Page 113 of Love and Memories

Her shoulders sank a bit, and she stared out the window. “My life could screech to a halt soon.”

“I don’t think so. Life keeps dealing you bad hands, and you keep holding your head up. God keeps providing.”

“You’re right about that. It could have been so much worse. He really has led me to the right people every time things seemed hopeless.”

Travis grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips to kiss her knuckles. The way her faith had grown was amazing in itself. She realized how much better her life was when she trusted God, but sometimes she needed a little reminder.

A quick pop sounded from the forest around them, and the truck jolted slightly.

Bella gripped his hand tighter. “What was that?”

Another pop, and the truck jostled again. The tire pressure light lit up on the dash.

“Flat tire. Or more than one,” Travis said, releasing Bella’s hand.

“Did we run over something?”

Travis scanned the trees as the truck began to jostle on the lumping tires. The pops weren’t from the tires. They were the unmistakable sound of gunfire, and they’d come from opposite directions.

“Lean down and get Nathan on the phone,” Travis demanded as he picked up speed. He’d never drive on flat tires, but theywere being targeted. He just couldn’t say as much to Bella without freaking her out.

She bent forward as much as she could over her rounded belly and lifted her phone to her ear. A second later, she handed the phone to Travis.

“Nathan, someone is in the woods on the ranch between Bella’s cabin and the Bensons’ house.”

“I know. I was calling you at the same time Bella called. There are two of them. They just showed up on the surveillance. I’m getting facial recognition on them now, and my partner is calling for local PD help.”

“Get Matt Benson out here. Tell him to come armed.”

“Got it. Tell Bella to leave this call running and put the phone in her pocket. We can track her and record anything that happens.”

Once again, God had led the right people to Bella at the right time. If Anna hadn’t hired Nathan, Travis would be on his own right now. “Thanks.”

Travis handed Bella the phone. “Don’t end the call. Put this in your back pocket.”

She took it and did as he said. “What’s going on?” There wasn’t even a hint of panic in her voice. She’d been expecting everything to blow up for months now. They’d all been preparing for this moment, and they were as ready as they’d ever be.

The truck bumped wildly over the uneven ground and two flattened tires. Another shot came from behind them, and Bella let out a squeal as she bent forward.

Another tire out. They could be shooting through windows and doors, but whoever was in the woods was toying with them.

Their attackers didn’t want them dead. At least, not yet. They wanted Travis and Bella stranded.

Travis tightened his grip on the wheel as the truck jostled along the path. “Bella, hang on.”

“Got it!”

The back window shattered, sending glass flying around the cab of the truck. Pieces stabbed into the back of his neck and rained down on Bella’s back.

The truck slowed, and Travis prayed for just another mile. No way would they make it that far.

Finally, Travis parked the truck and reached into the back seat. “Bella, stay–”

The passenger window shattered, and Bella screamed. A man’s arm reached through and opened the door in one swift movement. A split second later, the guy was dragging Bella out of the truck.

She gasped as Travis grabbed her other arm and reached into his back pocket to grab his knife.

Before he could pull out his weapon, the driver’s window shattered, and white-hot fire burned the top of his shoulder. The man pulled his switchblade out of Travis’s arm just as Bella was jerked out of his grasp.

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