Leaves rustled behind the stand as if someone or something was scurrying through the fallen debris, heading back toward the parked cars.
“I’ve got you now,” he whispered, sounding jubilant. In a flash, he climbed down the ladder and ran to catch up to whatever squirrel or possum or raccoon that had saved Hannah, at least for the moment.
Over the roar in her ears, she could hear him disappear into the night. Opening her mouth, she gulped air and trembled from the fear that had wrapped her tightly in its hold.
Thank You, God.
She lay still for a long time, listening to the forest and allowing her anxiety to calm. Breathing in the serenity of the moment, she closed her eyes and, at some point, drifted into a light slumber.
With a jerk, she awoke. Rubbing her neck, she started to sit up. Just that quickly, the sound of footsteps returned. Her gut churned and she bit her lip to keep from moaning in distress.
After all this time, why was he coming back?
Again, she flattened her body against the platform, willed her heart to remain calm and blinked back hot tears that stung her eyes.
This time he would find her. He neared, then stepped onto the ladder, one foot, then another and another as he climbed higher.
Faintly in the distance, she could hear the rev of a car engine as a vehicle headed down the mountain, but all she could think about was the man on the ladder.
He stopped for half a second, then raised a rifle and laid it on the wooden deck.
Her chance. Her only chance. She grabbed the weapon and pointed it straight at the wide-brimmed hat and full face that appeared over the edge of the platform.
* * *
A sliver of moonlight peered from between the clouds as Lucas Grant climbed over the top of the ladder onto the deer stand. Just that fast, his heart stopped, seeing the woman staring at him wide-eyed. Her long hair and oval face made him think of Olivia.
Then he saw the rifle—his .30-30 Winchester—aimed at his gut.
“Put the gun down, lady, before one of us gets hurt.”
“Who are you?” she demanded, her gaze wary and tight with fear. Although she squared her shoulders and raised her jaw, the hint of uncertainty was evident in her voice.
“Lucas Grant. This is my property. My deer stand.” He let the information settle for half a second then added, “Seems you’re trespassing. So, if you know what’s good for you, ma’am, you best hand over my .30-30.”
He pursed his lips and pulled in a breath as she hesitated longer than he would have liked.
“I won’t hurt you, ma’am, and I don’t aim to do you harm.”
She tilted her pretty head, wrinkled her brow and looked at him through what appeared, even in the dim moonlight, to be troubled eyes.
“You’re Amish?” she asked, the surprise evident in her voice.
He glanced down at the black trousers and blue shirt, knowing it was the suspenders that made her come to that conclusion, along with the wide-brimmed felt hat and the black outer coat that hung open.
“I work at an Amish bed-and-breakfast,” he said, unwilling to provide more information.
Her brow wrinkled even more. “So you’re not Amish.”
He shrugged. “Call me Amish in training.”
“What?”
He held out his hand. “Ma’am, let’s get rid of the weapon and then we can make our introductions.”
Instead of reassuring the woman, his comment seemed to have the opposite effect. She gripped the barrel more tightly and inched her finger even closer to the trigger.
Not where he wanted it to be.
She leaned forward, her brow raised. “Did you have anything to do with the man at the filling station?”
He took off his hat and raked his hand through his hair, trying to follow her train of thought. “What filling station?”
“Just off the highway. I stopped for gas and directions. A man followed me.”
Some of the pieces were falling into place. “That’s why you climbed the deer stand.”
Her shoulders slumped and her eyes glistened with what he imagined were tears.
“Ma’am, I’d never hurt a lady. You don’t have to worry. I won’t hurt you and, if you give me a description of the man who came after you, I’ll notify the local authorities.”
“The Willkommen police department?”
He shook his head. “It’s a county-run sheriff’s department, although Sheriff Kurtz is in rehab, recovering from a gunshot wound. One of his deputies is holding down the fort, so to speak.”
“Crime must run rampant on this mountain.” The sarcasm in her reply was all too evident.
“You’re not from this area?” he asked, hoping to steer the conversation onto a more neutral topic.
She shook her head but didn’t offer a verbal response.
“Where’s your car, ma’am?”
“Broken down on the side of the road not far from here. A warning light signaled the engine had overheated. I pulled off the road.”
“That’s when the man came after you?”
She nodded. “A few minutes later. I had seen him at the gas station.”
“He followed you?”
“I’m not sure. He was headed toward the highway when he first left the station. He must have turned around.”
“And he chased after you?” Lucas asked.
“That’s right,” she said with a nod. “I ran into the woods. He came after me and started up the deer stand. Thankfully, an animal rustled the underbrush and distracted him. He ran toward the sound, probably thinking it was me. Eventually, I heard a car engine and presume he drove off in his SUV when he couldn’t find me.”
Needing to gain her trust, Lucas pointed in the direction of the road. “You stay here and I’ll check the roadway to make sure he’s gone.”
As much as he didn’t want to leave the skittish woman, Lucas wanted to ensure the man had driven away as she’d suspected. He quickly made his way through the thick underbrush until he had a clear view of the roadway. A Nissan sedan sat at the side of the road. No other vehicle was in sight.
He returned to the deer stand. “It’s Lucas,” he announced as he started up the ladder, relieved to find her waiting for him at the top.
“I saw one car and only one car. A Nissan,” he informed her.
“That’s mine.”
“Then the guy’s gone. How ’bout we climb down the ladder? I can check the engine and see what’s wrong with your vehicle.”
She didn’t respond.
“Unless you want to stay on this deer stand all night,” he added.
The temperature had dropped even lower. Lucas could feel it in his leg. The wound had healed but the memory lingered. If the dampness bothered him, it had to be chilling her, as well.
Her jacket was light and her head and hands were bare. A slight mist had started to fall and she appeared to be shivering under her bravado.
“Not sure how you feel about a cold rain on a chilly night, but I’d prefer to seek shelter and stay dry.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Evidently he was making progress. “I don’t want to