Hunted Love (A Dangerous Kind of Love Book 2) (25 page)

“No,” Brian said with a shake of his head. “Robin was very firm with Danny. I was there when she told him in no uncertain terms that she didn’t mind being friends with him but that was as far as it went.”

“How did Danny take that?” Sarah asked.

“Pretty well,” Brian said. “He seemed content to love her from afar.”

“There’s a thin line between love and hate,” Phoebe said. “I don’t care what you said about him being content to love her from afar. With people like him, there’s always a point where they will want more than that. I think he found out she was running away with Jamie and exploded. He had always been jealous of Jamie.”

“I guess it’s possible,” Brian said, “but how would he have known what they were up to. Only a few people knew that she was running away and where she was that night.”

“Did you know?” Sarah asked the doctor.

He looked at her in surprise. “Me?”

“Brian didn’t know,” Phoebe said. “Kristen and I didn’t even know what she was up to until she called us to pick her up, but I bet Danny knew. He lives in the apartments across the street from the pub. Has a great view of the place.” She dropped her voice to a whisper again. “I think he saw Robin over there that night, realized she was about to run off with Jamie and became so angry he couldn’t control himself. Here was the girl he loved more than anyone else about to run off with his rival. He lost his mind.”

“Let’s say you’re right,” Brian said, “and Danny did kill Robin because he was obsessed with her. Why would he be angry with you and Kristen? If he’s the murderer, why would he care whether you picked her up that night?”

“Haven’t you noticed how nothing is ever his fault?” Phoebe asked. “He probably blames her death on everyone else. If Jamie hadn’t convinced her to go out that night, she’d still be alive. If Kristen and I had picked her up, she’d still be alive. In his mind, it’s all our fault, not his.”

“That still doesn’t explain why he’d go after Sarah,” Brian said.

Phoebe shrugged. “Sarah is the new Robin.”

Sarah felt a shiver go down her back. “He does watch me when I’m at work. Occasionally, I’ll catch his reflection in the window or the mirror.”

“See?” Phoebe leaned forward conspiratorially. “There’s another reason I suspect Danny. I’ve never told anyone else.” She checked over her shoulders again, before whispering, “My dad didn’t believe Jamie was guilty.”

“I was there when Jamie was arraigned,” Brian said, “and if Patrick had a gun on him right then he would have shot him right there.”

Phoebe patted his arm. “That was at the beginning. He changed his mind a few weeks later. On the night he died, we were in his study talking about Robin’s murder when suddenly he blurted out that Jamie was innocent and that he knew who really murdered Robin.”

Brian and Sarah exchanged a look.

“Did he say who he thought had killed her?” Sarah asked.

“He didn’t get a chance,” Phoebe said, “Danny walked in a few seconds later and interrupted us. You know, there was just something about the way the two were acting. I couldn’t put my finger on it but it’s always bothered me. Dad told me to go to bed and that we’d talk in the morning, but I never saw him again. Someone killed him while we were sleeping.”

Brian’s brow furrowed. “Why didn’t you ever say anything to me?”

“I was scared to death. I was convinced that Robin’s killer had murdered him and that I was next because he had confided in me. Then everyone started saying Wade Hogan killed Dad, and I thought that if he had, maybe he had killed Robin too. Then the cops hauled him off to jail for some other reason.” She threw up her hands. “I just didn’t know what to think so I just kept quiet. But I never forgot the way Dad was looking at Danny that night.”

The door opened and Jamie walked in.

“Well,” Brian said, “what did the police say?”

“They don’t want me to leave town.”

They glanced to the window as thunder rumbled outside.

“It’s been threatening to rain for hours now. I hope it holds off for a bit longer.” Phoebe pushed back her hair as she rose to her feet. “Are the police still at the main house? I want to talk to them. I think it’s about time I told them about Danny.”

Jamie gestured to the window. “They’re talking to Nathan in the driveway right now. They should be leaving soon though. What did you want to talk to them about Danny for?”

“I think he’s a creep,” Phoebe said with a definitive nod.

“If that were a crime,” Jamie said, “he would have been arrested a long time ago.”

Sarah stood. She touched Jamie’s sleeve. “I was afraid they were going to arrest you.”

“So was I. They still might.” Jamie’s gaze softened as a vulnerable and frightened look passed over her pretty face. He sighed as he reached out and took her into his arms. “Are you okay?”

She nodded into his chest. “Just tired.”

“Me too,” Phoebe said. “I feel like I could sleep for a week.”

“Come on, Phoebe,” Brian said. “I’ll help you up the stairs.”

Phoebe shook her head. “I have to make sure the horses are all right.”

“You need to stay off that foot,” Brian said. “You can barely walk as it is.”

“Go on to bed, Phoebe,” Jamie said finally dropping his arms from around Sarah only to reach for her waist a second later. “Sarah and I’ll take care of them tonight.”

Phoebe started to object but then tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Brian pulled her close and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Don’t cry, Phoebe. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“I don’t want to stay here.” Her face crumpled as tears fell from her eyes. “It’s not safe here. I just want to hide. Go somewhere no one can find me.”

“Then you’ll come home with me,” Brian said. “Or better yet, we’ll go to a friend of mine’s apartment. He’s working the late shift. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“That’s a good idea,” Jamie said. “Just make sure no one knows where she is.”

“What about Kristen?” Phoebe asked. “We can’t leave her.”

Brian brushed Phoebe’s hair out of her eyes. “I have to swing by the hospital to get a key to my buddy’s apartment. We’ll pick her up and take her with us.”

“Where are you two going to stay?” Phoebe asked.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Jamie said, “but don’t worry, we’ll keep in touch. I promise.”

They headed outside with Phoebe giving them a list of detailed instructions as they walked on how to take care of her horses properly. Fifteen minutes later, she was still issuing instructions, her head hanging out the passenger window of Brian’s car, as he drove them away.

*  *  *

“Hello troublemaker,” Sarah said, an hour later petting Joker’s nose. “I think that would have been a better name for you.”

Joker shook his head.

She held out a sugar cube. “No? Well, I guess it wasn’t completely your fault,” she said petting his nose as he took the cube from her hand.

“Nah, he’s a good horse,” Jamie said unbuckling Joker’s saddle and carrying it away to the tack room. “He just needs a firm hand.”

“Don’t we all,” Sarah said lightly under her breath as she picked up a brush and moved to Jack’s stall.

“What did you say?” Jamie asked as he returned from the tack room.

“Nothing.” Robin’s picture of her and Buck caught her eye. She looked up at Jamie as he passed by and smiled. “Have I ever told you how much I love horses?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well I do. Very very very much. More than anything else in the world.”

He raised eyebrows. “That’s . . . great,” he said before turning away.

“I absolutely adore them,” she called out as she entered Jack’s stall.

Jamie glanced over his shoulder at her as he moved to Joker’s stall.

She shrugged in amusement as she started brushing Jack with long sweeping strokes. Smiling at Jack, she whispered, “Had to give it a shot, at least.”

When she finished brushing down Jack, she moved to Joker’s stall, just as Jamie was coming out. “It’s okay. We’re done,” he said, walking to a sink at the far end of the stable.

“Oh?” she said in disappointment. She had rather enjoyed helping Jamie take care of the horses. He was firm but gentle and seemed at ease with them.

“Who’s going to take care of them tomorrow morning?”

“Nathan will, or he’ll get Moose or Danny to do it,” he said drying his hands.

“I’m surprised,” she said stepping to the sink. “I would have thought the police would keep everyone out of Bellemeade.”

“They’re staying at the guest house.” He handed her a towel. “Or at least that’s what they told the cops. I somehow doubt that yellow police tape the cops put up before they left is really going to keep them out of the main house, but who knows. Ready to go.”

“Ready,” she said laying the towel on the sink. “So, what do you want to do tonight?” she asked over her shoulder.

“This,” he said turning her around. He placed one hand behind her hand and another at her waist, holding her as close as possible as he kissed her until she was breathless.

Sarah clung to him, her knees growing weak as he spun them around. He leaned back against the sink, supporting her weight against him.

She broke free from his mouth, taking in a deep breath as he trailed a line of kisses from her mouth to her neck. “Jamie,” she whispered as his hands roamed over her body. She wanted to protest, to push him away, still unsure of how he felt about her, but he felt so good in her arms, she couldn’t do it. She moved her head towards him, eager for another kiss.

Jack in the stall next to them stomped his hoof and whinnied but Sarah barely noticed as she ran her hands through Jamie’s hair.

Jamie released her mouth once again and moved to the other side of her neck. Her eyes fluttered open, closed, and then open again.

It took her a few seconds to notice the green light sliding along the wall or to process what it meant. It wasn’t until it reached the mirror behind Jamie’s head that awareness and fear flooded her.

Panic set in as she grabbed hold of the front of Jamie’s tee shirt and leaned back pulling him down on top of her.

Caught off guard, Jamie barely had enough time to catch her as they fell to the ground.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Jamie rolled them over out of the way as the mirror and the window on the opposite side of the stable shattered.

Sarah tilted her head back against the floor as the stable door creaked open.

She opened her mouth to scream just as Jamie rolled them over toward the tack room. In one swift motion, he pulled her up with him and pushed her against the wall, pinning her body with his own. He pressed a finger to his lips.

She swallowed hard and waited as the sound of boots striking the wooden floor came closer.

“Jamie, is that you, old buddy?” Fletcher asked. “I got to say, I’m real sorry about this. I just hated interrupting. You looked like you were having such a good time, but I’m sort of on a deadline here.”

Jamie stretched out his arm and grabbed a riding crop.

“You don’t have to worry about anything, buddy,” Fletcher said. “I’ll take real good care of Sarah for you.”

Jamie reached over Sarah’s head and carefully picked up a horseshoe. He winced as it scraped against a nail on the wall.

The footsteps stopped.

There was silence for a moment and then, “Why don’t you come out and talk? I haven’t had a chance to thank you for my new makeover. I’d really love to return the favor.”

Jamie pushed Sarah to the side as he took her place against the wall. He jerked his chin toward the Dutch door on the other side of the room as he moved closer to edge of the wall.

Sarah held her breath as she silently crept to the door.

“What are you up to, Jamie?”

Jamie motioned for her to open the door.

She cringed as the door creaked.

Fletcher uttered a curse as he quickened his steps. He rounded the corner, his gaze automatically flying to the door.

Sarah gasped as Fletcher started to train his gun on her. Just then, Jamie hit Fletcher with the horseshoe before sweeping Fletcher off his feet with the riding crop.

The gun skidded across the floor as the two grappled with one another on the floor.

Sarah skirted the edge of the room heading for the weapon, just as Fletcher kicked Jamie off him. They rose to their feet and immediately went back at it. Striking and hitting at one another until they busted through Bess’ stall door, causing the horse to whinny and neigh in protest.

The horse ran past them and out into the middle of the room and over to Sarah cutting off her path to the gun.

She went around Bess just as Jamie with his arm locked around Fletcher’s neck, fell back and out of the stall.

The gun wasn’t far away now. All she had to do was just bend over and reach for it.

She glanced back at Jamie just as Fletcher elbowed him in the face stunning him momentarily, causing him to loosen his hold. Fletcher quickly scrambled to his feet and made a running dive for the weapon causing her to jump back and out of the way. She glanced over at Jamie as he climbed back to his feet and then back at Fletcher.

Her eyes widened as Fletcher flipped over on his back and swung the gun towards Jamie. She didn’t even think as she ran toward Jamie, throwing herself between him and Fletcher.

She braced herself for the shot as she flung her arms around him.

There was a soft click and then nothing. She glanced back as Fletcher looked down at the gun with a frown on his face. He jerked the magazine back and brought the gun up just as Jamie’s hand slid into her hand, pulling her to the door.

The gun went off, shattering the Dutch door’s glass windowpane as they ran out.

“Why don’t we run to the house?” Sarah asked breathlessly as Jamie pulled her toward the woods.

He dropped her hand long enough for him to swing his legs over the fence.

“No cover,” he said reaching for her. He helped her over the fence, pushing her head down just as a bullet struck the tree above her.

They took off through the woods, running from tree to tree, struggling to get through an overgrowth of weeds and rhododendron thickets with Fletcher following, shooting at them whenever he got close enough.

It was only when they reached the trail that wound around the Blake’s property that Sarah realized that Fletcher had fallen behind. She pulled on Jamie’s hand trying to lead him down the path toward the house, but he shook his head, pulling her in the opposite direction.

“Why?” she asked, gasping for breath as they ran deeper into the woods.

“I didn’t want the cops to find me with that rifle so I hid it nearby when I brought Phoebe back. If we can get to it, we can fight back.”

A few minutes later, Jamie released her hand and dropped to his knees next to an old dead tree scarred by a lightning strike. He dug through a pile of grey leaves out of the way while Sarah slumped back against the tree, pressing a hand to her burning side, still gasping for air. She didn’t know what hurt more, her side or her leg, which was no longer use to such exertion.

Hugging the tree, she turned her attention back to the woods, peering into the darkness looking for any sign of Fletcher, as Jamie’s searching grew more frantic.

That’s when she spotted him creeping from tree to tree. She ducked behind the dead tree and motioned for Jamie as Fletcher turned in their direction.

With a frustrated look, Jamie threw a handful of leaves aside before taking her hand and swiftly leading her away from the dead tree. When they were more than a yard away, Jamie pushed her down behind a large thicket and then lay down next to her.

They watched as Fletcher crept silently towards the dead tree and then finally in one quick motion, jumping forward, swinging his gun around as he did.

Fletcher straightened, disappointment written on his face as he looked around. Blowing out his breath, he kicked the leaves at his feet. Suddenly, he laughed. “Did you lose something, Jamie?” he called out turning around in a circle. “I found your stockpile an hour ago and decided to hang on to them for safekeeping. You really should take better care of your weapons. Why don’t you come out so we can talk?”

As the minutes ticked by, Fletcher’s scowl deepened as he looked around in hopeless frustration. Finally, he turned around, heading back the way he came.

Lying on her stomach, Sarah dropped her head down on her arms with a sigh of relief. She started to open her mouth to say something when Jamie pressed his fingers to her lips, sharply shaking his head, motioning with his eyes to a tree nearby. She followed his gaze, choking off a moan as a green beam of light, danced from one tree to another. Her fingers bit into Jamie’s arms as the light neared their hiding place.

Suddenly, there was a soft buzzing in the air and they heard Fletcher blow out his breath in annoyance. “Unbelievable,” he muttered softly.

Sarah glanced through a hole in the bush next to her. Fletcher was standing a few feet away, a cell phone pressed to his ear. “What do you want now?” he asked harshly. There was a moment of silence then he snapped, “Not yet! If you would stop interrupting me . . . What? . . . I know that. You’ve told me that a dozen times . . .” His voice grew in anger. “Did you see what he did to my face? . . . Yeah, well, now that’s going to cost you extra.” After a moment, he said, “No, but it’s a start . . . Yeah, yeah yeah, I heard you.” He snapped his phone closed. He stood there for a moment, looking around before finally setting off towards the trail.

After several minutes passed with no sign of Fletcher, Sarah whispered, “Let’s go.”

“Not yet. He could be waiting on that hill over there. It’s what I would do. Let’s give it some more time.”

Sarah turned on her side, wincing as pain radiated up and down her leg.

“Are you hurt?” he whispered.

When she didn’t answer, Jamie rolled over to his side, facing her. He slipped his arm underneath her. “Are you all right?” he asked holding her close.

She took a deep breath, “I’m fine,” she said with some difficulty. “Just out of shape. I haven’t run in a long time.”

Carrying her with him, he rolled over to his back. He laid his hand on the side of her face and pressed her head down onto his chest, his thumb lightly caressing her cheek. “Is your leg hurting?”

“I’ll survive,” she said, listening to the sound of his strong heartbeat.

“Do you think you can walk?”

She could hear the worry in his voice and smiled reassuringly. “It can’t be that far to the house.”

“We’re not going back there. I’d bet anything Fletcher’s lying in wait for us near the house.”

“Do you think Nathan, Danny or Moose heard the shots from the guesthouse? Maybe they called the police.”

“Our safest bet is heading further into the woods. I ran across a canoe shack a few hours ago when I was searching for Phoebe. We can take one of those and just drift away.”

“Where to?” she asked.

“Where I grew up. We’ll be safe there. But listen to me, if he finds us again, I . . .” His voice trailed off.

“What?”

“If he does find us again, I don’t want you to do anything stupid. Let me take care of it, okay? You just run. Do you hear me?”

She sighed. “I hear you.”

He gently tugged on her ponytail until she lifted her head and looked down at him. “You got in the way and almost got shot back there. If his gun hadn’t jammed, you’d be dead right now.”

“I know, but what else could I do? I thought he was going to shoot you.”

His brow furrowed. “You ran between us intentionally?”

She laid her head on his chest. “You’re my protector. What would I do without you? I . . .” She hesitated, stopping herself from telling him that she loved him. Instead, she said, “I need you.”

After a moment, he whispered, “I don’t want you to do that again. Next time run.” She started to lift her head but his hand on her head held her down. “We’ll rest here for a little bit longer.”

“For how long?” she asked wrapping her fingers around his wrist, trying to keep her hand from trembling.

“Until I’m convinced he’s not waiting behind those trees on that ridge over there.”

Sarah felt a shiver go down her back as a cold gust of wind passed over them. It seemed like her whole body was shaking. She couldn’t tell if it was from cold, spent adrenaline or fear.

Jamie shifted to his side. He slipped off his jacket and laid it over her shoulders before lying back down next to her. “Better?”

“Much,” she said holding the jacket close as another gust of wind swept through and thunder rumbled in the distance. “Jamie what are we going to do?” she asked as her teeth began to chatter. “What if he finds us?”

“He won’t. I won’t let him hurt you, Sarah,” he said as he slipped his arm underneath her head and covered her body with his. “I promise.”

*  *  *

Standing on a pier over the river, Sarah turned her attention from the woods behind them to the sky as thunder rumbled directly overhead. It still had yet to rain but she didn’t think that was going to last much longer.

Her gaze fell to the bridge above the water and for a few heart pounding moments, she thought she saw a man standing there, looking down at her but then lighting lit up the sky above the bridge a few seconds later showing her that no one was there.

Just my imagination
, she thought. She heard a crunch behind her and looked at Jamie who with one swift kick had opened the door to the small canoe rental shack nearby.

She turned around looking everywhere, hyper aware of her surroundings as Jamie disappeared into the shack. Her nervousness increased the longer she was alone on the pier. She dashed towards the shack, but backed up as Jamie dragged out a canoe.

“It’s going to storm any second,” she said feeling the charge in the air. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to get on the water right now?”

He glanced up at the sky. “It’s moving slowly. If we move quickly enough, we should be able to keep ahead of it.”

“Great,” she said without enthusiasm. “You know, I don’t feel comfortable stealing a canoe.”

“I’ll send them a check tomorrow,” he said as he dragged the canoe down the bank towards the water.

She turned her attention back to the woods. “You know, Fletcher’s probably home.”

“Probably.”

“Probably has his feet up and is watching TV as we speak.”

He grunted as he pushed the canoe toward the water.

“You know there is a hotel nearby,” she said as another flash of lighting lit up the sky.

“I know.”

“There are cabins too,” she said with a hopeful note in her voice.

He walked up the bank towards her. “I know.”

“I stayed in one with my parents and sisters when I was a kid. It was really nice.”

He paused as he reached her. “Do you have any money on you?”

“No,” she said slowly before adding, “but we could call for help. Ashton’s probably worried sick right now. Why don’t we call the police?” she asked as he reentered the shack.

A few seconds later, he walked out carrying a couple of blankets and cushions. “Patrick O’Malley had one or two crooked cops on his payroll. Nathan was related to one of them. I’m betting the guy’s still there,” he said on his way to the canoe. He dropped the cushions into the canoe before taking one of the blankets and laying it on top. “If Nathan’s the one who hired Fletcher to kill us, going to the police is the last thing we want to do right now. We can’t risk calling your sister either. I bet Fletcher’s watching her as we speak.”