Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Laura Scott (free e reader .TXT) 📕

few seconds, she’d been lifted up, carried out to the ambulance and was being treated.

Georgia’s brain was foggy, and spots teetered on the outskirts of her vision.

“She’s hyperventilating,” a female voice called then forced Georgia to focus on her and breathe deeply. Finally, it evened out and she was lucid.

“She doesn’t need stitches,” the female responder said. Georgia winced at the burn when the EMT cleaned her wounds. “You’re a blessed woman to have few cuts. The bullet grazed your shoulder.”

She was definitely blessed. Everyone had escaped with their lives and minimal damage. Colt had been out there in the open. He could have been injured or killed. Once again, her stomach knotted, and she worked to replace the thoughts with positive ones. Colt hadn’t been hurt. He’d rescued her. He was trained.

The ball in her gut remained.

“Do you want to come to the hospital?” the EMT asked. “We have to ask, you know.”

“No, thank you.” If they could bandage her up and send her on her way, she’d much rather do that.

Only deputies remained as they searched the perimeter and talked with Colt and his team.

Her dogs bounded toward her, and Mae followed with a smile and steady pace.

Georgia loved on her fur babies. “You’ve had a bunch of scares, haven’t you?” Shelties were prone to being skittish and anxious. The irony of her dog choice was not lost on her, but her babies were solid and appeared fine.

“I think we’ve all had a few scares,” Mae said and patted Georgia’s uninjured shoulder. “How you holding up for real?”

“God’s grace is sufficient for me.” The Scripture of her life, the one she banked on, lived by and repeated even if it felt like she was drowning in a pool of fear and anxiety. “But I kinda want to crawl in a hole and stay there. Also, I want to find out who this guy is and put him away for life. Not just for me, but for Jared.” She could be brave. She could continue the fight.

Mae nodded knowingly. “That’s the thing about God’s grace. You don’t realize what it will get you through until you’re through it.”

True. Georgia’s imagination had always been grand, and her default was the glass-half-empty outlook. She’d never thought she’d survive something like being attacked and shot at—but it had happened, and she was alive on her feet. Terrified and worried about what would come next. Anxious over the uncertainty—but God’s grace would also get her through tomorrow when tomorrow became today.

Colt rounded a corner with a quilt from her guest room and draped it around her. “Hey, champ. How do you feel?”

“I’m gonna take the dogs inside.” Mae strode toward the house and enticed the pups to follow with the promise of treats.

“I feel like I’ve been shot and bathed in glass. Crazy, huh?” She laughed, and it garnered her a smile. The lines around his deep-set blue eyes crinkled.

“Yeah. I mean, why on earth would you feel like that?” he teased and touched her cheek. “You scared me, woman. Scared me real good.”

“Sorry. If it makes you feel better, I was scared, too.” Still was. “More than ever I know we’re onto something. That Dandy was onto something.”

“I agree,” he said and carefully put his arm around her. “Rhett and Poppy are inside cleaning up the glass. I’ll call and see about getting someone out here to repair the windows. But we may have to board them if we can’t get anyone with the right measurements in stock. I know you don’t go out much—that the idea can set off anxiety—but consider moving to the motel with us. You can bunk with Mae and Poppy.”

Enclosed. One way in. One way out. The idea pushed her to the edge of a meltdown. “I don’t think I can. I know it feels like I’m being difficult, but I’m not.” She hoped he could understand, but his lips turned down. He was clearly displeased at her answer. Once again she was disappointing him and being a burden.

“I’ll make that phone call. Herb Jones Glass still in business?” Herb had replaced Colt’s car window when he’d accidentally shot it out with a BB gun. His dad had lit into him—and probably worse—when he got home.

“Yeah. His son, Herb Jr., runs it now, though.”

“I’ll get his number, see if he can do me a solid on a Sunday. No windows mean extra vulnerability and easier access to you. All he has to do is come back and keep shooting.” He cringed. “Sorry. I don’t intend to scare you—well, I guess I do, Georgia. You’re scared to leave but you need to be more scared to stay.” He sighed. “Come on, you can’t be out here.”

Georgia followed him inside, the wind blowing through the quilt, leaving her chilled. Or maybe it was the hollowness she felt as Colt’s words. She was afraid to stay. She knew the risk of remaining home. But he didn’t understand. And it wasn’t something that could easily be explained, especially to someone who had no idea what it felt like to suffer from this.

Mae approached her with a cup of steaming tea, the scent of peppermint reaching her before the cup. “Hey, thought you might need something to settle your stomach.” She had a soft and easy way about her, but her gaze stayed alert and watchful. “I kenneled your pups for now. Keep them safe while they clean up the glass. Want some company?” She pointed to the two chairs near the front door but away from the windows.

She’d like new hardwiring. “Thank you. You’ve been kind, and I appreciate it.”

Mae sipped coffee from a thermal cup. “Colt’s worried about you. He feels like his hands are tied.”

“I should go to the motel.” But if she couldn’t handle being there, the embarrassment would be too much.

“We got a nice fat break for the day,” Poppy said as she entered the living room. “Projectile from the rifle yesterday match the bullets in the