The closer Zach got to Quail Hollow Bed & Breakfast, the more fried his nerves became. Deputy Gates had promised he’d call once Heather was located. The silence of his cell phone was unnerving.
He just passed the location where the body had been pulled from the woods behind the Hershbergers’ place. The trees dotting the hillside were in peak fall colors. Evil had touched even this beautiful place.
Dear Lord, please help me get to Heather in time.
He didn’t know what had happened to Heather, but every ounce of his being knew it was bad.
An image of his sweet sister came to mind.
Let me be there for Heather. Please. I can’t let her down, too.
The cell phone on the seat next to him rang, startling him. He had waited the entire drive for it to ring, and now that it had, he was afraid to answer. He had dealt with hundreds of life-and-death situations in his job and now he was truly afraid. Afraid that he may have lost Heather forever.
Drawing in a fortifying breath, he pressed the accept button. “Marshal Walker,” he said into the air with his phone set on hands-free.
“It’s Deputy Gates...” A determined voice filled the cab of the truck. He bolted upright and his seat belt snapped against his chest.
“You found Heather.”
“A call came in from the Hershbergers’ residence, Maryann and Ruthie are hiding in the barn. Someone is holding Miss Miller at gunpoint in the main house,” he said in clipped tones. “We’re headed there now.”
Zach slammed on the brakes. “I’m a minute away.”
“Wait for backup,” the deputy said. “We’re en route.”
“Okay.” Zach ended the call and pressed the accelerator and did a quick U-turn and headed back toward the Hershbergers’ farm. He wasn’t going to wait for anyone. Not if it meant saving Heather’s life.
Zach pulled over about a hundred feet from the handmade wooden sign by the road that read Greenhouse. Apparently the Amish were on the nose in their advertising. The cornfields from the neighboring property would hide the truck. Provide him with the element of surprise.
Zach climbed out and closed the door with a quiet click. He pulled his gun out of its holster and ran toward the driveway, his heart in his throat. When he reached the end of the cornfields, he paused and peered up toward the house.
According to the deputy, Heather was being held captive in the main house. He scanned the windows and didn’t notice any movement. He broke away from his hiding place and sprinted toward the house. He took cover by the side of the building, catching his breath.
He listened. He could hear rustling from inside, then a crash. Shouting.
Time was running out to save Heather. Crouching, so as not to be seen from the windows, he moved toward the porch and silently climbed the steps and prayed for backup.
* * *
When Heather couldn’t reach the gun, she twisted her body around, despite Fiona clawing at her legs. Heather freed her legs and kicked Fiona as hard as she could. Her shoe made solid contact and a horrifying crack came from Fiona’s jaw as she fell backward and let out a whoosh of air. Heather scrambled and reached for a table to pull herself up.
“I’m going to kill you,” Fiona screamed.
The front door burst open and Zach stepped in, training his gun on Fiona. “Stop.”
Relief washed over Heather. “Zach,” she breathed.
Before Fiona had a chance to get her legs under her, Zach strode across the room. He shoved his gun back into its holster and quickly put handcuffs on Fiona. “Stay put.”
Zach turned and reached for Heather’s hand, pulling her toward him. He cupped her cheek with his hand and smoothed his thumb across her skin, leaving a trail of warmth. “Are you hurt?”
Heather shook her head against his hand. “How did you know I was here?”
“Let’s just say your friends were worried about you.” He tipped his head.
Heather narrowed her gaze, confusion making her thinking fuzzy. “Thank God.” She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, my. I have to make sure Maryann and Ruthie are okay.”
Zach brushed a soft kiss across her forehead and she smiled up at him. “They are. They called the sheriff’s department. Deputy Gates is on his way. He can take care of Fiona.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Fiona tried to get her feet under her, but she couldn’t seem to with her hands handcuffed behind her back.
Zach grabbed Fiona’s arm and yanked her to her feet.
Heather shook her head. “She had befriended Brian. She wanted to write his story.” She turned and glared at Fiona.
Heather took a big step back when Fiona puckered her lips as if to spit on her.
Heather blinked slowly, trying to tamp down her growing anger. She was done being the victim. She spun around and walked out onto the porch. She’d fill Zach in with all the details soon. But right now, she needed to find her friends. The cool air felt refreshing on her warm cheeks. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement.
She turned and saw Maryann and Ruthie running toward her, their long dresses flapping around their legs.
Heather ran down the stairs and pulled Ruthie into an embrace. Then she quickly let her Amish friend go. “Thank you for calling the sheriff.”
“I’ve never been more grateful we had a phone in the barn for business purposes.” Maryann reached out and squeezed Heather’s hand.
A commotion drew their attention to the front porch. Zach led Fiona out in handcuffs to the newly arrived sheriff’s deputy.
“Are you okay, Maryann?” Heather asked.
“Yah. I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry you got wrapped up in this.”
“I’ve had enough excitement around here to last me a lifetime, that’s for sure.” Maryann shook her bonneted head. “Everything’s okay now.”
Zach joined them after Fiona was secured in the back of the patrol car. “Is everyone okay? Does anyone need medical attention?”
“Neh,” Maryann said. “I’m fine.”
“Is she going to jail?” Ruthie asked.
“Yes. Then she’ll await trial,” Zach said.
“But she won’t get out to hurt us?” Ruthie asked.
“No, she won’t.”
“I need to go inside. Sit down.” Maryann walked toward the steps.
Ruthie turned to follow her in and Heather called out to her, “I’ll be in in a minute to help you clean up.” She didn’t think there was too much damage, but some furniture and items had been upended when she and Fiona had struggled. And the glass from the pitcher would need to be swept up.
Heather felt slightly awkward as she and Zach stood in silence watching the patrol car pull away. Deputy Gates said Heather could come in later to file a report.
“Ruthie and Maryann have become like family to you.”
Heather rubbed her upper arms for warmth. “They have. I’m so grateful they’re okay.” She stared at the empty road. “If only Brian could have put his charms to work for something positive.” Heather sniffed and drew her shoulders up.
“You’re going to have to relay the entire story of what happened here to the sheriff’s department,” Zach said, placing his hand on the small of her back.
“I’d be happy to never hear Brian Fox’s name again.”
“Me, too. He’s caused a lot of havoc in our lives.”
Heather lifted her hand toward the house. “Well, I better go help them clean up.” With her heart beating in her throat, she took a few steps toward the house, then turned to call Zach’s name when he said hers at the same time.
“You go first,” Zach said, smiling.
Heather cleared her throat and she grew light-headed. “Okay, I’m just going to say this because about thirty minutes ago I thought I had bought the farm. Well, I had bought the farm, but...you know what I mean.”
Zach nodded, a light glowing in his eyes. He seemed to be enjoying this. “Go on...” he encouraged her.
“Anyway... I should know that life and a future are not guaranteed for anyone. And—” she lifted a shoulder, feeling so far out of her element she wanted to run into the cornfields and hide “—is this thing between us going to lead anywhere?”
* * *
Heather was standing in front of him pouring her heart out. All of a sudden, her face flushed red and she threw up her hands. “Just... I don’t know. Forget it. I need to go help them clean up.” She spun around.
Zach reached out and touched her arm. “Heather. Wait.”
She stopped with her back to him and paused a minute before turning around. When she did, she had tears in her eyes. Without saying anything, he stepped toward her and pulled her into an embrace. He ran his hand over her head, feeling her silky smooth hair and breathing in the fresh scent of her cucumber shampoo.
“I’ve faced a lot of bad guys in my career. Been put in a ton of hairy situations. But I have never been more frightened than when I found out you were in danger today.” He pulled away slightly and cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers. After a long moment, he pulled away. “I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you.”
Heather smiled and a tear trailed down her cheek.
“I should have never let you out of my sight,” Zach said.
She swallowed hard. “You have your job in Buffalo. I have the bed-and-breakfast here in Quail Hollow.”
“Those are jobs. You’re more important to me than a job.”
A small line creased her forehead, indecision flashing in her eyes. “But I’ve worked so hard on the bed-and-breakfast. I wanted to honor my family.”
A small pool of dread gathered in his stomach. Didn’t she feel the same way? He dropped his hands and stepped away. He needed her to understand exactly how he felt, then he’d walk away if that was what she really wanted.
He met her gaze. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Heather.”
She reached out and took his hand in hers. “You’re such a sweet man. But I can’t give up everything here for you. I know you’re nothing like Brian, but I need to be independent. Not cave to the wishes of a boyfriend.”
Zach tried to process everything that she was saying to him while not showing the disappointment on his face. “I wouldn’t ask you to leave Quail Hollow. We can work something out. Buffalo’s not that far. I could commute. Or find a new job. They need law enforcement here, too.”
It was Heather’s turn to touch his cheek. “I care for you a lot, Zach. But my heart needs to heal. I’ve been through so much that I don’t trust myself.”
“I understand. And I’ll wait for you.”