Where Shadows Meet(37)

“But does he have to be so obnoxious about it? I want to talk to my aunt, but not while she’s so upset. She seems to know something about this.”

“Well, you can do that later. Publishers Weekly called, and you have a phone interview with them in an hour and a half. They want a quick quote from you for an article they’re running on why Amish books are so popular.”

Hannah wanted to shake her head and refuse, but Angie was just doing her job. “Angie, I don’t want to do any promotion while I’m here. Please don’t schedule anything more.”

Angie didn’t seem to hear. “We’ve got to maximize the opportunity while we can. I plan to call some women’s magazines next and set up photo shoots here in the area where they can see you interacting with the Amish.”

“No, absolutely not. No photos here. You know the Amish don’t like their pictures taken. They don’t tolerate graven images or vanity.” The very thought made Hannah want to pace. If her family were fully aware of her fame, their disapproval would soar. When had she so fully disassociated herself from the concept of Hochmut? Her people had a horror of elevating themselves into the limelight, but she’d welcomed it when it had come. Perhaps she had even been a bit prideful of her success. No wonder the bishop warned against how easily worldly ways could creep in.

They reached the turnoff to Nora’s farm, and from the corner of her eye, Hannah saw a truck go by. The man’s head swiveled, and their eyes locked. It was Reece. She saw recognition come into his face, and he smiled.

“Step on it, Angie, quick!” Her pulse thundered in her ears. Five years wasn’t long enough to get rid of the metallic taste of terror that came at the first glimpse of his face.

“Who is it?” Angie stomped on the gas. She did a U-turn in the middle of the road and sped away in the opposite direction.

Hannah peeked over the top of the seat behind them. “He’s turning around to follow us!”

Angie accelerated. “Is it Reece?”

“Yes.” Hannah barely breathed. “Go back to town, and we’ll go to Matt.” She glanced behind them. Reece had nearly caught up to them. “Get out of here!” The tan truck stayed on their trail. “There’s a little lane around the next curve. It goes across a covered bridge. There’s a thick hedge on the other side. Maybe we can hide there.”

Angie held to the wheel with both hands. “Call Matt!” The car went airborne over a hump in the road, but Angie maintained control.

Hannah grabbed for her purse and dug out her cell phone. “The battery’s dead!”

“Get mine.”

Hannah looked around for her friend’s bag. “Where’s your purse?”

Angie groaned. “It’s in the trunk.”

They crested the hill, and Hannah kept her gaze glued on the truck behind them. She lost sight of it as they went down the hill. “Right there,” Hannah said, pointing out the narrow lane.

Angie spun the steering wheel, and the car plunged down the overgrown road. They entered the covered bridge, the dark coolness a haven. The tires rumbled over the wooden planks. Then they were out the other side. Still no sign of the truck. Hannah directed Angie to the thick copse of trees and shrubs where she used to play with her siblings.

Angie ran the windows down and turned the key to off. The sound of the engine died, and Hannah heard the chatter of birds overhead and, in the distance, the whine of a vehicle tearing down the hill. She caught her breath and waited. Would he notice the turnoff? He’d grown up around here too, and he might remember this place.

She opened the car door and peered through the foliage hiding them. A flash of metal showed through the other side of the covered bridge. A tire thunked on wood. “He’s coming!” Panic closed her throat, and she looked wildly around for some place to hide.

“Get back in the car! I’ll get us out of here.” Angie started the car.

Hannah jumped back inside and closed the door with as little sound as possible. She didn’t put her seat belt on in case she would have to jump and run to escape Reece. The thought of him laying hands on her again made her head swim. She pushed away the weakness. Never again would she let a man hurt her like he had.

Holding her breath, she watched the truck rumble past up the narrow dirt road. Maybe he thought they’d cut through to the other road that way. “Hang on,” she said. “Maybe he won’t see us.” But even as she spoke, she saw his brake lights flash. “He’s spotted us!”

Angie accelerated away from their hiding spot and back onto the covered bridge. “You sure this bridge is built to take us running back and forth?” she muttered.

Plunging into the river would be better than facing Reece again. Hannah turned in her seat to peer behind them. “Yes.” Would she ever really escape him?

The car emerged from the bridge into the sunlight. “Back to town,” she said. “Let’s try to make it to the jail.”

Angie’s speedometer hit seventy by the time they crested the hill. The truck followed them, gaining every second.

“Faster!” Hannah cried. Her pulse battered the flesh in her throat. It seemed inevitable that she would have to face Reece. Maybe now was the time.

“I’ve got the accelerator clear to the floor.”

The city limit was just ahead. “We’re almost there.”