She sucked in a small breath. “Run, Grant! Get away from here. Go!” She knew it was him. Every part of her could feel his presence. White Horse was likely there too, but Grant led the charge into camp.
She couldn’t look at what they were doing. Couldn’t take her eyes off this madman who might well end her life with his next breath.
“Drop the gun.” Grant’s voice called across the open space, cold and hard with fury.
Flies Ahead’s eyes flared wide in a vicious glare. “No.”
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.
The verse she’d memorized as a child wrapped around her like a hedge of protection from the man.Father, be with me.I will fear no evil for you are with me.
Flies Ahead’s grin faltered. Maybe because she didn’t show the terror he’d hoped for?
“Drop rifle or I kill.” He snarled the words, flicking his gaze between her and the two men she could just see at the corner of her vision. A tremble quivered through him. She might not have felt it except for the steel-encased explosive connecting her head to his hands.
She scrambled for another verse in the recesses of her mind.For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Keep me from fear, Father. Give me peace in you.
“Sit. Or I shoot her.” Flies Ahead’s voice rose higher than before.
She wanted to squeeze her eyes closed so she didn’t have to watch this man in her last moments. But she couldn’t sit by and let this killer hurt anyone else.
Summoning a final scrap of courage, she made her voice as level and strong as she could manage with the steel barrel still pressed hard against her temple. “Don’t do anything he says.”
Even as she spoke the words, she knew Grant wouldn’t obey them. He would try to save her. “I mean it, Grant.” She had to speak through clenched teeth so she didn’t shift her head and make Flies Ahead accidentally pull the trigger. “This isn’t worth it. Leave and stay away from him. For me. Please.”
If she went this way, she at least wanted to die knowing she’d saved his and White Horse’s lives. Steps Right too.
But no ... really she wanted to die knowing she’d helped save them all eternally.Yes, Lord. White Horse and Steps Right already knew the true God. But Grant...
Talking was easier now that she’d begun, so she continued in that strong voice, though she kept her gaze on Flies Ahead. “Grant, you were right when you said that if I asked God for help, He would be there. He’s with me now, giving me strength.”
She breathed in a bit of that strength and continued. “But what you need to know is that He loves you too. More than you can possibly imagine. You don’t have to do anything to be worthy of it. He already thinks you’re wortheverything. Worth His love. Worth His son dying so He could show you exactly how much He loves you. You only have to open yourself enough to receive that love. He won’t take it away either. Not like everything else you’ve lost.”
Including me.The thought nearly made a sob slip out. If he felt half as much for her as she did him, watching her die would be one more hard blow. She had to do everything she could to ease the strength of it. To give him hope.
She sucked in enough breath to keep talking. “There’s something else you need to know, Grant.” Her voice quavered, but she had to get these words out. “I love you. I have for weeks now. I think ever since you kept my secret with the trappers. You’re a good man, Grant Allen. The best of men. I made peace with God, just like you said to. I’ll be going to heaven. I want more than anything to see you there.”
Grant spoke then, his words not aimed at her, his voice hard and unyielding. “Get away from her. Both of you.” His footsteps scuffed the ground as he walked toward them.
Faith couldn’t breathe. She didn’t want this to happen. Didn’t want to be saved at Grant’s expense. At anyone’s expense.
Yet maybe once Flies Ahead took the rifle away, she could do something to stop his revenge for good.
As Grant came within arm’s reach, he extended a hand for the rifle.
Flies Ahead snarled at him. “Do not come closer.”
She had to do something. Her hands were tied, but not her feet. With Flies Ahead looking at Grant, she might be quick enough to stop him. She wouldn’t be able to take out the other brave too, but maybe this would distract him just long enough.
Without letting it show on the outside, she took in a deep breath, tensed her legs, then thrust her boots out at Flies Ahead’s kneecaps with every bit of force she could muster. As he stumbled backward, she kicked one foot upward into the softer part of his middle.
His grunt sounded just before his rifle exploded.
Gunpowder clouded the air as the blast reverberated through the camp and the valley beyond.
Then a scream of pain overwhelmed the echo of the report.
