Sabrina went to Jordan. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Maria and Tony had latched themselves on to their big brother and weren’t letting go anytime soon. “Did Lance get help?”
Jordan nodded. “They airlifted him to a hospital in Nashville. I hitched a ride with the cops and brought them here. They said they knew Clay.”
Sabrina nodded. Clay walked up beside her. She gripped his hand and gave it a squeeze. “How did you know it was Ned?”
“The phone call in the barn. I used Abe’s phone to call Ned. Krissy called me on that number. She had no idea what Abe’s number was. Ned had to have given it to her. I just didn’t think fast enough.”
“You’d already called for backup, so I guess it didn’t really matter.”
“No. I still would have done exactly the same thing.”
Officers led Krissy and Ned toward the door. Clay broke away from her to hug his parents and tell Seth, “Nice work, bro.”
“Just like when we were kids sneaking something past Mom and Dad.”
“I was hoping you’d remember.”
Seth gave a small grin. “Like I could ever forget.” His expression turned serious. “I’m just glad I didn’t miss.”
“You? Miss? Not likely. I also remember how well you could swing a bat.”
“Hey, now, that was an accident.”
Clay rubbed the back of his head as Sabrina’s gaze bounced between the two of them. “Right.”
Ross Starke held his wife close to him as she sobbed on his shoulder. “You two can joke about this?”
Clay sobered. “No, Dad. Not joking. Just relieved everyone survived what could have been a nightmare situation.”
“Your brother didn’t survive.”
Clay dropped his head. “No. No, he didn’t.”
Sabrina cleared her throat. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I know Mrs. Starke and Daisy Ann are friends.” She looked at the woman, who continued to dry her tears on a mangled tissue. “Do you think you could be the one to tell her about Ned? She’s going to be devastated and I think if you were there with her, it would help her tremendously. Maybe reassure her that you don’t hold her husband’s actions against her.”
Mrs. Starke swallowed and drew in a shuddering breath. “I...I don’t know.” But the tears had stopped. Sabrina hoped she would start thinking about something she could do, be proactive and stop feeling like a victim. Her shoulders straightened. “Yes. I’ll tell her. Ross, will you take me?”
Ross frowned. “But what about—”
“I’ve got it covered, Dad.” Clay shot Sabrina a look full of gratitude, and she gave a relieved sigh that she’d spoken up.
Amber stepped up beside them. “Dad and I’ll take you, Mom. Lily might need me to be there for her, too.”
Sabrina took Clay’s hand. “Just curious, how did you get that tape off so fast while your hands were behind your back?”
“In the barn, when Abe said they used duct tape and rope, I simply got a razor blade from the tack room and stuck it in my back pocket. As soon as Stan taped me up, I got the blade and started working.” He gave her a squeeze. “I’m glad you noticed my hands were free and were able to slip me the gun.”
Abe placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched and leaned into Clay. Abe dropped his hand with a look of shame. “Sorry.”
Sabrina straightened. “No, it’s okay. I’m sorry.”
“You tried to defend me.”
“Oh. Yes. Well...”
“Thank you.”
She smiled. “Of course.” She looked at the bruise forming on his chin. “I’m afraid I didn’t do a very good job, though.”
Abe rubbed the wounded spot. “In this case, we’ll go with ‘It’s the thought that counts.’” He started to turn, stopped and spun back around. “By the way, you two have my blessing. Not that you need or want it, but you have it.” And then he was gone.
Clay slipped an arm around Sabrina’s shoulders. “Speaking of blessings...I’m ready to count mine.”
EPILOGUE
Christmas Eve day
Sabrina swept the last of the leaves from the porch of the bed-and-breakfast and smiled when Clay’s police cruiser pulled into the parking lot. She leaned on the broom and waited for him to open the door. It had been three weeks since all the excitement at the farm. It felt like three years in some ways, three days in others. “Merry Christmas.”
He grinned and bounded up the stairs to plant a warm greeting on her lips. “Merry Christmas.”
“What brings you by?”
“You, of course.” He glanced at the door behind her. “How’s Granny May?”
“Doing much better. She just finished baking her famous apple pie.”
Clay licked his lips and she laughed. Then sobered. “How’s Lance doing?” She knew he’d been by to see his friend, who was now home and recovering from the gunshot wound.
“Daisy Ann’s taking care of him.”
“I think it’s good for her to have him to focus on. Have you talked to Ned?”
“I tried. He refuses to see me.”
“I’m so sorry.” She tilted her head and looked up at him. “I talked to Lily yesterday. She’s in rehab and wants me to come see her soon. She’s heartbroken over her father.”
“She didn’t have a clue, did she?”
“No.” Sabrina felt that familiar stab of sorrow dart through her. She forced it away, refusing to allow dark memories to ruin her time with Clay. “You want to come in?”
“No, can we take a walk around back?”
“Sure.” She leaned the broom against the rail of the porch and took his proffered hand. “What’s going on?”
They walked out to the small gazebo Sabrina had decorated with greenery and mistletoe. They settled on the bench and Sabrina fired up the gas logs in the middle.
Clay wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she snuggled into his side. “We’ve spent a lot of time in this little spot over the last several weeks, haven’t we?”
“A lot.” They’d sat and talked into the wee hours of the night, just enjoying each other’s company and getting to know one another, sharing fears and dreams. Sabrina had never felt closer to another person in her life.
He cleared his throat. “You know how you told me last week that if the opportunity presented itself, you would want to know about your mother?”
She stilled. “Yes.”
“Do you still feel that way?”
Sabrina pulled in a deep breath. “You know something?”
“I found her.”
“Is she alive?”
“No. She’s buried in Nashville, where she’d been living from the time she left you to the time she died.”
“When did she die?” Curiously, Sabrina felt no grief, just a gut-clenching sadness that her mother had never known true happiness or peace.
“Twelve years ago. She was living under another name and had no relatives listed when she died.”
“How did she die?”
“Breast cancer.”
“Oh.” She paused and let it sink in. She hadn’t expected that. She’d thought he would say she’d died from a drug overdose or something similar. Sabrina felt a sense of closure wash over her. “Thank you.”
“Sure. She kept her same Social Security number, just changed her name. That’s how I was able to track her. She married a guy by the name of Harold Jeeves. Seemed like a nice fellow. He stayed with her the whole time and said she’d changed a lot before she died.”
“But she never contacted me.”
“I asked him about that. He said they came to Wrangler’s Corner one day after she was diagnosed fifteen years ago, but they saw you and your grandmother shopping and you seemed so happy. Your mother decided to let you live your life
without disrupting it with her return.”
“Oh.” Sabrina wasn’t sure what to think about that but maybe her mother had found some peace after all.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Yes. I’m okay. Sad, but okay.”
“All right, now I have a question for you.”
She stilled. “Okay.”
“Well, first I need to tell you something.”
He sounded so nervous. Which set off her nerves. She slid away from him a little so she could look into his eyes. “What is it, Clay?”
He swallowed. “I was offered the sheriff’s position here in Wrangler’s Corner.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Lance turned it down, so I’m second choice.” His lips twisted in a small smile.
She hugged his arm and kissed him. “You’re first choice in my book.” She sighed and dropped her gaze. “I’ll never be able to say that word without thinking of Steven.”
He hugged her back. “I know. I feel the same way. But I think Steven would approve of everything we’ve done to bring his killers to justice.”
She smiled up at him. “I do, too.”
“You know what else I think he would approve of?”
“What?”
He kissed her cheeks, then her nose, then her lips. “Us.”
“Mmm...I approve of that, too.” She frowned. “So you plan to take the sheriff’s job? What about your job in Nashville? You just made detective.”
“You’re not in Nashville.”
Sabrina swallowed. Hard. “No. I’m not.”
“Your grandmother needs you right now, and I know how important she is to you. She’s important to me, too. My family is going through some issues, too. I think I need to stay here and do what I can to help. Aaron and Amber are doing their thing and Seth is sullen, hurting and trying to heal.” He blew out a breath. “I want to be here for them.”
“What about later?”
“Later?”
“When they don’t need you anymore. Will you feel stuck here in Wrangler’s Corner?”
“Stuck? No. Honestly? When I was in Nashville, I was doing good work. I was happy. At least I thought I was.”
“But?”
“But...” he flushed “...I missed home.” He shook his head. “I’m glad I’ve done what I’ve done, but being here the last four weeks has really shown me where I belong.”
“In Wrangler’s Corner.”
“Yes, but mostly? With you.”
“I’m glad, Clay.”
“I know it hasn’t been long, but I’m in love with you, Sabrina, and I know for a fact that no matter how long we know each other, how long we date, that’s not going to change.” He paused. “Except maybe to grow stronger.”
Sabrina threw her arms around his neck and kissed him through her tears. “I’m so thankful God brought you home. Not that Steven had to die—I don’t think we’ll ever understand why that had to happen—but I think Steven would be proud of you. He’d be pleased and get a big laugh out of the fact that his death brought us together.”
Clay drew her into a tight hug. “I don’t want to wait forever to marry you, Sabrina. I understand if you need some time, but—”
“But what?”
He cleared his throat, set her back from him and slid to the ground to face her. She caught her breath. Goose bumps popped out and she felt the butterflies burst free in her midsection.
He lifted one hand and kissed her knuckles. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“I love you, Clay.”
“Is that a yes?”
She laughed as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It’s definitely a yes. How about an Easter wedding?”
He grinned. “I approve of that.”
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from DOWN TO THE WIRE by Laura Scott.
Dear Reader,
I wrote the beginning of this story several times before I was happy with it. After writing sixteen books for Love Inspired Suspense, I thought I had it down. Not this time. Although I want each story to be perfect. that isn’t exactly a realistic goal, although I do believe it’s admirable and something to shoot for. However, I’ve come to the realization that perfection isn’t possible and I’m okay with that. Sabrina also had to come to peace with this fact. She couldn’t see past her mother’s imperfections to the fact that she had a grandmother who loved her unconditionally until the hero pointed it out to her.
I’m so thankful that I have a Savior who loves me, who died for me, so that I don’t have to worry about being perfect. I can just do my best to live as He’s called me to do. I pray if you’re struggling with the need to be perfect, you will allow Him to take your imperfections and turn them into things that bring joy, glory and honor to Him.
God bless,
Lynette
Questions for Discussion
Both the heroine and hero had interesting pasts. How do you think their pasts made them into the people they were when the story opened?
What did you think about the heroine’s desire to save the kids no matter the danger to her own life? Do you feel that way about anyone in your life? Why or why not?
What did you think about Abe Starke? How had his bitterness affected his relationships with his family?
What did you think about Ross Starke, Clay’s father, telling his brother to get off his land at the cost of possibly losing the ranch? Do you think he did the right thing? Why or why not?
Who was your favorite character in the story?
Was there a character you could identify with in the story? If so, who was it and why did you identify with that person?
What was your favorite scene?
Sabrina was determined not to be left behind. Do you think it was a wise decision for her to go with Clay to confront the killers?
What did you think about Abe’s conversion in the end? Should it have taken Sabrina putting her life on the line for him in order for him to find forgiveness in his heart? Or do you think God can use those kinds of things to bring us around?
In the end, everything worked out. Were you surprised when you found out who the villain was? Do you think circumstances can force someone to do something he never would have considered before hard times hit?
In response to the previous question, I believe that’s one reason to hang on to God, to have an active, ongoing relationship with Him. That way, when the bad times come, and they will, there’s no question about what to do or where to place your faith. Do you agree? Disagree? Why?
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.
You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.
Enjoy four new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!
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ONE
Tess Collins stood at the front of the classroom, looking out at her new group of fourth graders. More than halfway through their second week of school, things were beginning to settle down. These were her students for the next nine months. For better or worse, she thought wryly.
“Good morning, everyone,” she greeted her children with a smile. “Please take your seats.”
The twenty-two fourth graders radiated energy but obligingly wiggled into their assigned seats. She checked to make sure none of them were absent, before she turned back to her desk. One glance at her seating chart confirmed that a few of t
he little rascals had switched spots.
“Ellen and Tanya, please return to your proper seats. Hunter and Brett, I also need you to go back to your assigned seats.”
The four kids gaped in surprise but giggled and shuffled around until they were seated at their correct desks. She decided not to make a big deal out of their prank, at least for now. If they continued to misbehave, she’d have to make them stay after school to have a little chat.
“Today we’re going to start with a math quiz that should be a review from what you learned last year.” She ignored the low moans of protest. “Miles, will you please help me hand out the papers?”
Miles, a short redheaded boy with lots of freckles, jumped up and took half of the stack of quizzes from her hands. She handed out the papers on one side, looking over the rest of the class as he passed a quiz to each student on the other side.
“Olivia, please put your book away. Only pencils and erasers are allowed.” Tess waited until the young girl put her paperback away before glancing up at the clock. “Everyone ready? You may begin.”
Instantly, all the students turned their attention to her impromptu math quiz. Satisfied they were all working diligently, Tess took a seat behind her desk to check out her lesson plan for the rest of the day.
Click.
Tess froze, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck lifting in alarm when she realized her knee had bumped into something hard. Battling a wave of trepidation, she bent sideways to see her knee was pressed up against a small box with lots of wires sticking out from it. The box was somehow attached to the inner side of her desk and there was a tiny red digital display with numbers counting down.
A bomb?
For a moment she simply stared in horror, barely believing what she was seeing. Afraid to move, fearing that releasing the trigger might cause an immediate blast, she glanced out at her students, who were all concentrating intensely on the pop quiz. Watching all those innocent faces, she grimly realized there wasn’t a moment to waste.
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