Chapter 5
As always, spending time at the shelter kept Katherine’s mind busy and off her problems. While Ollie stayed glued to Jimmy’s side, she bopped around where needed—changing bedding, preparing lunches, and chatting with Beth about what brought her to the shelter.
As difficult as it was to keep her emotions from her face, she remained passive as possible while listening to the young woman’s struggles.
Slicing a cucumber, Beth sighed and stared out the kitchen window. “The hardest part is worrying about Audrey. Wondering if my mistakes will haunt her for the rest of her life.”
Katherine rinsed a head of lettuce in the sink before breaking off leaves for a salad. “All mothers worry about that. I strongly believe as long as we do the best we can and shower our children with love and good intentions, they’ll be all right.”
“I hope so. But I doubt your son has been dealt as crappy a hand as my daughter.” There was no bite in Beth’s words, just an exhausted acceptance of a rough life.
The side of Katherine’s mouth hitched up. “You’d be surprised.”
Beth held the knife over the cucumber and stared at her with wide, brown eyes. “You were abused, too?”
“No,” Katherine said, shaking her head. “I was in a wonderful marriage with a man who made the best possible father.”
“Told you.” Beth went back to her task.
“But that’s not the end of our story,” Katherine continued.
“He died in a car accident a year ago. Someone else’s mistake took away half of my heart and left us struggling to accept our new reality.
The reason I’m here might be different than yours, but deep down, I need the same community you do.
And if you let them, the women here can be there for you just like they have been for me. ”
A sad smile touched Beth’s lips. “I hope so.”
She opened her mouth to say more, but Ollie and Jimmy ran into the room with matching grins.
“Mama, Jimmy wants to see my fidget spinner. The shiny blue one Pappy gave me. Can you go get it? Please.” Ollie drew out the last word in a desperate plea.
Normally she’d say no and tell the boys to play with something already at the shelter or go outside and enjoy the sun.
But it wasn’t often Ollie displayed so much excitement, and she had to admit, the fact her eighty-something grandfather had bought a fidget spinner delighted the entire family.
Something her grumpy-yet-loveable Pappy pretended to find irritating.
“It sounds really cool, Ms. Katherine,” Jimmy added, excitement bouncing him up on his toes.
Beth chuckled. “Looks like they’re wanting you to run an errand.”
“Sure does.” Katherine gave an exaggerated eye roll. “Maybe if they both promise to be very good for the rest of the day and eat all these delicious vegetables we’re preparing for lunch, I can grab the toy really quick and bring it back.”
Ollie threw his arms around her waist. “Thanks, Mom!”
She savored the affection for a second longer before popping into the storeroom to tell Elsie she’d be right back.
Once Elsie assured her that she’d keep an eye on the boys, she slipped into her jacket and snatched her keys from the pocket.
She rushed down the porch steps to her SUV and turned on the engine.
Soft music played from the speakers, and she hummed along with the melody.
The frazzled state of her nerves evened out from a day giving back, and she settled into the drive from Pine Valley to Water’s Edge.
With her home on the outside of town, the fifteen-minute drive often went fast. Especially this time of year when the bright colors of spring promised warmer weather.
She drove past the town square, stopping at the red light. A few pedestrians filtered past on the crosswalk. She tapped her fingertip against the steering wheel as she waited, and when the light turned green, she turned right away from town.
The houses grew further apart and the trees more prominent, the wind ruffling the leaves. She cracked her window to let the fresh air inside and turned up the radio. Alone time wasn’t something she got often. She might as well enjoy it as much as possible before returning to the shelter.
A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed an old truck closing the distance between them.
She kept her speed right at the limit. If some eager beaver had a lead foot, he could pass her.
Keeping her hands at ten and two, she fixed her attention straight ahead.
The road curved around the mountain, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
The truck came closer, raising the hairs at the back of her neck. Intuition tingled her gut, and she put a little extra pressure on the gas pedal. The more space she carved out between her and the truck, the more even her heartbeat became.
She darted her gaze between the rearview mirror and the windshield. The truck stayed back, following her into Water’s Edge.
Take it easy. Just some random guy in a truck taking the same route. No big deal.
She took the final curve around the bend.
In a flash, the truck was on her bumper. She glanced over her shoulder for a glimpse of the driver, but a hat pulled low over his eyes kept any features hidden. Fear hitched her breath as the space between the two vehicles became almost non-existent.
She increased her speed a little more and found the call button on her steering wheel. She might be overreacting, her paranoia at an all-time high after the night before, but her instincts screamed that something wasn’t right.
When the sound dinged through her speakers, she said, “Call the sheriff’s department.”
The line picked up and ringing overtook the country music on the radio.
“Sheriff’s department, this is Anne. How can I help you?”
“Anne, it’s Katherine. I’m driving into town, about five miles south of the city limits, and a truck behind me is freaking me out. I’m in a black SUV. Are there any deputies out this way?”
“One second, honey. Let me see what I can do.”
Time ticked by slowly. Katherine kept her foot on the gas and focus ahead of her. She didn’t have to keep looking back to know the truck was still right behind her. The turn to her house came into view, but she didn’t want to lead this guy to her home.
She drove in the opposite direction. She’d take him into town, pass a traffic camera so they could get a better look at the guy’s license plate.
A sudden bump against the back of her SUV lurched her vehicle to the side and whipped her body forward. Her seatbelt tightened, biting into her middle. Fear clouded her vision, and she gripped the wheel in her sweat-slicked palms, cranking it back to center.
“Anne,” she said, terror clipping her voice. “The truck just hit me.”
“Okay, honey. I just spoke with a deputy in the area. Help’s on the way. Just hold on.”
She took the suggestion to heart, holding on to the steering wheel like it was a lifeline.
Her pulse beat against her temples, and she chanced a quick glance in the rearview mirror, catching sight of the truck one more before it slammed into the back of her vehicle.
The sound of metal crunching metal scraped along her skin and her front tires bounced on the berm, spinning out of control.
Cody made a U-turn on his way to the sheriff’s station and headed south of town.
The call from dispatch requested a deputy to check out a situation with two drivers headed toward Water’s Edge.
He had no clue what the issue was beyond a woman upset somebody drove too close to her car, but he’d make sure everything was okay.
Chances were high it was some teenager running late for something and with no regard for others on the road.
To make it quick, he turned on his siren and activated the flashing lights that would clear his path. He sped to the country road that fed into Water’s Edge. He spotted the black SUV seconds before the truck behind it rammed into the back and sent it spinning off the road.
The SUV whipped to the side and crashed against the guardrail. The bright yellow metal bent and twisted, straining to keep the vehicle from plummeting into the ravine on the other side.
“Son of a bitch!”
He increased his speed and grabbed the receiver of his communicator.
“Found the SUV and there’s been an accident.
Send an ambulance to County Road 81, a few miles south of Water’s Edge.
The perp is fleeing in the opposite direction, heading toward Pine Valley.
Send deputies, keeping an eye out for a four-door black truck with an extended cab. ”
As much as he wanted to chase after the dumbass who’d sent the SUV into such a precarious situation, he had to make sure the SUV driver and possible passengers made it out safely. And the way the guardrail had shifted told him he didn’t have a lot of time.
Closing the distance between him and the accident, he threw his cruiser in park and jumped outside. He ran to the SUV, sending up a quick prayer whoever was inside wasn’t injured and could be easily removed before things got worse.
As he approached the driver’s side door, shock threatened to knock all the sense from his brain.
Katherine sat with her hands glued to the steering wheel and wide eyes fixed straight ahead. Her shoulders raised up and down as though releasing her breaths at a rapid rate.
He tapped on her window.
Her body jolted, and she turned her head his way.
Even with the glass between them, he could see the shock holding her hostage. He lifted a palm then pointed to the door handle. He tested the handle, relief flooding over him when the door flew open. “Katherine, are you injured?”
Swallowing hard, she shook her head and tears leaked down her cheeks.
“That’s good. Can you unhook your seatbelt so we can get you out of the vehicle? That guardrail is keeping you in place and I’m not sure how much longer it’ll hold.”
Her hands trembled but stayed locked on the wheel.
The pallor of her face worried the hell out of him. He needed to get her out of the car.
“That’s okay,” he said, inching closer. “I can help. Is that okay?”
She nodded.
Leaning into the vehicle, he reached around her to release the belt.
The scent of lavender and vanilla hit him square in the chest, taking him back to the night before when he’d held her in his arms. He shoved those thoughts out of his brain.
Now wasn’t the time to dwell on whatever that reaction was.
Especially with Katherine yet again needing help out of a potentially dangerous situation.
“I’m going to slip my arm around your back and get you out of the vehicle now.” He did just that and gently applied pressure to coax her to move. He could lift her out if needed but that would be a last resort.
His touch must have snapped her out of whatever haze held her captive. She jolted forward, her hand gripping his arm as she jumped out of the seat.
He held her steady. “I got you,” he said. “You’re safe.”
Her body shook and she clung to the front of his uniform, fisting the fabric by his neck in her small hands.
“Let’s get you to my cruiser. I have some water.”
She kept her grip firm as he guided her to his car.
“I need to get in my car to grab the water,” he said.
When she didn’t remove her death grip, he covered the back of her hand with his palm and guided it to his side. He opened the passenger side door and found an unopened bottle of water in the console. He handed it to her. “Are you injured?”
Her chin quivered and the tears poured out faster. “I…I’m sore. The truck. It hit me. Pushed me off the road. Just like Theo. I could have—” Sobs stole the rest of her words. She used her free hand to cover her mouth and her face twisted in pure agony.
Unable to stop himself, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her.
He moved his palm up and down her spine, doing whatever he could to console her.
Hell, he’d assumed her reaction was solely based on fear.
He hadn’t considered the PTSD that’d paralyze her due to her losing her husband in a fatal accident.
She buried her head against the side of his neck and clung to him.
“You’re fine. Do you hear me? You made it out of that car without a single scratch.”
Pulling back, she sniffed back her tears and locked her gaze on his.
“Last night was scary. But this…I knew something wasn’t right.
That the guy behind me wasn’t just some random stranger who needed to get somewhere fast. Then when he hit me…
all I could think about was Theo and what must have gone through his head that night.
What would Ollie do if the same thing happened to me? ”
The crack in her voice shredded his heart. He tucked a long piece of hair behind her ear and forced her eyes to meet his. “Don’t let your mind circle around the what ifs, or you’ll drive yourself crazy.”
She nodded and drew in a shuddering breath. “You’re right. Thank you.”
The sound of a siren broke them apart.
Katherine winced and gingerly touched her fingertips to the side of her neck.
Frowning, he shoved his hand in his pocket to keep from touching her again. “An ambulance will be here soon. They’ll check you over. Do you want me to call anyone for you?”
Sighing, she squeezed her eyes shut for a beat. When she opened them again, defeat was clear in her brown hues. “My dad’s going to flip. He’ll never leave my side after this.”
“He’s worried about you. That’s what dads are for.” Not like he’d know. His dad was usually the source of his worrying, not the person looking out for him.
“You’re right. He’s great, and so are my brothers and grandfather. I’m so appreciative of their help, and after this, that help will be needed. I’m not sure I’ll feel safe on my own. There’s no way it’s a coincidence I’ve been targeted two days in a row. Don’t you think?”
He wished he could lie to her. That he could tell her there was a chance, however slim, that she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time twice. But she wasn’t an idiot, and he wasn’t one to lie to protect someone’s feelings. Honesty was always best.
“I think someone wants to hurt you, and I’m afraid they won’t stop until they get what they want.”