by Mary Alford
She’d be dead once Shadow was safely out of the FBI’s reach. She had to find a way to stall.
When they pulled into the Dalton drive, Jamie saw a helicopter waiting behind the house.
Shadow parked the car and forced her out beside him.
“Now, where would the old lady hide the evidence?”
Jamie stared at him in shock. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Shadow’s answer was to grab her arm and drag her along beside him to the chopper. The pilot hopped out when he saw them approaching.
“Did you have any problems getting up here undetected?”
The man shook his head. “Not really, but there’s an awful lot of activity at the old Smithville Mine.”
Shadow smiled to himself. “Good. Then they bought my diversion. By the time they take in Miller and the rest of his buffoons, we’ll be long gone.”
The pilot wasn’t nearly as convinced. “We’d better be on our way soon. Once they figure out you’re gone, they’ll be watching every possible exit, and that includes the air. And there’s more.” He stopped long enough to look at Jamie, as if uncertain how much to say in front of her.
“Don’t mind her. She’ll be dead soon enough.”
The reality of what Shadow had planned for her threated to buckle her knees.
The pilot didn’t seem to approve of the plan, but he knew who paid his salary. “He’s looking for you. He knows the truth.”
“How did he find out so soon?” Shadow asked, and all the color drained from his face.
“My guess is one of the buyers waiting for the supply talked. All the more reason we need to get out of here as soon as possible.”
Shadow scowled at Jamie. “You heard him. Where is the evidence hidden?”
“Alright, I’ll take you to it,” she said and hoped she’d pulled off the lie. Shadow’s eyes narrowed as if trying to decide if she was telling the truth.
The man was desperate, though, and willing to give her the chance to prove him wrong.
“Then do it. We don’t have much time.” Shadow still held her arm in a vice grip.
“It’s in the house.” Jamie had no idea where Ava might have put the thumb drive Paxton had given her, but she needed to buy herself some time and pray that Gavin and the FBI would figure out where she was. Before Shadow realized she was taking him on a wild goose chase and he ended her life right then and there.
* * *
Gavin got into Andy’s patrol car and drove up the mountain with the FBI close behind.
After spotting the chopper heading up the mountain, Gavin was convinced Shadow was going after the thumb drive containing Paxton’s evidence. If they didn’t reach the chopper before he found the drive and took off again, Jamie’s life would be worthless to Shadow.
Andy stopped a short distance from the homestead. He didn’t want to alert Shadow to their presence.
The rest of the vehicles halted behind them.
“We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot,” Gavin said.
Sam nodded. “Lead on.”
Gavin took point as they eased toward Ava’s place.
Once they were on the edge of the property, Gavin took a second to survey his surroundings. He didn’t see any movement.
“They could be inside. The chopper is still behind the house,” Gavin said.
Sam indicated that four of the men should go check out the helicopter. “If the pilot’s there, get him subdued and make sure that chopper isn’t going anywhere. When you have him, alert me.”
The men headed around back, and Sam directed a question to Gavin. “Does Jamie know where the evidence is hidden?”
“No, but if I know Jamie, she’s trying to stall Shadow as long as she can.”
“You think they’re inside the house?” Sam asked.
“Probably.”
Sam’s phone vibrated and he answered it. “Good. We’re storming the house.” He ended the call. “They have the pilot. Let’s get Shadow.”
“You should know my grandmother installed monitors all around the property before she died. If they’re still on, Shadow will know we’re coming.”
Sam nodded. “Then we’ll have to be quick.”
Gavin and the rest of the team eased up on the property. All the while, he prayed that Jamie was still safe.
Agents surrounded the house. When Sam gave the signal, they broke down the door and charged inside.
Gavin noticed right away that the monitors were off. He believed that was Jamie’s handiwork.
They searched the house and came up empty. Gavin was scared to death he would be too late to find Jamie alive.
“The place is clear,” Sam’s men confirmed.
Sam turned to Gavin, frustrated. “Any idea where they might be?”
Gavin was about to say no until he remembered the old root cellar on his family’s property.
“I know where they are.” He told Sam about the cellar.
“Let’s get going. This guy will know his only means of escape is gone. He’s desperate.”
Gavin’s heart pounded in his chest as they slowly made their way to the cellar. Once they reached it, he could see fresh footprints.
He turned to Sam and whispered, “They’re in there.”
“Brock Shadow, this is the FBI,” Sam announced. “We have the place surrounded. Let Jamie go and give yourself up.”
“Jamie are you okay?” Gavin called out because he had to know.
“I’m okay,” she confirmed. “It’s dark in here but we have the chair.”
Her words were cut off, but not before she’d given him a clue. They were near the single chair in the place.
Gavin told Sam what Jamie was trying to convey. “It’s at the very back of the cellar.”
“He’s not going down without a fight. I think he’ll try to kill her and himself.” Sam didn’t mince words, and each one sent terror through Gavin.
“We need to break down the door. Watch the floor—it’s uneven and the steps are dangerous,” Gavin said.
Sam knew what he was doing. He counted to five, then they breached the place. Gavin was the first man through the door. A scuffle occurred, and then Shadow fired at him. Gavin ducked as the shots barely missed him. He didn’t hesitate before firing two shots into Shadow’s chest. The man fell to the ground.
As the rest of the agents poured in behind him, Gavin’s only thought was for Jamie.
“We need some light in here!” Gavin yelled. Immediately flashlights lit up the place. Jamie was on the floor. She wasn’t moving.
Gavin hurried to her side. “Jamie!” His voice broke with fear.
And then she moved. “I’m okay,” she managed and slowly sat up.
Gavin drew her close. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head against his chest. “No, I’m not hurt. I was just so scared.” She shivered against him. He lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the cellar.
“Can you stand on your own?” he asked.
She smiled up at him. “I can.”
He slowly set her down beside him. “I was so afraid I’d lost you.” His voice shook as he framed her face and took in everything about her lovely face.
She hugged him close. “I’m okay. He shot Uncle Paxton, though.” She started to cry. He couldn’t imagine how worried she was.
Gavin held her and whispered, “I know. He’s in surgery.”
They watched as Shadow’s body was brought out of the cellar.
“He was going to kill me. He told his pilot that once he found the evidence, he was flying out of the area and he was going to kill me.”
Gavin brushed back the hair from her face. “He’s not going to hurt you ever again.” He was so grateful that God had brought her safely through.
Sam stoppe
d next to them. “Sorry you had to go through that, Ms. Hendricks.”
She nodded. “Is there any news on my uncle?”
“There is. I just heard. He’s out of surgery and holding his own. I’ll have one of my men take you there.”
“I can do it.” Andy stepped forward.
Sam agreed. “Good. We’ll be here for a while processing the scene.”
They turned to go, but Jamie stopped suddenly. “I almost forgot, with everything that happened. My uncle told me that he hid the rest of the heroin behind our place. It’s buried under the plowed area around back.”
Gavin couldn’t believe it. Paxton had been expecting something bad to happen and was prepared for it. The old guy never ceased to surprise him.
Sam nodded. “I’ll have my men get to it right away.”
As they left the place, Gavin marveled at all that had happened over the past few days. He took Jamie’s hand in his, still amazed that they were both alive. He had her back, and he wasn’t about to let anything get in their way ever again.
Once they reached the hospital, Andy went with them up to where Paxton was recovering.
Gavin and Jamie went inside, and Andy stood by the door.
Jamie saw how bad her uncle looked, and hurried to Paxton’s side. She took his hand in hers, tears falling down her face.
They’d been there only a short time when the doctor came to visit them.
“Is he going to be okay?” Jamie asked, getting to her feet, anticipating the worst.
The doctor smiled kindly. “I believe he will. He’s a strong man who came through the surgery well. The next few hours will be the deciding factor, but I believe he will be just fine.”
Gavin touched her arm, and Jamie curled into him.
“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured. “Paxton’s too stubborn to die.”
She laughed and nodded against his chest.
Andy cleared his throat, and Gavin looked over at him.
“I think I’ll head back to the station. I’ll check in with you in a little while.”
Gavin waved and waited until Andy was gone before he cupped Jamie’s chin and tipped her head back before kissing her with all his heart.
“I love you, Jamie Hendricks, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you in Louisville. What I do for a living doesn’t matter. I just want to do it with you.”
Surprised, she smiled up at him. “I love you, Gavin Dalton, but I’m ready to come home again and start our lives together in the only place that will ever be home for either of us. Let’s come back home to Darlan.”
EPILOGUE
One year later...
Jamie smiled up at the man who’d always had her heart, as he was sworn in as a sheriff’s deputy for Darlan County. Nothing her wildest imagination could have created had prepared her for this future.
When Andy first proposed the idea of Gavin becoming his deputy and working alongside him to clean up Darlan County for good, Gavin hadn’t jumped at the opportunity until he and Jamie talked it over.
She and Gavin had gotten married a few months after Paxton was released from the hospital. She was so happy to be his wife. Leaving the law firm in Louisville hadn’t been as difficult as she’d feared. She’d made sure her caseload was cleared and then come back home to open her own practice in Darlan, looking out for those wrongly accused.
Gavin had known being a deputy was a tremendous opportunity for him to make something good come from what had happened to both their fathers. Charles would have been so proud. So would Noah.
With his home destroyed, Paxton was determined to rebuild. He’d bought himself a camper trailer, and with Gavin’s help, he was building a new house on the property.
Jamie and Gavin had settled into Ava’s old house, and Jamie couldn’t have been happier. In fact, she had a special piece of news to share with her husband and knew just the right place to tell him.
They left the ceremony and drove home. Once Gavin parked the car, Jamie got out and took her husband’s hand in hers.
“I’m so proud of you, babe. Do you feel like sitting outside for a bit?”
He smiled his answer, and they headed to Ava’s favorite spot: the bench behind the house.
Once they were seated, Gavin put his arm around her and tugged her close. “When I left here all those years ago, I could never have imagined being this happy again.”
“Me, either.” She drew in a breath. “I have some news,” she said in a tiny voice and prayed he would be as happy as she was. They’d talked about having children...one day.
Gavin turned to her. “What is it?”
It took all her strength to force the words out. “I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a child together.” She looked into his eyes waiting for his response, her heart in her throat.
“You’re pregnant?” Unexpected tears filled his eyes, and he took her in his arms and kissed her with all his heart.
“Are you happy?” she asked in between kisses.
He looked at her in wonderment. “Happy? I’m more than happy. I’m blessed beyond measure. I can’t imagine living my life anywhere but here with you.” He touched her stomach. “And with the child God has chosen to bless us with.”
She couldn’t, either.
* * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Framed for Christmas by Jaycee Bullard.
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Dear Reader,
Have you ever faced a situation in your life from which there seemed to be no way out? It loomed in front of you like an insurmountable mass? I think most of us go through periods in our lives where we must challenge the mountains set before us.
Gavin Dalton and Jamie Hendricks have faced such mountains in their past. As teenagers, their romance was shattered to pieces when Jamie’s father was accused of killing Gavin’s. What stood between them was just too big to overcome, and so they parted.
Ten years later, Jamie and Gavin are reunited once more in the search to find Jamie’s missing uncle, who has disappeared up on Darlan Mountain. With the past and its ugly secrets still standing firmly between them, it’s a struggle for Jamie to trust Gavin. When she needed him to believe in her and her father, he didn’t. Is it possible for her to put aside the hurt from the past and work with Gavin to bring Paxton home alive? And can the love they once had for each other find its place in their future?
Grave Peril is a story is about slaying the giants in our lives. Sometimes we think we know what lies ahead for us. We let the past and our failures defeat us, but God has a better plan. If we trust Him to help us slay those giants, He’ll bring us through to a brighter future.
I so love hearing from readers. Email me at [email protected] or write me c/o Love Inspired, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10007. Visit me at www.maryalford.net and at www.Facebook.com/maryalfordauthor.
Warmest blessings,
Mary
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Framed for Christmas
by Jaycee Bullard
ONE
Dani Jones kept her head low as she lifted the nozzle from the fuel tank and set it back on the pump. It was a simple task, but her hands were trembling as she fumbled with the gas cap, trying to screw it on tight. Her eyes flickered toward the tan SUV parked behind her. It was the same vehicle that had been following her since Iowa. Same plates, same driver and passenger, with their ball caps pulled low and their eyes determinedly avoiding contact. She took a deep breath and repeated the familiar words that always steadied her nerves and calmed her racing heart. “I am safe. God is with me. No one is trying to hurt me.”
It had been more than fifteen years since her twin sister Ali’s brutal murder. Fifteen years without a single incident. She hadn’t been mugged, attacked or threatened in any way. But none of that mattered. The anxiety remained.
She inhaled. Exhaled. But she couldn’t relax. The weather had taken a turn for the worse, and the small canopy over the pumps offered little protection from the blowing snow. Squeegee in hand, she set to work swiping through ribbons of sludge on the van’s rear window, until a reflection in the glass caused her breath to hitch. The tan SUV behind her was no longer stationary. It was steamrollering forward on a collision course with the back of the van—and her.
Her knees buckled and panic threaded through her senses.
“Stop!” Her strangled cry had no effect. “Hit the brake!” she screamed as she raced to dodge the speeding vehicle. She stumbled onto the raised curb seconds before the SUV slammed into her bumper with a bone-cracking thump, ramming the van forward into the lot.
