falling into place. “That’s why you climbed the deer stand.”
Her shoulders slumped and her eyes glistened with what he imagined were tears.
“Ma’am, I’d never hurt a lady. You don’t have to worry. I won’t hurt you and, if you give me a description of the man who came after you, I’ll notify the local authorities.”
“The Willkommen police department?”
He shook his head. “It’s a county-run sheriff’s department, although Sheriff Kurtz is in rehab, recovering from a gunshot wound. One of his deputies is holding down the fort, so to speak.”
“Crime must run rampant on this mountain.” The sarcasm in her reply was all too evident.
“You’re not from this area?” he asked, hoping to steer the conversation onto a more neutral topic.
She shook her head but didn’t offer a verbal response.
“Where’s your car, ma’am?”
“Broken down on the side of the road not far from here. A warning light signaled the engine had overheated. I pulled off the road.”
“That’s when the man came after you?”
She nodded. “A few minutes later. I had seen him at the gas station.”
“He followed you?”
“I’m not sure. He was headed toward the highway when he first left the station. He must have turned around.”
“And he chased after you?” Lucas asked.
“That’s right,” she said with a nod. “I ran into the woods. He came after me and started up the deer stand. Thankfully, an animal rustled the underbrush and distracted him. He ran toward the sound, probably thinking it was me. Eventually, I heard a car engine and presume he drove off in his SUV when he couldn’t find me.”
Needing to gain her trust, Lucas pointed in the direction of the road. “You stay here and I’ll check the roadway to make sure he’s gone.”
As much as he didn’t want to leave the skittish woman, Lucas wanted to ensure the man had driven away as she’d suspected. He quickly made his way through the thick underbrush until he had a clear view of the roadway. A Nissan sedan sat at the side of the road. No other vehicle was in sight.
He returned to the deer stand. “It’s Lucas,” he announced as he started up the ladder, relieved to find her waiting for him at the top.
“I saw one car and only one car. A Nissan,” he informed her.
“That’s mine.”
“Then the guy’s gone. How ’bout we climb down the ladder? I can check the engine and see what’s wrong with your vehicle.”
She didn’t respond.
“Unless you want to stay on this deer stand all night,” he added.
The temperature had dropped even lower. Lucas could feel it in his leg. The wound had healed but the memory lingered. If the dampness bothered him, it had to be chilling her, as well.
Her jacket was light and her head and hands were bare. A slight mist had started to fall and she appeared to be shivering under her bravado.
“Not sure how you feel about a cold rain on a chilly night, but I’d prefer to seek shelter and stay dry.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Evidently he was making progress. “I don’t want to pry, ma’am, but you haven’t told me your name.”
“It’s Hannah.” Her finger inched away from the trigger. “Hannah Miller.”
“Pleased to meet you.” He hesitated before extending his hand. “Now, if you’ll pass me the rifle, we can get out of the rain.”
She sat for a long moment. Then, with a faint sigh, she handed him the .30-30. He checked to make sure the chamber was clear.
“I’ll go down first. You follow.” Swinging his good leg onto the ladder, Lucas started to climb down. Unsure how he’d handle the situation if she failed to move, he smiled to himself when she scooted to the edge of the platform.
“Easy does it, Hannah. One foot at a time. Take it slow. I’ve got your back.”
The woman had been agile enough to climb up the deer stand. Surely she could climb down, as well. Still, he didn’t want any missteps. Everything, including ladders, turned slippery when wet, and the last thing he wanted was any more harm to befall the pretty woman who had changed his plans for this evening.
In a flash of clarity, he realized her unexpected entry into his life could upset the peaceful existence he’d been living for the past eleven months. He’d turned in his badge, left law enforcement behind and found solace in the Amish community. Even more important, he’d gotten right with the Lord and found a simpler way to look at the world.
Savannah, Georgia, his years in law enforcement, and what had happened on that dock front were merely a memory. A painful memory that he chose to ignore. Except in the middle of the night when he awoke in a cold sweat, knowing his partner, Olivia, had died because of his delay in responding to her call for help.
He shook his head to send the thoughts fleeing then dropped to the ground and watched the woman with the long legs and free-flowing hair trudge down the ladder.
Her foot snagged on the second-to-last rung. Without thinking, he caught her in his arms. She was slender and soft, and smelled like a fresh floral bouquet. He hadn’t been this close to a pretty woman who tugged at his heart in eleven months and, for a long moment, he was transfixed by her nearness.
She bristled. He dropped his hold and took a step back, unsettled by the mix of emotions that played through his mind. A twinge to his gut told him getting close to Hannah Miller might be dangerous to his health.
“Are you okay?” He wasn’t sure of the response she would provide, but he knew all too well that he was anything but okay. The woman had an effect on him that was difficult to define. Confused and befuddled might be accurate descriptions of the way he felt.
Gripping his rifle in one hand, he pointed to the trail that wove through the forest with the other. “The path will take us to the roadway near to where you left your car.”
She swallowed hard and tugged on the bottom of her jacket before nodding. “I didn’t realize there was a path.”
“It’s hard to see at night unless you know where you’re going.”
“Maybe you should take the lead,” she suggested.
“Sure.”
“You’re positive the guy’s gone?” she asked as if needing to be reassured that Lucas wasn’t leading her into danger.
“I told you, your car was the only one I saw. You mentioned hearing a vehicle heading down the mountain.”
Without waiting for a reply, Lucas started walking and was relieved
