Somewhere overhead a hawk cried out and took flight. The cold air had put color in Megan’s cheeks, and her body moved with Fiona’s, a natural extension of the horse. They’d gone deeper into the forest than Luke realized. He cleared his mind, listening, but the only sounds were the clopping of the horse hooves and the rushing of the water from the nearby creek.
“Shortly after the courthouse fight, my dad was convicted of a second DUI and disappeared. That is, until he showed up in Cardin.”
“No wonder you’re worried about letting him back into your life.” She was quiet for a moment. “Fifteen years is a long time, Luke. Maybe he’s changed. He says he’s sober, right?”
“Yes, but… I dunno, Megs. He hasn’t been a part of my life for a long time. And for most of my childhood, when he was involved, it wasn’t good.”
“True, but you and I are cut from the same cloth. We believe in the goodness of people and in their ability to change. Your dad calls and you don’t answer, but you also don’t tell him to stop. Maybe a part of you is hoping there’s a chance to heal things.”
Luke opened his mouth to deny it but choked on the words. There was a thread of truth to what she’d said. Still, there was so much hurt between him and his father, he couldn’t see a path through it.
There was parting in the trees, revealing a small clearing and the creek. The air was scented faintly with the water, clean and crisp.
“Can we rest for a bit?” Megan pulled her horse to a stop and dismounted. “I haven’t ridden in a long time and my body is reminding me of that.”
“Sure.” He dismounted Domino and let the reins fall to the ground. “Do you miss it? Riding?”
“I do. I didn’t realize how much until now.” Picking up a rock, she sent it skipping over the water. It jumped twice before plopping into the creek. “Work has taken over my life in the last few years. Maybe when everything is settled, I’ll figure out a way to balance things better.”
“What about dating?” He peeked at her out of the corner of his eye. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Uhhh, no.” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “Dating hasn’t been high on my priority list.”
He let out the breath he was holding. Luke picked up a rock and sent it sailing through the air. It skipped three times across water before landing in the creek.
“Show off.” She pushed him lightly, her face split into a wide grin. “You just can’t let me get a win.”
“You would hate it if I didn’t challenge—”
She put a finger to her lips and pointed into the trees. “Look.”
He followed the line of her finger. Two deer stepped from the camouflage of the forest into the clearing. They paused, but Luke and Megan were downwind. With graceful steps, they approached the creek to drink.
She watched them with an enraptured look on her face. “I’d forgotten how magical this place could be.”
The wind rustled her hair, sending strands of it into her face. Without thinking, Luke reached up and pushed them back. The touch was featherlight, barely more than a brush of his fingers against her face, and yet it quickened his heartbeat.
Their eyes snagged and Megan’s breath hitched. She shifted, the movement nearly indecipherable, except his fingers were still tangled in the strands of her hair, still grazing her cheek, and he felt it. Longing settled in Luke’s gut, making him ache for more than was reasonable.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. He leaned closer.
A red laser light flashed on her cheek. Luke spun, taking Megan with him. A bullet whistled right past his ear and thudded into the dirt where Megan had been just a breath before. The horses bolted as the crack of a rifle shot echoed.
“Run,” Luke yelled.
He pushed Megan toward the trees, using his body to provide cover. His heart pounded in his ears. Megan’s shoes lost traction against the leaves and grass. She stumbled.
Another whistle and a thud as a bullet lodged itself in the ground nearby. Luke wrapped his arm around her waist and dove behind two large pines and an array of bushes.
He pulled his weapon while scanning her body for possible injuries. “You hit?”
“I’m fine.” Her breaths were coming in pants. “You?”
“Still in one piece.”
Thank you, Lord.
Luke reached down and pulled his clutch piece from a specially sewn pocket in his boot. “Do you still know how to shoot?”
She nodded. “I’ve kept up with the skills June taught me.”
He handed the gun to her before peeking around the tree. Everything had gone still and quiet.
Holding his breath, he scanned the direction the bullets had come from. Bushes rustled on the other side of the creek. He glimpsed someone in camouflage running, heading for the trail leading to the road.
“Stay here and call 911. I’m going after him.”
Luke bolted through the underbrush along the creek bed. His pulse skyrocketed as he left the safety of the trees and sprinted through the water, soaking the bottom of his jeans. The shooter had a decent lead, but Luke knew these woods like the back of his hand. He took a shortcut and spotted a figure in full camouflage up ahead.
“Police! Freeze!”
The shooter didn’t stop. Luke put all his focus into closing the gap between them. His boots skidded on dried pine needles and sweat coated his back.
The man spun, lifting his weapon, and Luke had seconds to dive for cover. Bark exploded as bullets impacted the tree above him. He gritted his teeth, the desire to give chase fighting with his common sense. The shooter had a rifle. Luke only had a handgun, and while he was an excellent shot, he was severely disadvantaged.
The rev of an engine sent him scrambling. He raced toward the sound. A dark pickup truck, dirt obscuring its plates, flew down the main trail
