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home now. I’m staying here.”
    “Okay, then, it sounds like you’ve made up your mind and I can’t convince you otherwise.” Something in David’s tone pulled her attention from washing out the sink and up to his earthy green eyes. “And believe me when I say that I don’t want you to leave.”
    Tracy wanted to go into his arms. The oddest of things—she’d spent half a day with the man and here she was, wanting to feel his arms around her. She shook off the foolishness his proximity brought on and took a step back.
    “I’m not really sure what to say to that.”
    He laughed. “At least sleep in the house with Jewel and her guests until they catch this guy, okay? And if you don’t already have a weapon, then get one.”
    Stay in the main house and put Jewel and the others at risk? No, she couldn’t. “I have Solomon to protect me, to warn me. He saved me before, so I trust him to do that again.” And she had the big can of bear spray and the smaller pepper spray she carried in her purse. But her excuses sounded weak, even to her own ears.
    David didn’t appear convinced, but it wasn’t his decision. And yet Tracy cared about his opinion and she wished that she didn’t.
    “You really think Solomon can protect you from a killer? Maybe he saved you before—I don’t know the circumstances. And maybe he can warn you, but, Tracy, even if Solomon was a real guard dog, he couldn’t protect you from this guy. And what about the danger to
Solomon
? What if the man has a gun next time? Solomon doesn’t wear armor. What if he gets hurt trying to protect you?”
    Tracy hadn’t thought of it that way, and the accusation in David’s tone choked her. But she didn’t get a chance to respond. Her cell phone chirped. Tracy rushed to the end of the counter and stared at the caller ID. The number on the screen belonged to Marshal Jennifer Hanes.

FIVE
    T he next day Tracy was still thinking about her phone conversation with Jennifer as she bought a few groceries and necessary items. She couldn’t stay holed up in her cabin, turning it into a self-made prison because of what had happened. After her shift at Jewel’s this evening, she’d needed fresh air. Besides, she would soon run out of the basics, such as shampoo, toothpaste and soap—not to mention food. She could eat up at Jewel’s but she didn’t like to overstep.
    And now it was nearing ten o’clock at night and the sun had set about half an hour ago. She had another half hour of twilight or so, at least, but the sour expression on the store clerk’s face made it clear that she wanted Tracy to leave so she could close out her register and lock up the store.
    She reached for the half-and-half to replace what she’d dropped last night right in front of David. That had been the catalyst that had sent her into his arms. Wonderful, strong arms. And from there she’d ended up telling him nearly everything.
    Her hands weren’t shaking now, but the danger was still there. She could feel it closing in on her, despite what Jennifer had told her.
    The woman’s words drifted back to her now.
    “Santino is still incarcerated, Tracy. I haven’t heard any chatter on my end to lead me to believe members of his gang have any intention of looking for you to exact revenge. They’re busy focusing on running guns and drugs and fighting the law down here in the Lower 48. Honestly, there isn’t enough information to go on from what you’ve told me. Other than WITSEC, there aren’t many options for you, if you’re concerned about your safety. But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll contact the local police chief in Mountain Cove to bring him up to speed with your particular situation. But let’s not escalate things unless it’s warranted. You could still be safe there. Please call me if you need me. And, Tracy, remember, per our agreement, the door is still open for you to enter WITSEC.”
    Though relieved that Santino was still in prison, and the fact that