The jolt and surge from behind when the SUV hit them rocked them both forward.
“What’s going on, Jake?” Alarm filled Emily’s voice.
Jake swore and gently pressed the brake, keeping an iron grip on the steering wheel. “I’m afraid our friend in the black SUV found us.” He couldn’t keep the tension from his voice.
As Emily strained to look out the back window, the SUV hit the left side of Jake’s rear bumper, pushing them toward the guardrail that didn’t look strong enough a keep a V.W. bug on the road, let alone a one-ton pick-up. The truck swerved as he struggled to maintain control.
Again, Jake tapped his brakes. They pulled, then suddenly the pedal released and sunk to the floor. Trying again, he pumped the brakes. Nothing.
No. No. No. This isn’t happening.
“What’s the matter with your brakes?” Panic laced Emily’s words.
Clenching his teeth so hard his jaw ached, Jake didn’t bother to respond. Hearing the truth—his brakes were useless—wouldn’t make Emily feel any better.
Jake’s pulse kicked into overdrive. Had the driver of the SUV cut his brake line? Maybe while they were eating? But that didn’t make sense. His brakes had been fine until now. Jake glanced at the ravine beside them again. This whole thing had been carefully orchestrated.
Jake cursed under his breath again. He should have realized bringing Emily out in the open would make her a target. He’d been so worried about her regaining her memory and comforting her he’d forgotten to be vigilant.
The SUV rammed them again and Jake pulled at the wheel with a white-knuckled grip, his sweaty palms making the steering wheel slippery. Checking his mirrors, he surveyed the surrounding traffic. Thankfully, the other vehicles had dropped back to avoid the lunatic behind them. Jake kept his truck in the center of the two-lane highway to prevent the SUV from coming up on his left and forcing him off the road.
“Jake!” Emily’s voice bordered on hysterics.
“It’ll be okay, Em. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Jake hoped he could keep his promise. He remembered the handgun he’d stashed in the glove compartment. Would he need to use it to keep Emily safe?
He shifted to a lower gear, grimacing at the groan of the engine. It wasn’t good for his transmission, but it was the best way to slow his truck enough to safely use the emergency brake.
Another powerful shove caused his truck to swerve, and his chest to tighten. He pulled his truck back to the center of the road. It’s a good thing he drove such a big vehicle. If he’d been driving anything smaller, the SUV would have pushed him off the road by now.
Jake again shifted down a gear, his engine grinding in protest. Then he slowly pushed in his emergency brake, knowing that pressing it too fast would stop them too suddenly. That’s the last thing he wanted with the SUV bearing down on them.
The SUV struck again. A loud pop punctuated the scrape of metal. Jake’s truck pulled to the left.Great! A blown tire.Checking the shoulder of the road, Jake heaved a sigh of relief. They were past the ravine.
He pulled the coasting truck to the edge of the road, knowing they’d be sitting ducks. Unbuckling, he grabbed the handgun he’d stashed in the glove box that morning. Ignoring Emily’s gasp, he checked to make sure it was loaded and slid the safety off.
Lowering his window, he made sure the gun was in full view as the SUV came to a stop beside them. Jake wanted their stalker to know he meant business.
I won’t let anything happen to Emily.
The beefy, dark-haired driver’s murderous eyes widened in shock before he lowered his own gun and sped away.
The breath Jake hadn’t realized he’d been holding came out in a sudden rush. He’d never shot at another human being before, but he would have if it meant keeping Emily safe. Glad he hadn’t been forced to make that decision today, he slid the safety on and tucked the gun under his seat.
Emily’s quiet sobs brought his head up. “That was him, Jake. He killed Cameron.”
Jake lifted the center console and pulled her into his arms.
“And that ravine back there is where my father died.”
And where we nearly died.
Chapter 19
Jake shifted in the lazy boy, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee. His gaze drifted to the clock again.
It had been almost three hours since they’d returned to the ranch, and Emily had asked his mother for a pain pill. There wasn’t a pill strong enough to dull the pain she felt, but the pills tended to make her sleep. And she needed the rest.
