If she hadn’t been so scared she would have smiled. Just moments earlier she’d tugged the light on, then tugged it off again, putting all her weight on the string until it had snapped and collapsed in her hand.
She watched him step forward, off the last step, his hand still groping for the string. One step forward, then two.
“What the—?” He started to turn around and she sprang into action.
One wild swing at his head, perfectly timed. He practically walked into it. He went down like a felled tree.
He was blocking the steps. She’d have to step over him.
She waited, watching, shovel poised. He didn’t move. Had she killed him? Her stomach heaved until she reminded herself of everything he’d done. He deserved to die.
One more second. Two. Still he didn’t move.
She laid down the shovel. Raised a foot and stepped over him. Sensing freedom, she surged forward.
Without warning, something clamped around her ankle.
His hand, cold and as relentless as steel.
She screamed. Tugged and tugged to be free. She lashed out with her foot but he was already on his knees, grabbing her, holding her, his hand on her throat. She tried to scream again but all that came out was a horrible gurgle.
Dimly she heard a crash above her head. The door at the top of the steps swung open. Smashed against the wall. She heard Cully’s voice, low and harsh with suppressed fury.
“Let her go. Now! It’s all over.”
The pressure on her throat grew tighter and she couldn’t swallow. Couldn’t breathe. Brandon’s cruel hands dragged her up against him, turning her around to face the steps, one arm still clamped around her throat. “Go ahead,” he snarled. “Shoot. You’ll have to go through my wife to get me.”
In the light from the hallway Ginny saw shock transform Cully’s face as the truth sank in. He hesitated and she felt Brandon’s free hand move at her side. Light gleamed on the ugly squat gun in his hand.
She tried to scream a warning but all she could manage was a choking gasp. She lunged sideways, throwing all her weight on Brandon’s arm just as he fired. The bullet ricocheted off the wall.
She heard Cully yell and for a horrible moment thought he’d been hit. Instead of falling, however, he leaped forward. His body seemed to sail through the air and again Brandon fired, despite her struggles to prevent him.
The full weight of Cully’s body landed on her, forcing the breath out of her lungs. Brandon dropped the gun, staggered back and went down, taking her with him. Dazed and choking, she realized the pressure on her throat was gone. She wriggled free of the two men, while they struggled for the gun still in Cully’s hand.
She scrambled to her feet, gasping for breath. Still locked in savage combat, the two men struggled to their feet then disappeared around the corner. Almost immediately, a deafening report burst in her ears, making her head sing.
She waited in the deathly silence that followed, trembling and afraid. No one moved. Fearfully she took a step forward. “Cully?”
A tall figure stepped around the corner. A stray ray of sunshine had fought its way through the dust-grimed window. It gleamed on the gun in his hand.
“Sorry, my dear,” Brandon said nastily. “Your boyfriend can’t answer you. Now you can both rot in hell together. Too bad we won’t get to play our little game as I promised, but I’m running out of time.” He aimed the gun at her and even in the half-light she could see the cold, round barrel pointing straight at her head.
She shut her eyes. What did it matter now, anyway. Brandon had killed Cully. Everyone who mattered to her had been wiped out now. Everyone. There was nothing left.
Bracing herself, she heard the deafening blast ringing in her ears again. It was a moment or two before she realized she wasn’t hit. He must have missed. She was braced for him to shoot again. When it didn’t come she opened her eyes.
Looking down, she saw him on the floor and in the dim light she could see a spreading puddle of dark liquid. Someone else moved then and stepped into the dim light, a gun held steadily in his hand.
Cully! With a cry she ran toward him, then pulled back with a gasp of horror when she saw the dark stain on his forehead.
“It’s okay. It’s only a scratch.” He held out his arm. “Are you all right?”
No, she wasn’t all right. She’d been through hell and back.
She’d lost two people she’d loved with all her heart. She’d thought she’d lost the one person in the world she had left to love. She tried to speak, cleared her throat and tried again. “What kept you?” she said and went into his arms.
IT WAS LATE that evening before Ginny’s voice sounded normal again. She’d enjoyed a wonderful meal of trout almondine and a mouthwatering tiramisu made from scratch. Two glasses of wine had finally calmed her nerves and she sat on the couch in Cully’s living room, her shoulder resting on his chest, while the dogs lay snoring at their feet.
She’d been listening to Cully’s account of that morning and his harrowing search for her.
“You can’t begin to imagine how I felt,” he said, “seeing that monster’s hands around your throat and then finding out it was your husband. My finger itched to pull the trigger, but I was afraid of hitting you.”
“I know.” Ginny shuddered. “I just can’t believe that he’s dead and it’s all over. I don’t have to be frightened of him anymore.”
“Yeah, lucky I’d kicked his gun into the corner while we were struggling on the floor. It took me a while to find it. It was a close call. Too close.” His arm tightened around her. “Another few seconds and I’d have been too late.”
“I thought he’d killed you.” She felt sick, remembering that awful moment. “How’s your head feel?”
“Apart from a slight headache, not bad. The doc said it should heal up in a few days. I was lucky, the bullet just grazed my forehead. An inch to the left and I wouldn’t have woken up.”
She buried her face in his shirt. “I don’t want to think about it.”
“Then don’t. Let’s change the subject.”
“Okay. I’m glad that Old Man Wetherby is going to be all right.”
“Me, too. It’ll be a while before he’s up and around, but he’ll make it.”
“We should visit him.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” He shifted his position, then said carefully, “You gonna be around long enough to do that?”
Her heart stalled for a second or two. It was now or never.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. When I sell the Corbetts’ house I’ll have the capital to start a business of my own. I was thinking maybe a clothing store.”
“Oh.” He was quiet for a moment, then to her utter astonishment he said, “I’ve been thinking, too. I thought I might try for a job with the force in Philly. It would do me good to have a change of pace. I’m running out of challenges. Nothing ever happens in a small town. It’s just been too quiet around here lately.”
She sat up and stared at him. He looked a bit like a swashbuckling pirate with the bandage wound around his head. Her heart turned over with love. All her doubts had vanished with that one, incredible sacrifice he was willing to make for her.
“Oh, then we won’t be seeing too much of each other,” she said lightly. “I was planning to open a shop in Rapid City.”
He seemed to be lost for words. She could read the hope in his eyes and her heart lifted with joy. “That’s not too much of a commute,” he said at last. “Maybe we could get together for dinner now and then.”
Her heart seemed to be skipping all over the place. Steadily she met his gaze. “It would be even less of a commute if I lived here.”
He gazed at her, conflicting expressions chasing across his face. Disbelief, hope, longing, she could see them all. Then a slow smile spread over his face, a smile so full of love she felt like crying. “Why, ma’am,” he said softly, “are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
S
he pretended to be concerned. “Would that hurt your reputation? I mean, I don’t want to be responsible for wrecking your career.”
“I reckon we could find a way around that.” He gently pushed her away from him and got to his feet. His face looked pale in the lamplight but there was no mistaking the intent in his eyes. “I don’t have a ring right now, but we’ll see to that tomorrow. In the meantime,” he said as he slowly got down on one knee, “I’ve loved you ever since you were a skinny kid following me around like a puppy dog. There’s never been anyone else. You’re the only one in my heart, Ginny Matthews. I’d be real honored if you’d agree to be my wife.”
She smiled at him, her own heart so full she found it hard to find the words. “I’ve waited a lifetime for you to ask. Of course I will.”
“Good.” He grinned at her. “Now help me up and I’ll give you a sampling of what I have planned for you over the next hundred years.”
She stood, dragging him to his feet. “I seem to remember the doctor warning you about taking it easy for the next few days. No excitement.”
He folded his arms around her. “Yeah? Well, what do doctors know, anyway.” His kiss, warm, demanding and full of promise sealed her happiness. Life would be good with Cully. Life would be very good. And she’d never run scared again.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-3767-4
OFFICIAL DUTY
Copyright © 2004 by Doreen Roberts Hight
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