Chapter 42
Forty-Two
“I almost had a heart attack when you went down,” Erin said. She was downstairs, sitting at the kitchen table drinking a new cup of hot chocolate and munching on another Mallomar.
“I couldn’t tell you I was just trying to get out of the way,” Kaely said after taking a sip of her own hot cocoa.
“I’m just grateful it turned out okay,” Noah said. “I never thought for a moment that Eddie Pilcher would come after you, Erin. I figured a crook like him, with his record, would take off after his pal was arrested.” He shook his head. “I’m grateful to God that you were able to get that gun, Erin.”
“And I’m thankful that Pilcher missed when he fired.” Erin smiled. “I think it startled him when Kaely went down.”
“Well,” Kaely said, “I’m thankful that you kept your cool and shot that jerk. If you’d missed, we probably wouldn’t be here. Seems that cop in you is still there.”
“There’s someone else to thank here,” Erin said.
She looked down at the floor where Chester sat between them.
She patted the border collie’s head. “Chester latched onto Pilcher before I had the chance to do anything. He grabbed Pilcher’s wrist in his mouth so he couldn’t fire his gun again.
How he knew to do that is beyond me, but he’s one smart dog.
That made it possible for me to shoot Pilcher.
” She shook her head. “Chester gave me time to think. I wanted to put a bullet through his head, but in that moment, I felt . . .” She looked at Kaely.
“Compassion? I wanted him to live. My sister was changed through God’s love.
Who knows? Maybe someday, Eddie will make the same decision.
” She paused for a moment, trying to explain a reaction that went against what was drilled into her by her instructors at the police academy.
“I was trained to shoot to kill. Neutralize the threat. But for the first time in my life, something else was more important than my training. That’s why I shot him in the shoulder. It brought him down, but he’ll live.”
“That’s what God does when He’s invited to live in you,” Adrian said. “He changes you—as long as you let Him.”
Erin nodded. She was different now. She didn’t feel alone anymore.
And there was something else. The guilt she’d been carrying had lessened.
She would always regret accidentally killing Sarah Foster.
But now she had a certainty that Sarah was in a wonderful place where there was light and love.
She’d seen it. Death wasn’t a tragedy for a Christian or an innocent child.
It was a promotion. Salvation. An eternity of being loved and sheltered from fear, pain, sickness, and death.
With that in her future, she no longer felt the need to protect herself from life. It was time to live it.
“Another cup of hot chocolate anyone?” Kaely asked. She laughed when everyone nodded.
Adrian picked up a wrapped Mallomar, opened it up, and took a bite. His eyebrows arched. “Hey, these are really good. I think I could get addicted to them too.”
Kaely got up and collected everyone’s cup so she could fill them with the hot chocolate that was in a pan on the stove. “Oh no,” she said, sighing deeply. “Not another one.”
“Hey,” Noah said. “Maybe I’ll try one.”
Kaely turned around and shook her head. “Don’t you dare. One friend who’s hooked on those things is enough.”
“I think I noticed some empty wrappers in the trash can in our bedroom,” Noah replied, grinning. “Seems maybe you’ve developed a slight craving?”
Erin laughed. Her body was still sore, but she was feeling much better.
She would always be grateful to God for saving her life and Pat.
Now, Lee was in jail, and Pilcher would be there after he got out of the hospital.
Christine Dell was facing fraud charges, which might land her in prison as well.
“Still hard to believe Pilcher would come here to threaten you,” Adrian said. “He could have gone into hiding and might have gotten away with his attack on me and his scheme to blackmail Erin’s publisher.”
“He’s the kind of man who doesn’t take failure well,” Erin said. “His anger led him here to try to get what he’s convinced he was owed. I truly believe that if Noah had given him money, he would have gladly killed us all.”
“Well, he might have finished us before that,” Noah said. “We don’t have that kind of money. He should have realized that.”
“Maybe I was his backup,” Erin said. “He knew I was a well-known author and probably assumed I could get him what he needed if you couldn’t.
” Erin chuckled. “The reality is that most authors don’t make anywhere near what people think they do.
Unless you’re someone like Stephen King.
Of course, I would have gladly given him everything I have if it would have saved our lives, but I think he would have been pretty disappointed.
” She waved her finger at Adrian. “I still wish you’d told me the truth about his attack on you.
I realize you were trying to protect me, but I want to know when someone I care about has been hurt.
I can decide whether or not I need to come home or stay where I am.
Please don’t hide anything like that from me again. ”
“Sorry,” Adrian said. “I thought I was doing the right thing, but in retrospect, I guess I made a mistake. You’re a lot stronger than I realized.”
Erin noticed an odd look on his face. She’d said he was someone she cared about. Had that made him uncomfortable? She wasn’t certain, but she wasn’t going to worry about it. Maybe it was time for her to admit that she had feelings for Adrian. Of course, maybe he didn’t feel the same way.
She looked into his eyes and was pretty sure that what she saw there wasn’t embarrassment or rejection.
Instead, his slow smile made her feel as if something wonderful might be happening.
Had she finally met a man she could trust with her heart?
For the first time since Scott died, she believed it was possible.
“How long are you going to stay here?” he asked her.
Erin sighed. “I’d like to rest a couple of days until I’m not quite so sore. Unless Kaely tosses me out before then. You know what they say about houseguests and fish. After a few days, they both stink.”
Kaely carried two cups to the table and handed them to Erin and Adrian. “Well, you don’t smell even a little. You can move in for good as far as I’m concerned, but I hope you’ll at least stay until you’re truly ready to go home.” She smiled at Erin. “I still have plenty of Mallomars.”
“Well, in that case, I’m good.”
“I’m heading back tomorrow,” Adrian said. “I checked into a hotel close to here, so I might swing by in the morning if that’s all right with you,” he said, looking back and forth between Kaely and Noah. “I’ll bring doughnuts.”
“Well, okay,” Noah said with a smile. “As long as you bring some chocolate long johns.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Erin grinned at him and gazed around the table at these friends who had become more like family.
When she’d left the police department, she’d felt as if her life was over.
Now, she had true friends, and a relationship with a God she hadn’t known existed.
She’d also learned that no matter how dark things look, with God, life can become beautiful.
Although a few months ago she wouldn’t have believed it, now, she was actually looking forward to her future.