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Chapter 7 Carly

Iswear my heart leaped into my throat. My fingers shook as I dialed 9-1-1.

An operator answered and I knew I wasn’t making any sense as I tried to explain our situation.

“We’re on a covered bridge by the waterfall. Please, hurry. He’s going to kill Beau!”

Yes, I had a flair for drama. After all, it served my purpose as a writer. If Dale didn’t publish the piece I would write about this experience, I’d find another newspaper. No more wasted time. I was worth more than that.

She promised to send help as I remained on the line, terrified for Beau. The skin on the back of my neck prickled, and I turned to see another man in black with a Ghostface mask. He strode toward me from the other end of the bridge. Confused, I backed away from him, but he closed the distance between us faster than I anticipated.

“Did you really think it would be that easy, Carly? Little Scream Queen?”

What the hell was happening?

“Your confusion is adorable. I really thought you’d figure it out faster.”

“That’s not the killer fighting Beau.”

“Nope. I paid the guy to wear him out and distract him. He’s the same height and build as me. Maybe Beau will accidentally murder an innocent man. Won’t that be fun?” He chuckled and snatched my phone, chucking it outside of the bridge. It soared through the air and over the railing, falling to the rocks and water below. “Come on.”

I didn’t fight him as he grabbed my hand and pulled me across the bridge. But he didn’t know I’d come prepared, too. My mama didn’t raise a fool. This girl had weapons and wasn’t afraid to use them.

When he turned away from me to scan the edge of the bridge, I pulled the pepper spray from my pocket. I flipped the container open and aimed it at his head when he turned around. His eyes widened for a second before I pressed down and unleashed the canister. The spray hit his eyes as he howled, groping for me as I backed away.

“Beau! You’ve got the wrong guy!”

He shouted my name as the killer lunged toward me. His weight crashed into mine, and we both fell, tumbling onto the wooden beams. His hands slid over my body before rising to my throat. “You bitch! You’ll pay for that!”

“I don’t think so, asshole!”

I reached for the pocketknife I hid earlier and flicked it open, slashing at one of his arms as he blindly tried to fight me off. As he fumbled, I lifted my knee and connected with his groin. He shouted in pain and fell to the side as I scrambled to my feet. With the knife aimed at him in case he decided to rush me again, I waited for Beau to reach me.

All of it had happened so fast.

“Carly!” Beau shouted my name as he ran in my direction. As soon as he reached me, he hauled me close as I heard sirens. “You okay? You’re not hurt?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Baby, I got this. You can drop the knife.”

It clattered to the ground as Beau kissed my temple. He kept his gun aimed at the killer who groaned, holding his hands to his crotch. He wasn’t going anywhere. The police picked up the other guy and cuffed him before rushing toward us. Sheriff Townsend arrived. He strode to the killer and slapped cuffs on him as he cursed all of us. But I didn’t care. The sheriff shoved him to his feet and in the direction of a police car. Neither of those men would hurt anyone else.

“You know something?” Beau asked as held me tighter.

“Hmm?”

“I’ve always been a sucker for brunettes.”

I lifted my chin, meeting those captivating blue eyes staring into mine. His fingertips caressed the side of my face, lingering on my jaw. “Kiss me, Beau.”

“You sure?”

“With you? Yes.”

His head lowered and he captured my lips, hungrily delving his tongue inside as desire pooled in my belly.

I could get used to this. To having him in my life.