Page 59 of Marrying Bonnie

Cabe capitalized on his momentary distraction and took several steps forward. “Don’t even think about it,” he growled.

Jace didn’t have time for this. If Bonnie was stuck in the garage, then every second counted. He withdrew his gun and leveled it at Cabe. “Back off, or I will shoot.”

Cabe stared at him with wide eyes as though daring him to make good on his promise. “Go for it.” When Jace didn’t shoot, Cabe cackled. “That’s what I thought.” With that, he dove at Jace.

Jace didn’t hesitate. He aimed and fired his gun, hitting Cabe in the shoulder.

The man fell to the ground, rolled over, and got up again with a hand against his arm. “Trust me,son, this isn’t over!” He stumbled as he ran toward the tree line.

Jace let him go—he’d be easy enough to hunt down later. He heard Noel calling him from the back door.

“I’m okay! Get in the house, lock the door. Call the police and fire department. Now!”

He shoved his gun into the holster and ran for the garage. “Bonnie!” The doorknob was warm as he pulled it open and smoke billowed out. He coughed hard and tried to fan it away from his face. “Bonnie!”

“Jace! I’m here. Help me, please!”

Without hesitation, he charged into the garage. Flames licked at the cabinets that lined one side, and the heat from it was nearly unbearable.

At first, he saw no sign of her. Bonnie’s frantic voice drew his attention to the closet at the back. Anger boiled to the surface, and he vowed to find Cabe once Bonnie was safe. He shoved a rolling tool chest out of the way, jerked the door open, and scooped Bonnie into his arms. “I’ve got you. Hold on.” Her arms tightened around his neck as he sprinted for the door. All around them, flames climbed the walls and danced across the ceiling like something out of a nightmare.

When he burst into the fresh air outside, he tripped and landed on one knee. He struggled to his feet, keeping Bonnie close as she gasped and coughed against his chest, as he stumbled toward the safety of the house.

The backdoor opened and Noel leaned out, her phone to one ear. “Police and the fire department are on the way.” Her eyes widened as she hurried to help Jace support Bonnie as made it to the porch. “What happened? I thought I heard a gunshot.” Noel put one hand on Jace’s shoulder and the other against Bonnie’s back.

Jace tried to catch his breath. If the amount of smoke he’d breathed in was burning his lungs right now, how badly must Bonnie be hurting? “It was Cabe. He locked Bonnie up inside and set the garage on fire. I shot him in the shoulder.” He pointed to the line of trees. “He took off that way, but I doubt he’s going to get far.”

Jace carried Bonnie in through the door Noel held open and set her down in a kitchen chair. He knelt in front of her and brushed the hair out of her face. Black marks smeared across her cheeks and forehead as she covered her mouth with a hand and continued to cough. “Were you burned anywhere?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so…” She coughed again, her voice hoarse. Tears streamed from her eyes, clearing a path through the soot on her face. “If you hadn’t found me…” Her body shook, whether it was with coughing, sobs, or both, Jace couldn’t tell.

He pulled her into his arms again and pressed a kiss to her hair. “You’re okay.”

Sirens filled the air as emergency vehicles approached the house. Jace looked to Noel. “Watch her. I have to tell them about Cabe. I’ll have paramedics come in here to help Bonnie.” He touched Bonnie’s chin. “I’ll be right back.”

Outside, he was relieved to spot an ambulance among the emergency vehicles. He motioned to them. “Bonnie’s in the kitchen with smoke inhalation.” He noted that firemen were already preparing to fight the fire. The captain jogged over. “Is anyone else in the building?”

“No. No one.”

The captain nodded as a police officer approached. Jace began to tell him about Cabe and what the man had done to Bonnie and how he’d set the fire. He coughed hard, his throat burning.

Minutes later, a police officer called out, “I found him.” He clutched the collar of Cabe’s black shirt in one hand while he kept his weapon pointed at him. “He has a truck full of tools and equipment on the other side of the garage.”

Cabe was handcuffed and his eyes remained on the burning garage, a wide smile on his face, as the police escorted him away.

“You’ll have to come with us for questioning,” the first officer told Jace. Jace knew he’d have to answer a number of questions regarding his use of a firearm, but as they brought Bonnie out of the house on a wheeled stretcher, he wished with everything that he had he could be going to the hospital with her.

He jogged over to where Bonnie was lying, an oxygen mask over her face. “I’m sorry I can’t ride with you, but I’ll be at the hospital as soon as I can. I promise.”

She nodded. Then her eyes widened, and she pulled the mask away from her mouth. “Oreo!”

Jace’s stomach fell as he looked up at the garage. The entire structure was engulfed in flames. The firemen were dousing it with water, but he doubted the little guinea pig would make it through. “I’m sorry, Bonnie. I…”

“He’s in the car. I didn’t get a chance…to take him…back upstairs yet.” She began coughing again.

Relief flooded Jace. He chuckled in spite of everything they’d just gone through. “Well, that’s one lucky critter. Don’t worry, we’ll get him into the house.” He moved the mask to cover her face again. “Hang in there, darlin’.” He squeezed her hand then nodded for the medic to get her into the ambulance.

Watching the ambulance drive away while Jace was stuck at the ranch was the very definition of being pulled in two different directions.

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