Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Laura Scott (speed reading book .txt) 📖

or protection detail, it’s just us four. You can help by allowing one of us to be with you at all times.”

“Even in the ladies’ room?” Sarcasm came naturally and helped her to cope with the severity of the problem.

“I have two female agents, so yeah. Even there.” He gave her a take-that expression, but humor danced in his eyes as clear as mountain water streams.

“Whatever. Fine. But I meant helping in the investigation.”

“I can’t deny you’re good at speculation.” He checked his watch. “Let’s get back to the house. The team will be here any minute.”

“Wyatt! Doc! Come! Let’s go home and get a sweet potato.” The dogs sprinted toward her, barking their approval of their favorite dehydrated treat.

As they emerged from the tree line, a crack sounded.

Tree bark splintered above Georgia’s head.

“Get down!” Colt boomed and dived on top of her.

Colt calculated the risk of running back to the house, which was about a mile from here, or hauling it deeper into the woods. The sniper likely had a scope, which made them toast in open range. His only option was taking Georgia into the forest for cover.

“This way,” he urged and pointed her into the woods, shielding her from behind. The dogs kept pace, aware something wasn’t right. The blue merle whimpered and stuck close to Georgia. Colt used the widest trees as covering, but another bullet slammed into the trunk about four inches from Georgia’s shoulder.

They were dealing with an experienced shooter. His heart pounded, but he kept a cool head as his training kicked into high gear. Nothing mattered more than Georgia’s protection. He yanked her behind a massive oak tree.

“Do you know what’s on the other side of the woods? A road, a clearing?” he asked.

“We’re on Sunny Wilkerson’s land. The woods will lead to his cabin on the hill.”

Sunny was their best option. “Stay low.” Crouching, he hovered over Georgia as he used the trees as shields while maneuvering them farther into the woods. Leaves crunched underfoot, twigs snapped and the dogs barked, which would easily give away their position.

Suddenly, Georgia froze. Sweat poured down her pasty-white cheeks. “I—I can’t.”

“Can’t what?” Was she sick? What was happening?

Her breathing became shallow. “I’m—I’m having a panic attack.”

A panic attack. Well, she was being targeted for murder. “It’s not uncommon.”

She shook her head, but her gasps for air became faster and shallower. She could pass out. That would be the almost worst-case scenario here.

“No. I suffer from anxiety with panic disorder. It’s common to me.”

Oh.

“And I’m also being shot at, so there’s that, too. I can’t breathe.”

She hadn’t lost her dry wit. The diagnosis was new. The dogs’ continued yapping resounded through the entire forest, and Georgia was about to pass out, and he was trying to keep them alive. Lord, I need some help here. “Okay, listen to my voice. Breathe in. Deeply.”

She obeyed.

“Look in my eyes. Breathe.” He tried to keep his voice calm and steady, but time wasn’t on their side. Another crack of gunfire sounded, but nothing hit directly. The shooter was targeting them blindly, which meant they were far enough away to dodge him. But he must know they were choosing to push through the dense trees to the other side. The question now was could they beat him across to safety?

She continued gazing into his eyes and breathing. Nothing romantic about this. Her breath began to even out, but she wasn’t literally out of the woods yet.

“We have to act now. Can you make it?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He clasped her hand. “’Cause you don’t really have a choice.” He yanked her alongside him and they hauled it about two miles, jumping logs, weaving between trees and pushing through brush until they came to the edge of the clearing. Colt had worked up a sweat, and his heart rate was up. Georgia had braved it like a champ and kept up with him as she regulated her breathing. He thanked God for the help.

In the distance, Sunny Wilkerson’s cabin beckoned them like a lighthouse guiding a ship to invulnerable shores.

He checked his cell phone. Finally, some reception. He called unit team member Rhett Wallace. He picked up on the first ring.

“We heard shots! What’s going on, Chief?”

“They were meant for us. Everyone’s okay, though. There’s a property on the east side of the woods about two miles down. A Sunny Wilkerson. We’re about to make a break for it. I’m gonna give you five minutes to head this guy off in case he’s following us.” It had been quiet for the past few minutes, but that didn’t mean the shooter had given up.

“Okay. Be careful. We’re leaving now.” He hung up.

“Five minutes and then we make a run for it.”

Georgia nodded. “I’m really sorry for bringing you into this.”

She had no reason to apologize. “You should be thanking me. Not apologizing. You’d be dead right now if I hadn’t gotten involved.”

“Not the words you use to talk a panicking woman off the ledge of anxiety, Colton.” She continued her deep breathing. The dogs remained at her heels, waiting for a command. Now they decided to be quiet.

In five, they bounded out of the forest into the clearing and straight for the SUV full of his team members awaiting them.

A hulking man in camouflage burst through his front door onto the porch, a rifle in hand. “What’s going on here, Georgia?” He squinted and came closer. “Colt McCoy? Harlan’s boy?”

“Yessir,” he automatically replied as his father’s name roiled his stomach. “It’s me.” He wrung out of the timid schoolboy days and retrieved his creds, showing them to Sunny. For being in his late fifties, the man was still built like the defensive lineman he’d been in high school and college. “You hear any gunshots?”

“Just my own.” His scowl swept over Georgia and the team members in the SUV. “I asked what’s going on.”

The tricolor growled and barked at Sunny. Georgia quieted him.

“Someone tried to use us as targets for shooting practice.