Amish Country Undercover. Katy Lee

confused eyes and saw two guns now in Jack’s possession. The boy’s own gun was now aimed at him.

      “So tell me who you are,” Jack ordered.

      The boy’s eyes flitted from side to side before resting on Jack. Slowly, he peered through angry eyes. “I’ve got all night. How long do you have before you bleed out?” He lifted his head in defiance.

      Jack recognized that smug expression. He’d been just a little bit older when he had given that same look to his family and walked away forever. Only Jack had gone into law enforcement. This kid wouldn’t make it out of his teens if he stayed on a track of crime much longer.

      “You’re a dead man,” Jack said. “You know that, right? And it won’t be me pulling the trigger that does you in.”

      “That only means I’ve got nothing to lose.”

      Jack shook his head. “You’ve got everything to lose. You’re just too blind to see it right now. Let me help you.”

      A crunch of leaves to Jack’s left alerted them to the presence of someone else. Jack expected to see a horse trotting in, but at the silhouette of an Amish woman, he knew it was Grace. His weakening state held him back a fraction of a second too long. Just the time the boy needed to reach down to his ankle, then spring into a run at Grace. He wrapped an arm around her neck just as Jack leaped toward them.

      Grace shrieked and flailed. Quickly, her body stilled, and she whimpered.

      Jack rushed the last few steps until he realized the boy had a knife to her throat. It must have been strapped to his ankle, Jack thought distractedly, while his brain raced to figure out his next move.

      He raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not going to shoot you. I only want to help you get away from these people before it’s too late for you.” He set the guns at his feet to show his words rang true.

      But he readied himself to spring in and take the boy down.

      “You forgot one thing,” the youth said, keeping Grace’s back pressed tightly against him. “I don’t want to get away. I was going places. And this is so much bigger than a few horses.”

      Grace struggled to get free and cried out again when her assailant twisted her arm. She was yelling as Jack took another slow step forward. He was nearly there when he saw her lift her right foot and jam it down hard on the boy’s instep. He noticed she wore large boots now just as the boy hollered out in pain, and she did the same.

      The young thief let go of her, and she fell to the ground. Boots forgotten, Jack took the opportunity to run at the boy, but just as he was about to make contact, his opponent turned and ran into the dark.

      Jack started to go after him, but knew that in his current state he’d never catch up. Still, he had to try.

      Then he heard Grace crying behind him.

      Jack stopped where he stood, torn in two directions.

      But he couldn’t leave Grace sobbing.

      “Are you hurt?” he asked, retracing his steps to her. “Did he cut you? Or is it your foot? I saw you stomp on him. With your burns that took some guts.”

      Grace lifted her face to him. Fear shone in her widened eyes. “I fought back,” she whispered in despair.

      Jack grabbed his side with a grunt as he knelt to face her. He frowned at seeing her agony, both physical and emotional, then sighed and helped her to her feet. Automatically, they leaned together for support. “I know you think you fought back, Grace, but actually, you saved his life. For at least tonight. I was going to have to take him down.”

      “But he’s only a boy.”

      “It was either you or him, and trust me, it wouldn’t have been you.”

      Her face lifted to his. So close, he could feel her soft breath on his chin. He studied her bewildered expression and knew before she said a word what she would have had him do. He knew the Amish way of turning the other cheek. “In my line of business, I do my best to avoid bloodshed, but if there must be some, I aim for the one who’s holding the weapon, not for the innocent bystander caught in the fray.”

      “Like yourself?” she asked, her gaze locked on his. “I know you were shot. I found your blood in my home.”

      Jack didn’t deny it. With a shrug, he said, “I’ll live. It’s just a graze.”

      “We still need to tend to the wound. It could become infected.” The angle of her chin told him she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

      “I thought Amish women were supposed to be passive,” he grumbled.

      “I’ll take that as the pain talking.”

      Jack bit back a grin. She was different from the Amish women he’d grown up with. Maybe she would have stuck up for him when he was younger, even when his family hadn’t.

       No, probably not.

      He let the wishful thinking go and said, “First we need to round up the horses. They’re my first priority.”

      “Not me anymore? Does this mean you believe I’m innocent now?” Hope brightened her eyes.

      Jack paused before answering. The image of Grace tying the stolen horse to her buggy was fixed in his mind. “It’s not my job to determine your innocence.”

      “But—”

      “Let’s go. Our shooter could return at any second with backup.” He took her elbow to guide her out of the woods.

      “But do you still think I’m guilty?” she asked as they moved gingerly through the trees. If her feet were paining her, she didn’t mention it. He’d give her points for that.

      But he still avoided her question. “Tomorrow, you’re taking me to the track, and you’re going to show me what you do there. Cooperate with me, and I might put in a good word to my supervisor.”

      They left the woods, but before they descended the hill toward the house, Grace clicked her tongue, and two horses came stomping up behind them. They approached her and stood by, panting and nickering, and nosing her outstretched hand.

      She had a gentle way with horses that Jack found sweet.

      But not enough to make him walk away.

      “I’ll round up the other horse,” he said. “Before he’s long gone.”

      “Please do find him.” Grace worried her lower lip. “I don’t want another animal in these people’s hands. I won’t let it happen. And I need to get the others back from them. It sounds like they’ve been doing this for a while.”

      “How do you plan to do that? Do you know who the kid’s boss is?”

      “No, but I’ll be ready when he comes back.” She took slow steps, almost hobbling toward the house.

      Jack hurried to take her arm again. “You don’t get it. Horse thefts are big business. If the boss thinks you can identify him, he will make sure you never do. You’re not safe here. Especially with the boy. In fact, he’s more dangerous than ever now because you embarrassed him by making him lose his gun. You won’t be safe until I know who he’s working for.”

      “How will you find out?”

      “I don’t know yet, but at least I know one thing beyond a reasonable doubt.”

      “What’s that?”

      “Innocent or not, the danger has only begun for you. And it’s nothing you can be ready for.”