Page 70 of A Brambleberry Summer

“Tell them, Jenna. Tell them you love me.”

The woman looked down at the man who had so tormented her, driving her away from her home with his obsession.

“I despise you,” she said clearly. “I hope you rot in hell.”

Barker made a move toward her but Wyatt yanked the restraint.

“We can straighten everything out down at the station,” Wyatt said, just as backup officers arrived to help him secure the scene.

Only after they had taken custody of the man and another officer started taking Jenna’s statement about the incident and the months of torment preceding it could Wyatt finally go to Rosa, who was now sitting on the porch steps.

She forced a smile when he approached and he saw her lip was cracked and swollen.

“He hurt you.” He reached a hand out and tenderly caressed her face.

She let out a little sob and sagged into his arms. He held her, burying his face in her hair as he tried not to think about what might have happened to her.

How would he have endured it? He had already lost one woman he loved. He couldn’t stand the idea of losing another.

“I am all right,” she murmured. “Jenna is safe. That is the important thing. But I have to take Fiona to the vet. That man kicked her. She was so brave.”

They both were incredibly brave. He looked over her shoulder, where Fiona’s tail was wagging. She almost looked like she was smiling as the two of them embraced. “She seems okay to me.”

Rosa drew away a little and he instantly wanted to pull her back into his arms.

“I would still like to have her checked out. The veterinarian is my friend. I will call her.”

An ambulance pulled up, followed by a fire truck. The whole town was coming to her rescue, which was only proof about how well-regarded Rosa was in town.

Right behind them, a couple he recognized came racing up the driveway.

“Rosa!” Melissa Sanderson exclaimed. “What happened? We saw all the police racing past and hurried right over.”

“I am fine,” Rosa said. “A man came to hurt Jen but she and Addie were able to get to safety.”

“Because of you,” Jenna said as she approached with her daughter in her arms. “You saved us.”

She hugged her friend again and Wyatt could see Rosa was trying not to wince.

“You look like you’ve gone a few rounds with a heavyweight champion.” Melissa’s husband, Eli, a physician in town, looked concerned. “You should let me have a look.”

Rosa, his battered warrior, glowered at them all. “This is all too much fuss for a sore lip.”

“He kicked her in the back, too,” Jenna said. “At least once. Maybe more. I don’t know. I was so scared.”

“You need to go to the ER,” Wyatt said.

She shook her head. “Not until Fiona sees the veterinarian.”

“You can at least let Eli and the paramedics check you out while I call the veterinarian,” Wyatt said.

She gave him a grateful look. “Yes. I will do that. Thank you.”

Chapter Sixteen

To his deep regret, that was the last chance he had to talk to her for the next few hours. He didn’t want to leave, but as the on-scene arresting officer, he had paperwork and an investigation to deal with.

He had tried to interrogate Barker but the man was sleeping off what appeared to be a large quantity of alcohol, as well as a concussion delivered by Rosa and her trusty rock and several dog bites from Fiona.

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