His face twisted.
“You don’t know her.”
“I know enough.”
I stood.
Looked toward the ranch.
Toward the woman waiting in the storm cellar.
Waiting to hear if she was safe.
Then I looked back at Gerald.
“You will never come near her again.”
Sheriff Cooper pulled Gerald to his feet.
Deputies took him toward the waiting patrol truck.
His blood trail ended at the creek.
His gun lay in an evidence bag.
And his freedom ended with the sound of a patrol car door slamming shut.
Only then did I let myself breathe.
Wolf stepped beside me.
“You good?”
I looked toward the ranch.
“No.”
Then I started walking.
Because Sadie was still in that cellar.
And the only thing I wanted now…
Was to hold her in my arms.
44
SADIE
The storm cellar was too dark.
Too small.
Too quiet.
Dad sat beside me on the wooden bench.
The old shotgun rested across his knees.
