One Last Chance_A Small-Town Romance

by Nancy Stopper

  All of a sudden, the scene transformed. He was on the road outside Kabul, and the smoke had turned into sand. Sand blew in his face, getting into everything. Sand scratched at his feet inside his socks and seeped into his shirt. God, he hated sand. Derek and Kyle crept along in front of him, weapons ready, scanning the sides of the road. They shouldn’t have gone on this mission. The intelligence was sketchy at best. But when Sawyer raised his concerns, Kyle just smirked. That look that said ‘we got this’. Kyle was always the cocky one. Not cocky… confident. He threw a grin at Sawyer and took another step.

  The explosion knocked Sawyer off his feet. He spit sand and dirt and blood from his mouth. He could barely see Derek lying on the ground through the smoke and flying sand. He grabbed Derek’s neck and felt for a pulse. It was there, but barely. Sawyer squinted and looked to where Kyle lay face down, not moving. Sawyer crawled, dragging his weapon behind him. When he reached Kyle’s side, Sawyer rolled his buddy over. But it wasn’t Kyle’s lifeless face staring back.

  “Rachel!”

  Her vacant, lifeless eyes stared back at him. Blood poured from where the back of her head had been blown off. Her lip was swollen and her eyes were puffy. Her arm was twisted at a horrible angle and pinned beneath her. No, this couldn’t be happening. Not to Rachel. This was all his fault.

  “Sawyer.”

  He opened his eyes. He was so hot. Sweat soaked him. Rachel’s very much alive body was pressed against him. At some point, she’d turned on the light.

  Concern filled her eyes. “Are you okay?”

  He grabbed and hugged her. She was all right. She hadn’t died. He’d just had another nightmare.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  After being nightmare-free for a long time, Rachel being in his house had revived the terrifying images. But never before had she been a part of them. What brought this on? It had to be their conversation. He’d opened up to her, told her he loved her, and that had triggered this nightmare. “I had a nightmare.”

  “You were screaming my name.”

  He couldn’t tell her that the reason he bottled up his feelings and kept people at arm’s length was because everyone he loved died. Dr. James had told him the best way to deal with his nightmares was to talk about them, but telling Rachel meant dragging her into the ugliness of his life.

  “Is this about Shane?”

  He raked his hands through his hair. “I don’t know, maybe. I was in Afghanistan on a… mission.”

  “The one where your friend died?”

  “Yeah, but the body wasn’t him. When I got to him, it was… it was you.”

  “Oh, Sawyer.” She hugged him.

  Just being near her chased away the icy chill crawling along his skin and snaking up his spine.

  With her head over his heart, her words rumbled through his chest. “I’m here, and I’m fine. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, but I don’t like not knowing where Shane is. What if he tries to hurt you again?”

  “You’re teaching me how to defend myself. Besides, Shane’s a bully. He hurt me because I was weak and unprotected, and he took advantage of that fact. I’m not that person anymore. He doesn’t have power over me.”

  “I guess.” Sawyer slid down the bed, hugging Rachel close to him. Before long, her breathing evened out and she fell back asleep. No chance of that for him. The image of Rachel lying dead on the road, interspersed with reminders of Rachel with Shane’s hand around her neck, kept Sawyer awake most of the night.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “HONEY, LEAVE THE poor squirrel alone.” Rachel pulled her earbuds from her ears. She’d listen to her jogging mix another time. Right now she had to save a furry critter from Chloe’s reign of terror because the dog was trying to scramble up a tree like a cat. Even worse, she’d wrapped her leash around the trunk.

  Rachel humored Chloe for a bit, but this obsession with squirrels was getting out of hand.

  Several weeks had passed since she and Sawyer had declared their love for each other. He hadn’t had another nightmare since, but she’d woken several times to find his side of the bed empty and him rattling around downstairs. Dark circles had formed beneath his eyes. Shane being free bothered Sawyer more than he would admit.

  He’d also been working longer hours and attending tons of campaign events. Leon Watkins had pulled out all of the stops to beat Sawyer. The guy didn’t have a chance, not with the support Sawyer had throughout town, but it meant Sawyer had to step up, too. She’d joined him for dinners at the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club in the past couple of weeks. The members enthusiastically supported Sawyer. Of course they did... he was a local guy and the right one for sheriff.

  Sawyer took every attack on his character from Watkins in stride. To an outsider, nothing phased Sawyer, but that was far from the truth. This election, and Shane’s upcoming hearing, was wearing Sawyer down.

  When they left the house together, he was always on edge. He kept his gun on him all the time at home, too, instead of locking both weapons in the gun safe.

  How could she help him? He’d done so much for her, and she wasn’t returning the favor when he needed her shoulder the most.

  She pondered that thought as Chloe jerked on her leash, still barking up the tree. Where was that pesky squirrel? “I think she’s gone, sweetie. Let’s get you untangled.”

  At Sawyer’s request, Rachel had remained close to the house the past couple of weeks, only leaving to go to work. As for poor Chloe, she only got walked when Sawyer had time after work, which was basically never.

  Today, Rachel’d had enough. Cabin fever had set in. Sawyer was working late and she didn’t have a shift today. Chloe was restless, yipping at the door to get out. So Rachel tucked her cell phone in her pocket and picked up the leash. Chloe had jumped and barked, turning circles around Rachel’s feet, until Rachel clipped the leash onto the anxious dog’s collar.

  Sawyer was sweet to be concerned about her, but she was just walking down the street. And Shane hadn’t been seen in weeks.

  Chloe’s barks turned into growls. The squirrel hadn’t reappeared, so what had her upset? Chloe tugged on the leash and strained in the direction of the house. Rachel petted Chloe’s head. “What’s going on, girl? What do you see?”

  Chloe’s snout wrinkled and she bared her teeth across the street.

  When Rachel raised her head and her gaze landed on Shane, her heart stopped. He leaned against a tree, puffing on a cigarette. His arms were crossed and the corner of his mouth curled into a smirk.

  Her stomach dropped. Oh, God. What was he doing here? After all this time, why couldn’t he leave her alone? Chloe crowded in close to Rachel and kept growling.

  Shane stepped off the curb and swaggered across the street. Rachel’s legs froze. C’mon, move. She opened her mouth to scream but the cry froze in her throat. Her brain drained. She could do this. No, she couldn’t. Yes, she could.

  Her phone. She’d call Sawyer. Her hand inched into her pocket.

  “Well, well, lookie here. The groundhog has shown her face.” Shane snickered. “How ya been, baby?”

  His harsh voice, scratchy from too many cigarettes, too much beer, not enough sleep, and too many drugs, gave him a hiss in his throat that had surfaced in her nightmares for weeks after she’d left him.

  She slid her phone from her pocket, but her last chance at help slipped from her sweaty, shaky hands and dropped on the sidewalk. She scrambled to retrieve her cell before Shane covered the phone with his boot.

  “Trying to call your new boyfriend?”

  Of course Shane knew about her relationship with Sawyer. No pawning it off as a roommate situation. They’d been together during the picnic and had made no secret of their feelings. Shane had probably stayed in town, stalking her, even though she had the PFA to keep him away.

  That was right—he wasn’t allowed to come near her. “You can’t be here. You can’t talk to me
.”

  “Wrong!” He spit the angry word in her face. “Read the paper, sweetheart.” He took a drag off the cigarette and blew the smoke at her. “I can’t be near your parents’ house, J.J.’s, or the asshole’s house. I’m minding my own business here on a public street. I can’t help that you walked by, can I?”

  No wonder Sawyer had asked her not to walk alone. She would never be safe if Shane was allowed to go wherever he wished. But he still wasn’t supposed to approach her.

  “You have… you have to stay away from me.” Why couldn’t she sound mean and strong instead of squeaking like a mouse?

  Think. Think, Rachel. She was a hundred yards from the house. If she ran hard, she could get inside. But Chloe was anchored firmly to the sidewalk, still snarling at Shane. She jerked at the leash, trying to pull Rachel beyond its reach. Rachel reeled it in and snapped it short. She wanted Chloe right beside her.

  Shane checked the street before leaning in, his breath reeking of cigarettes and booze. “Who’s gonna stop me? There’s no one here.” He laughed. “You think you’re gonna stop me? Little ole you who doesn’t have a fighting bone in your body? Who just cries like a baby? Are you gonna cry now?”

  Her gut burned. How dare he mock what he’d done to her? She’d show him she wasn’t that woman who allowed him to beat her anyone. But if she were the new strong Rachel, why couldn’t she run? Why were her feet still stuck to the ground?

  Her phone rang under his foot… Sawyer’s ringtone.

  There was only one way to beat Shane. She’d try reasoning with him, maybe screw with his mind the way he’d screwed hers. “I should probably answer that.”

  He shook his head. “No way. I’m talking to you. This is my time.”

  Shane had never been one to do the smart thing. It was always about what he wanted when he wanted it. The asshole probably thought his father could get him out of trouble if he was caught talking to her. Why shouldn’t he believe he was above the law, since he’d gotten away with his sick behavior too many times already? She’d helped him by not pressing charges the very first time he hit her.

  “That’s probably Sawyer.” If Shane believed she wasn’t alone, maybe he’d say what he had to say and leave. “If I don’t answer, he’ll get worried. You know the station isn’t that far away. He can be here in a couple of minutes.”

  Please, Sawyer, please drive down the street. God, she was begging and praying, just like she’d done her last night in the trailer. She had to get a hold of herself.

  When the phone stopped ringing, she stifled a sob at the lost chance to cry for help.

  Shane smirked and crossed his arms.

  Rachel’s gut burned again. If she could reach him, she’d smack that cocky-ass grin off his face. But she knew better than to get that close to Shane.

  The phone rang again. Joey’s ringtone. When she hadn’t answered, Sawyer had probably called Joey. Between the two of them, they’d spent the past couple of weeks constantly checking in with her.

  And she’d never appreciated it as much as she did right now. She just hoped they would come find her before anything happened with Shane. Until then, she was on her own.

  Rachel scanned the street. She could scream, but none of the neighbors were outside. The street was full of working folks, and most of them were at their jobs.

  Rachel’s screaming had always pissed Shane off. That would be reason enough to yell right there. But Shane was calm at the moment, and old habits taught her not to do anything to fracture the fragile peace.

  Chloe’s snarl grew more insistent. She snapped at Shane but her mouth fell shy of his leg. Shane jumped and growled back.

  Good girl. She snatched her phone that Shane’s retreat had left exposed.

  “Dammit, bitch.” Shane kicked Chloe. The dog yelped and landed on the sidewalk. She hopped up and spun in a frenzy, trying to snap at Shane, but he kicked her again. Chloe yelped and her tongue slipped from her mouth as she landed on the sidewalk.

  Rachel’s blood froze. If Shane kept this up, he’d kill Sawyer’s dog. “Stop! Stop! Leave her alone. She didn’t do anything to you. She thinks she’s protecting me.” Maybe Rachel could calm him down. “Please.” God, if he hurt Chloe, Rachel would die.

  He kicked Chloe one more time and then locked his hand around Rachel’s wrist.

  “Now look what you made me do. I wanted to talk and you made me kick this stupid mutt. This is all your fault, bitch.”

  “Fuck you, Shane. I didn’t make you do anything. You did this all by yourself.” Finally she’d found her voice but why hadn’t she run? Why hadn’t she dragged Chloe back to the house the minute Shane appeared? Now he’d hurt poor Chloe who’d done nothing but protect Rachel.

  Shane squeezed her arm and dragged her toward the street. She pulled against him, but he was stronger than she was. Around the corner, a car’s tires squealed. Thank God someone’s coming.

  Shane let go and leaned in close. “This isn’t over, bitch. Not by a long shot. Eventually, you will talk to me, even if I have to make you. You got that?”

  He darted away and disappeared behind the houses across the street. In another second, he’d be in the woods. Good riddance. She dropped beside Chloe who whimpered again but lifted her head and gave Rachel a weak bark.

  She ran her hands over Chloe’s limp body. “It’s okay, honey. You’re going to be all right. I’ll call Sawyer and he’ll come get us. You just hang in there. You did great.”

  Just as she pressed his contact button, Sawyer’s cruiser screeched to a halt at the curb. He jumped from the car and dashed to her side.

  “Are you okay? You didn’t answer.”

  “Yeah, I’m okay.” Oh God, she hadn’t realized how badly she was shaking. “It’s Chloe. She needs help.”

  Sawyer scooped up Chloe and cradled her in his arms. “Get in the car. I’ll slide her onto your lap.”

  Rachel rushed around the cruiser and jumped in, Sawyer right on her heels. As soon as Chloe’s was on Rachel’s lap, she stroked the soft fur while Sawyer dashed around the car and hopped in.

  “What happened?”

  “Shane.”

  Sawyer head jerked to her and his eyes popped. “What?”

  “Shane was across the street when I was walking Chloe. He came up to me. Chloe growled at him and he kicked her. He… he kept kicking her.”

  Sawyer gripped the steering wheel and spun the car around. “Call Joey. When you didn’t answer, I called him. He’s probably frantic.”

  Rachel pressed a few buttons and Joey’s breathless voice answered. “Rachel, are you okay? I was worried.”

  She couldn’t tell Joey what happened until she’d talked to Sawyer. “I’m fine. I just couldn’t answer. Chloe’s hurt and we’re taking her to the vet now.”

  “Sawyer’s with you?”

  “Yeah, he’s right here.”

  “Have him call me later.”

  “I will.” She pressed “End”.

  Sawyer whipped the car around a turn and screeched into a parking spot at the vet’s office. Thank God he’d come when he did. She wasn’t sure she could have gotten Chloe here otherwise. He jumped from the cruiser and lifted Chloe from Rachel’s lap. She dashed ahead to yank the door open.

  Sawyer yelled as he rushed in the door, “I have an injured dog here.”

  The woman behind the desk turned. “I’m Dr. Mason. What happened?”

  Panting, Sawyer gestured for Rachel to answer.

  “Dog versus cowboy boot.”

  Sympathy filled the vet’s face. “Bring your dog back here.”

  They followed the doctor, all the while Sawyer spoke soothing words to Chloe.

  “Thank God you reopened the clinic. If we’d had to take her to Cedar Hill…” Chloe might not have lived. He didn’t have to say the words. The same thought ran through Rachel’s mind, along with the fact that this was all her fault.

  The doctor patted the examination table. “What’s her name?”

  “Chloe.
”

  “Put Chloe up here.”

  Sawyer wavered at the door and then eased Chloe on the table. He stroked her ears. Rachel rested one hand on the dog’s back and the other on Sawyer’s arm. At least she could provide him some comfort before he lashed out for causing Chloe pain.

  Dr. Mason spent a few minutes feeling for any injuries and listening to Chloe with a stethoscope. Chloe lifted her head to sniff the doctor and her eyes brightened when they landed on Sawyer. Thank God. She’d been still for so long that Rachel was afraid she was badly hurt.

  “I don’t see any open wounds. There is a bit of swelling in her hip. I’d like to take some X-rays to make sure she doesn’t have any internal injuries.”

  “Do whatever you need to do.” Sawyer’s voice wavered. Chloe had been his grandmother’s before she died. Rachel wouldn’t let him lose someone else he loved, especially since she’d let her grand notion of standing up to Shane get in the way of her own safety.

  “You can sit in the waiting room. I’ll come out in a bit and let you know what I find.”

  After another minute patting Chloe’s head, Sawyer shuffled to the front of the building. When they reached the waiting room, he threw himself into one of the plastic chairs, his arms and legs sprawled and his head down.

  Rachel sat beside him, her hands clasped in front of her. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

  Sawyer just stared at the wall.

  Tears pooled in her eyes. He won’t even speak to me? He was right to blame her for what happened to Chloe. If he would just say something. “If I… Chloe was…”

  “Rachel, stop.”

  She snapped her mouth closed. He wouldn’t even let her explain. This was all her fault. If she hadn’t been staying with Sawyer, Shane wouldn’t have hurt Chloe.

  She stood.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I thought I’d leave you alone. I know you blame me for—”

  “I do not blame you. I blame Shane. This is his fault and no one else’s. As soon as I get back to the station…”