Battle Tested Read online

  Isaac nodded, but the light in his eyes had been replaced with a dull acceptance.

  They walked to her SUV in silence. She opened the doors and windows to let the hot air out, then cranked the air-conditioning.

  “Do you want me to drop you off?” she asked, as Isaac stared blindly through the windshield.

  “Huh?” He turned toward her. “No, I’m here to help keep you safe, remember? And after this latest issue, I think I need to stick close.”

  She nodded, put the SUV in gear and edged into traffic. There were still a lot of people trying to get away from the landing strip, so there was no point in hurrying.

  Isaac seemed to be concentrating on the area around them as she drove, and she was touched by his determination to protect her. She couldn’t remember the last time any man had cared enough to do something like this.

  It took a full thirty minutes to go five miles, but from there traffic thinned so that it was easy enough to reach her house. She hoped Aiden hadn’t heard about the gunshot. She didn’t want him to worry or to have a flashback.

  Her brother had come so far in one day of taking care of the puppies. She’d hate to see him suffer a relapse now.

  When she pulled into her short driveway, though, she was surprised to find Captain Blackwood and his K-9, Quinn, standing outside her front door. When Justin caught sight of her, he and Quinn loped over to meet her.

  “Did you see what happened?” he demanded.

  She suppressed a sigh and glanced at Isaac. He shrugged and slid out from the vehicle, letting out Tango. She came around the front of the car to join the two men.

  “No,” she said, belatedly answering Justin’s question. “I heard the shot, and then everything went crazy. I thought I felt something whizz past me, but honestly, I can’t even tell you what side of the landing strip the shot came from.”

  “I didn’t see much, either,” Isaac added. “My gaze was focused on Beacon. The handler reacted instantly, jerking Beacon out of the way, but the dog suffered a head injury as a result.”

  “The shooter must have been Boyd.” Justin let out a frustrated sigh. “And he must have help on base, or I’m sure we would have found him by now.”

  “I don’t understand why he’d shoot at Beacon,” Isaac said. “That’s the part that doesn’t fit with what I’ve heard about the Red Rose Killer.”

  Vanessa straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I’m not sure Beacon was the target.”

  Justin pinned her with a glare. “Who was?”

  “Me.” She lifted her hands, palms facing upward. “Boyd attacked me last evening. Why not follow me out to the airstrip to try again?”

  “I don’t know about that.” Justin frowned.

  “I was directly in front of Beacon.” Vanessa touched the bruises on her neck. She felt certain, deep in her bones, that she was the intended target.

  Only this time, she’d put Isaac, Beacon and hundreds of other innocent people in danger, too.

  * * *

  Isaac wanted to put a reassuring arm around Vanessa, but held back, loath to make her uncomfortable in front of Justin. Isaac cleared his throat. “Actually, it’s possible I was the target.”

  Vanessa reared back, staring at him in surprise. “You? Why?”

  He shrugged. “Why not? Beacon’s homecoming has been in the news for months now. Everyone on base knew I’d be there today.”

  “Have you met Boyd? Talked to him? Interacted with him in any way?” Vanessa peppered him with questions. “Is there a reason for him to be upset with you?”

  “No, I’ve never met him that I’m aware of,” Isaac admitted. “I’ve studied his mug shot. His face doesn’t ring any bells. But this guy seems to be offended at the smallest transgression. For all I know, he thinks I did something to him. Or maybe he doesn’t like me stealing his limelight.”

  Justin crossed his arms over his chest with a scowl. “Boyd never made it out of basic training, so there’s no reason for him to go after a combat pilot. Or your dog.”

  “What’s your theory, then?” Isaac pressed.

  Justin’s lips thinned. “I don’t have one yet. I prefer to deal with facts. Vanessa may have been the target, but at this point, all I know is that someone fired a shot in a crowd of people. I’ve heard from Security Forces that no deaths or gunshot wounds have been reported. That tells me the shooter isn’t a Canyon sniper. Someone we trained wouldn’t have missed.”

  Vanessa nodded slowly. “You’re right. The shooter must be someone with less experience.”

  “Boyd fits the profile,” Isaac said. “Considering he didn’t finish basic.”

  Justin’s smile was grim. “You’re right, Boyd wasn’t a good marksman. He could have been aiming for Vanessa and missed by a mile.”

  “Or he could have simply shot toward the dog out of spite,” Vanessa offered. “Can’t you see him sitting back and enjoying the sheer panic he’d caused?”

  “I can.” Isaac suspected Boyd had self-esteem issues; why else would he be lashing out at anyone who’d wronged him? He glanced at Blackwood. “You need to catch him, and soon.”

  “Tell me about it.” Justin’s tone was flat and hard. “He’s making all of us look like idiots by being on the loose this long. Which is why I’m convinced someone is helping him.” Justin shot an apologetic glance at Vanessa. “I’m sorry I ever suspected you. Since you helped him once before, I thought it was possible you did again.”

  Vanessa massaged the bruise around her neck. “I understand, but trust me. I wouldn’t help him do something like this. I’m a nurse, so it’s hard for me to ignore someone who is hurt.” Her brown eyes were large and pleading. “That’s the only reason I stopped to help Boyd all those years ago.”

  Isaac stepped closer to her in a show of support. “You’re not a suspect anymore,” he reassured her.

  “No, you’re not.” Justin regarded her thoughtfully. “But it’s clear you’re next on Boyd’s list. Be careful, understand? Keep Isaac and Eagle close.”

  “I will.”

  The front door opened and Vanessa’s brother stood there, looking at the three of them uncertainly. “Something wrong?”

  “Hi, Aiden. How are our national parks doing?” Vanessa dropped her hand from her throat and headed toward her brother.

  “Great.” There was a lack of enthusiasm in his tone.

  Justin excused himself and headed to his vehicle with Quinn. Isaac moved toward Vanessa and Aiden, hoping she didn’t close her brother out of the truth.

  Suffering from PTSD was bad, but being lied to never helped. People thought softening the facts was the way to go, but he’d always hated it.

  “Someone shot a gun into the crowd at the landing strip,” Vanessa said. “But no one was seriously hurt. Beacon suffered a laceration and head injury, though.”

  Aiden’s fingers closed into fists. “Boyd?”

  “Possibly, but we don’t know for sure.” Isaac stepped forward. “I want you to know I’ll be staying close in order to protect your sister.”

  Aiden’s brown gaze, so much like Vanessa’s, met his. “Thanks for telling me the truth.”

  “Always,” Isaac said.

  “I’m sorry about Beacon,” Aiden added.

  “Me, too. But he’s in good hands with the vet.” Isaac glanced anxiously at his watch. How much time did Kyle need to examine the dog? He needed to see Beacon up close with his own eyes, to know without a shadow of a doubt the dog would be okay.

  “The puppies are doing okay?” Vanessa asked again.

  This time, Aiden’s smile was genuine. “They’re great. They loved the mash I gave them. And I fed them in the bathtub, like you suggested. Worked perfectly. And they enjoyed the bath that followed.”

  “I’m glad.” Vanessa gave her brother a one-armed hug.

  Isaac was thrilled t
o hear Aiden was bonding with the puppies. He knew from personal experience how helpful it was to have that connection.

  Like the one he had with Beacon.

  “I’d like to head over to the clinic,” he told her. “But don’t want to leave you unprotected.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Vanessa offered.

  He hesitated. It seemed that ever since he’d rescued Vanessa from Boyd’s attack, he’d been leaning on her for strength and support. That wasn’t what he’d intended. She was the one who needed his protection.

  And staying here at her house with Eagle at her side was probably the best way to keep her safe. Being with him at the airstrip hadn’t worked out so well.

  “It’s okay,” he said, averting his gaze. “I’m just going to pop in quick. I won’t stay long.”

  “I’m coming with you,” she said, as if she wasn’t taking no for an answer. “You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”

  He’d hated it when Amber had treated him like an invalid, but for some reason, he didn’t have the same negative emotional response toward Vanessa. “Are you sure you won’t feel safer here at home?”

  “I’m sure. Justin said I could go out as long as I was with someone and had Eagle with me. I’d actually like to see how Beacon is for myself.” Her brow puckered in a frown. “Especially since his injury is my fault.”

  “It’s not,” he protested. “If you want to blame someone, blame Boyd. He’s the bad guy, not you.”

  Vanessa turned toward Aiden. “Are you okay here for a while longer?”

  “Sure.” Aiden glanced over his shoulder at what Isaac assumed was the box of puppies. “It’s almost time for the next bout of potty training.”

  Vanessa laughed and Isaac found himself smiling in response to the joyous sound.

  It had been a long time since he’d had something to be happy about.

  “Come, Eagle,” Vanessa called her K-9 protector out and came up beside Isaac. “This time, you’re coming with us. Time to go.”

  “I’d rather walk, if you don’t mind,” Isaac said. He didn’t trust himself behind the wheel since he’d been back on base. And especially now, after the recent gunfire.

  Vanessa readily nodded in agreement, and the walk to the veterinary clinic didn’t take long. Isaac held the door open for her, then glanced over his shoulder, feeling as if someone might be watching them.

  But of course, there wasn’t. He told himself he had a right to be paranoid, but he also knew it was a side effect of his PTSD. Most of the time he was able to keep it under control.

  Today had been a challenge. When the shot was fired, for a moment he’d gone back to the cockpit of the chopper he was manning when it had been struck by enemy fire. And though he’d tried to focus on Beacon, the dog had vanished from sight.

  With Vanessa’s help, he’d managed to stay grounded in the here and now. But it hadn’t been easy.

  “Can I help you?” a perky receptionist greeted them warmly when they entered the clinic. She eyed their respective dogs. “Do your dogs need a checkup?”

  “No,” Isaac said. “I’m here to see Beacon.”

  The receptionist looked confused for a moment. “Oh, you mean the shepherd that was just brought in by Captain Roark?”

  “Yes. Will you please let him know Captain Isaac Goddard is here?”

  “Of course, please excuse me.” She disappeared, and it was all Isaac could do not to follow her back to find Kyle and Beacon for himself.

  Thankfully she returned a few minutes later. “Captain Roark will meet you in exam room number three.”

  Finally! “Thank you.”

  He and Vanessa crowded into the small room with Eagle and Tango. He thought about Tango, wondering if Westley would reassign the therapy dog to someone else once Kyle discharged Beacon into his care. Tango was a great dog, and Isaac was sure that he’d be a wonderful companion to the next airman who needed him.

  Two long minutes later, the door opened and Kyle came in carrying Beacon. The dog was large, so it was no easy task, but the vet gently placed Beacon on the exam table.

  The laceration along the side of Beacon’s head made the blood drain from Isaac’s face. Vanessa grabbed his arm and moved closer.

  “Hey, Beacon.” Isaac eased forward and held out his hand for the animal to sniff. “Remember me?”

  Beacon buried his nose in Isaac’s hand, his tail thumping against the stainless-steel table. Isaac felt tears of relief burn his eyes, and he bent down to press his face against Beacon’s fur.

  “You’re home now, boy,” he murmured. “I’m not leaving you again.”

  “He’s going to be fine, Isaac,” Kyle said. “I did a CT scan of his brain and there’s no sign of an intracranial bleed. Give me a day or two to watch over him, and Beacon here will be good to go.”

  Isaac nodded, knowing it was for the best that he stay at the clinic. The animal’s health was all that mattered.

  He felt Vanessa’s hand on his back and between her comforting touch and Beacon being home, he knew he’d reached another milestone on his path to healing.

  And for the first time in a long while, he silently lifted his heart and thanked God for everything he’d been given.

  FIVE

  The way Isaac hugged Beacon warmed Vanessa’s heart. The bond between the dog and the fighter pilot was palpable. Clearly, after all this time, they deserved to be together.

  Thinking of the reckless gunshot fired into the crowd at the landing strip earlier that afternoon made her temper simmer.

  Boyd Sullivan needed to be found and arrested soon.

  “Thanks, Kyle,” Isaac murmured, stepping back from the exam table. “I appreciate getting a few minutes with Beacon, and everything you’re doing for him.”

  “That’s my job, remember?” Kyle pointed out with a smile. “But hey, I’m glad he’s doing okay, too.”

  She dropped her hand from Isaac’s back, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the warmth of his skin radiating through his shirt. “That makes three of us.”

  “Do you mind if I stop by again tomorrow morning?” Isaac asked.

  Kyle hesitated, then nodded. “Sure, we open at zero nine hundred.”

  It was on the tip of Vanessa’s tongue to offer to accompany Isaac again, but then remembered she was scheduled to work a twelve-hour shift. Besides, Isaac didn’t need her assistance. Sure, he was supposed to protect her, but if she were honest with herself, she would admit she wanted to be with Isaac for purely selfish reasons.

  Because she liked him. More than she should. They’d only just met, but she felt as if she’d known him for weeks rather than a couple of days.

  They left the veterinary clinic, stepping back into the bright sunlight. Isaac paused to sweep his gaze over the area, taking his role as protector seriously. She looked at him curiously, and he shrugged, gesturing toward the Winged Java Café. “It seems safe enough. Would you like some coffee or sweet tea?”

  His request caught her off guard, but her heart leaped with anticipation. “Sure.”

  They walked down the street with the dogs between them and claimed the first empty outside table shaded by a yellow umbrella. Isaac held out her chair for her, but remained standing. “What would you like?”

  She normally didn’t drink caffeine this late in the afternoon. “An iced coffee, but decaf, please.”

  “You got it.” Isaac went inside to place their order. She felt funny sitting there waiting for him, as if this was some sort of date.

  It wasn’t. Isaac was just being courteous. The same way he’d been when he’d brought over lunch from Carmen’s.

  She went still. Was she wrong about what was happening here? Maybe Isaac was trying to be more than just friends with her.

  The image of her ex-boyfriend Leo filled her mind. He’d seemed nice, and protective and wond
erful, too, but it had all been an act.

  Leo liked women. Many women. She had no clue why he’d bothered to ask her out.

  She pushed the memories aside and mentally reaffirmed she wasn’t in the market for a relationship. Isaac was a nice guy who had not only agreed to protect her, but to talk to her brother. That was all that mattered.

  To keep herself busy, she pulled out her cell phone and scrolled through her email. A notification from the anonymous blogger popped up. Ever since the blogger had put the idea that Vanessa was helping Boyd out there for everyone to read, she’d made sure to follow the blog so she could keep track of the ridiculous allegations.

  Filled with dread, she clicked on the link to read what the phantom person had written this time.

  Boyd Sullivan is back on base and obviously dumber than a box of rocks for continuing to come back to Canyon. He should be on his way to Mexico by now. That he’s not means he’s just asking to be caught!

  “Are you kidding me?” she whispered in horror.

  “What?” Isaac set down her iced decaf and then dropped his lanky frame into the seat beside her.

  She gestured to her phone. “Have you seen the anonymous blogger’s latest post?”

  “May I?” He held out his hand for her phone. His emerald gaze grew tense and serious as he read the note. “Talk about waving a red flag at a bull.”

  “Right?” She sipped her iced coffee and shook her head. “Why would anyone rile Boyd up like this? The man is already unstable. Something like this could easily send him off the deep end.”

  Isaac returned her phone. “I agree. I’m surprised Justin hasn’t shut down the site.”

  “Freedom of speech, right?” She couldn’t hide the hint of bitterness in her tone. “If Boyd was the one who took the shot at Beacon, or at me, then we know he’s armed. He could decide to go on a wild shooting rampage at any time.” The very thought made her stomach churn with nausea. “Do you know how many people he could kill before one of ours manages to take him out? Too many.”