“I didn’t say—”
“Liar!” Owen slammed his hand against the railing.
On the other side of the porch, Sadie went crazy. She barked, straining against the leash.
“You told them I was sending you threatening messages, that I tried to attack you.”
Swallowing past the terror clogging her throat, Emma tried to keep her voice calm and authoritative. “I told the sheriff you were angry with me over the inheritance. I didn’t lie or accuse you of anything.”
He came up the porch steps. Emma squeezed her hand around her house keys. They cut into her palm. Yes! She wasn’t completely defenseless.
“This house, this land...” Owen gestured widely “...it’s mine. It belongs to me.”
She maneuvered a key in between her fingers. A makeshift weapon. Not great, but it could still do some damage. “How did you get past the deputy, Owen?”
He blinked, caught off guard by her question. “I cut through the woods.”
The woods? The same place she’d felt someone watching her. It was also the same place the intruder had run to the other night. Owen had an alibi for the break-in, but that didn’t clear him of the phone calls or the destruction around the property. Could more than one person be involved? A cold trickle of sweat dripped down her back.
“It’s time for you to go, Owen. I don’t want you here.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
He stepped closer. The scent of whiskey poured off his skin like a bad cologne. Emma fought the urge to gag.
“You’re the thief here.” He jabbed a finger at her. “You’re the fraud. I’m not going to let you take what should be mine!”
He was so close she could see the individual threads of red in his bloodshot eyes. His breath was hot and rancid.
Emma tightened her grip on her keys. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she would if she had to.
Jutting her chin, she looked him in the eye. “I said you need to go.”
FIVE
Reed heard the barking first. It was insistent and alarming, growing louder as he took the turn into Emma’s drive. Sadie was tied to the side of the porch. She strained against her leash. Reed quickly ascertained the dog’s problem.
Owen.
The man had Emma cornered and was screaming in her face. The sight made Reed’s blood run hot.
He radioed for the deputy patrolling Emma’s property and slammed on his brakes. As he shoved the truck into Park, Sadie broke free of her collar. The dog bounded onto the porch and with a flying leap, tackled Owen. He let out a scream as Sadie’s jaws clamped down on his arm and he stumbled backward down the stairs. Sadie didn’t let go. The dog dragged Owen to the ground.
Reed raced across the yard, pulling out his handcuffs. “Call her off, Emma.”
She gave a command, and Sadie immediately released Owen. Tears ran down the man’s face as he cursed up a storm. Reed flipped him over and slapped the cuffs on him. “Owen Tillman, you are under arrest for trespassing, criminal threatening, public intoxication and anything else I can think to throw at you.”
“What are you doing?” Owen screamed. “Her dog attacked me, and you’re arresting me. I need to go to a hospital. Call an ambulance.”
Emma appeared with a first aid kit in her hands. Reed shook his head. “We’ll get the EMTs to do it. You don’t have to.”
“It’ll take time for them to arrive. He’s hurt. It might be his fault, but I’m not going to let him go untreated. He’s bleeding pretty badly.”
Owen glared at Emma. “Don’t you dare touch me, you—”
Reed added some pressure to Owen’s hurt arm and he cut off in a yelp.
A patrol car raced up the driveway. Deputy Miller clambered out. “I was on the far side of the ranch checking out the old barn for any recent activity. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Emma said, quickly reassuring him. “You can’t be everywhere at once.”
Reed hauled Owen to his feet. “Take this man to the hospital for treatment of his arm and to get him sobered up.”
Owen screamed and cursed the entire way to the patrol car. The glare he shot Emma from the back of the vehicle iced Reed’s blood. It also made him question everything he knew about this case.
Emma sat on the porch steps. The wind rustled her hair, blowing some strands across her forehead. Her face was pale and her body trembled. She stroked Sadie, who was tucked up next to her side.
“Are you okay?” Reed asked. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, he just scared me.” She smiled weakly. “We have got to stop meeting like this.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He picked up the first aid kit from the step and fished out a cold pack. He activated it. “Put your head down to your knees.”
She waved him off with a shaky hand. “I’m fine—”
“You’re crashing from the adrenaline, Em.” The old term of endearment slipped out of his mouth before he could catch it. He pushed Emma’s head gently toward her knees and parted the silky strands of her hair, placing the cold pack on the back of her neck. “You pass out on the porch steps, and Vivian will read me the riot act for sure.”
Sadie licked Reed’s arm. He patted her on the head. “And you are such a good girl. What a hero. I’m buying you a box of doggie treats.” He sat on the porch step on the other side of Emma. “Where is Vivian? And Lily?”
“They went to the grocery store. I messaged them while I was inside getting the first aid kit to make sure they were okay.” She sucked in a deep breath, then another, before lowering the ice pack from her neck. “I feel better now. I don’t
