Sheriff Sutherland’s expression hardened. “Anybody still up there?”
“I never saw them.” Wes helped Rowan into the back seat. “But this person knew exactly where we were.”
He pulled out his phone. “I have two deputies headed that way. I’ll have them lock the area down and start clearing the ridge.”
“I’m going to need help getting my truck out,” Wes added as he loaded Remington into the back beside Rowan.
“I’ll get a tow headed that way too.”
Sheriff Sutherland climbed behind the wheel and turned the truck around.
The vehicle jolted hard over the rough fire road.
As they rode, Wes stared out into the dark woods sliding past outside the window.
Someone had known he and Rowan were at that overlook.
They hadn’t announced where they were going. They’d simply left Refuge Cove together.
Which most likely meant someone had followed them from the property.
He didn’t like the thought of that.
Beside him, Remington leaned against Rowan. She rested a hand on the dog’s back, and Wes noticed some of the tension ease from her shoulders. Remington was good for that.
Sheriff Sutherland glanced at him in the mirror. “You want me to take you both back to Refuge Cove?”
“Yes. Take us back.” The sooner Rowan was somewhere safe, the better he would feel. Things could have turned out so much differently tonight.
Sheriff Sutherland nodded and pressed harder on the accelerator.
Wes looked behind them again.
No one was following.
At least no one he could see.
But it wasn’t what was in plain sight that worried him.
It was the danger lurking in the shadows that scared him the most.
Rowan’s heart was still pounding as Micah pulled into Refuge Cove and killed the engine.
The house glowed against the dark mountainside, warm light spilling from the kitchen windows onto the porch. Caleb’s truck still sat in the drive.
Everything looked normal.
But Rowan barely recognized the feeling anymore.
Micah climbed out first, speaking quietly into his phone as he headed toward the side entrance. That left her and Wes alone for a moment.
Rowan glanced down at herself.
Her shirt was torn near the shoulder. Dirt streaked her jeans. Her hair had come loose somewhere on the mountain and hung across her face in tangled strands.
Now that they’d stopped moving, her adrenaline faded, and a tremor worked through her hands.
Naomi would take one look at her and immediately know something was wrong.
