Christy Barritt - Trained To Defend

Sarah tried to interpret the one-sided conversation but couldn’t. She only knew something was wrong. Colton’s voice sounded stiff, and he glanced at the window.

He ended the call and stood. “You and Buzz need to go to the back bedroom. Now. Lock the doors, and don’t come out until I tell you.”

Alarm raced through her. “Why? What’s going on?”

“My neighbor saw someone coming up the lane toward the house.” Colton walked toward the window.

“And that’s strange?”

Colton looked back, locking gazes with her. “There are only two places they could be going—his house or mine, and neither of us are expecting anyone.”

Sarah’s heart rate surged. It was the killer, wasn’t it? Or the police. Either way, her future looked bleak enough that nausea rose in her so quickly that she grasped her stomach.

“You need to go. Now.” Colton pulled out the gun from his waistband, his jaw set with steely determination.

Sarah didn’t argue. She scrambled away, hardly able to breathe.

But as she locked the door, Buzz beside her, she pressed her ear there, trying to hear what was going on.

It was silent as Colton waited, seeming to prepare himself for battle.

“Buzz, what’s going on?” She reached down and wrapped her arms around the dog, relishing his soft fur.

The dog let out a whine and licked her cheek. Buzz knew something was wrong also.

Sarah waited, praying for safety and favor. But the moments felt like hours.

Flashbacks from earlier hit her, each one making her flinch. Images of seeing that man in Loretta’s room. Watching as Loretta took her last breath.

Sarah remembered running. Fearing the man was following her. Fearing what he would do if he caught Sarah too.

Now Colton was in danger.

She stood and pressed herself into the wall, resisting the urge to look out the window and see what was going on.

She didn’t have to.

She heard tires crunching on gravel in the distance.

Someone was here.

Sarah braced herself for whatever would happen next.

Colton rushed to the window, reaching for the gun at his waistband. Who would be coming here at this time of the day?

No one—unless it was an emergency or unless it was trouble.

His breath caught when no vehicles emerged at the end of the lane.

Someone had started this way and stopped.

Colton’s instincts were finely tuned from years of law enforcement—finely tuned enough not to believe in coincidences, especially given the circumstances right now.

No. Someone had scoped out this place. Seen his cabin. And then returned.

That person was most likely the one who’d sent Sarah that threatening text.

He wanted whatever it was he thought Sarah had.

Colton couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t let that happen.

Without thinking about it anymore, Colton stepped outside. He glanced around, listening for any signs of trouble.

He heard nothing.

Cautiously, he walked down his road, his gun still in hand.

He was never one to cower away from trouble, and he wasn’t going to start now.

With every step, Colton listened for any clues that someone was near. Stalking. Waiting.

He anticipated hearing footsteps. Twigs cracking.

All was silent except for the occasional rustle of wind or the crackle of icy snow beneath his boots.

He still didn’t let down his guard. If this criminal was in any way trained, he would know to disguise his presence. And based on everything Sarah had told him, this man very well could be someone who hadn’t killed in the heat of the moment but in premeditated murder. The thought wasn’t comforting.

As Colton turned the corner, he spotted a dark sedan tucked away at the end of the lane.

He froze. His heart pounded in his ears as anticipation built inside him. What was the driver doing?

The car didn’t move, and the windows were too tinted to see inside. The driver could be there…or he could have slipped out.

Colton’s gaze traveled to the front of the car, but the license plate was concealed by the brush.

Quickly, he scanned the woods.

Was the driver waiting behind one of these trees, watching Colton’s every move?

Colton heard nothing around him.

Cautiously, he took another step.

He wasn’t leaving here until he knew who was inside that car or until he at least got a license plate.

With every step, he listened, keenly aware of everything around him.

Suddenly, the car’s engine revved.

A moment later, the car charged toward him.

What was taking so long? What was Colton doing out there? Sarah wondered.

A few minutes ago, it had sounded like the front door opened. Had Colton gone outside?

What if he was hurt right now? Hurt because Sarah had brought danger into his quiet life, the life that was supposed to keep him from situations like this one.

She glanced down at Buzz. The dog stared at her, as if trying to communicate, before letting out a bark.

“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?” she murmured.

Buzz barked again.

Sarah shushed him, trying not to draw any more attention to them than necessary. Buzz’s barking could alert an intruder that they were here. Since she had no idea what was going on outside this room, she had to be cautious.

Taking a tentative step, Sarah went to the window and peered out. Just as she shoved the curtain aside, she saw a car careen toward Colton at the end of the lane.

She braced herself for whatever would happen next while frantically praying.

Please, Lord, help him. Keep him safe. Please!

Just before the car hit him, Colton dove into the woods. The black sedan did a swift U-turn. Then it sped off, leaving a trail of dust behind it.

Was Colton okay?

Sarah couldn’t stay in here any longer. She had to check on him.

If he got hurt because of her, then she’d never forgive herself.

“Come on, Buzz,” she called.

The dog remained on Sarah’s heels as she ran outside. Her bare feet crunched in the thick snow, and a painful ache began because of the cold. Her wet hair slapped her face before the strands froze together in clumps. Icy air invaded her lungs.

She didn’t care.

Colton could be in danger right now.

Moving as quickly as she could, Sarah hit the gravel road. Her feet were already numb now as they hit the rocky soil.

All she could think about was Colton and whether or not he was okay. That driver had tried to run him down.

The seriousness of the situation hit her again. Whoever was behind all of this wasn’t playing games. He’d rather kill again than risk being exposed.

Sarah pushed down a sliver of fear.

Just as she reached the end of the lane, Colton emerged from the woods. He rubbed his head and his eyes were narrow with irritation, but he otherwise looked okay.

Thank goodness.

She rushed toward him, stopping just short of touching him. She paused there, a bone-chilling wind sweeping around her, sending clumps of snow from the branches above down on them.

“Sarah, you shouldn’t be out here.”

“Are you okay?” she asked, still worried about him and studying his features for any sign that something was wrong. “I couldn’t leave you.”

“I’m okay. But I don’t want that man to see you if he comes back.” He took her elbow and turned her around. “Come on. Let’s get inside. Besides, you’re going to freeze out here.”

She ignored the charge of electricity she felt rush through her at his touch.

This was no time for electricity. Besides, she and Colton were finished. Done. There was no going back to fix what had happened between them.