Zac took a slow step forward. “What happened next?”
“I…I shot him. But the gun jammed and he pulled out his own.” Her words started to run into each other. “He was going to shoot me, but Polly lunged at him and they fell.”
“Fell? Fell where?” Joel growled, panic speeding up his words.
Raven’s eyes went to the river.
No…
Joel didn’t wait for any more explanation, he just started running again, his eyes on the water.
Come on, Polly, where are you?
His heart was hammering in his chest when he spotted her. But not just her—Cox. The asshole had an arm around her waist, and even from where he stood, Joel could see her grip on the tree branch was tenuous with the deputy’s added weight.
He leapt onto the trunk and raced toward the end.
Cox met his gaze. The asshole’s eyes narrowed. He gave one big tug on Polly’s body.
She screamed.
Her fingers slipped.
Joel grabbed her forearm just before she sank out of his reach.
Cox snarled and attempted to tug her away again. Joel lifted a boot and kicked straight at the asshole’s nose. Cox cried out and released her. Joel pulled her up in one tug.
The second she was on her feet, he lifted her so she was cradled against his chest before racing back to the bank.
He sat her on the ground and cupped her cheeks. “Where are you hurt?”
“I’m just cold.” She rested her head against his chest. “You’re here.”
He wrapped an arm around her. “I’m here.”
“H-how?”
“I’ll tell you everything soon. But first we need to get you out of your wet clothes and back to the truck.”
Zac ran toward them. “Where’s Cox?”
“In the water.”
He nodded and continued down the river.
Quickly, Joel helped Polly out of her clothes and replaced them with his sweatshirt, which went down to her knees.
He was gathering her wet clothes when a flash of movement had his head shooting up—the gleam of a gun in the moonlight.
Joel grabbed Polly around the waist and rolled them behind a tree just as a bullet hit the dirt.
Polly gasped.
“It’s Cox. Stay down for me, Sunshine.” He unholstered his weapon and stood, then shouted, “I’m surprised you got past Zac, Cox.”
“I was already out of the water and hiding. I knew someone would be after me. Not so smart of him to let me pass though, huh?”
“Put the gun down. You don’t want to die tonight.”
