He slowed at the trees, just in case Edwards was hiding and waiting for him, and spotted a smudge of blood on the bark.
Someone was hurt. But was it Tessa’s blood, or Bruce’s from where Caleb had stabbed him?
Caleb kept running, praying he was faster than they were able to go. Running along the fence line until he could jump the gate where it wasn’t electrified. The gate wobbled in a way that told him it wasn’t even secured right now.
He landed on the other side and nearly slipped on a patch of ice but kept going anyway. He took a couple steps to steady himself and pumped his arms and legs as fast as he could. What else was he supposed to do when he felt like Tessa’s life could mean the difference of a split second?
Finally he spotted them up ahead, close to the old shed they’d never torn down. The one behind the creek where the original homestead had been built. That old place burned down decades ago, and the preacher’s family had opted to build a new house where the one currently stood.
Caleb didn’t have much cover, and with the still air they were going to hear him coming. But he didn’t care. He had to get to her as fast as possible.
After all, everything he wanted hung in the balance.
Tessa dragged her feet. Edwards pulled her by the arm, obviously struggling to walk on his injured leg. If it was Caleb, he’d have kicked the guy right where the stab wound was located, forcing him to collapse. Tessa was way too much of a lady for that—and she didn’t have any fighting skills by the lookof it. He’d have to teach her how to defend herself so she never felt vulnerable again.
“Edwards!” Caleb raced to them. “Let her go!”
He wanted to fire his gun and hit this traitor, but there was far too much risk of hitting Tessa. Still, Caleb aimed his gun and closed the distance between them, each breath heaving out of his chest.
Edwards spun around, dragging Tessa in front of him and putting his gun to her throat. He’d always acted like wearing an FBI badge on his belt meant he could do no wrong. That it would erase all the ways he’d betrayed the law he was supposed to uphold. “I’ll kill her if you come near me.”
“Let her go, I’ll give you what I want.”
“It’s too late for that. You don’t have the envelope, do you?” His wild eyes scanned Caleb. “Should’ve brought it. You could’ve saved her life. Now she’s gonna die before she gets to save my soul.”
So Tessa had witnessed to him about God? Caleb decided then that strength came in many forms.
“You think you’re cornered,” Caleb said. “But you can still walk away from this. Tell me what I need to know to bring down Kessler and we can make a deal with the US Attorney. Maybe even get you immunity.”
Hopefully it sounded like he believed what he was saying, because deep down he knew there was no way he’d put in a good word. And little chance those in charge would agree Kessler could get away with what he’d done. Even in exchange for testimony.
He focused on Edwards, unable to look in Tessa’s eyes or he would lose his resolve.
“Let her go and put the gun down,” Caleb said. “We’ll figure it out.”
Chapter Eighteen
Tessa tried to breathe. Edwards’ arm around her waist was cutting off her air. The gun pressed against the underside of her throat not helping her feel like she could breathe. Tears rolled down her face.
Caleb didn’t look at her. All through that conversation he hadn’t once even looked at her. She wanted him to, but maybe he needed to keep this professional. Focus on the threat and not the victim.
Tessa wanted to be someone she could be proud of. Not someone who cowered in fear. Too bad she couldn’t figure out how to do that. This situation felt like it happened between heartbeats, everything moving too fast. Too much. But it also seemed to stretch time.
Lord Jesus.She needed Him now more than ever, but it was the times when her life was “fine” and things were normal that those foundations were built. Now that life and death could happen in a matter of seconds, she fell back on those ingrained basics. Prayer. Memory verses she had learned. Drawing on the peace of God that ran through her like a river—of living water.
She knew, no matter what, that God had her in His hands.
“Figure it out?” Edwards scoffed. “You don’t get it.”
She stared at official Caleb, the fed. The man who wore a badge and gun and fought for justice. He wasn’t the boy next door right now, he was a man with a job to do.
And Edwards was going to kill him.
He was barely paying attention to her, and his arm around her waist had loosened a fraction. She whimpered, and it was real—no pretense.
She felt the shift in him.
Edwards moved the gun off her throat, catching the barrel on the underside of her chin. She cried out and when he brought the gun up to point at Caleb, Tessa turned into him. She pushed him with all her strength, turning with his arm still around her. Moving, making him move with her. Rotating around where he stood.
