spot.
“Did you want to be on the news?” Jonathan asked her, stepping closer.
“No,” she squeaked a little too breathlessly. She didn’t need to be in his company either.
“Does she even know who you are, Jonathan?” Charlene asked with hands on hips.
“Ah–” he chuckled, “I’m Jonathan Peterson.” He grinned. “How about you?”
She just stared blankly at him.
“And you are?” he asked slowly.
“Amber.”
“Okay, Amber,” Jonathan said. “Now can we go?”
She swallowed. The idea of going anywhere with him sent alarms off in her head and body. She glanced up at him, hoping she didn’t expose her inner turmoil. She couldn’t afford that type of complication.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” Jonathan asked. “Did an arrow hit you?”
She glanced back at Charlene and shook her head. “No!” She glanced over at the reporter who was talking with Tom and pointing in their direction.
“No, you cannot question the witness,” the officer said as he continued walking toward his squad car.
“I think we can sneak away while Tom distracts them,” Jonathan whispered in her ear.
She was definitely starting to feel queasy.
“Darlin', are you alright?” Charlene asked. “I know the hospital has security.”
“No!” Amber said, perking up. “I mean, yes. I’m fine.” She looked back at Jonathan frantically. “Let’s go.”
Amber couldn’t believe the words had left her mouth.
“Well, I’m comin' over to Ms. Katie’s after my shift to check on you in the mornin'.”
Amber gave her a quick hug, surprising herself. “It had been so long since she’d had a friend, heck anyone who cared. “Thank you,” Amber said.
“Hmm-hmm.” Charlene grinned. “We’ll have one of Ms. Katie’s special blended coffees out on the porch.”
“Now, to get out of here unseen,” Jonathan said. “My truck is on the other block.
“That’s the easy part, sugar.” Charlene winked. “I’ll just give you two a lift.”
Chapter 3
“Let’s get out of here then,” Jonathan said. Grabbing Amber’s hand, he pulled her around the other side of the ambulance and hopped in the front.
“Why did those arrows just bounce off of you like that?” Amber asked as they waited for Charlene to get in.
“I’m sure that’s not what happened,” he said calmly as Charlene slid into the driver’s seat.
Amber knew that wasn’t the truth of it, but realized with Charlene in the car she wasn’t going to press for the truth. With my luck tonight, Charlene might drive me straight to the loony bin if I do.
“Now we’ll just slowly pull away and hope they don’t follow,” Charlene said as they drove away. “You know ambulance chasing is a crime.”
So is shooting arrows at people , Amber thought, but she remained silent while they drove around the block and stopped in front of a big blue truck.
“Let’s be quick about this,” Jonathan said as he opened the door.
“Thank you,” Amber said to Charlene as she scooted over and got out of the ambulance.
“Sugar, he’s a good man, and those are good people where you are going. You’ll be just fine,” Charlene said as another call came through the speaker. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Amber stepped out of the ambulance and followed her rescuer to the passenger side of his truck. Somehow he seemed more threatening than a diaper wearing madman with arrows. “I think I should just go back to my motel,” she said.
“You need to go to a place where you will be safe,” Jonathan said.
She shook her head sadly. “I think I’ll be fine at the motel.”
“Until that man is caught, I think a house full of people is a safer bet.”
“A house full of people?” She glanced at him standing a few feet away. That is almost worse . “If someone is truly after me,” she started, “it stands to reason that I will only endanger anyone who helps me.”
“Are you in the witness protection program?” he
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley