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“You told Eric I was high and I scared your crazy girlfriend who is afraid of her damn shadow,” Tim continued.
“Do I looked scared right now, Tim?” she called, drawing his attention away from Chad, hoping he’d aim his weapon at her—and offer a clear path for a bullet. She only had one shot at this. If she failed, he’d fire on Chad.
“Because you don’t frighten me,” she added, feeling the truth of those words down to her fingertips. She had a mountain of fears, including losing Chad before she had a chance to talk to him. Tim didn’t make the list.
But the intoxicated man with the shotgun ignored her, focusing on Chad. “Eric never would have accused me if you hadn’t gone and tattled like a little girl.”
“He wasn’t the only one who saw you,” Eric said. “Put the gun down and we’ll talk about it.”
With a flick of his thumb, Tim removed the safety. “No.”
Lena focused on her breath. Her finger slipped into position on an inhale, preparing to shoot as the measured breath left her body. She refused to lose Chad when she’d finally realized that the one thing she had to offer him—love—might be enough.
Staring down the barrel of her revolver, Lena exhaled and pulled the trigger.
Chapter 23
THE SHOT RANG out and Chad ran toward the noise. Lena. He saw a swirl of color, her long dress billowing as she raced forward. Relief mixed with adrenaline, but he kept moving, chasing after her. He reached her side as she slid Tim’s gun out away from his bleeding hand.
“Nice shot,” Chad said.
“There are some things I’m very good at, and this is one of them,” she said, her gaze focused on the wounded man at her feet. “I couldn’t let him shoot you.”
“Yeah, I feel the same about you. I was terrified he’d turn his rifle and aim it at you.” Chad looped his arm around her waist. “Maybe I should start carrying a gun.”
“I think your skills lie elsewhere,” she murmured.
Police sirens echoed through the forest, the sound drawing closer and closer to the clearing. Eric, Liam, and Katie joined them, forming a semicircle around the cursing, bleeding man on the ground. Katie threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight as he kept his hold on Lena.
“I’m glad you’re OK,” Katie said. “I couldn’t handle two brothers in the hospital.”
Chad released his sister. “Thank Lena. She’s the one who shot him.”
If she hadn’t fired first . . . no, he couldn’t let his mind go there. Lena was a warrior. He believed in her.
Medics rushed over, lifting the pale-faced Tim onto the stretcher. Police officers, led by Rick Maxwell, a guy who’d graduated high school with Brody, led the pack.
“She shot my fucking hand! She’s crazy,” Tim whimpered as the medics wheeled the stretcher toward the waiting ambulance.
“Here is the weapon.” Lena handed her revolver to Rick.
“It was self-defense,” Chad added.
Rick slipped Lena’s gun into an evidence bag, handed it off to another man in uniform before crouching down beside Tim’s gun. Picking up the unfired weapon, he looked up at the small crowd gathered. “I’m going to need statements from everyone.”
“Yes, sir,” Lena said as Chad wrapped an arm around her. Holding her close, he could feel her breathing shift as she drew air in short gasps. It was as if letting go of her weapon had opened the door to panic. Over the noise at the scene, he heard barking.
“Katie,” Chad said. “Get Hero. Now.”
With Liam at her side, Katie ran to the Moore Timber truck, opened the door, and released the frantic golden retriever. Hero raced to his owner, jumping up, pushing her out of Chad’s arms and onto the ground. The dog lay across her chest, his nose beside her cheek.
“He’s a service dog,” Chad explained to the officers. “Lena served in the army.”
Rick nodded. “We’ll still need your statements, but I can start with someone else. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
Eric clapped Rick on the shoulder. “I’ll start.”
HOURS LATER, THE trucks and police cruisers pulled away from the landing site. The sun had slipped behind the mountains, while Rick and his team had done their job, taking statements from everyone who’d been working at the site and seen the events unfold. The officer in charge had agreed with Chad—self-defense.
