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“Thank you again, Seth…for everything.”

He smiled at her once again. “Good night, Suzanna.” He stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed behind him.

He immediately moved to the next doorway and peeked in at Sammy. Lady was curled up by Sammy’s side and both were sleeping peacefully.

The birthday party that had taken place earlier in the day felt as if it had happened days ago. It was hard to believe so much had happened since that happy event.

When he went into his bedroom, he sat on the edge of his bed and stared at his gun safe in the corner of the room. Kansas was an open carry state, and inside his safe he had two rifles and one 9mm. The rifles he had for any wild animals that might threaten the farm. The 9mm he had for home protection. Maybe it was time he got it out and had it handy so he could for sure protect Suzanna.

He unlocked the safe and withdrew the handgun. He checked to make sure it was locked and loaded and then slid it under his pillow. He didn’t anticipate any trouble tonight, but he’d be ready if any came to find her.

Chapter 7

Suzanna awoke just after dawn the next morning. It took several moments for her to orient herself and realize that she wasn’t in her own bed, but rather she was in the bed in Seth’s spare room.

After the attack, she had expected nightmares to plague her all night long. However, she had slept peacefully and without dreams. She rolled over on her back and stared up at the ceiling, myriad thoughts rushing through her head.

Thank God for Seth and the friendship she shared with him. And again, she thought that she didn’t know what she’d do without him. Still, as she thought of the reason she was in Seth’s house, her heart beat an accelerated rhythm.

She breathed in and out several times and reminded herself she was safe here, although her wounds all hurt more than a little bit. Still, she had survived the attack on her and was now safe and sound. Once her heartbeat was back to a more normal pace, she slid out of the crisp white sheets and pulled on a pair of jeans and a lightweight blue sweater.

With her toothbrush, toothpaste and hair brush in one hand, she quietly opened the bedroom door. The scent of coffee wafting in the air let her know that Seth was awake. Surely she wouldn’t be here in his home for too long. Hopefully Dallas would find the person after her very quickly.

Across the hall was the bathroom, and she darted in there to finish getting ready for the day. Once she was finished, she went down the hallway, through the living room and into the kitchen.

Seth sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee before him. He stood at the sight of her and smiled. “Good morning. Have a seat, and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.”

“Thanks.” She sank down in the same chair she had always sat in for their after-tutoring cups of coffee.

Seth was clad in a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt that stretched taut across his broad chest and shoulders and exposed muscles she’d only guessed he had. He not only looked handsome but he also looked sexy and hot. He could definitely be a pinup in a hot farmer calendar.

“I didn’t expect you to be up so early. Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Thankfully I slept like a baby. The bed is very comfortable.” It was true, last night the mattress had seemed to envelop her into a soft cloud of comfort.

“Good,” he replied. He set a cup of coffee before her and then joined her at the table. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Better than last night, but I’m still frightened about what might happen next time,” she admitted.

“As long as you’re with me, there isn’t going to be a next time,” he assured her with a smile. “In fact, I’ll be taking you to work in the mornings and picking you up when you’re finished for the day.”

“Oh, Seth, I hate for you to do that,” she replied. She was already disrupting his life and she hated that. But she had to admit she’d feel much better if he was taking her to work each morning and she wasn’t driving in on her own. She felt so incredibly vulnerable right now.

“I don’t mind it at all. Suzanna, all I want to do is keep you safe until this creep is arrested. Hopefully Chief Calloway will have some answers for us in the next day or two.”

“I’m sorry he has this to deal with while he has the scarecrow murders to investigate.” She fought a sudden shiver as she remembered the human scarecrow that had been left in her classroom.

Was it possible it was the serial killer who was after her? Did he want to make her his next scarecrow? With her blond hair and blue eyes, there was no mistaking that she definitely fit the type he liked to kill. Was she going to be the next victim?

“What’s going on in that brain of yours right now?” Seth asked, pulling her from her frightening, morbid thoughts. “Suddenly you look very frightened.” He gazed at her intently.

“I was just wondering if it was possible the Scarecrow Killer is after me.” Again, a shudder of fear tried to take hold of her.

“In what I’ve read about that killer, nothing has indicated that he goes after his victims in the way your assailant has come after you. Chief Calloway told you that. I don’t believe the killer would act so out of character to get to you.”

“You’re probably right.” She wrapped her fingers around the warmth of her coffee cup.

“There might be a serial killer working in Millsville, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other dangerous creeps lurking around,” he added.