He almost said that thought out loud. He’d loved her since high school, but he’d been so busy running from himself, he’d never been able to seeit.
“You ready?” he asked, his voice gruff with emotion. He had no intention of confessing his feelings to her now. Not after the way he’d treated her sofar.
She nodded. “What do you need me todo?”
Cord rose, reached for the small shovel he’d seen in the back of the truck and handed it to her. “Hold this out to the right of the truck. He’ll have to stand up to take theshot.”
She took the shovel, her face pale. “Okay.”
Forcing his mind back to the task at hand, Cord swung around and eased close to the edge of the truck. He would have about a second to get a shot off. He took a moment, drew in a deep breath, and felt the slow, steady pounding of his pulse. The cold comfort of the rifle in his hands calmed him. Carefully shifting his weight, Cord eased from behind thetruck.
“Now.”
She stuck the shovelout.
He lifted the rifle, andfired.
