Dawson bent over and untied the ropes around her ankles. “Get up. Show me.” He moved out of Ryan’s view. “Hurry.”
“I’m moving as fast as I can.” She swung her legs off the bed and then stood.
Ryan flattened himself against the wall and waited.
When Lacey left her bedroom, her gaze cut toward him although her head only moved slightly. Ryan tensed, preparing himself for the confrontation. As he caught a glimpse of the killer holding the sledgehammer, Lacey dodged to the side as though she were going to run toward the front door. Her captor surged forward, his attention on her.
That gave Ryan the edge he needed. He raised his gun. “Stop or I’ll shoot.”
The guy swung around, the sledgehammer gripped in both of his hands as if it were a shield. “No, you won’t. I’m unarmed.”
Ryan laughed humorlessly. “Wrong. A sledgehammer can kill. If I feel threatened or Lacey does, then I have a right to protect her or myself. So come at me and test whether I’ll shoot or not.”
When the killer raised his weapon, Lacey charged into his back, sending him flying to the floor.
Ryan moved quickly. He yanked the sledgehammer from the fake Dawson and shoved the gun into the man’s back. “At this range, I guarantee I won’t miss.”
The fake Dawson went slack.
As Ryan put handcuffs on him, he glanced at Lacey. “Okay?”
“Yes, I am now.”
Once the prisoner was secured, Ryan moved to Lacey and loosened the ropes around her wrists then helped her to her feet. He scooped her into his arms and hugged her tight. He didn’t want to let go, but he needed to notify his deputies the hostage was safe.
* * *
Lacey sat in the living room of the bed and breakfast, holding Shaun against her. She didn’t want to let him go. What he did today had saved her. The killer would have had no reason to keep her alive after he escaped the carriage house. She’d seen it in his cold eyes.
“Shaun, we can sleep in the Garden Suite tonight.”
Her son didn’t say anything.
She leaned forward and realized Shaun had fallen asleep with Sadie cuddled next to him. No wonder he hadn’t said anything for the last five minutes. She moved slowly and laid his head gently on the cushion. When she stood and stared at him, tears glistened in her eyes. She could have lost him today. She could…
Stop the what ifs. Cherish what’s happening right at this moment. Peace settled on her shoulders as she gazed on her son, then she looked at the living room of her bed and breakfast thanks to Mr. Hopewell. She had been blessed today.
Thank You, Lord.
“The carriage house has been processed.”
Ryan’s words, so sweet to her ears, bathed her in warmth. When he had hugged her after subduing the killer, she’d felt cherished and hopeful for the future. She’d never thought she would allow herself to love again, but Sheriff Ryan McNeil had stolen her heart, probably from the very first day she arrived back home after almost twenty years.
He stood right behind her. She faced him and wound her arms around him. “We’re going to stay in the Garden Suite one more day.”
He led her to the loveseat, catty-corner from the couch and sat, tugging her down next to him. “I’m taking most of tomorrow off. I’ll help you fix the damage he did to your bedroom.”
“Did you find the diamonds?” There had been a couple of places she’d thought might be where the gems were hidden that hadn’t been searched yet. She’d told Ryan about them and hoped he could find the diamonds.
He nodded. “At the far end of the attic where the double doors are, between the outside wall and the garage below. After I spied a black bag, two of my deputies went into the garage and knocked a hole in the wall behind the shelving. Millions of dollars in diamonds were inside. After nineteen years, they’ll be returned to their rightful owner—Collins Diamond Emporium.” Ryan cuddled her against him. “I’m seizing the moment. I’m not letting anymore time pass without telling you that I love you. I hope one day we can be a family—you, me, and Shaun.”
His words took her breath away.
“Will you marry me, Lacey St. John?”
“Mom, tell him yes.” Sitting up on the couch, Shaun rubbed his eyes.
“Yeah, Lacey, tell me yes.” Smiling at her, Ryan winked.
“Yes. I love you.” She threw her arms around his neck. “My sister is going to be so jealous. You were all she talked about when we moved away.”
“Yay! Mom’s gonna marry Ryan.” Her sleepy son was suddenly wide awake.
Sadie barked her approval.
“I second that, Shaun. Yay!” Ryan wrapped his arms around Lacey and kissed her.
Thanks, Mr. Hopewell, for this second chance at love.
—The End—
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&n
bsp; About the Author
Margaret Daley
USA Today Bestselling author, Margaret Daley, is multi-published with over 95 titles and 5 million books sold worldwide. She had written for Harlequin, Abingdon, Kensington, Dell, and Simon and Schuster. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Carol Award, Holt Medallion and Inspirational Readers' Choice Contest.
She has been married for over forty years and has a son and two granddaughters. When she isn't traveling, she's writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at www.margaretdaley.com.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
The Inheritance Collection
Strong Women, Extraordinary Situations Series
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
More Books in the STRONG WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY SITUATIONS Series
About the Author
Deadly Legacy Page 10