Foxfire (23 page)

Max's voice droned on. “By the time they find
you, I'll be long gone. These rednecks will spend the next ten
years looking for their serial killer, but they won't find him. All
they'll find is you after the animals have fed on your dead
flesh.”

“You won't get away with this. The FBI knows
you're here.”

His grin froze her blood.

Grace shuddered. How many women had died
because of her? How many did he kill to set up a cover for her
murder?

The knife's point pricked her skin. A warm
trickle of blood ran down her neck. This was it. She was going to
die.

“Get away from her and drop the knife.”

Her heart thudded. She raised her gaze and
saw Adam standing several feet away, a rifle pointed at them.

Max gave a bitter laugh.

“I said drop the knife,” Adam repeated. His
voice shook and so did the rifle. Grace wondered if he knew how to
shoot that thing. What if he panicked and shot her? What if he
didn't shoot and Max killed both of them? Grace had to get the
knife away from Max. She doubted Adam could ever pull the trigger.
She had no doubt she was going to die, but she couldn't let Adam
die, too.

“Grace, come over here,” Adam said. “I've got
him covered.”

Max's arm tightened around her neck. “You
crazy idiot, you'll never shoot,” Max taunted.

The knife no longer pierced her skin. “He's a
sharpshooter,” Grace croaked. “I wouldn't tempt him if I were you.”
The knife moved away from her throat and his grip loosened.

“I'll have this knife plunged into her throat
before your bullet gets here. You want to risk it?”

“I'll shoot if you don't let her go.”

Taking advantage of the situation, Grace
wrapped her leg around Max's and pulled, dropping toward the ground
and bringing him with her. She hit hard with Max on top, driving
the air from her lungs.

With a move faster than she'd anticipated,
Max grabbed her hair, yanking her head up and pressing the knife
beneath her chin.

She gave a cry of pain and fury.

Once more the knife pricked her skin.

“Drop the rifle or I'll slit her throat.”

“No! Don't listen to him. Shoot him.” She
closed her eyes, willing Adam to pull the trigger.

“I can blow your head clean off from here,”
Adam shouted.

Max laughed. “Sure you can, Rambo.”

“Do it.” Grace felt the knife drawing blood.
“Shoot him,” she begged. “He's going to kill me anyway.”

“He's not going to kill anybody.” Tyler's
voice boomed from the wooded area beside the cabin.

Tyler? Her heart leaped with hope.

“Drop it, Max, or you're a dead man.” His
tone left no doubt he had faced danger before and come out the
winner. Between the pain and the fear she'd forgotten that Tyler
had come to Foxfire for one reason—to kill Max. This wasn't the
flirtatious veterinarian she'd fallen in love with. This was the
hard-core special investigator. The man sworn to bring down Max
Clayton.

Max looked from Adam to Tyler. “What are you
going to do? Shoot? Who do you think will catch the bullet, me or
her? I don't think either of you will take the chance.”

Max slowly moved to stand, keeping Grace
clutched tightly against him. “Maybe I'll just finish her off now,”
he taunted. “Or maybe I'll just carve her up a little.”

The sound of Adam cocking the rifle echoed
through the clearing.

Grace's legs began to wobble. She had to do
something. Tyler stepped closer and she sent him a message with her
eyes, hoping he'd read her intent. She drove her elbow backward
into Max's chest. He grunted and suddenly her arms were free.

“Bastard,” she spat out. She reached for his
wrist. He was stronger than she thought and he tugged on her hair
again. She gasped, but kept her grip on his arm. The knife moved
closer to her throat. Through force of will, she kept her grip on
his arm, but pain exploded violently through her head. She wouldn't
let him win. Dying wasn't an option.

The rifle blasted a second before another
shot rang out.

She and Max fell to the ground.

Max was on top of her. She couldn't breathe.
Had she been shot?

Suddenly the weight lifted.

“It's over, Grace.” Tyler reached out his
hand.

“Tyler!” she cried. Their fingers melded
together and then his strong arms pulled her against him.

“I've got you, babe. You're safe now.”

“Max?”

“He's not going anywhere.”

She clung to him, heart beating rapidly,
forgetting the pain ricocheting through her head. She had been
saved by the man of her dreams. The man she trusted with her heart.
Her fear was gone. His hands caressed her back, her hair, and
finally her face. He squinted at her neck.

“You're bleeding.”

“It doesn't matter.”

His eyes, his wonderful eyes, gazed deep into
her soul.

“It matters to me, babe.”

And finally, finally, she believed him.

Adam ran up to them. “Did I get him?”

Jake was on the ground beside Max, checking
for a pulse. “He's dead.”

Adam dropped the rifle. “I didn't mean to
kill him.” Adam's voice trembled. “I only wanted to keep him from
hurting Grace. I didn't mean to kill anybody.”

“You didn't kill him,” Jake said. “Your shot
went into his thigh. Mine killed him.”

“Thank you. I owe you one,” Tyler said.

Grace hugged Adam and then Jake. “Thank you
both.”

“I was afraid to shoot,” Adam said. “But I
had to. I couldn't let him kill you, Grace.”

“You were very brave, Adam.”

Jake clapped Adam on the shoulder. “I owe
you, man. When you wounded him, it gave me a clear target.”

“So, it's finished,” Tyler said.

Chapter Fifteen

Grace woke with a start. She lay quietly
listening for the sound that had startled her from sleep. Sometimes
she found it hard to believe that she no longer had to fear
anything. Her life had turned around. Her whole world had
changed.

Tyler left with Jake after shutting down the
clinic for an indefinite time. He told her he would be in touch,
but she hadn't heard a word in two weeks. Though she tried to deny
it, her hopes had died. She'd given her heart to Tyler, believed
they would have a future, and set herself up for the pain of losing
once again. The blame lay with her and no one else. In time she'd
heal, but she'd never forget. Never.

From the foot of the bed Tiffany raised her
head and looked at Grace. Sometimes she thought the dog could read
her mind.

In the distance, she once again heard the
noise that had awakened her. A hammer. Or several hammers. Was
someone working on Brad's house?

He'd been released from the hospital, but
Harri insisted on keeping him at her place until the cast came off
his leg. Grace expected Harri would use the time to make Brad
realize how much he needed her.

Grace swung her feet to the floor. “Come on,
Tiff. Let's see what's going on.”

Tiffany jumped to the floor, stretched her
legs and yawned. At least Tyler hadn't lied about his veterinarian
skills. Grace dressed without giving a thought to how she looked,
for what difference did it make if she looked her best? There was
no one who cared.

The pounding of hammers grew louder as Grace
approached Brad's. When she arrived, she couldn't hold back a
smile. Adam and several other men were rebuilding the damaged part
of the house.

Adam waved and climbed down the ladder. “What
do you think?” he asked when he was within shouting distance.

“It's great.” She clapped like a child
receiving a long-awaited gift.

Adam pulled his cap a little further down to
hide his eyes. Grace knew the gesture hid his embarrassment, rather
than having a sinister meaning.

“It's the least I can do,” he said. “Brad's
my best friend.”

“Mine, too,” she said. “Can I help?”

Adam petted Tiffany, who lately had started
accompanying him on his daily walks. They seemed to have become
close pals.

“We gotta finish putting up the walls and
shingling the roof. But you can help with painting if you like. We
should be ready for that by tomorrow.”

Grace raised her eyebrows in surprise. “That
soon?”

He nodded. “Not that much to do. Mostly the
back porch. But the kitchen will need to be cleaned and
painted.”

“I can handle that,” she answered. Her voice
trailed off as her attention focused on a familiar figure on the
roof.

Adam turned to follow her gaze. “Ain't it
great? Tyler's back. Nice of him to help out,” he said.

Tyler had returned, but he hadn't called her?
Her heart sank. But why should he? She wasn't the type of woman
he'd want to spend the rest of his life with, and if he planned on
her working at the clinic, he would have called when he
returned.

As if sensing her presence, Tyler turned to
face her. They were suspended in a moment of time, unanswered
questions hanging in the distance separating them.

She tore her gaze away and lifted her lips in
a forced smile. “Adam, I've got some things to take care of, but
I'll call you later.”

“Okay. I better get back to work.” He gave
her a shy smile.

“See you later.”

“See ya, Grace.”

He climbed the ladder and Grace turned to
leave. She avoided looking at Tyler, though her heart fluttered
frantically against her ribs. She had to get away before the tears
unleashed. This time she would cry.

She hurried home with Tiffany running ahead
as usual. Once there, she grabbed her purse and keys. She had to
see Brad. Staying here and worrying about things she had no control
over would only lead to misery. She'd had enough of that in the
past few weeks to last the rest of her life. She couldn't bear
having him so close and knowing he didn't want her, and she
couldn't go back to being just friends. Tiffany butted against her
leg and whimpered.

Grace ran from the house and started the car.
Tears began to flow and she wiped her eyes repeatedly before she
could drive. She'd always been a strong person. She could survive
this. She always survived. Somehow she'd find a way to forget the
feelings Tyler had unleashed in her traitorous body. It was lust,
nothing more. Time would fade the memories.

She arrived at Harri's and sat in the car for
a moment until she regained control of her raging emotions. Turning
the rearview mirror down, she dabbed at the corners of her eyes
where dampness still pooled. Could she hide her tears from her
friends? She took a deep breath and held it to the count of five,
then released. She repeated for several minutes until she lost the
urge to cry. Lifting her chin, she walked toward the house.

Brad and Harri seemed glad to see her, and if
they noticed she'd been crying, neither acknowledged it. Harri
invited her to stay for lunch, then pulled her aside for a private
chat, leaving Brad in the kitchen with his ice cream maker.

“What's wrong?” Harri asked. She pointed for
Grace to sit in the chair, while Harri chose the bed.

Her bedroom looked just like Harri—a wild
splash of colors. Grace glanced at the clothes on the floor. One of
Brad's shirts lay there, along with one of Harri's. Muted blue next
to vibrant yellow. Grace noticed a pair of men's shoes sticking out
from under the bed. Looked like Harri had finally caught her man.
That would account for Brad's loud off-key singing competing with
the noise from the ice cream machine.

“Nothing's wrong,” Grace answered. She met
Harri's gaze, her lips lifting in a teasing grin.

“It's not what it looks like,” Harri assured
her. “Brad and I were married yesterday. He's an honorable
man.”

Brad and Harri...married? Grace felt
happiness seep into her heart.

Harri's eyes twinkled. “Brad wanted to tell
you first before we announced it.”

“I won't give away the secret.” Grace hugged
Harri tight. “Congratulations.”

Harri pushed her gently away. “Now tell me
what's bothering you. You never cry.”

“Tyler's back.”

Harri clapped her hands together. “But that's
great news, isn't it? Why are you upset?”

“I wouldn't even know he was back if I hadn't
seen him working on Brad's roof this morning.” Grace bit her bottom
lip. “Uh-oh. I guess I'm not so good at keeping a secret after
all.”

Harri leaned over and patted Grace's knee.
“Honey, that's not a secret. Adam told Brad about it a few days
ago. Brad's just upset that he can't climb a ladder and help.”

“Things will change when I get this blasted
cast off,” Brad said.

Grace turned to see him leaning on a crutch
in the open doorway. How long had he been standing there?

“Adam's a good man,” he continued. “Did you
know that he and Lainey are getting married next month?” Brad's
glance shifted to Harri. His face took on a softer appearance as
their eyes met.

“Yes. They invited me to the wedding,” Grace
said. “Adam's a different man since his picture made the newspaper.
He smiles a lot now, too.”

“So do I,” Brad said, “since Harri agreed to
be my wife. We were married yesterday.”

Grace tried to put surprise in her voice.
“I'm so happy for both of you.” She forced a smile. “What took you
so long?”

“Maybe it took facing death to realize how
short life really is. I didn't want to waste any of the rest of the
days the good Lord gives me.”

Harri patted the mattress beside her. “Come
over here and sit down. You shouldn't be standing so long.”

Brad grinned. “See what I've got to put up
with?”

Grace laughed. “I love you both so much.” She
hugged Brad, taking the crutch and helping him to the bed.

“There's someone waiting in the kitchen who
wants to talk to you,” Brad said. He plopped beside Harri, wrapping
an arm around her shoulder.

“Me?” Who could be looking for her?
Unless…