Defending the Witness by Stover Sharee

Author:Stover, Sharee [Stover, Sharee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Minutes ticked by without a sign of rescue. Ayla prayed they’d make it in time to save Marissa. Crackling flames drew her attention. “Chance, we have to fight that fire before the whole place goes up in flames.”

“Stay here. I’ll go.” Chance rose.

“No. We do this together.”

They rushed to the barn. “Wait and let me see if I can find fire extinguishers.”

She paused as he entered the barn, disappearing into the smoke. Ayla’s anxiety ratcheted up, eager for his return. At last, he reappeared, carrying a red canister in each hand, and passed one to her.

“I turned off the circuit breaker for the barn, killing the electrical current. I think it started there. We must keep the fire from spreading to the house.”

Ayla mimicked Chance’s example and tugged her T-shirt over her mouth and nose as a barrier against the smoke.

They worked from the back of the barn forward, sweeping the foam across the stalls and floor until they’d exhausted both canisters.

Chance waved her outside, and they located a black hose. He turned the water on high, and they wet down the straw to prevent it from going up in flames. Though their efforts weren’t useless, they struggled to tame the fire. Like a ravenous animal, it consumed everything in its path.

They reached the barn doors and heard the distant whine of sirens. Together they ran to check on Marissa. Destiny stood guard over her.

With one eye on Marissa and the other on the horses, Ayla marveled at how the animals didn’t seem as distraught as they had earlier. They watched, fixated on her and Chance, as if to say, take care of Marissa . Ayla’s eyes stung with tears. “We will,” she promised.

Chance again checked Marissa’s pulse.

Ayla’s throat tightened, and her lungs hurt. “Lord, please help her.” The sight of her new friend lying helpless in the grass made her heart ache.

This woman who had given so much to care for abused and mistreated animals lay unconscious with a severely burned hand. “Who would do such a thing?” Ayla looked up, meeting Chance’s worried expression.

He worked his jaw, and anger flashed in his eyes. “Sutler.”

“But why burn down the barn? Why not just shoot us?”

“He wanted to draw us out. We were down by the pond, away from the house, out of sight. I left Marissa an easy target.”

“This is not on you!”

“It’s my fault! You were both my responsibility.” Chance succumbed to a coughing fit.

Unsure how to respond, Ayla shifted her focus to the real person at fault. “Sutler must’ve known something about Marissa. He didn’t directly attack her or try to take her hostage.”

“Agreed. With her military training, she’d have taken him out. He’s a coward at every turn.”

The sirens drew closer.

“Thank God Destiny warned us when she did. It could’ve been so much worse,” Ayla said, stroking the shepherd who sat beside her, panting and reeking of smoke. “You did good, Destiny.” The duo’s teamwork continued to amaze her.

“Always trust your dog,” Chance replied. “Ezra taught me that on day one.

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