Night Prey. Sharon Dunn

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СКАЧАТЬ Some had broken up with him and he had ended other relationships, but nothing had hurt as much as her turning away from him that night.

      He flexed his fingers to try to work out the ache in them. Even though he had stripped down to his T-shirt, the attic space was still hot. He collapsed in a chair and stared at the work he had done so far. It was an okay landscape, but nothing that threatened Charlie Russell’s reputation.

      Apparently sensing Keith’s distress, Jet rose from the bed and padded over to his owner. He rested his head on Keith’s leg, licked his chops and let out a sympathetic whine. Keith stroked Jet’s smooth, soft head, the movement drawing his attention to his wrist.

      He ran his fingers along the braided scar that started there and moved up the inside of his arm to the crook of his elbow. He had an identical scar on the other arm, only not as far up. Scars on his chest, as well, showed where the power of the blast had embedded debris.

      His life had changed in an instant by a roadside bomb. Both arms had been blown apart by the explosion. The speed at which they had moved him off the battlefield and a skillful surgeon had saved his life and his arms. He had lost some strength and dexterity and the scars would be there forever. But he thanked God every day that he was alive.

      He didn’t realize it at the time, but God had brought a father replacement into his life in the form of a caring drill sergeant, who helped him find his sobriety while still in boot camp. But it wasn’t until his tour in Iraq and the accident that his understanding of God had changed. When he was in rehab staring at a hospital ceiling, he had found the faith that his grandparents had modeled summer after summer. Like his grandfather, he didn’t talk much about his faith, though he felt it deeply.

      Keith wiped the sweat from his brow and stared at the eagle soaring in the immense painted sky. Despite his attempts to forget, he did remember Jenna; and now every detail of their summers together came at him like a flood. He hadn’t thought he would ever see her again. He had assumed she would leave for college and never come back. There was nothing to keep her in this dinky town. Her mom had died when she was two and though she’d been close to her father, the man had always encouraged her to follow her dreams.

      He had come back to Hope Creek for two reasons: to make amends to his grandparents for the damage he had done when he was seventeen, and for the solitude. Iraq had been more than he had bargained for. He needed time to sort through his life and find his bearings again. Jenna hadn’t been on the agenda. How was it possible that with all that had happened, the dormant attraction could be revived just by seeing her?

      Keith rose to his feet and picked up his brush. Maybe he should just paint over that eagle. He stood back to examine his work. No, the bird looked right flying up there in the huge sky. He dipped the tip of his brush in the blue and mixed it with white.

      Someone rapped gently on the outside door. Who on earth would be knocking at this hour? Keith’s chest tightened. Maybe there had been an emergency with Gramps or Grandma.

      He grabbed his long-sleeved shirt and raced over to the door.

      When the door swung open, Keith’s jaw dropped, and he took a step back. “Jenna. What are you doing here?”

      THREE

      Keith’s reaction to the sight of her was a lot calmer than she had expected, considering the hour. He seemed surprised, but not displeased to see her. Even though he was barefoot, it didn’t look like he had been sleeping. Streaks of paint decorated the thighs of his faded jeans. His brow glistened with sweat, yet he wore a long-sleeved shirt.

      “Someone broke into the center…and into my house. They left this note on the computer.” The trembling in her hands made the sheet waver.

      Keith took the piece of paper she’d printed out.

      “I know it’s late, but I thought you should see that.” Jenna’s legs were still wobbly, and her stomach had tied itself into knots. Right now, it didn’t feel like she would ever eat again.

      Keith read the note. His expression hardened. “Did you tell the sheriff?”

      “Both him and his deputy are over there right now. They let me go after I answered their questions. They could see I was upset, and they asked me if there was anyone who…”

      He reached out and brushed a hand over her cheek. “You don’t look so good. Do you want to come inside?”

      Like breath on a window, the warmth of Keith’s touch faded slowly. He was the first person she’d thought of when the fear over the vandalism had overwhelmed her. Even if the incident didn’t involve the King Ranch, she would have craved his calming influence. As though a day hadn’t passed, she had slipped into the old patterns of their relationship.

      Though she was curious about where he lived, it was enough of an imposition to show up at this hour. “I don’t need to come inside. Sorry to bother you this late. I just thought you should know, since it concerns your grandparents’ place.”

      He relaxed his posture and leaned against the door frame. “How did you know I was up here?”

      “It was the only part of the house with lights on.” Her hand fluttered to her neck, where her pulse was racing. She hadn’t calmed down even after the drive over. Whoever had broken into the raptor center and her house had succeeded in their attempt to scare her by threatening to harm the birds at the center. She was furious at the threat, but she was also scared. Very, very scared.

      Keith ran his hands through his wavy brown hair, then slapped the note with his hand. “Don’t tell my grandparents.” Strength returned to his voice, and he lifted his head. “Grandma and Gramps shouldn’t have to deal with something like this.”

      “Good thing you are here to help.” The protective stance he had taken toward his grandparents was admirable. She found herself wishing he had been at the center earlier. He would have known what to do with the intruder. Maybe if Keith had stayed awhile to visit, there wouldn’t have been a break-in at all. Though she tried not to, mental images of birds fluttering wildly and the note on her laptop made her legs wobbly all over again.

      Keith stepped toward her. “You look kind of pale. Are you sure you don’t want to come in and sit down?”

      Jenna stepped across the threshold. “It’s kinda hot in here.”

      “Not much ventilation,” he said.

      She moved back outside and turned on the tiny landing. “I think the cool night air would be the best thing for me.” She was surprised that after all these years, he was still keenly tuned in to her emotional state. Surprised and flattered.

      They had learned to read each other while rock climbing the last summer they were together. As climbers, they had always gone out in a group, but Jenna had proved to be his best climbing partner. Keith had been mentored by an older climber the year before. The next summer, their last summer together, he had taught Jenna. Because their lives depended on it, they had become adept at knowing not only what their climbing partner would do physically while hanging from a cliff face, but how their emotional states affected them. She wondered what he was reading from her now. She felt so anxious and confused, she didn’t know what to do. But his presence was making it better.

      She stared up at the sky. Pulsating stars and wispy clouds accented the black dome above her. Strength returned to her limbs. She wasn’t shaking anymore.

      Keith СКАЧАТЬ