Sandra Robbins - Point Blank

“Take your time, Sheriff. We’ve got it under control,” Luke said as Andy got into the car.

They waved as they drove out of the parking lot. Ben turned to Hannah and took her by the arm. “Let’s get you home.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Ben. I’m beginning to feel tired.”

He helped her into the truck before he walked around and got in on the driver’s side. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her lay her head back on the headrest and close her eyes. He turned his head and stared at her for a moment.

He remembered the first time he’d seen her. He’d stopped by her grandfather’s ranch to check on him that day, and she’d arrived just after he’d gotten there. She was fresh out of college and excited about her future. He could still remember the blue sundress she’d been wearing and how her eyes lit up when she caught sight of her grandfather. She’d run to him and thrown herself into his arms.

Ben had stood there, watching the reunion, unable to move. He didn’t think he’d ever seen a more beautiful woman, and for a minute he couldn’t speak. Then she’d turned to him, her dimple winking at him, and smiled. “You must be Ben Whitman. Grandfather has told me so much about you. I know we’re going to be great friends.”

She’d been right. Over the years they’d grown close. He’d been there for her when she lost her grandfather, and then again when she’d lost her husband. He’d loved her daughter as if she were his own. But she’d been there for him, too. When his mother passed away unexpectedly not long after Hannah was widowed, she had put aside her own grief to be by his side. Her positive attitude and encouragement had helped pull him through those dark times. The thought that he might have lost her in his life today hit like a punch to the stomach every time he thought about it.

As they approached the turnoff to Tumbling Creek Ranch, she roused, blinked and sat up. “Oh, we’re almost home. I’m sorry I wasn’t better company on the ride.”

“No problem,” he said. “I wish I could come in and see Faith, but I need to get out to Wears Valley and see if the search team has found anything. I’ll check in with you tomorrow to see how you’re feeling.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine, but you know it’s always good to hear from you.”

“You be sure and follow the doctor’s orders. You know he wants you to get all the rest you can. So take it easy for a few days. You have Valerie to take care of Faith, and you can turn the horses over to Dusty.”

She nodded. “I’m going to try. It’s good that I have backup I can count on. Valerie’s only been with us a few weeks, but she’s doing a great job as Faith’s nanny. As for Dusty, he was with Grandfather before I came, and he knows how this ranch is run. I was fortunate to have him after I lost my grandfather.”

“Yeah. Then he really took on more responsibilities when Shane died.”

He sensed, rather than saw, her posture stiffen. “I guess you could say that.”

There was a harshness in her tone that he’d never heard before, and he could tell it had something to do with Shane. She must be exhausted—when she was at full strength, she usually kept a tight lid on her emotions whenever she talked about Shane. He’d always assumed that was because it was too painful for her to remember him. The fact that he’d been murdered in Houston one night after teaching a clinic had been a shock to all of them, and he didn’t think she’d ever recovered.

He cut his eyes toward her. “I hope I haven’t brought up some painful memories for you. I don’t want to cause you to go back to that place you were in right after Shane’s death.”

She sighed. “I don’t want to go back there, either. I guess everything that happened today brought it all back to me. When I thought that man was going to kill me, all I could think of was how Faith was going to suffer. She’s already lost her father. If I’d been killed, she would have had to grow up without a mother, too.”

“But the important thing is that you didn’t die. You’re still here for her. You need to focus on being thankful for that.”

She turned her head away and stared out the window. “Don’t pay attention to me. I’m still shaken from what happened earlier. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

The tone of her voice told him that there was something else bothering her. When she didn’t explain further, he was tempted to ask more about what she’d just said. However, her silence made it evident she didn’t want to discuss it. After the ordeal she’d already been through, he didn’t want to upset her any further. He directed his attention back to the road and didn’t say anything else.

Within a few minutes, they had arrived at Hannah’s house, and he pulled to a stop in the circle driveway. He switched off the engine and turned to face her. “Well, here we are. Do you want me to see you to the door?”

She shook her head. “Valerie is here. She’ll get Faith ready for bed, and then I’m going to try to get a good night’s sleep.” She hesitated for a moment and then placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you again for rescuing me today, Ben.”

He swallowed and stared into her eyes. “Hannah, I hope you know I’ll always be there for you.”

She smiled. “I know you will, but I’m afraid I’ve relied on you too much since Shane died. Sometimes I think you put your life on hold just to help me out.”

“You would do the same for me. That’s what friends do.”

She nodded. “I know, but it’s time for me to stand on my own two feet.”

“What do you mean?”

She stared out the windshield for a few moments before she turned back to face him. “I had a lot of time to think after I got to the hospital, and I made some decisions.”

Her tone of voice alarmed Ben, and he frowned. “Decisions about what?”

“There are things that I’ve wanted to do but held off because I didn’t have the courage to tackle them. Shane’s celebrity in the sport of mounted archery has cast a shadow over everything I’ve achieved for myself. I was competing when I met Shane, but after we were married, he discouraged me from continuing. He said I wasn’t good enough to really make it to the top. Every time I brought it up, he would rattle off all my weaknesses that made me an unlikely competitor. He made me doubt my ability, and I gave up the idea I’d ever compete again.”

“I’m sorry, Hannah. I never knew that.”

She shrugged. “Well, it’s not something you talk about. In my heart I knew I was a good rider and an excellent archer, but Shane’s criticisms made me doubt myself so that I became afraid to enter competitions. That all changed when I thought I was going to die. A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in the World Horseback Archery League’s competition, but I’d decided I wouldn’t go. Now I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to do it. I can’t live in the past. From now on, I’m going to make a good life for Faith and me because we’re all the family that either of us has.”

“Good for you. I’m glad you’ve decided to return to competing. Where is the competition being held?”

“Korea.”

He didn’t expect to be stunned by her answer, but he was. “Korea?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He gave his head a slight shake and frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“Because I didn’t think I would go, but now I am.”

“But...but... Korea,” he stammered. “That’s a long way from home.”

She smiled, reached over and patted him on the hand. “Don’t worry. We won’t be gone long. As soon as the competition is over, we’ll come back.”

“You’re saying we, so I guess you’re taking Faith with you.”