“I saw Wesley,” Leah whispered. “He’s coming down the cliff on a rope. It’ll all be over soon.”
“One way or the other,” Kim said, burying her face in her arms. “I hope nothing happens to Wesley.”
For the next few minutes Leah lay paralyzed with fear. “Please, God,” she prayed, “don’t let anything happen to Wesley. I’ll be obedient from now on and never get into any more trouble and I’ll always ask for help with chimneys and murderers.”
“If we get out of this alive I’m going to make you repeat that every morning,” Kim said. “And I’m quite sure Wesley will help me.”
Leah had no idea she’d spoken aloud. “If—,” she began.
“You two shut up,” Mac said. “You’re distractin’ me.”
In the next minute there were several shots fired, then came the awful sound of a man’s scream as he fell.
Leah didn’t breathe.
“Who was it?” Kim said with a gasp. “Not Wesley?”
“I can’t be sure…” Mac began.
“Leah!” came what she knew was the sweetest voice she’d ever heard. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she whispered, then started running, tripping over Mac as he was rising, ignoring Kim’s calling her back. She tore down the side of the cliff on the way to the bottom.
Above her came Mac’s voice. “Stanford, you better get to the top quick ’cause your wife’s comin’ after you. And I can tell you she’s got no more sense ’n to climb down that rope after you.”
“About as much sense as your wife’s got, Macalister,” Wesley shot back across the ravine. “Linnet’s at the top holding the rope.”
“Goddamn you, Linnet!” Mac shouted. “I told you to go get help.”
Leah was halfway up the opposite wall before Wesley came sliding down to her, pulling her to him.
“I don’t know whether to beat you or make love to you. Leah, you almost got yourself killed. Why didn’t you stay at the farm?”
“I’m glad I didn’t because John came sometime and took one of Kimberly’s notes and Justin had already run off and Bud and Cal couldn’t have helped me because they weren’t there and—.”
“Shut up, Leah,” Wesley said, putting his lips on hers.
“Yes sir,” she said obediently.