She shook her head. “I don’t think I should go.”
Reese rubbed his chin and studied her. “No. You need to go. I want to watch the people there. I want to see how people interact with you.”
She lifted a brow. “You mean use me as bait?”
“No, absolutely not. I just want to observe those you interact with. I’m not trying to catch anyone tonight.” He paused. “And if I think there’s even a hint of danger, I’ll get you out of there faster than you can blink, all right?”
Maggie gave a slow nod. “All right.”
The knock on her door pulled Reese to his feet. “Your alarm installers are here.”
* * *
After the alarm system was installed, the afternoon passed in a blur of teaching and taking care of Belle. Finally, it was five o’clock and Reese would be there in fifteen minutes to take her and Belle to the potluck dinner. At the thought, her stomach rumbled in anticipation. But her nerves trembled.
Was she making a mistake? Should she stay home? But what was she going to do? Stay inside the rest of her life? Constantly worry that the bank robber would show up and make good on his threat?
Maybe.
Anger swelled inside her. Why did it seem as if the people who tried to do the right thing always got knocked down while those who did everything they weren’t supposed to do got off scot-free?
It wasn’t fair.
Then again, nothing had been fair since she’d met and married Kent. And, truly, it wasn’t about fairness. It was about living her life the way she’d determined to live it the day she’d decided to get away from the abuse.
She hadn’t run from her marriage. In fact, she’d never planned to marry again as long as Kent was alive. But she wasn’t going to be his punching bag, either.
Maggie lifted her chin as she thought about the dead squirrel and the nasty threat. Well, if she was next as the note said, she wasn’t going down without a fight.
Maggie gathered Belle’s bag of baby essentials and her purse and set them on the floor beside the door. Belle played in her playpen, happy to clean it out by throwing the toys on the floor. Then she’d yell and Maggie would fill it up again. Only to begin the game all over again.
But Maggie didn’t mind. Belle was happy, and that was all that mattered.
When Reese’s knock came, she was ready. She opened the door and swallowed hard. He had on jeans, a pullover sweater with his heavy coat thrown over it, but not zipped.
And he looked good.
Ignoring her heart’s sudden increase in beats per minute, she smiled. “Right on time.”
“I was ready to see you.” His bluntness made her blink but his grin set her at ease.
“Well...thanks.”
He laughed and bent to pick up her purse and baby bag. “I’ll carry them to the truck while you get Belle.”
She handed him the items. “I’ll drive if you don’t mind. I’ve already put the beans in the back of my truck. I don’t want to have to transfer her car seat base to your truck and then back to mine. It’s just easier to drive.”
Reese nodded and walked to her truck. She unlocked it with the remote then went to get Belle.
The baby grinned up at her and Maggie felt love consume her. She picked up Belle and set her on her hip, saying a prayer of thanksgiving to God for blessing her with the child. Then she went to meet Reese.
In the car, she drove automatically while she noticed Reese watching the mirrors. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel as her stress level increased at the thought of being followed to the church.
He didn’t take his eyes from the rearview mirror. “I think you’ll be fine, Maggie. This guy has shown himself to be sneaky, preferring to leave things on your porch or try to get to you in the middle of the night. I really don’t think we have anything to worry about at a church full of people.” He reached over and covered her tense, cold fingers with his warm hand. “And don’t forget, the
Reese rubbed his chin and studied her. “No. You need to go. I want to watch the people there. I want to see how people interact with you.”
She lifted a brow. “You mean use me as bait?”
“No, absolutely not. I just want to observe those you interact with. I’m not trying to catch anyone tonight.” He paused. “And if I think there’s even a hint of danger, I’ll get you out of there faster than you can blink, all right?”
Maggie gave a slow nod. “All right.”
The knock on her door pulled Reese to his feet. “Your alarm installers are here.”
* * *
After the alarm system was installed, the afternoon passed in a blur of teaching and taking care of Belle. Finally, it was five o’clock and Reese would be there in fifteen minutes to take her and Belle to the potluck dinner. At the thought, her stomach rumbled in anticipation. But her nerves trembled.
Was she making a mistake? Should she stay home? But what was she going to do? Stay inside the rest of her life? Constantly worry that the bank robber would show up and make good on his threat?
Maybe.
Anger swelled inside her. Why did it seem as if the people who tried to do the right thing always got knocked down while those who did everything they weren’t supposed to do got off scot-free?
It wasn’t fair.
Then again, nothing had been fair since she’d met and married Kent. And, truly, it wasn’t about fairness. It was about living her life the way she’d determined to live it the day she’d decided to get away from the abuse.
She hadn’t run from her marriage. In fact, she’d never planned to marry again as long as Kent was alive. But she wasn’t going to be his punching bag, either.
Maggie lifted her chin as she thought about the dead squirrel and the nasty threat. Well, if she was next as the note said, she wasn’t going down without a fight.
Maggie gathered Belle’s bag of baby essentials and her purse and set them on the floor beside the door. Belle played in her playpen, happy to clean it out by throwing the toys on the floor. Then she’d yell and Maggie would fill it up again. Only to begin the game all over again.
But Maggie didn’t mind. Belle was happy, and that was all that mattered.
When Reese’s knock came, she was ready. She opened the door and swallowed hard. He had on jeans, a pullover sweater with his heavy coat thrown over it, but not zipped.
And he looked good.
Ignoring her heart’s sudden increase in beats per minute, she smiled. “Right on time.”
“I was ready to see you.” His bluntness made her blink but his grin set her at ease.
“Well...thanks.”
He laughed and bent to pick up her purse and baby bag. “I’ll carry them to the truck while you get Belle.”
She handed him the items. “I’ll drive if you don’t mind. I’ve already put the beans in the back of my truck. I don’t want to have to transfer her car seat base to your truck and then back to mine. It’s just easier to drive.”
Reese nodded and walked to her truck. She unlocked it with the remote then went to get Belle.
The baby grinned up at her and Maggie felt love consume her. She picked up Belle and set her on her hip, saying a prayer of thanksgiving to God for blessing her with the child. Then she went to meet Reese.
In the car, she drove automatically while she noticed Reese watching the mirrors. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked, her fingers tightening around the steering wheel as her stress level increased at the thought of being followed to the church.
He didn’t take his eyes from the rearview mirror. “I think you’ll be fine, Maggie. This guy has shown himself to be sneaky, preferring to leave things on your porch or try to get to you in the middle of the night. I really don’t think we have anything to worry about at a church full of people.” He reached over and covered her tense, cold fingers with his warm hand. “And don’t forget, the
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