No Ordinary Day , Tate, Harley [ebook offline .TXT] 📗

of the same mindset, setting things away for the unknowns. “My mom canned every summer. We’d eat out of our pantry all winter long.”

Gloria smiled. “I love to can. Haven’t had much time these past few years, though.”

Now Emma wished she’d paid more mind when her parents explained how to tend the farm and manage the inventory. All she’d seen at the time was a backward, dying way of life. She planned to usher in the future of farming with high-yield seeds and crops that would grow anywhere.

What a fool.

When they finished eating, Emma cleared the dishes and helped Gloria wash and dry. Holly headed outside with Raymond and he showed her how to pick the right wood for splitting.

Emma watched out the window. “Having a man to talk to is good for her. Thank you for taking us in.”

Gloria smiled. “Of course. You know Ray’s wanted kids for years. I kept putting him off.” Her brow pinched as she focused on the counter. “With everything that’s happened we might never—”

“Don’t talk that way. Never is a long time.”

Gloria tucked her chin. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I am, too.”

“Emma!” Holly’s shout jerked Emma’s head up. She hurried outside.

“What? What’s going on?”

Holly handed Emma a pair of binoculars. “Ray spotted him.”

Emma adjusted the focus. A figure limped along the gravel drive, a familiar German shepherd at his side. “John.” She lowered the binoculars. “He found us already.”

“He looks hurt. And Tank’s with him.”

Raymond picked up a shotgun from where he’d set it on the porch rail. “Want me to chase him off?”

Emma swallowed and picked up the binoculars again. He definitely walked with a hitch in his step. No sign of a weapon and he wasn’t exactly being stealthy. If he wanted to hurt them, walking up the driveway in broad daylight wasn’t the way to go about it.

“Let him come, Emma. He’s brought us Tank. That has to count for something,” Holly practically begged.

Emma lowered the binoculars. “Okay. But be wary. We still don’t know what he wants.”

Holly didn’t listen. She took off half-running, half-slipping down the drive. Emma opened her mouth to shout, when Tank barked. She watched through the binoculars as Tank tore up the drive to meet her. He leapt, almost knocking Holly down as he jumped to lick her face.

Emma shook her head. Holly’s impulsiveness might cost them eventually. John leaned on a tree to catch his breath. His face was paler than normal, and he clutched his side with a grimace.

Emma’s heart constricted. He was hurt, that much was certain.

Raymond held out the shotgun. “You should take this.”

She shook her head. “I’ve got something better.” She headed to the car and opened the driver’s side door. She fished the revolver out from the console and held it pointed toward the ground.

Raymond raised an eyebrow.

Emma shrugged. “It’s not quite so in your face, is it?”

Raymond said nothing as she headed down the drive. It might not be Raymond’s first choice, but it felt better in her hand. Whatever John had to say, she wanted to listen, but she wasn’t going unarmed.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

John

Pain radiated across John’s middle as Emma approached, revolver held tight in her shooting hand. He started to peel away from the tree, but thought better of it, opting instead to wheeze and showcase a bit of the pain.

“You look like hell.”

“Feel worse.”

She glanced at Holly and Tank cavorting up the hill. “Thanks for bringing him back to us. Holly was so upset to leave him behind.”

“I’m glad you made it out okay.”

Emma frowned. “Are you?”

Fair enough. He nodded at the gun. “I see you’re armed.”

“Seems appropriate given the circumstances.”

“Thanks for buying me some time back there.”

Emma buried the guilt. “You’re the one who saved me. Thank you.”

He nodded.

“Are you here to kill me?”

John started. “Not beating around the bush, I see.”

“Not really a point anymore, is there?”

“Suppose not.” He pushed off the tree and winced. “I admit that was my mission in the beginning.”

“Was?”

“As in past tense, yes.”

“And Gloria?”

John eyed her. “She was added later.”

“So, I was right. Are you with the same outfit that killed Zach?”

“I am. Although that wasn’t me. I’d never have—”

“Left that much evidence?” Emma’s anger boiled over, but John took it in stride.

“Not cleared the scene. No daughter should witness her father being murdered.”

Her shoulders eased. “So why are you here?”

John didn’t have a clue. “Not sure.”

“To kill us?”

“Wasn’t planning on it, no.”

“Then why? Why come? You could have gone back home, told your outfit you’d taken care of us and be on your way.” She waved her empty hand around. “The world is falling apart if you haven’t noticed. You shouldn’t be wasting your time with us.”

“Maybe I don’t think it’s wasted.”

Emma looked away.

He was losing her, and he didn’t like it. “I came because—” He faltered. “Because I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

She snorted.

He held up a hand. “It’s fine if you don’t believe me, but it’s true. Whoever killed Zach is probably on his way to find you. You’ll need more than that revolver to defend yourself.”

“I have Raymond and Gloria and—”

“And none of it will be enough. You need someone who thinks like them, who knows what they’ll do and when.” John stepped forward. “You need me.”

“You were going to kill me.”

“And now I’m not.”

She eyed him with doubt. “How can I trust you?”

John opened his mouth, closed it again. Go with the truth, you idiot. “Because I could have killed you a million times already and I haven’t. Because I rescued a dog I was willing to watch die a few days ago.” He lifted his shirt. “Because I took a damn bullet and I’m still standing here.”

Emma’s mouth fell open. She stepped toward him, paused. “I didn’t know.”

“Now you do.”

He dropped the shirt.

Holly rushed up, a huge grin on her face. “Thank you so much for rescuing Tank. How did you even find us?”

John half-smiled and pointed at Emma.

“What?”

“Mind if I?” He reached forward and grabbed her by the waist