Night Prey

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by Sharon Dunn


  Out of breath from the struggle, Keith wiggled to break free. “What have you done with Jenna?”

  Peter didn’t answer. He must be looking around for the gun. He released all the pressure off Keith’s arm. Keith scrambled to his feet to see that Peter was pointing the gun at him again.

  Behind him, Keith saw Jet racing through the tall grass. By the time Peter was aware of the noise, the dog had leaped up and grabbed Peter’s shirttail. The attack was enough to throw Peter off balance, the gun fell out of his hand as he struggled to stay on his feet.

  Keith scrambled for the gun and pointed it at Peter. Jet backed off but continued to bark, showing his teeth.

  “Good boy, Jet.” Keith tossed his cell phone to Peter. “Call the Sheriff.”

  With a wary glance toward Jet who released a low growl, Peter shook his head. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “We’ve linked you with the extreme hunters. No doubt you are the one setting things up. I am sure if we get some searchers out on your property, we can find that helicopter.”

  Peter’s face blanched, and he took a step back.

  Keith’s head jerked up. “Now call the sheriff.” He took in a breath. “And then…and then, tell me where Jenna is.” His voice faltered. His thoughts jumbled. Was she still alive? What if Peter had done something to Jenna at the center and then hidden her somewhere? That didn’t make sense. Why take her car and make himself look suspicious. “She is around here, isn’t she? Tell me where she is.”

  Jenna’s throat hurt from shouting. She pressed hard against the cliff face to keep from slipping again. She couldn’t tell if the rope Peter had tied around her waist would hold her or not. Her legs had gone completely numb. She really needed to stretch out. The rope dug into her wrists and stomach.

  She shifted slightly and more pebbles and dirt cascaded down the mountain. Slowly, carefully, she rose to her feet. Her legs tingled from lack of circulation. The view around her started to spin. She closed her eyes as a wave of despair washed through her. What if she died here? If she tumbled off this mountain, would the authorities even know Peter had done this?

  Even as she was ready to give up, she heard that still small voice that told her to try one more time.

  Her throat felt like someone had run sandpaper over it. Jenna gathered her remaining energy, lifted her head and shouted. “Hey, somebody! I’m down here!”

  She thought she heard something. A humming noise like a car motor? She shook her head. Was she just so desperate that now she was imagining sounds?

  She cried out again. The faint sound of a dog barking reached her ears. Mustering strength, she lifted her head and shouted again. “I’m here!”

  A strong clear voice responded. “Jenna!”

  Her heart burst with joy. Keith had found her. “Down here.”

  His head materialized above her and then Jet’s head appeared. The dog offered a sympathetic whine for her predicament. “You seem to have gotten yourself into a pickle.”

  She uttered a strange sound that was meant to be the words thank God, but the power of the rush of emotion through her made her words come out garbled.

  Keith knelt. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you, Jenna Murphy.” His face glowed with affection.

  “You came back.”

  “I never left,” he said.

  Was that because of her or some other reason? “My hands are tied.”

  “I see that.” He angled his head side to side, assessing further. “Hold on, I think we can get you out of there.”

  Keith disappeared and returned a few minutes later. He tossed a rope so it hung beside where she was. “I’m coming down to you.”

  “Where did you get the climbing gear?”

  “After we talked about climbing again, I bought some gear and threw it in my truck.” He buckled himself into the harness. “The sheriff is here to help. Peter is handcuffed in the car.”

  Keith rappelled down the mountain until he lined up with Jenna. Her back was to him. “Hold still. I’ll cut the ties on your hands.”

  The pressure of the knife pressed against the rope. Her hands released, and she grabbed the rope tied around her waist as she wobbled backward. “Is this secure?”

  Keith nodded. “This rope is not the best setup, but I’ll help you. Come on, take your first foothold.”

  Her head buzzed and her pulse accelerated.

  Keith positioned a hand on the middle of her back warming her to the core. The fogginess in her head cleared. If Keith was here, she wasn’t afraid of falling.

  “Like old times.” She placed her foot on the tiny ledge.

  “It would be nice if it was like old times for all time,” Keith said.

  Jenna reached up and found a handhold. Her foot searched for a ledge, and she pushed herself up. What was Keith saying? She bent her head to look down. “For all time? Are you serious?”

  Her foothold gave way, and she slipped back down the rope to face Keith. They swung slightly, both of them hanging from their ropes. Keith angled his body, so he could rest his open palm on her cheek.

  Jenna stared into the gentle gray eyes.

  “For all time, for the rest of my life, with you,” he whispered.

  Keith wrapped the blanket the sheriff had given them tighter around Jenna’s shoulders. The hard bench in the sheriff’s office pressed against her back.

  He leaned close to Jenna. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. She hadn’t spoken much since they had gotten off the cliff face. He had proposed to her. What was her answer?

  The sheriff clicked through pages on his computer. “If you folks will just wait a few minutes more, I will take your statements.”

  The deputy had already taken Peter Hickman into a holding cell.

  The sheriff tapped his keyboard. “You’ll be glad to know that we matched the bullet in the eagle to the bullet in Eddie Helms. We’ve got a warrant to search Hickman’s place to find the rifle.”

  “I thought Craig Smith had something to do with all this?” Jenna said.

  “We questioned Craig earlier today. He did get into a card game with Eddie. Eddie was trying to wrap up loose ends before he blew the whistle. He was on his way out to pay off his debt to Craig.”

  The sheriff walked over to the other side of the room to retrieve documents. The deputy returned. After speaking to the sheriff, he sauntered over to Jenna and Keith.

  “Sheriff wants me to take your statements.” The deputy sat at his computer.

  “I’ll go first.” Keith pulled his arm away from Jenna.

  Keith went through the deputy’s questions. Jenna did the same thing. They walked out into the cool of the evening. A few people sauntered along the sidewalks. Lights from the steak house glowed as people stepped inside.

  “Do you remember what I said to you on the mountain?” Keith wrapped his arm around Jenna.

  This was it. Her heart raced. “Yes, I remember.”

  “To be together like old times…for all time. Is that something you’d want?”

  She stopped. Her gaze traveled to the library. All the lights had been turned off and shadows covered the steps.

  He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I know that he wants to patch things up.”

  “I miss him.” Jenna shook her head. “But letting him back into my life means he could hurt me again.”

  “I can’t promise you that he won’t relapse. I can tell you he is serious about staying sober.”

  “You haven’t had a drink in twelve years.” She walked ahead of him a few steps.

  “Everyone’s recovery is different.”

  She turned back around to face him. “I will try.”

  “I do think it is worth it, risking the hurt.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and brought her closer. “When I thought Peter had done something to you…I saw my life without you and that was more unbearable than any hurt you may have caused me in the past.”

  Her lips parted. She tilted her head, eyes
searching. “I’ll risk it if you’ll risk it.”

  “Like old times for all time?” He looked at her, his expression filled with expectation.

  “No, better than old times. No more secrets.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes then.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her.

  EPILOGUE

  Jenna’s stomach fluttered more than the wings of the doves her father would release during the wedding ceremony.

  “Jenna, are you ready to go?” Her father stood at the door to the tent that had been set up as a changing room for the bride and bridesmaids.

  Cassidy gave her a last hug. She stepped back and held Jenna’s face in her hands. “You look beautiful. Now, I need to go find my escort down the aisle.”

  As Cassidy exited, her father stepped toward her. He looked handsome in his dress pants and white button-down shirt, but what she liked best was how clear and filled with love his eyes were. “Nervous?”

  “A little. I’m glad you’re here.” He held out an elbow, and she wrapped her arm through his.

  It was a short walk down the hill to the clearing in the forest where the wedding party had gathered. An acoustic guitar played the wedding march. The music swelled. Jenna took in a quick, sharp breath as the attendees turned to look at her. Her father patted her hand. Etta and Norm smiled at her from the first row.

  Keith stood at the end of the aisle wearing jeans and a light blue button-down shirt. She smiled. He was dressed up for Montana. His expression brightened when he looked at her. Warmth spread through her from the top of her head to her toes.

  As her father handed her over to Keith she heard him whisper, “Take care of her.”

  “I will,” he mouthed, looking directly at Jenna as he gathered her hands in his.

  As they said their vows, Jenna looked into Keith’s eyes. She still saw some of the skinny, wild kid who could talk her into anything, but there was something deeper, more anchored there, too.

  She loved the man Keith had become.

  Jenna said the final words of her vows, “…and to a lifetime of love and adventure.”

  On either side of them two large cages were opened and six doves flew out and fluttered over them as the attendees applauded.

  Overhead, Jenna thought she heard the plaintive cry of a red-tailed hawk.

  Dear Reader,

  Though I had seen eagles at a distance and been awestruck by them, it wasn’t until I had a close encounter with an eagle that I really appreciated how magnificent they are. My husband talked me into climbing a butte on his family ranch to see an old eagle’s nest that had been occupied when he was a kid growing up.

  Turns out the eagles had moved back in. I got to the top of the butte expecting to see some sticks and twigs formed into a nest. Instead, we caught a female bald eagle by surprise. She flew up and away, coming within a few feet of us. I don’t think my heart has ever beat so fast.

  When I took my kids to hear the educational talks that our local raptor rescue center puts on, I got to meet a blind owl and an eagle with a six-foot wingspan. I carried the idea around for some time of having a character who saved birds of prey. I am so glad I had an opportunity to show the important work the raptor rescue people do through the character of Jenna.

  Blessings,

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  Do you think Jenna was wise for being cautious about entering into a romantic relationship with Keith? What were some of the reasons why she was so cautious?

  Why is Keith guarded about sharing details about his past with Jenna?

  Jenna has a secret she has been keeping for years. What events finally help her break free of the secret?

  What does Keith do to show that he has changed? For Jenna? For his grandparents?

  Keith uses painting to work through his emotions. Do you have a creative outlet that helps you see your problems more clearly?

  Do you know any soldiers like Keith who not only have to recover from the trauma of war but also have to reintegrate into civilian life? What steps does Keith take to make the transition?

  What role does Jet serve in Keith’s recovery?

  What did you think of the Montana setting? What details do you remember best?

  Do you think you would like to have a job like Jenna’s, rescuing birds of prey?

  Both Jenna and Keith have to heal relationships: Jenna with her father and Keith with his grandparents. Did anything in their story remind you of something in your own life?

  Jenna goes for almost a whole year communicating with her father only on a limited basis. Do you think time apart in a relationship that is strained is a good idea?

  Jenna feels a special connection to her father because they both love to read. She and Keith formed a friendship based around outdoor activities. How have you built relationships with friends and family members?

  What does Jenna do to make Keith realize she accepts him just as he is?

  Do you think a friendship like the one Jenna and Keith had as kids was a good basis for a romantic relationship when they were older?

  Have you ever had to deal with someone who had addiction issues? Were there events you felt you handled well and other choices you wish you could change? Did anything in Jenna’s story strike a chord with you?

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7665-3

  NIGHT PREY

  Copyright © 2010 by Sharon Dunn

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.

  ® and TM are trademarks of Steeple Hill Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  www.SteepleHill.com

 

 

 


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