Page 13 of Captive at Rescue Ridge

Out of nowhere, the crack of a bullet split the air. Annalee suppressed a scream as she immediately turned to Archer to see if he’d been hit.

He white-knuckled the steering wheel as he struggled to keep control of the truck as it swerved.

Another shot was fired.

Archer released the same string of curses she’d been thinking as she suppressed another scream.

“Are you hit?” she asked, scanning the windows for bullet holes or cracks. She had no idea what a shot-out window should look like and preferred to keep it that way.

He shook his head as he struggled against the wheel. “Someone is attempting to blow out the tires.”

“What can I do?” Was there a weapon she could use to fire back? The evidence in her backpack would give them a fighting chance, but that was back in the woods, and touching it could erase or muddle the bastard’s fingerprints.

“Get down before they fire off another shot,” he instructed.

“Okay.” With shaky hands, Annalee managed to release her seatbelt. She slid down onto the floorboard, noticing how Archer had shrunk down in his seat, making himself as small as he humanly could. With his broad shoulders and tall frame, he would make an easier target while sitting upright.

“Maybe I can get a look at the bastard,” he said. “Maybe we can figure out who he is or get enough of a visual for the law to bring in a sketch artist.”

“Absolutely not,” she said without hesitation. Knowing who was after her would be a good step in the right direction.

“Why haven’t you gone to the law already?” he asked. “Wouldn’t that be the best way to help your mother?”

“I would if I could, believe me, but I can’t.”

Since a full-blown discussion was out of the question under the circumstances, they tabled it.

Archer cursed again as another shot was fired. A loud bang was followed by a whoosh sound. The truck rumbled, the sound reverberating through it, and bounced. As the vehicle swerved, he visibly fought against the steering wheel no doubt in an attempt to maintain control. Annalee extended her arms, her fingers reaching for anything to stabilize her if the truck rolled.

“Hold on,” Archer said before giving the wheel a hard turn. A flapping noise sounded. The truck vibrated. Gravel spewed as he lost control and landed in a ditch.

“We have to go,” he said, reaching for her hand and then dragging her out of the vehicle.

Back to the woods? A shiver raced up her spine. At least she had Archer this time. But the threat had caught up with her, and questions mounted as they raced deep into the trees. He would demand answers soon.

They ran. Archer barely broke a sweat, whereas she was gulping air. Her lungs felt like they might explode.

“You’re doing good, Annalee. Keep going.” His encouragement had a positive effect on her. Made her want to dig deeper and find the strength to keep going. But then, he’d always been the light.

After what felt like an eternity of barreling through trees, she said, “I’m sorry, but I have to stop.”

The pinch in her side had expanded to the point it felt like her appendix was bursting, and she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs to stop from hyperventilating.

Archer let go of her hand after they stopped. Breaking the connection caused a physical ache in her chest, far worse than the pain in her side.

“Breathe through your nose and out your mouth, if you can,” he said as he scanned the area. He positioned himself between her and where they’d come from, no doubt in case the bastard with the loose trigger finger followed.

It took several minutes, but Annalee managed to calm her body down. Her nervous system was another story. Her nerves were fried, which had everything to do with the situation as a whole. Being with Archer kept her from full-scale panic. She’d kept herself together so far; she could keep going. This seemed like a good time to turn those words into a mantra.

Archer walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders as if to steady her. Then, he looked her square in the eyes. “Tell me everything you know, and don’t leave anything out. I mean it, Annalee. Not even if you think something’s inconsequential.”

The update didn’t take long. “I’m supposed to meet my mother on Sunday in Waco at the Magnolia Market.”

“I know the place,” he said. Everyone did now that HGTV had put the city and two of its most famous residents on a television show that had become popular.

“Two days ago, we were supposed to give a sign that we were okay,” she said.

“And?”

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