Chapter 13
Rain poured from the dark gray sky as Marlee stood on her crutches in the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for her trip to Kansas. She stared out the wall of glass at the rain pounding down on the luggage carrier that pulled up to the plane she would be taking to the Topeka airport, where her mom and Aunt Linda would meet her. She had a ticket for a late flight since it was the only one she could get at the last minute.
Amy Baker had helped Marlee take her things from Colt’s home to her own, and Amy had also helped her pack, then dropped her off at the airport.
No way was Marlee about to let Colt do anything else for her. You don’t break up when life gets difficult. You tackle your problems, in this case Sally, together. No wonder he never married. He didn’t know the first thing about being a couple.
The fact that she was running from Arizona to get away from Sally ate at her and made her want to scream. She gripped the hand rests of her crutches so hard her fingers ached. She did not want to let that woman dictate what happened in her life.
And then there was Colt.
An ache behind her eyes threatened to force out tears. She clenched her jaw. She would not cry over Colt McBride—she spent way too many tears on him the first time. How could she have been so stupid that she’d trusted him with her heart. Again.
No number of excuses she could give herself would make up for her lapse in judgment.
She squeezed her eyes shut and focused on the buzz and hum of conversation around her, and sound of the planes taxiing down the runway or the powerful engines lifting others into the sky.
When she could better control her emotions, she opened her eyes and stared out at the gray sky and the continuous rain.
She wanted to say to hell with everyone and everything. She hated that she was dependent on others due to her broken ankle. If Sally came around, Marlee would have to beat her up with her crutches.
That thought gave her some pleasure. She had never been a violent person, but letting Sally really have it and punching her in the face would be incredibly satisfying. The woman had interfered in her life and could have killed her three different ways. She could have killed Colt, too.
Marlee’s throat worked as her thoughts went back to Colt. She had never been one for foul language, but her mind was inserting adjectives in her thoughts that she would normally never use.
An airline employee gave a boarding call for her flight and Marlee stared at the gate and ramp beyond that she was supposed to walk down. Should she go, or should she stay? How would she get home? What would she do once she got there?
Marlee wanted to run. Run long and hard, away from everything and everyone.
She wanted to be in her own space, alone, with time to think. She didn’t want to be shuttled off to Kansas.
Her teeth ached as she clenched her jaw. To hell with all of this.
Marlee grasped her crutches, turned away from the gate, and headed back the way she came.
She was going home.
Rain rolled off the brim of Colt’s hat as he stood between the barn and the house, not caring that he was thoroughly drenched. He was soaked to the skin and cold to the bone.
His gut ached as he thought about Marlee and sending her away. He’d hurt her, something he hadn’t wanted to do.
Now the woman he loved would never want to have anything to do with him again. And he would never get over her.
Ranger stood beside him, despite the rain. The dog was loyal to a fault.
Darkness had made its way here, and it was time to go inside. “Come on, boy.” Colt started toward the house, the Border collie at his heels.
He cleaned up in the mudroom and stripped out of his soaked clothing, down to his skin. He made his way to the shower and stepped under warm spray.
Memories of the first time he and Marlee had made love filled his mind. It had been right here when he’d entered her and had felt a way he never had before. Whole, complete, and the happiest he’d been in his life.
He swallowed and fought to think about something else. But all he could see was Marlee’s beautiful face as she climaxed then climaxed again.
A low growl rose in his throat. If it wasn’t for Sally Farmer, he would never have lost Marlee. Not once, but twice.
And now he had to stop Sally so that Marlee could return without being in danger. Thank God she had listened to her mother and agreed to go to Kansas.
By the time he finished with his shower, it was well past dinnertime. It was so quiet without the sound of Marlee’s voice and so empty without the richness of her presence.
He made sandwiches for dinner instead of cooking something and ate at the kitchen table. It tasted like straw. He might as well be eating a cow patty.
His phone rang, and for a moment he hoped it was Marlee. When he glanced at the screen, he saw it was Ann.
“Did Marlee make it okay?” he said as he answered.
He heard strain in Ann’s voice. “She just called to let us know not to pick her up at the airport. She went home.”
Colt’s heart nearly stood still, and a buzzing sounded in his ears. “She’s not on her way to Kansas?” He couldn’t get it through his head.
“No.” Ann sounded panicked. “What if that woman gets to her?”
“I’m not going to let that happen.” Colt got to his feet. “I’m headed to her place now.”
“Thank you, Colt.” Ann hesitated. “I know you broke up with her so that she would come to Kansas. Don’t let that be the end of you two.”
“I’m not sure Marlee will be able to forgive me again.” Colt walked to the counter to grab his keys. “But when this is all over, I’ll do everything in my power.”
“I’m coming back to Arizona,” Ann said. “She needs someone with her.”
“That could put you in danger, too, and Marlee wouldn’t want that.” Colt kept his voice firm. “I’ll take care of Marlee, I promise.”
“Thank you, Colt.”
“I’ll keep you updated, Ann.” He disconnected the call and strode back out into the rain.
The Uber ride had cost a small fortune, but Marlee hadn’t wanted to bother Amy again. She’d have to figure out how to get her luggage from the airport, but she wasn’t going to worry about it tonight.
She climbed out of the car into the rainy night and brought out her crutches with her. She had a crossbody purse, so without luggage all she had to worry about was her crutches and getting to her front door.
Rain soaked her hair and jacket and rolled down her face and into her eyes. She made her way up to her white picket fence and maneuvered herself through the gate, past Baby Bug, her red VW Bug, then headed to the stairs to the front porch. The porch light was out, leaving the area in darkness.
Marlee blew out her breath as she stared at the five steps from her sidewalk to the porch. She didn’t even know if it was possible to use crutches to get up a set of stairs because she hadn’t had the opportunity to try. She did know that even with her daily exercises with her crutches, she couldn’t use them to go up the stairs in the rain. She sat on the fourth step down, instantly saturating her sweatpants.
She moved from step to step on her butt, until she reached the porch, and managed to get her crutches up against the rail. She used the pillar to pull herself up, under her own porch, and out of the rain. The key to the front door was buried in her purse and it took her a bit to find it. When she did, she grasped her crutches and made it to the door.
Her hand trembled from the cold settling in from the rain. She needed to go inside and warm up. She pushed open the door and hobbled inside. She flipped on the light, illuminating the living room, closed the door, and sagged back against it, exhausted, drenched, and freezing cold.
But it was good to be home.
The house didn’t smell of gas, which was a relief. Since Sally hadn’t been successful with that attack, hopefully she wouldn’t try it again.
Marlee looked at the stairs to the top floor and groaned. It was a good thing she kept in shape, or she might not have had the strength to continue.
Her lips curved as she looked at her home. She loved this place and she’d missed it.
She’d enjoyed herself so much with Colt that she hadn’t given it much thought until now.
At the thought of Colt, she narrowed her eyes. She was such a fool.
She let out a long breath then used her crutches to make it to the stairs. With her crutches in one hand, she sat on the highest stair she could, then began to work her way to the upper floor. She wished she would have switched on the light so that it wouldn’t be so dark.
Marlee had never realized how many stairs it took to get to the top floor. She’d taken it for granted. It felt like forever, but she finally made it upstairs and used the handrail to help her to her feet and situated the crutches so that she could use them to make it to her bedroom. It was so dark she nearly stumbled on the runner that lined the hallway.
She made it to her door, opened it, and flipped on the light.
Her heart slammed in her chest as she came to a hard stop.
Her room had been trashed. Her pillows shredded, her perfume bottles smashed, her antique vanity mirror shattered, the vanity seat smashed into kindle, and the cushion slashed on her chair.
A message was scrawled across the wall in front of her.
Die, bitch.
A buzzing sounded in Marlee’s ears. Sally had trashed her room and left her another threatening message.
Fury like she’d never felt before burned through Marlee in white-hot heat. She wanted to punch the woman who had decided to make Marlee’s life hell. If she didn’t have a cast, she’d track down Sally herself and let her have it. To hell with being afraid and being a victim.
Marlee clench the crutches’ handholds. What should she do about it? What could she do about it? Right now. Right this minute.
“Like the redecorating I’ve done?” Sally’s taunting voice came from behind Marlee.
A cold chill raced down her back.
Marlee slowly turned to face Sally, who was only a foot away. The woman had a smug look on her face.
And a butcher knife from Marlee’s kitchen in her hand.
Sally raised the knife and touched the tip. Blood welled from her finger when the knife pricked her finger.
She leaned forward and wiped the blood across Marlee’s cheek. “There. That’s better.” She waved her hand. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll wipe it off after I kill you. Don’t want to leave evidence behind.” She smiled. “But I want to mark you now so that you’ll die knowing my blood is on you.”
Marlee said nothing. Her mind raced as she considered her options. Sally was so close she could easily stab her. She had to do whatever it took to survive.
I am not a victim. I will not be her victim.
Sally smiled, the smile of a psychopath. She slowly looked down Marlee’s body to her cast and back to her face. “Nice I don’t have to worry about running. The last bitch I killed was hell to chase. But in the end, I stabbed her with her own kitchen knife.” She grinned. “Just like you’re going to die with your butcher knife buried in your heart.”
Marlee gripped the handholds of her crutches. In a fast motion, she swung her legs up and slammed her feet into Sally’s chest.
Sally flew across the room, her back striking the antique dressing table and the knife flying from her grip. She screamed as her head struck a corner of the piece of furniture. She looked dizzy, like her eyes were going in and out of focus.
Marlee regained her footing. She dropped one crutch, grabbed the foot of the other in both hands, and swung the heavy top at Sally’s head.
Sally screamed again as it struck her face, knocking her head back against the corner again.
Clear rage engulfed the woman, her features a mask of red. She lunged for Marlee.
Marlee managed to hop far enough back that Sally missed her. But the hop made her unsteady and she had to use the upside-down crutch to balance herself. She steadied her stance and held the crutch up, ready to hit Sally again.
This time Sally dove for the knife and grasped the handle.
Marlee’s heart hammered as she readied herself for Sally’s next attack.
Sally started to move forward, but instead flung the knife at Marlee.
The blade plunged into the thigh of Marlee’s good leg.
Marlee screamed as pain engulfed her and tears flooded her cheeks as she went down, landing hard on her ass. She fought to maintain focus. Part of her knew the knife shouldn’t be removed or she could lose blood even faster than what was already soaking her jeans.
The other part of her screamed that she needed the knife to fight back.
She needed to do whatever it took to fight Sally.
Sally scrabbled across the floor toward her and Marlee reached for the knife.
Then Sally flew across the room.
Marlee looked up to see Colt with his hand buried in Sally’s hair and forcing her against the wall.
Relief rushed through Marlee, but loss of blood made her weak and she was near to passing out.
Sally fought and clawed at Colt, raking her nails across his face.
Colt grabbed her wrists and spun her away from him so that he had her arms pinned to her back.
Marlee wanted to help, but when she tried to move, the knife in her thigh caused her to cry out.
Colt shot his gaze to her. “Stay still, Marlee. You’re going to be okay.”
Marlee’s breathing came hard and fast. “Use my sheet to tie her up. Tear it into strips.
Sally screamed obscenities as she fought and tried to get away while Colt leaned toward the bed and pulled the sheet off the shredded mattress. He wrangled her down to the floor so that he sat on her back and pinned her wrists under his thighs. He tore long strips from the sheet and tied Sally’s wrists, then her ankles. Then he tore a lengthwise strip to give him enough sheet to hogtie her. He did it all in under two minutes. He wasn’t a rancher for nothing.
Sally wasn’t going anywhere.
When the woman wouldn’t stop screaming obscenities, Colt gagged her, too.
He hurried to Marlee, sheet in hand.
“That’s so much blood.” He handed Marlee his phone. “Call 911. I’ll take care of your leg.”
Marlee managed to hold on long enough to get through to the emergency operator while Colt tied a tourniquet on her thigh.
“Hold on, honey.” He gripped one of her hands. “I have to leave the knife in until the paramedics get here. They’ll know what to do next.”
“It’s over, Colt.” She leaned her head back against the wall. “She bragged about killing that other woman. I wasn’t about to let her kill me.”
Sirens neared and Marlee had a hard time focusing.
“You did good, Marlee.” Colt gave her a gentle smile. “She’ll be going away for a long while.”
“I hope it’s for eternity.” Marlee gritted her teeth from the pain and stared at the butcher knife. “God, I want this thing out.”
“Soon.” He gripped both her hands. “I love you, Marlee. Please know that. I know I hurt you, but I wanted you away from her. I love you too much to let her have a chance to harm you.” Then he gave her a look. “But you came back anyway.”
Tears rolled down Marlee’s cheeks. “You’d better mean that, Colt. The part about you loving me.”
“With all my heart.” He looked over his shoulder at the hogtied woman who tried to scream despite her gag. He turned back to Marlee. “But let’s talk about that more, when it’s just you and me.”
Marlee managed a smile. “I’m holding you to it.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “Just hang in there and we’ll be home before you know it.”
A few moments later, Mike Bailey and another officer came in through the door and sized up the situation. Colt explained what he knew to Mike and the other officer while Sally continued to scream behind her gag.
The paramedics rushed in and Marlee felt herself slipping as they gave her oxygen and attended to her thigh. The pain was excruciating, but Marlee did feel some satisfaction as she noted the police were in no hurry to untie and ungag Sally.
Marlee’s thoughts turned back to Colt telling her he loved her, and as darkness closed in on her, she was smiling.