Alanna had to scoot farther down on her bottom to get a better look, to make sure someone else hadn’t arrived when Matthew’s voice sounded just as sinister as the deputy’s.

Damn. She had forgotten how scary he could sound when he wanted to.

She heard a rustling sound, and then the click of a gun.

“You should have walked away,” the deputy snarled.

“You find her?”

Alanna brought her fist to her mouth to stifle any sound when she recognized Owen’s voice.

“Not yet. There’s been a holdup.”

“Quit wasting time. Shoot him and help me look,” Owen ordered.

Alanna saw Owen’s jean-clad legs as he moved around outside the area, looking behind the firepit before coming back to where she was hiding.

“I know you’re out here, Alanna. I searched the house, so you have to be out here somewhere. You know what I’m going to do when I find you, don’t you?” he threatened. “Oh … baby … it’s been a while since I’ve had you. I’m going to give it to you so hard—”

“You’re not going to touch her!”

“Shoot him!”

“Dammit, I’m trying. The damn fire is blowing smoke in my eyes …”

Alanna heard a sound of flesh meeting flesh and saw where Matthew had jumped toward the deputy to wrestle the gun away from his grip. Meanwhile, Owen continued searching the area, drawing closer to the fort. His only focus was her.

You’re going to have to run when I tell you to.

Alanna shook her head frantically, too frightened to speak. Owen would see her if she crawled out of the fort.

He won’t see you. The smoke will blind him enough for you to get a head start.

She began crawling to the opening of the fort, keeping to the side for as long as she could.

Run!

Her instinct was to go to Matthew, seeing him and the uniformed man struggling on the ground.

Jerking to her feet, she started toward them.

No! Run! We’re on our way to help him.

She took off at a run, past the fort, then Matthew and Isaac’s shop, hoping to reach the cover of the woods before Owen caught her.

Who’s on the way? Her frantic thoughts didn’t have a clue who was coming to help.

Hearing footsteps gaining ground on her, she couldn’t help but turn her head to see how close Owen was getting to her, only to trip and fall over the small rise when she saw it was Elizabeth. Is she the one who the wind said was coming to help?

Don’t stop! the wind howled at her. She wants to hurt you, not help you!

Disbelieving, she stood up, seeing Elizabeth had stopped chasing her and was edging closer to her.

“Come here, Alanna. I’ll protect you.”