The thought of her running for her life through the dark forest stole his breath. He needed focus so he could find her.
Now.
He paused and sucked in a deep breath, waiting for that feeling that brought him here to guide him.
His gaze shifted to the open back door of the cabin, and his feet pulled him in that direction. He scanned the small yard that lay between the cabin and the shed and on down to the lake.
Fifteen feet beyond the shed, he spotted movement—a dark figure—moving toward the lake.
“Pendleton!”
The shadow froze and vile swear words floated on the breeze.
As the figure moved back in his direction, relief swept over Robert. He didn’t know where Jessie was, but Pendleton was alone.
Robert’s hand hovered over his holster. “Get on the ground, now! And keep your hands where I can see them.”
Patrick stopped walking toward Robert and edged closer to the shed. “I don’t want any trouble, sheriff. I just want my wife back. Jessica’s mine. She’s coming home with me.”
Like heck she is.Robert bit back the retort and forced a laugh. “The only place you’re going is jail for breaking the restraining order.”
Patrick darted to the side of the shed, reappearing seconds later with the ax Robert had forgotten to put away yesterday. “You had your chance with Jessica, and she left you. She’s mine now.”
Robert’s hand hovered over his weapon. It’d be the easiest way to subdue Pendleton, but that seemed excessive when Robert was confident he could disarm him without his gun. Itwasn’tbecause he wanted to take Jessie’s husband down and slam his face into the ground when he cuffed him.
He inched closer to Jessie’s husband, reading the other man’s body language in the dark. Robert tensed. He needed to get close enough to disarm him but stay out of reach of his weapon.
As soon as the other man shifted to raise the ax, Robert charged. He shoved the hand with the ax upward, then rammed his shoulder into the other man’s abdomen. Pendleton fell back on the ground with a grunt, Robert on top of him.
Robert drew back and threw a punch at Pendleton’s jaw. He ignored the pain that tore through his knuckles, taking pleasure instead in the satisfying thud his fist made against the other man’s face and the groan it evoked. The ax moved in the corner of Robert’s vision, and he reached out to block it but wasn’t quick enough. The back side of the ax clipped him in the temple.
Stars filled his vision, and he felt himself sway. He shook his head, trying to clear it, and made a desperate grab for the arm that held the ax before it swung again. He caught it inches from his face and slammed it into the ground. Pendleton’s hand loosened, and the ax fell from his grip.
Robert shoved it out of reach and pulled his hand back to punch Pendleton again. He caught the other man’s fist in the abdomen before he could land his own blow. Chiding himself for letting the other man get a shot in, he struck out hard and fast. First to Pendleton’s face, then his chest.
As the other man gasped for air, Robert pulled back a third time. Or was it a fourth? He caught himself. He’d love to punish Jessie’s husband for all he’d put her through, but he couldn’t get carried away. It would only come back to bite him if Pendleton pressed charges of police brutality.
He grabbed Pendleton’s shoulder and flipped him onto his stomach, trying not to take too much pleasure in shoving the man’s face into the ground.
Reading Pendleton his rights, Robert pulled him to his feet and pushed him toward his Tahoe.
The other man let loose another string of swear words. “Jessie may have come running back to you, but she’ll never be yours. She’s mine now, and I’ll make sure If I can’t have her no one will.”
Icy fingers snaked around Robert’s neck at the deadly tone in Pendleton’s voice. The man meant every word of his threat.
As soon as he’d locked his prisoner in the backseat of his Tahoe, Robert radioed Dale, requesting backup.
He turned toward the cabin. He needed to find Jessie, make sure she was okay, and let her know she was safe.
His chest tightened. She had to be okay. He’d never forgive himself if Pendleton had already gotten to Jessie before he arrived.
He stepped into the cabin. “Jessie! It’s safe. Come out, sweetheart.”
Heat filled his face at the endearment that slipped out. He sucked in a sharp breath. He was traversing a slippery slope here, and he didn’t know what to do about it. He wanted to take Jessie far from here and hide away together. Just the two of them. Forever. Where there was no abusive ex-husband, no past hurts or regrets, and no irreconcilable futures.
Even if he could take her far away, would she even want to spend forever with him? There had been a time when he was certain she would have loved exactly that. But he’d let her walk away five years ago. And when she returned, he brought her here and left her alone and defenseless. He’d promised to protect her, but he’d failed.
He wouldn’t blame her if she wanted nothing to do with him.
