Her mind pictured David and Goliath's Bible story – her being David, and Terrance, the larger man. Yet, she had David’s faith that the Lord would help her stop Terrance. Justice must prevail!
Since the tall man was on foot, she knew he’d not be able to get too far from her, although he ran, she would follow him.
Terrance headed for the nearby woods, which was where she had been hiding. She suspected he wanted to hide away as well. She stayed behind a tree until he was well enough in front of her before she started following.
She moved behind one tree to the next, keeping a good pace as she trailed Terrance. Every so often, he’d stop and look behind him. She was slender enough to hide behind these trees, thankfully. However, there weren’t many thick trunks where he could hide.
His movements were slower. Courtney suspected he was out of breath. Although her legs were screaming at her to stop, determination to catch the killer was what kept her going. She might not have been in love with Albert, but she wanted to do this last thing for him by helping to catch the older man’s killer.
She kept a prayer in her heart the deeper into the woods they ran. The sun was dipping in the horizon, and soon it would be dark. Once that happened, she’d be in big trouble, especially if nobody came looking for her.
Suddenly, Terrance stopped and spun her way. The movement was too quick, and she didn’t have time to jump behind a tree.
“Who are you?” Terrance asked in a loud voice. “Why are you following me?”
Courtney could only assume he thought she was a man, since she still wore the large over-coat and cowboy hat, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. However, when she answered him, he’d know she was a woman. “I can’t let you get away, Terrance Greenwood.”
He widened his eyes. “Who are you?”
She yanked off her hat and tossed it to the ground. Tightening her fingers around the tree limb, she stepped closer to him, keeping her gaze locked with his. “I’m the one you tried to blame for your father’s murder.”
“Miss Mills?” His gaze swept over her. “How did you know I was here?”
“I came with Denton Reed.”
Terrance’s expression relaxed, and he let out a loud laugh. “And you think you’re going to catch me?”
She nodded. “Or die trying.”
“Then, let me suggest, Miss Mills, that you prepare for a quick death because I’m not going to let anyone arrest me.
“You’ll not win, Terrance Greenwood.”
“I have so far.” He grinned victoriously. “Denton Reed is lying unconscious just inside the boat shop. As soon as he walked inside, I hit him in the head with a paddle.”
Courtney’s heart clenched as her worry escalated. But she must keep the faith that God would watch over him – or that God would help the sheriff to take care of Denton. “Then I suppose it’s just you and me.”
“Yes, it is.”
Terrance’s gaze narrowed on her as he walked forward. Her heartbeat quickened in fear, but she held strong.Please, Lord, guide me...
His hand slid in the pocket of his long overcoat, and he withdrew a pistol. Her heart sank. His weapon had bullets that killed. Her weapon just knocked people out. The odds weren’t looking promising.
Suddenly, that snapping noise of steel hitting a bone echoed through the forest. Terrance screamed in pain and dropped to the ground, grasping the animal trap that was now securing his foot.
Cussing loudly, he tried to peel the steel claws of the trap off his foot, but to no avail. Once the shock wore off, she searched the ground for his gun, but because of the leaves covering the earth’s floor and the shadows forming everywhere, she couldn’t see it.
Immediately, the thought came to her – knock him out. She wanted to believe this was the Lord helping her, so she hurried behind Terrance and whacked the tree limb against his head. Seconds later, he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Courtney took deep breaths to calm herself, and at the same time, said a silent prayer of thanks for His help. She wouldn’t have been able to do it without Him.
She quickly searched the ground for Terrance’s gun and breathed a sigh of relief when she found it. Now, when Terrance awoke, he wouldn’t have any weapon. Then again, he was rather stuck, anyway.
From not too far off, she heard someone calling her name. She spun around and peered through the dense forest, but she couldn’t see anything because of the shadows. “I’m here!”
As she studied the direction where the voices were coming from, she noticed a light. Someone had come to rescue her.
“Courtney?”
