He brushed the curtain aside just a fraction. He didn't want to give away their location in case Molly's stalker had a high powered weapon.
"He's gone," he said.
The red Mustang was nowhere in sight. Cord pushed aside the curtain to make sure the car hadn't come up the drive. Surely he would've heard the engine approaching.
The car had disappeared.
He looked back to Molly. She was swaying back and forth, her eyes unfocused.
He unchambered the bullet and put the safety on, then leaned the weapon against the wall in the corner. When he turned to the room, Molly was gone.
"Mol?"
He strode into the hall just as she disappeared into West's bedroom.
He stepped into the doorway and watched her pull her duffel bag from the bottom drawer. She opened it on the bed and returned to the chest of drawers, where she pulled out a small stack of T-shirts.
"Mol, what're you doing?"
"I can't—I can't stay here. I know I promised about the tractors, but—"
"Forget about the tractors for a second."
She shook her head, frantic. "He found me. I have to go."
Cord stepped into her room, blocked her when she tried to return to the dresser. Her eyes were wild as she looked up at him. She was panting.
She reminded him of a wild critter, trapped and about to bite.
He wanted to rip Toby's throat out.
"The sheriff's on his way," he reminded her gently. "Nothing's going to happen to you."
You can't run. His entire body wanted to revolt at the thought of her leaving, unprotected. She belonged here, with him.
She shook her head, that wildness in her eyes increasing. "He said… he said…"
She was still shaking so badly that the words wouldn't come.
He folded her in his arms. He'd held her passionately in the kitchen earlier. Now, somehow, she felt slighter, as if a stiff wind could blow her down.
He let one hand come up behind her head and held her close.
"He said he'd kill m-my roommate. Or any g-guy I tried to date. W-we're not dating, but you h-hugged me. And he saw."
Oh, Molly.
"He's gone," he whispered into her hair. "He left. We'll let the sheriff pick him up."
Cord had no intention of letting that creep close enough to hurt Molly. He wasn't worried for himself. He could take care of himself. In his experience, bullies were bluffing.
"The sheriff'll take care of this."
But twenty-two minutes later, he was doubting his statement.
Because it had taken that long for the lawman to show up. And he offered no apology as he took Molly's statement from where she sat on the couch.
She looked so small, tucked in on herself.
