by Sharon Dunn
They walked through the park watching red, gold and rust colored leaves twirl through the air. Still stinging from the defeat of Martin being on the run, Lani could not find the right moment to tell him about her transfer.
The truth was that she was afraid of what his response might be. Yes, she’d applied for the transfer to get a dog sooner, but more than anything, she’d hoped that if Noah wasn’t her direct supervisor he might be open to them being more than friends.
Noah tossed his empty coffee cup into a trash can. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
He turned to face her.
She stepped over to the trash can and threw her cup away as well.
He put a finger beneath her chin to lift her head. “Something up?”
She took in a breath. “Noah, I requested a transfer.”
He let his hand drop to his side. “A transfer? Out of state?”
She thought she detected fear in his voice.
“No, there was an opening in the new Brooklyn K-9 unit. There’s a better chance of getting a dog sooner there. I’m tired of waiting for one here in Queens.”
Noah had a stunned look on his face. “Don’t you like working in Queens...with me?”
“Brooklyn isn’t the moon. I’ll still see you.” What had she expected? That he would declare his love for her.
“Yeah, I hope so.” He sounded hurt. “Well, come on, I’ll give you a ride back to headquarters. I’m sure you’ll say your goodbyes.” He trudged toward the parking lot then turned to look at her. “I still have to approve the paperwork. It hasn’t come across my desk yet. I’m sure you’ll be around for a few more days.” She detected the note of sadness in his voice.
“You will sign the paperwork?”
“Of course Lani. I wouldn’t keep you from your dream,” he said.
She stared at his back as he walked away. “Noah Jameson. Stop right where you are. Turn around and tell me what you’re thinking.” Fear made her throat go tight. He had at one time admitted his attraction to her. Had he moved on emotionally already and gotten over her?
He stepped toward her and locked his eyes on her. A light breeze ruffled his brown hair. “Lani, I’m happy for you. I think the new unit will be a good career move.”
“Really, that’s all you’re thinking.”
“No, I was thinking this too.” He gathered her into his arms. His mouth covered hers.
She wrapped her arms around his neck while he drew her close and deepened the kiss. As he pulled away, the world seemed to be spinning. He rested his hand on her cheek.
“Well, look at that. Lani Branson speechless.” Amusement danced in his eyes.
As she stared into his eyes and relished the softness of his fingers on her face, she still could not find words to respond.
He leaned in and kissed her lips again and then drew her to his chest. She closed her eyes, listening to his heart thud.
He brushed his hand over her hair and kissed the top of her head. “Did you take the transfer...for this? So we could be together?”
She still could not find words. She lifted her head and nodded.
He picked her up and twirled her around. “You have made me so very happy.” He set her down.
He beamed as he gazed down at her.
She reached up to rest her hand on his face, to brush her fingers through his hair at the temple. “I love being here with you in this moment.”
“And I love you,” he said.
He gathered her into his arms and hugged and kissed her. Lani buried her face against Noah’s neck, loving the warmth and the musky smell of his skin. Her heart flooded with good feelings, knowing that they could truly be together, getting to know each other as more than friends. She looked forward to many more real kisses from Noah.
* * *
If you enjoyed Courage Under Fire, look for Tony and Katie’s story, Sworn to Protect, available next month and the rest of the True Blue K-9 Unit series from Love Inspired Suspense.
True Blue K-9 Unit: These police officers fight for justice with the help of their brave canine partners.
Justice Mission by Lynette Eason, April 2019
Act of Valor by Dana Mentink, May 2019
Blind Trust by Laura Scott, June 2019
Deep Undercover by Lenora Worth, July 2019
Seeking the Truth by Terri Reed, August 2019
Trail of Danger by Valerie Hansen, September 2019
Courage Under Fire by Sharon Dunn, October 2019
Sworn to Protect by Shirlee McCoy, November 2019
True Blue K-9 Unit Christmas by Laura Scott and Maggie K. Black, December 2019
Keep reading for an excerpt from Hidden in Amish Country by Dana R. Lynn.
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Dear Reader,
I hoped you enjoyed going on an adventure with Lani and Noah and, of course, Scotty. I love watching the way a romance unfolds between two very different people, but the best part of this book to me is writing about the police dogs. I used to think I was a cat person. I still love cats, but since Bart the border collie came into my life eight years ago, I have a deeper appreciation and love for dogs. We got Bart at the shelter when he was eight weeks old. He and his mom were found in an empty house, left behind by his owner. He gives me so much joy. He’s so tuned in to my moods and always happy to see me when I come home. The reason I say in the dedication that he is the dog who saved my life is that after my husband died, the only thing that got me out of bed in the morning was him being at the side of the bed, looking at me with bulging eyes and whining that he had to go potty. It was enough to motivate me to face the day ahead. I like to think that we will be greeted and welcomed in heaven the same way our dogs greet us when we step into our homes, rejoicing over our presence, offering unconditional love and infinite affection.
Sharon Dunn
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Hidden in Amish Country
by Dana R. Lynn
ONE
Someone was watching her.
Sadie Standings whipped her head around so fast that her light brown hair swung across her face, blocking her vision. Shoving her fingers through her hair to push it out of the way, she searched the area behind her. The parking lot at the local shopping mall was busy, filled with people who had stopped on their way home from work, but none of the other shoppers appeared to be looking in her direction. Seeing no one suspicious, she scrunched her eyes into a squint, desperately trying to catch sight of whoever was watching her. Still, she saw nothing.
She should have bee
n comforted.
She wasn’t. Unease still pricked at her.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, she knew that she was under surveillance. In fact, she had known since the day before when she had spotted the man with the cold blue eyes watching her as she left the post office. He was so familiar. When she had seen him, she had a flash of what she thought may have been a memory, but it had made no sense. In her mind, she could hear a cold voice calling to her, shouting, but couldn’t make out the words. Was it a threat? A warning? Although she couldn’t understand the words, the tone was harsh.
Although it seemed improbable, she knew that she had seen him somewhere before and instinctively cringed. A chill had run through her when his posture stiffened at her reaction. Had she offended him? She didn’t think so. Since then, she’d had the sensation of hard eyes boring into her. It was like walking around with a target on her back, like the one her brother used when sighting in his rifle before hunting season.
The spot between her shoulder blades tingled again, like a spider skittering across her skin. He was there. Somewhere he was out there, watching her. Briefly, the idea of going to the police crossed her mind, but she quickly vetoed it. What would she tell them? That she believed someone she’d bumped into was following her, but she hadn’t actually seen him following her? Oh, and she thought she might have met him before, but had no real recollection of doing so. Yeah, right. They’d think she was crazy or making the story up.
Thankfully, she was in a parking lot full of other shoppers, so there was little chance that anyone would come after her. Still, she didn’t like the feeling of being out in the open. Hoisting her purse higher on her shoulder, she held the bag close to her body and pushed herself to move faster. The October wind bit into her skin as she practically ran the last few feet to her car. Her eyes teared at the cold. She didn’t care what the people around her thought. Every instinct inside her was screaming at her to flee.
She held out the key fob and pressed the unlock button several times as she approached her vehicle. The lights flashed in two short bursts. Opening the driver’s side door, she threw herself inside. Her elbow slammed into the steering wheel in her haste. She ignored the sharp pain that shot down her arm. She pushed the key into the ignition with fingers that shook. The first time she tried to turn the key, it was stuck and wouldn’t move. Not now. She’d had trouble with the ignition jamming before. Thoughts of being stranded here while someone with malicious intent drew closer crowded into her mind. Clenching her teeth, she held her breath and turned the steering wheel to the left. When it clicked, she tried to turn the key again.
Relief flooded through her as the engine roared to life. The sooner she arrived home and was locked inside her house, the better she’d feel. She was concerned that someone might try to break into her house, but she shoved that fear aside. She had good locks, and she didn’t live alone in the house her family had owned for the past fifteen years. Her brother would be home shortly.
Pulling out of the parking lot, she sighed, allowing the tension that had built up inside her to drain away. She had half-expected someone to follow her, but no one did. Maybe she was being paranoid.
Suddenly her confidence that she had recognized the man dwindled. He probably just had one of those faces that looked vaguely like someone she had known. Even with the doubt, she couldn’t completely shake the sensation that she had escaped from some nebulous danger.
She was being ridiculous.
She neared the intersection. Wow. She needed to pay attention to where she was going. She hadn’t realized that she had driven so far already. She tapped the brake to slow as she neared the stop sign.
Her car didn’t slow. Her insides quivered.
She pushed harder on the brake. In horror, she glanced down to see that her foot was all the way to the floorboard.
Her brakes weren’t working.
The car stopped to the left started into the intersection. She was going to wreck! Slamming the heel of her hand against the horn, she let out three sharp blasts. The driver jerked to a halt, yelling angrily as Sadie vroomed past.
She held the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip and leaned forward, her eyes frantically searching the passing roads.
In less than a mile, she’d be at another busy intersection. How far could she travel before she collided with someone? Making a split decision, she wrenched the wheel to the side and peeled off onto a dirt road. The road was at a slight incline. Her stomach began to settle as the vehicle started to slow as it continued uphill.
The relief vanished when she realized that on the other side of the incline was a steep drop. Her mouth was dry. The moment she crested that hill, her car would begin to accelerate again.
Frantically, she stomped on the brake, hoping against all logic that the brake would suddenly begin to work again.
It didn’t. As she neared the top, she knew with utter clarity that if she didn’t figure out a way to stop the car, she was going to crash and possibly kill herself and anyone in her path.
* * *
“Dat, they’re going to crash!”
Ben Mast heard his son’s shout a mere moment before he heard the roar of a vehicle approaching way too fast. Throwing his hammer down on his work bench, he rushed out of the brown log-sided structure and raced down the gravel driveway to his seven-year-old son Nathaniel’s side.
The red compact car swerved wildly down the hill, tires spinning on the slick surface.
Ben grabbed Nathaniel and dragged him back from the road, despite the boy’s protests. If the driver left the road, he didn’t want his son to become a victim of some Englischer’s recklessness. His lips tightened in anger. Didn’t these people care that others might be out on these roads? He knew for a fact there was a sign posted saying that children lived on this street.
The car zoomed past, the high-pitched whine of the engine searing the silent afternoon. He caught a glimpse of the driver’s face and saw sheer panic. Why didn’t she try to slow down?
A familiar clopping noise gained his attention. He whipped his head around, mouth so dry he couldn’t have swallowed if he’d wanted to. A horse was coming up the hill. It was pulling a buggy with an Amish couple and several children. The man pulled on the reins, but the car was still coming. Where could the family go? Ben felt the inevitability of the collision clenching his stomach painfully.
“Gott, help them!” he shouted out.
The car swerved to the side, careening off the side of the road and plowing into an ancient maple tree with a horrendous crash. The tree shuddered, and the hood of the small car crunched in like it was made of cardboard. Steam burst from the engine, with a long, loud hiss.
There was no movement inside the car. Fearing the worst, Ben turned urgently to his son. “Go to Caleb and Lovina’s,” he said, pointing to the house across the street. “Caleb has a phone in his business office. Ask him to call for help.”
Most of the houses on the road belonged to Amish families. Although there were a few Englischer homes, as well. Lovina and Caleb were their closest neighbors.
Nathaniel’s head bobbed in a hurried nod, then he shot off across the street. Ben waited until he saw his son was with Lovina before he dashed down the street to the car. He knew that Caleb was probably already calling but giving Nathaniel a purpose would keep him out of harm’s way. Ben reached the car and saw that the front windows had shattered upon impact. Glass crunched under his feet as he approached the driver’s door.
“Miss?” The woman inside the car was hunched over the steering wheel, but he could see part of her face through the curtain of light brown hair. Blood was running down her cheek. Taking care not to cut his arm, he reached in through the broken window and placed his fingers on the side of her neck, feeling for a pulse. He found one. It was strong and steady. Ben sighed and closed his eyes, murmuring a soft prayer of thanksgiving.
The driver of the buggy stepped down to see if he could help. Ben heard the cries of children in the buggy. Looking up, he also saw that the woman sitting in the front looked very pregnant and quite ill.
“Nee, denke. Why don’t you take your family home? My son went to Caleb’s to call the ambulance.”
The man nodded. “Once I get my wife and children home, I will come back to see if you need me.”
Ben agreed, but his attention was back on the vehicle.
He looked at the front of the car and frowned. There was so much damage. He didn’t see how she could have escaped injury; possibly she had internal bleeding. She’d have to go to the hospital. He flinched. He had lost his wife to a cancer that no one had been aware of until it was too late. Their unborn daughter had also perished. The hospital where they had died would forever be stamped in his memory. He never wanted to step inside one of those places again.
He looked again at the woman. It would be easier to decide what to do if the door weren’t in the way. If it even opened. He looked doubtfully at how the frame had been bent on impact. He had to try it, though. To his surprise, he was able to wrench the door open. It swung wide and hung at an odd angle, but he was already focused on the occupant of the car. She was so still. He wished he could see her legs better. He wondered if he should try and pull her from the vehicle but decided against it. He didn’t want to risk hurting her any more than she already was.
“Is she alive?” Caleb’s deep voice startled him. He’d been so wrapped up in his inspection that he hadn’t heard his neighbor approaching.
“Jah. I can’t tell how bad she’s hurt, but she’s alive.”
Caleb wrinkled up his nose. “What’s that smell?”
Ben froze. The distinct sharp odor of gasoline rose to his nostrils. Bending down, he saw the gas was dripping from her car. She must have punctured the line during the crash. He reversed his earlier decision. She might have internal injuries, but if the car exploded, she’d be dead.
