Plain Retribution

by Dana R. Lynn

  Miles let him.

  The anger settled, cooling and hardening into fierce determination. Calmness filled him. He sent up a prayer of gratitude. God had prepared him for this day, although he hadn’t understood at the time. God had given him skills that made him capable of defending himself, and the four helpless women, from the man dancing before him.

  His fear vanished. He was, after all, a black belt.

  Chad lunged, knife swinging.

  Miles was ready. He stepped into the charge, and kicked. The knife dropped and skidded across the cement floor. For the briefest instant, Chad was still, speechless. Then he howled and charged again, his head low and arms out. He intended to tackle Miles to the floor. Miles bent and scooped his arms under Chad’s, bringing his hands behind the other man’s back. Chad squirmed, but couldn’t break loose. One, two times Miles thrust his knee into the other man’s stomach.

  Chad buckled.

  In an instant, Miles had him on his stomach and was clapping handcuffs on him, reciting his Miranda rights.

  The front door slammed.

  “Olsen!”

  “In the basement, Jackson! I have four women down here who require medical care.”

  The rush of footsteps thumping down the stairs was one of the best sounds he had ever heard.

  As the paramedics and police swarmed into the basement, Miles went over and kneeled by Rebecca. Her eyes were open. She blinked, then narrowed her eyes on his face.

  “You came,” she signed, a tear trickling down her dusty cheek. “I knew you would come. I was afraid it wouldn’t be in time.”

  A sobbing to his left made him pause. April was having a meltdown as the paramedic checked her over. “I didn’t mean to help him! I didn’t know what he was doing until it was too late!”

  What?

  Rebecca patted his knee. He switched his attention back to her instantly. “She was his girlfriend. He used her to get to us. When she found out, she tried to break up with him. She sent me a warning text before, when Sergeant Parker was driving us home. It just came too late—we were attacked before I could send it to you.”

  He wiped the tear from her face, then realized he was fighting back his own tears. “I don’t know what I would have down if I had lost you.”

  She smiled. He sucked in a breath. And sat down, hard, shaking. “I love you. You know that, right? When I knew you were in trouble, nothing else mattered. Not my job, my past, nothing. Only you.”

  “I love you, too. I am so grateful that God created a man so special, and let me have him in my life.” She stopped signing, a frown touching her face. “Your job? Will you lose your job? Why?”

  Miles had been aware on some level of Seth, who was part of the team of paramedics, telling the chief the less personal details of the signed conversation, including the part about April.

  “He’s worried he might lose his job because he didn’t follow protocol today when he learned you were in danger. He put you first.” Seth signed the answer to Rebecca for Miles. It was a good thing, because she was clinging to his hands. The chief looked at Miles. Not, Miles was glad to see, with anger or disappointment.

  “Officer Olsen, I am rather proud of your deportment on this case.” Miles couldn’t help the way his jaw dropped. The shock nearly knocked him over.

  The ambulance crew started to load up the women on stretchers. Lizzy insisted on walking, as soon as they had freed her. April and Brooke were in no shape to walk, though. Neither was Rebecca. All he wanted was to go with her. The chief motioned for him to stay back. He obeyed, but wasn’t happy about it.

  Chief Kennedy chuckled. “Easy, officer. This will only take a moment. Then you can go to the hospital and be with your girl.”

  Miles felt himself flushing. He’d been pretty obvious about his feelings, he guessed.

  “Officer Olsen, I want you to know that I believe you did the correct thing.”

  His head shot up. “Sir? I disobeyed a direct order. You told me to wait for backup. And I didn’t.”

  “I know. And normally I’d be furious with you. But if you hadn’t, at least one of those women, if not more, would have died. Your actions and quick thinking saved the lives of four women. And you managed to capture a vicious killer, alive. He will go to jail, and those women will be able to go on with their lives, instead of constantly looking over their shoulders. Well done.”

  “Thank you, sir!” He couldn’t wait to go to the hospital and tell Rebecca!

  “Oh, and Miles—” the chief paused at the base of the stairs “—I think it’s time we reviewed your record. I think you’ve earned a promotion. Don’t you?”

  Whistling that same TV show theme song, the chief started up the stairs. Miles stared after him a moment, unable to believe his ears. Then a grin split his face. He all but ran out to his car to go see Rebecca.

  Of course, once he arrived at the hospital, he had to wait for her to be seen by a doctor. When he was finally able to see her, she was getting ready to go.

  “They aren’t keeping you overnight?” he signed, surprised.

  “No.” She grinned and winked. “I can go anytime.”

  “Where will you go?”

  “I can’t go back to my apartment. I’m going to move out of there. But Seth invited me back to his place.”

  That was a relief. Even with the danger gone, he hated to think of her in that apartment she had shared with Holly, knowing the sad memories it would bring back. “Can I give you a ride?”

  She hesitated. “Maybe. First, did you mean what you said in the basement?”

  “Yes,” he signed without missing a beat. “I love you.”

  She sighed. A sigh that seemed to come from deep in her soul. Her eyes closed. But only for a moment. When she opened them again, she graced him with a mischievous smirk, one that took his breath away. “Then why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

  He could do nothing about the grin that spread from his heart and across his face. Or about the way his entire being hummed with love for this bright woman. “I have no idea.”

  And because there was no good reason not to, and being the intelligent man that he was, he pulled her gently into his arms and kissed her.

  EPILOGUE

  One month later

  It had started to snow while she was inside. Fluffy white flakes drifted down. Already, the layer on the ground was two inches deep. She grinned and stuck out her tongue to catch a cold flake. She loved winter. Thanksgiving was next week. Miles had invited her to spend the evening with him at his grandparents’ house. His father would even be there. Rebecca was nervous to meet him, but she knew Miles would be there to support her. As he always did.

  Rebecca cast a glance at her watch as she made her way to where her car was parked. She felt confident that she had done well on the test. She’d get her scores back sometime after Christmas. If all went well, she would be able to take the performance portion of the exam in the spring or summer.

  Right now, though, she was running late for her dinner date with Miles. Just thinking of the love of her life brought a smile to her face. They’d been dating for a month now. Maybe it was too soon by society standards, but she knew he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. When would she ever find another man who understood her so well, who made her heart race and loved God as much as she did?

  She was going to see Miles tonight, in fact. Her parents had invited them over to their house for dinner. At first, she’d been tempted to reschedule. She and Miles had a lot to celebrate. His chief had been very pleased with Miles’s work on her case. In fact, he had just been reinstated as a sergeant. But, like the sensitive man he was, he had convinced her to accept the invitation. It would mean so much to them.

  Sending a prayer of thanksgiving to her Father in Heaven, she searched thro
ugh her overlarge purse for her cell phone to send Miles a text. Behind schedule. Leaving now.

  A moment later, her phone vibrated. That’s ok. I’m behind schedule 2. Meet you at your parents’ house? Love u.

  Fine. Love u 2.

  * * *

  It took her almost an hour to go home, shower and change, and get ready to leave. As she was finishing getting ready, her gaze in the mirror caught on the small earrings in her ears. She’d gotten her ears pierced soon after she and Lizzy had been rescued. Miles had gone with her and had held her hand as they put the piercing gun to her ears.

  It was more than jewelry to her. It was a physical sign that she knew who she was and which world she belonged in.

  She hesitated. Should she take them out before going to her parents’ house? She pondered, then pressed her lips together. No. Her parents knew her choices. And they accepted them and loved her. They were generous people who wouldn’t let this effect their relationship.

  The earrings stayed in.

  She drove to the farmhouse near Spartansburg, her excitement growing with every turn in the road. Soon, she’d see Miles. They hadn’t been able to see each other for two days because of work schedules. Funny how long two days could be!

  Pulling into the driveway, she noted his Jeep was already there. She bounced out of her car and nearly ran up the stairs. He met her at the door. She knew why. Once inside, there would be no hello kiss. Not with her parents watching. But here, out of their sight...

  Miles let the door close behind him and pulled her gently into his arms. She snuggled closer, feeling like everything was right in her world again. He bent and kissed her slowly, letting her know how much he’d missed her the past few days.

  “I missed you,” he signed when the kiss ended.

  She sighed. Bliss. “Missed you, back. Two days is a very long time.”

  “Forever,” he agreed.

  In sync, they moved into the house. Her mam hugged her, the sparkle in her eyes letting them know she wasn’t fooled. She knew why they’d met outside.

  Rebecca was too happy to be embarrassed.

  It was a perfect evening. Her mam and dat were pleased to see their oldest daughter. They didn’t so much sign as gesture, letting Miles take care of facilitating the communication. She didn’t mind. They were trying, and they were showing their care and love in every gesture.

  It wasn’t until the meal was almost finished that Rebecca got the hint that something else was going on. Her normally calm father seemed a little flustered, and her mother’s smile grew more pronounced, even though she kept putting her napkin to her mouth to hide it.

  And Miles? Since when had he become clumsy? He’d dropped his fork twice. The second time he picked it up, he gave her dat a small nod. Like a signal.

  Uh-oh.

  What was going on?

  Her father reached over and patted her hand. She looked at him, suspicion growing.

  He started to gesture, then stopped. He rose and went to grab some paper and a pencil. And began to write.

  Rebecca, my daughter. I want to tell you this myself. I do not sign, so I will write. Miles came to talk to us. He said it was an Englisch custom. He asked us for our blessing to marry our beautiful daughter.

  Her breath stalled and her heart quickened. Was this really happening?

  Her dat continued.

  We love you, and would be very happy to have him as our son. We told him yes. He has our blessing. So do you.

  She stopped fighting the tears and let them fall. Miles stood up from his chair and moved to her side. He kneeled down on one knee before her, and began to sign. Straight ASL. She understood the message. This moment was just for her. They could repeat it for her family later.

  “Rebecca, I love you with all my heart. You are strong, and beautiful in every way. You make my life complete. We have not been dating long, but these past two days without you have been very lonely. Please, marry me?”

  Her heart was full. “Yes. I love you so much. I will marry you!”

  His eyes glinted. He blinked. Then reached into his pocket to pull out a ring. It was simplicity itself.

  This man truly understood her.

  Holding out her left hand, she didn’t care that it trembled. It should tremble. With joy and hope. Her life was changing forever.

  She’d spent too much time holding her heart back. Now, she was giving it freely to this man.

  He slid the ring on her hand. Then, even with her parents watching, he leaned in and kissed her softly. She smiled against his lips, the promise of the future bright in her heart.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this book, don’t miss the first heart-stopping Amish adventure from Dana R. Lynn’s AMISH COUNTRY JUSTICE series:

  PLAIN TARGET

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HOMEFRONT DEFENDERS by Lisa Phillips.

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  Dear Reader,

  I am so happy to be able to share Miles and Rebecca’s story with you! This is the second book in my Amish Country Justice series, and it was both a joy and a challenge to write.

  When I first started writing Presumed Guilty in 2014, Miles was one of those characters who tugged at my heart. He had so many issues to reconcile, and had gotten off track a bit. He had lost his way. Yet, God was with him. And I knew I wanted to write his story, to show that he had changed and found redemption. I was touched by the readers who wrote to me asking for his story.

  Rebecca was first introduced in Plain Target. She was so much fun to write about! She had been through so much, yet still managed to keep God at the heart of her life.

  I hope you enjoyed Miles and Rebecca’s story. I have one more to go in this trilogy, and I am really excited about it. It has been amazing following my characters into the Amish community.

  Thank you for journeying with me. I love to hear from readers. You can email me at WriterDanaLynn@gmail.com. Or visit me online at www.danarlynn.com. I am also on Facebook and Twitter (@DanaRLynn).

  Blessings,

  Dana R. Lynn

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

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  Homefront Defenders

  by Lisa Phillips

  ONE

  It was hard not to think about sharks, sitting on a surfboard off the coast of Hawaii. Secret Service agent Alana Preston could see the hotel, and the faintest hint of dawn reflected in the wall o
f windows as she bobbed up and down on the ocean. Soon enough she’d have to get back to her duties, but for now Alana intended to enjoy this moment and not think of sharks—or how so many of the humans she’d met had a bite far worse than the predators.

  At least for an hour out on the water she could forget that she’d torn up her knee all those years ago and destroyed her chance to surf competitively. She could forget that she’d moved to the mainland to be a Secret Service agent. She could forget the fact that she hadn’t called home since she left.

  Working at the White House was everything she’d imagined and nothing like she’d thought it would be at the same time. She was exactly where she wanted to be: on the front lines of the Secret Service.

  But Hawaii would always be home.

  Alana was part of the advance team setting up for the president’s impending visit, and though there was almost no time for anything but work, if her boss, James Locke, could make time for a morning run, she could surf. She’d seen the director leave the hotel in his running clothes and set out along the beach maybe forty-five minutes ago. Alana was the rookie on the team, which meant Locke would have his stern, chocolate-colored eyes on her until she could prove herself. Too bad every time he looked at her she wanted to squirm under his attention. Why did he have to be so handsome?

  Not that anything was going to happen. She was way too busy proving herself, making it so that she was the kind of person her father would’ve been proud of. Alana looked over at the mountains, then to the shadow of the rest of Hawaii’s islands on the horizon. I’m almost there, Dad. She was so close to losing the rookie title she could feel it. I’ve nearly done it. Just like I said I would.

  She began to paddle even before her mind recognized the swell of the water. The minute she’d heard the surf report, Alana had brushed her teeth and dug out of her suitcase the board shorts and rash-guard shirt she’d always worn for surfing. No way would she waste waves like these.