Page 37 of Beneath Still Waters

“Not at all. How are you doing?” Ferd angled her horse more to the side to give Lacy more room on the side of the road.

“Good. Connor said he talked to you. I’m sorry he filled you in on all our deep secrets. It’s kind of a lot to take in. Especially after what you know.”

Lacy had told her everything when she’d lived there. For a woman who seemed to have a lot of friends, she really was lonely. “Everyone has them. I’m sorry if he over-shared. I’m the one who brought it up.”

She focused on keeping the horse’s rhythm so the ride would be easier. In the last two years, her body had forgotten how to ride naturally.

“I don’t mind as much as I was worried it was another thing to pile on you. I have lots of friends here at Wayside. You’ve struggled from the start to get close to anyone. If my situation sends you packing, I’m going to be so mad at him.”

“For about two seconds until you aren’t.” Ferd laughed. “And that’s good. Look, this doesn’t scare me. I’m just sad for you. You wanted to be a mom so bad.”

She blinked rapidly and looked away. “Infertility feels like being attacked by a demon, and everyone seems to have advice about how to get rid of it so you can finally receive the blessing of getting pregnant . . . but it feels like I’m not doing any of the steps right. They told me it was my weight. My hormones. My mental state. His mental state. We’ve been to doctors galore. Still nothing.”

“I know, it’s so frustrating.” Ferd slowed her horse so they’d have more time to chat.

“It feels like a punishment for agreeing to the divorce in the first place. I know that’s a lie from the pit of hell, but it’s hard to rebuke a lie once it takes root.”

Ferd stopped her horse so she could look Lacy in the eyes. “I wish there was something, anything, I could say to make you hurt less. I know there’s not.”

Lacy leaned forward and waved a fly away from her horse’s ear. A shot cracked from somewhere in the pasture. The bullet whizzed past both of them.

Ferd’s mare reared, scaring Lacy’s. She struggled to keep hold of the reins, then clamped her knees against the saddle.

“Ferd?” Lacy managed to get her horse under control and directed him back toward Ferd.

“No! Go!” she took her rein and slapped Lacy’s horse along the flank to get him running because Lacy wouldn’t leave her.

Ferd’s mare raced into the ditch and took the fence in a high jump, landing with a hard thud that jolted her whole body. She raced toward the barn. Safety. Unfortunately, it was about a mile away, and a hooded man with a gun stood between her and that safety, rifle already raised.

THIRTY-ONE

The man put his rifle to his cheek and took aim at her. She had no gun on her to protect herself. There was no other choice but to face down what was clearly about to happen.I’m sorry, Lord, for anything I haven’t apologized for until now.

Lacy’s horse galloped racehorse-style, his mouth open and ears pegged back toward Ferd. Now the gunman had to decide who to aim at first. The barrel wavered. Back and forth. He froze for a second, then took off racing at an angle away from them.

Did he know she wasn’t carrying?

Ferd tightened her grip on the reins. If she moved the horse over to intercept him, she could lose her footing. She was already going fast enough that an injury could mean having to put the horse down. That was not happening today. She would not be the cause of death for a poor horse.

“Let him go! We’ll call the police,” Lacy screamed, keeping up with her now.

“Recognize him?” She looked over her shoulder. He was already near the fence as they got farther away from it.

Lacy worked to slow her mount, but they both still came to the barn far too fast to go unnoticed. Connor raced out andgrabbed hold of the reins of both horses. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Call the police,” Lacy said as she breathed heavily. “There was a man in the pasture. He took shots at us.”

Connor reached up. With one arm, he slipped her off her horse and down to his side. “And you’re okay?”

“Yes. I think they were aiming at Ferd. Check her and Milly.”

Milly. That was her name.Now she’d never forget. “I’m fine,” she said as she brushed her hands over Milly’s neck and flanks.

Connor took over, checking her thoroughly. “Unless the saddle is hiding anything, you both were unharmed.”

Her pounding heart could disagree. “I've been shot at twice in two days.”

“Meaning your shooter is likely unfamiliar with a gun, thankfully.” Connor took up the reins again and led the horses into the barn.