Chapter 19

Chapter

Nineteen

The day sped by too fast for Jarom. His time with Autumn was slipping between his fingers like sand. He enjoyed going on a long horseback ride, helping Easton check the long and secure fence line, watching Easton practice with the bulls while he and Autumn cheered and teased the cowboy, and helping prepare and clean up meals with Autumn, Mama, Jared, and Easton.

Dinner was a loud affair with not only Marci and Walker coming but Sheriff Clint Coleville and his fiancée Lily Lillywhite as well as Rhett Coleville, a contractor out of Kalispell. Lily didn’t flip out over him like Marci had, but she was obviously delighted to meet and talk to him. Clint and Rhett were respectful and welcoming, but they didn’t act like he was any different than anyone else they’d met. Good old boys was the best way to describe them.

He liked this family. They were much different than his own but had the same core values of family, God, hard work, and loving their country .

After dinner, they cleaned up and everyone said their goodbyes. Easton went to feed again while Mama and Jared went on another walk with Jarom and Autumn.

Darkness fell, but a half-moon semi-lit the trail, and it was romantic and calming. Especially when Autumn reached over and clasped his hand. Jarom smiled, threading their fingers together. All was right with the world.

They approached a spot where the trees thinned and Jarom could see the tall, imposing exterior fence.

Jared and Mama had fallen back, probably thinking to give them some space and alone time. Jarom turned to Autumn.

“Love,” he said softly.

“Yes, Adonis?” She stopped walking and glanced up at him, her golden eyes liquid, vulnerable, and sweet.

This was his chance. He dredged up all his bravery.

“Do you see a future for us after this is done?”

Her eyes widened slightly, and she pulled in a quick breath. Panic made his chest tighten. He’d moved too fast. Trust had to be earned, and they hadn’t known each other nearly long enough.

“We can take it slow,” he hastened to say. “I don’t want to rush you or scare you, but I want you in my life.”

“Jarom, I don’t know.” Autumn tugged her hand free and peered out into the forest beyond the fence. “We’re too different. I’ll never be a believer, and I’m too hardened for you. I’d never fit in with your high-glamor, socialite world. My focus is my career, and your fame would make that impossible.”

“Autumn…”

He released a long breath. There were so many thoughts, so many things he wanted to convey. Yes, he prayed for her and would continue to pray that she’d find her Savior, but that wasn’t so she’d conform to some mold for him. He wanted her to find Jesus for the happiness, peace, and safety His light, love, and healing could bring to her. If she never did, it wouldn’t change his feelings about her. She wasn’t hardened. She was soft and loving. He couldn’t have cared less about some glamorous or socialite wife. Yet Autumn was as classy, witty, and beautiful as any woman he’d dated. She’d shine at any social function. If she wanted to. He didn’t know how to protect her from the public eye so she could continue security jobs. Truth be told, he didn’t want her in danger, but it was who she was and he wouldn’t stop her from it.

“Love, you have to understand?—”

Before he could finish, horse hooves pounded toward them in the semi-dark, and he registered a phone ringing.

“Hello?” Jared said. Jarom hadn’t realized he and Millie had caught up to them.

Easton raced toward them, his face and posture intense on the horse. Shadows of the trees and the moon played across his features. He leaned forward as if to get to them faster.

“Get back,” he hollered. “The cameras picked up?—”

A deafening roar split the night air. Jarom saw Easton go flying off his horse as light exploded, blinding him. Autumn tackled Jarom to the ground. He face-planted in the dirt and pine needles, registering excruciating pain from where he thought his rib had been broken yesterday. Even worse was Autumn on top of him as if to protect him when he wanted to protect her.

Loud footsteps pounded up to them.

Jarom slid out from under Autumn just as she popped to her feet to face the threat.

Autumn leaped and kicked one man in the head, knocking him to the side. He grabbed her leg and wrenched it. Autumn rolled with him so her leg wouldn’t break, slamming her fist into the side of his throat as they drove to the ground in a heap.

Another man pressed a small device to Autumn’s back. The two darts of electricity were easily visible in the darkness, and Autumn’s body arced as the Taser stunned her.

“No!” Jarom hollered.

He dove at the man holding the Taser only to feel a shot of electricity rip through his own body. He shuddered with the agony of every muscle contracting unnaturally. Intense pain radiated through him. It was worse than anything he had ever felt in his life.

The pain stopped, and Jarom would’ve dropped to the ground like a stone, but two large men yanked him between them and dragged him backward through the mutilated fence. He struggled against their grip but was no match for their strength in his weakened condition.

But Autumn...

She lay there on the ground, the man still holding the Taser to her back. Was he going to kill her?

“No!” he cried out again, yanking free from his captors. He made it two steps before the voltage hit his back again.

He went stiff and pitched forward. He’d fight until they killed him. He’d rather they killed him if they were going to kill Autumn.