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She did so, trying not to pull down on it, giving their position away. Shivering, she numbly realized the cold water was sapping her strength.

Thankfully, Jackson stayed close to her side. She wanted to throw her arms around him, soaking in his warmth, but forced herself to stay where she was. Jackson used one hand to hold the tree branch, but the other grasped his weapon. How he hadn’t lost it in the water, she wasn’t sure.

For long moments there was nothing but silence. Her curly wet hair hung in her eyes, but she didn’t brush it away. Partially because she was afraid to let go of the tree branch.

Glancing back at the lake behind her, she was horrified to realize the canoe was now completely under water. A lone paddle floated beside it.

Another sound cut through the silence. Not gunfire, but a low rumbling sound. An engine? She frowned, straining to listen. A car? Or a boat?

She fearfully looked up at Jackson. He slowly shook his head, a silent warning not to call out.

The boat engine grew louder. Then she understood Jackson was afraid the boat wasn’t there to rescue them.

But to finish the job of killing them.

Her arms trembled with cold and exertion. She felt exposed, despite the foliage around them. She couldn’t imagine the gunmen on the boat wouldn’t see them.

She mentally braced for the sound of gunfire. Instead, the boat engine slowed. Through the leaves she could see a small fishing boat heading toward the canoe paddle.

Holding her breath, she watched the boat idle. A man stood, and she caught the glimpse of a gun pointing down at the water. She could hardly believe he was waiting for one or both of them to surface.

Nothing happened for long moments. The man sat and the boat engine sped up, as the vessel abruptly swung around and took off.

“Wh-what hap-pened?” Her teeth were chattering hard, her muscles trembling to the point she imagined the entire tree was shaking, too.

“The police are on the way. Hear it?” Jackson held her gaze.

He was right. The faint wail of sirens she’d heard earlier gained volume. Soon, swirling red-and-blue lights lit up the sky. The police were getting close to their hiding spot.

And when she looked back out at the lake, she realized the fishing boat was gone. Almost as if she’d imagined it, along with the man pointing his gun at the water.

Jackson stayed where he was, showing no signs of getting out of the lake. She wanted to ask why, when she heard a familiar voice.

“Jackson? Nina? Are you out there?”

Creed was alive. She closed her eyes in a moment of gratitude that leaving him behind at the rental house hadn’t cost him his life.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for keeping us all safe in Your care!

* * *

“We’re here,” Jackson called in a low voice. He had felt certain Creed could hold his own, but hearing his buddy call their names was a welcome relief. “Give us a minute to climb out of the water.”

Tucking his weapon in his waistband, Jackson used his now free hand to hold on to Nina. “Go slowly now. Try to get closer to the shore, okay?”

“Ok-ay.” He supported her trembling body, guiding her closer to the bank. There wasn’t a rocky shore area here, just a steep hill covered in brush. Yet he was proud that Nina didn’t let that stop her. She collapsed on the bank, then went up on her hands and knees, crawling toward the swirling police lights.

Now that Nina was safe, he swung himself out of the water. Scrambling up the slope behind her, he sighed when he spotted Creed helping Nina to her feet.

“Are you okay?” Creed asked.

“I—I will—be…” Nina crossed her arms over her chest in a pathetic attempt to warm herself. “J-just need to g-get warm.”

“I have a blanket in the back of the car.” One of the responding officers hurried to open his trunk. A moment later, the guy had wrapped a blanket around Nina’s shaking shoulders.

“Thanks.” Jackson turned toward Creed. “Glad you made it.”

“I hit one of the shooters.” Creed grimaced. “He didn’t make it, so questioning him isn’t an option. I couldn’t find any ID on him either. I was able to get a picture of his face with my phone. Hopefully facial recognition will give us more intel on who he’s working for.”