Page 47 of Home Town Knight

Denver Daily Reporter is Eyewitness to Murder in Hart County.

I grabbed the phone from him, scanning the article as quickly as I could. My horror increased with every line. None of it made sense…until it did.

Pam had promised to wait on the murder story until tomorrow. And then she’d hit publish anyway. Both revealing my location and exaggerating what I’d told her about Owen. I’d glanced over her messages earlier. None of them had saida thingabout this. A couple of co-workers had asked about my trip to Hartley, but I hadn’t thought anything of it.

She had risked my life. All to get the scoop. I was going to have to deal with my editor, but she wasn’t standing here right now. Owen was.

I shoved the phone at him. “You thoughtIwrote this?”

“You’re saying you didn’t?”

“Of course I didn’t! I spoke to my editor earlier about the murder, and I asked her to wait. She said she would. I never would’ve revealed I was staying at Last Refuge so she could publish it.”

“Then how did she know?”

“Because I gave her my hotel info before I left Denver!”

“Why did the article make it sound like I’m keeping you prisoner here?”

I gestured at the closet we were in. “That part might be accurate.”

“You think this is funny?” He put both hands on the shelf again, crowding me against it. “A gunman came here, mostlikely looking for you. Because of that fucking article. One of my friends could’ve been killed. Or another guest. Oryou.”

I shook my head. “You honestly think I would put myself and everyone else here at risk? For a story? What kind of person do you think I am?” He opened his mouth, but I held up a hand in his face. “Don’t answer that.” The more angry I got, the more I shivered. I was getting lightheaded, breathing too fast. My skin was going clammy and cold. “All that time we spent talking over dinner meant nothing. You haven’t changed your mind about me. You’re ready to believe the worst. You know what, Sheriff? Screw you. I didn’t write that article,” I choked out. “I swear it on my dad’s grave, not that it would mean anything to you. I—I?—”

My throat made a high-pitched sound when I tried to breathe in.

I couldn’t get any air.

Suddenly, Owen had me in his arms. He took us both to the floor, laying me down. “You’re in some kind of shock,” he said softly. He grabbed something from a shelf and spread it over me. Some kind of rough, scratchy blanket. “I’m going to call River. He’s our closest thing to a medic.”

“No,” I managed to say. “I’m okay.”

“Gen, you’re not.”

“Panic attack. I can…handle it.” I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. Using the techniques I’d learned in the days after my dad’s death.

This was a bad one. But I felt warm. Owen was cradling me. His fingertips massaged gentle circles over my scalp.

You’re okay, I repeated to myself.You’re okay.

After several minutes, my breathing evened out. My eyelids fluttered open, and I felt tears slipping down my cheeks. I hadn’t realized I was crying.

Owen looked down at me, head tilted, expression tight. “I’m sorry.” His thumb brushed over my face, wiping thetears. “I had honest questions, but I should’ve made sure you were all right first. You’ve been through two traumas today. That’s after what happened to your father. Truly, Gen. I’m sorry.”

I was still lightheaded, but I forced myself to sit up. “You haven’t said that you believe me.”

“I do.” He touched my chin. “Hey, look at me. I do. I believe you.” I tried to stand and nearly fell over. Owen grabbed me, tucking me back into his lap. “Just sit for a minute. Get your bearings. Do you have panic attacks often?”

“Not often, no. They got bad after what happened with my dad. Haven’t been much of an issue since. I learned to deal with them.” I had taken medication for a while and worked on it in therapy. But today had been a little too much, even for me.

“That’s rough.”

I didn’t want to talk about that anymore. “Is Trace all right? Do you know?”

“Yeah, I radioed with him and the team on the way here. Trace is fine. I’m going to meet with them and find out more.”

“Can I come too?”

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