Page 79 of One Night Years Ago

“I’m sorry, I should have called first. But I wanted to see you.” He pointed with his good arm towards the door, which she still hadn’t opened. His other arm was still in a sling. “But maybe now’s not a good time?” His expression wavered between hurt and bewildered.

I should come up with some way to let him know.

But her brain was fuzzy. She felt like she was swimming upstream through mud. Beside her, Stephen Ford made a threatening, slicing motion with his knife. Natalie swallowed hard.

“It’s been a long day, Hunter. I was just about to turn in.”

“I see. Of course.” His expression closed off, but she could still see the pain in his dark gray eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

She nodded, relieved that he was going to live and sad beyond belief that she wouldn’t get to see him ever again. She wanted to memorize every line of his face.

“Lock the door behind me, will you?” he asked. “I want you to be safe.”

She almost whimpered but managed a shaky nod instead.

“Goodnight, Hunter,” she said, closing the door.

“You did well, Sheriff,” Dr. Ford said, his voice just beyond a whisper. “Now do as he said and bolt—”

The door flew off its hinges, drowning out the doctor’s next words.

Chapter 30

Hunter

Hunter threw his entire weight against the door, leading with his good shoulder. He didn’t give himself time to think before doing so, knowing common sense and logic would lead him to get into his car and drive off to the farm. But something about Natalie’s listless expression made common sense retreat behind instinct. It was the same kind of instinct that had served him well in prison.

The door caved at the first blow, and he found himself flying through the doorway into Natalie’s living room. He flailed past Natalie, who stood open-mouthed beside him, before landing on the floor beside her.

“Hunter!” she shouted, a horrified expression on her face. And then he saw the man standing behind Natalie, a hunting knife in his hand. Doctor Stephen Ford.

Shock gave way to rage. Hunter got up onto his knees, ready to fight for Natalie. Faster than Hunter would have given the man credit for, Ford kicked at Hunter’s removable cast. The pain in his heel made Hunter fall back to the ground. Ford followed with a slicing motion.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to get up fast enough to avoid the knife, Hunter changed tactics and rolled sideways, feeling the knife slice inches away from him. If he’d stayed in place, the knife would have opened him from throat to groin.

Hunter sneaked another look at Natalie. That strange, listless expression he’d noticed earlier was still on her face, but her blue eyes were wide with fear.

What did he give her?

He rolled once more then braced himself with his hands, ignoring the pain from his weak shoulder. He needed to get back on his feet if he was going to stand a chance of surviving this fight.

“Come on!” Ford taunted, waving his knife in the air with a level of expertise that surprised Hunter.

Hunter focused on the man’s hand movements. He didn’t plan to fight fair. The next time Ford’s hand swiped downward, Hunter choreographed an uppercut punch. Ford jumped back to avoid being hit, giving Hunter the in he needed; he stepped in and hit Ford in the forehead instead, sending the doctor reeling.

Hunter followed with a punch, which landed in the doctor’s stomach with a satisfying oomph. The doctor grunted but didn’t fall. Hunter jumped back to avoid the knife, forgetting his injury. He landed on the injured heel and cried out in pain.

Ford took the chance to throw a punch to Hunter’s weak shoulder. Hunter saw stars.

“You’re probably not feeling one hundred percent yet, are you, Fowler?” Ford goaded.

Natalie screamed. Too late. Hunter saw the heavy lamp heading towards his temple an instant before everything went dark.

#

Natalie

Hot tears rolled down Natalie’s cheeks.