Did you hear?”

  Sara frowned. “Hear what?”

  “There’s been a terrible wreck out on the highway between here and Mountain Grove.”

  Sara’s heart was already beginning to speed up. If there was a bad accident that close, the Paradise Fire Department had probably been dispatched.

  “I heard it on the scanner,” the nurse said, pointing to their break room. “Are you going?”

  “Not if they’re bringing victims to us.”

  “I doubt it,” her coworker said. “The ambulance was dispatched from Koshkonong.”<
br />
  “In that case I’ll grab my purse and notify Gloria that I’m leaving. ER is quiet anyway.”

  Sara was in her car, racing in the direction of the reported accident, before she remembered that Adam was supposed to follow her back to his ranch since her new home had not yet been repaired after the latest vandalism. That would have bothered her more if she didn’t assume that he’d be doing exactly what she was doing, responding to the call in his private vehicle. That was standard for volunteers and off-duty firefighters when there was an incident that might require extra personnel. There was no way he’d find a reason to berate her this time, not that that would have stopped her.

  She turned on her car’s emergency flashers and pressed the accelerator almost to the floor, letting up only when she came to tight corners on the winding, rural road. A full moon added light that upped her confidence, allowing her to drive faster than normal without feeling out of control.

  Despite her own speed she noted headlights catching up to her. That driver’s flashers were on, too, indicating that he was also part of the rescue in progress. Good. The more hands to do the work, the better, particularly if there were multiple victims.

  Sara braked slightly on a corner. The vehicle behind her closed the distance, almost blinding her. Judging by the height and placement of the headlights, she was being followed by a big pickup.

  With most of her concentration ahead and a firm grip on the steering wheel, she pushed the gas pedal down harder. The truck not only stayed with her, it was gaining. There was no place to pull over and let him pass. Should she drive faster? Could she keep control if she did?

  Another S-shaped bend was coming up, this time marked with arrows and a reduced speed limit. She didn’t slow that much but she did hold her breath on the curves. The road was built atop a ridge. Sometimes there was a rock wall on one side, sometimes a drop-off, and vice versa. Adrenaline pumping, she sailed through the tight corners with the ability of a racecar driver, praying that no startled whitetail deer would dart in front of her as they sometimes did.

  Another corner was coming up. Sara followed the same pattern, slowing just enough to slide around and immediately accelerate. This time, however, she felt a jar. Glanced in the mirror. Saw the truck looming. The fool was too close, coming too fast. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  In seconds, she knew. He bumped her car again, this time almost causing her to lose control. Heart in her throat, she hit the gas while she tried to recall which of the volunteers drove a similar truck. If this was a stranger, he was either a lousy driver or bent on causing her to wreck. Well, she wasn’t going down without a fight!

  The blindingly bright image in the mirror drew closer again. Sara battled to keep control of both her car and her emotions. A little more gas? It was that or let herself be tagged again.

  Because the truck was clearly much larger and heavier, her only chance of escape was to try to outrun it. On a straight road she’d have had no chance in her little car but on these curves she might win. Seeing his grille glittering in the rearview mirror terrified her. He had to be practically in her trunk!

  More gas. Another turn. Her wheels skidded. She knew the moment her tires lost traction. She was done for.

  “No!” Sara’s car left the road, broke through a barbwire fence and became airborne. For an instant she felt weightless.

  Her hands froze on the useless wheel. She held her breath. Saw a stand of cedars ahead with cleared land below her. There was no time for prayer other than to call, “God, help me!”

  The car slammed into the ground nose first, bounced ahead to smash into the cedars, and her airbag exploded in her face.

  * * *

  Adam had been killing time at the station, waiting for Sara’s shift to end, when the accident call came in. Units from Mountain Grove and Kosh had also been started so he held back, waiting to see if he was needed.

  Clay called to him, “You comin’, man?”

  “If they go to a second alarm.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to pick up Sara in a few minutes.”

  As he watched his coworkers pull out of the station he wished he could be with them, yet knew staying behind was the right decision. There was plenty of coverage already and Sara needed him. Unless...

  Adam’s gut twisted. Knowing her, she may have chosen to respond in spite of his warnings. There was only one way to find out.

  He broke speed limits getting to the hospital, left his truck idling by the emergency entrance and ran inside to the admitting desk.

  “Sara Southerland,” he said without explanation. “What floor is she on?”

  “Second,” the young administration clerk replied. “But you won’t find her there. She just left.”

  Adam’s heart cracked like an eggshell. “Where did she go?”

  “Said something about an accident as she ran past me. Did you check to see if her car is here?”

  He hadn’t, but it only took a few seconds to remedy that error. Sara was gone, all right. And he knew exactly where she was headed.

  The radio in his truck broadcast a cancellation for additional responders before he’d reached the outskirts of town. Adam kept going. If Sara was already on her way she wouldn’t know about the recall because her car wasn’t equipped with a radio and her pager had been ruined by the first vandalism incident. She’d drive until she reached the scene and learned that additional medics were unneeded. All he had to do was be sure he didn’t let her slip past him returning to town in the dark.

  Relying on his headlights and the moon, he sped north. The radio toned again. “All units be advised, we have a second report of a TC on Seventeen, off the road at mile marker 134.”

  A TC, another traffic collision. Adam grabbed the mic. “This is Kane. I’m almost on scene, passing 132.”

  And then he spotted a flicker of orange. “Be advised, it looks like we may have a fire.”

  * * *

  Sara was initially stunned by the crash. She pushed the collapsing airbag away from her face and managed to release her seatbelt. The front doors were both jammed shut by the bend in the car’s chassis but she managed to crawl out a broken side window.

  She stepped back, tall pasture grass brushing her knees, and began to gape at her poor car as reason returned. “I’m alive! Thank you, Jesus!” Rubbing her sore left shoulder she smiled with relief. “Whoa. That’s gonna leave a mark.”

  Her high spirits fell when she saw bright headlights slowing on the road above her. Was that a Good Samaritan or were the guys who had caused the wreck coming back? There was only one sensible thing to do. Hide. But where? Lying in the long grass was out of the question considering the full moon. That left the trees as the only option.

  Trying to avoid the thickest clumps of vegetation so she wouldn’t mash it down and leave a trail, she zigzagged her way to the stand of cedars and ducked beneath pendulous branches. Clouds of pollen enveloped her. She pressed a tissue over her nose and mouth, praying she wouldn’t start to sneeze.

  Shadows moved. Here they came. Maybe she’d been wrong. One of the two people she could see had lit a flare so they were probably going to mark the spot where she’d left the road and go for help. Or were they?

  Sara faded back into the hanging branches. Was that gasoline she smelled? Her gas tank must have ruptured in the crash.

  The lit flare bobbed closer in the dark. Then it was flying in an arc, tumbling end over end.

  She was giving thanks that it hadn’t reached her car when some of the dry undergrowth caught fire. Red and orange embers twinkled like stars, blinking off in seconds. Then others appeared. A circle spread, creeping out from its center. A few well-placed steps would stop it before it did much damage. Only she wasn’t in a position to stomp on anything.

  And then it was too late. Flames gathered, compounded. The fire raced along the ground to her car, quickly enveloping the
rear portion as the man responsible and his partner ran back toward the roadway.

  Sara crouched behind a sturdy cedar and thanked the Lord she wasn’t trapped in the burning car. Even if it was merely scorched, the fumes might have killed her. If and when the heat reached the ruptured fuel tank her fate would have been decided.

  Bystanders’ vehicles were gathering along the raised road, making it impossible for her to tell if her assailants had left. Sirens echoed in the hilly terrain, close yet so far. The fire began to hiss as though it were alive. Something was venting! Sara ducked back and covered her face, wishing she’d donned her protective gear before leaving the hospital.

  This time, the explosion was more of a muted boom than the loud one when Bessie’s oxygen tanks had blown. A flare of burning gasoline reached the nearest cedar branches and set them crackling. In a few more minutes she was going to have to show herself whether her attackers were gone or not.

  A distant male voice rose above the rest, shouting, “No!”

  She was afraid to peek out for fear of injury. Others were yelling. Somebody screamed, shrill like a woman. A siren approached and wound down. Help had arrived!

  Sara worked her way from tree to tree, keeping the cedars between her and the fire. As soon as she judged herself in the clear she scanned the pasture.

  A fire engine was up on the road shining spotlights on her car while nozzlemen sprayed the grass from a safe distance to contain the flames. Off to one side, several firefighters in full gear were holding back a man she couldn’t help but recognize. Adam struggled valiantly. He kept shouting, “Sara! Sara!” at the top of his lungs.

  “Adam, I’m here,” she called out, hurrying forward and coughing from the tree pollen and smoke. “I’m here. I’m okay.”

  His shoulders slumped. The others released him. He came to her in three strides and wrapped his arms around her so tightly she could barely breathe.