Chapter 10
Mark didn't care about the fleeing fugitive. He dropped to his knees in the dirt, catching Sarah as she stumbled forward. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his plaid shirt, burying his face in her dusty hair as all the adrenaline and terror of the past few hours finally caught up with him.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Mark asked frantically, running his hands over her arms to check for injuries.
Sarah sobbed softly, wrapping her arms around Mark's neck and clinging to him as if he were her only anchor in the world. "I'm okay, Mark. I'm so sorry. I was trying to protect you and the kids. I thought if I went out to meet them, I could stop them from coming to the house."
"You should have told me," Mark whispered, kissing the top of her head. "We're a team, Sarah. Whatever your father did, it doesn't define who you are. We face things together."
Deputy Miller walked back from the mouth of the mining shaft, holstering his weapon with a heavy sigh. He shined his flashlight toward the couple, his expression softening considerably. "Well, that was entirely too close for comfort. We need to get back down the mountain before he doubles back or brings reinforcements."
Sarah pulled back slightly, looking up at Mark with tear-filled eyes. "How did you know about the safety deposit box?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Mark offered a small, reassuring smile, wiping a smudge of dirt from her cheek with his thumb. "I didn't. I was bluffing to save your life."
A watery laugh escaped Sarah's lips, and she buried her face in his shoulder once more. "You're an idiot, Mark Hayes."
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"The best kind," Deputy Miller added dryly, turning back toward the path that led to the iron bridge. "Come on, let's get you two home. Mrs. Gable is probably about ready to call the National Guard with how long we've been gone."
The walk back down the old railway trail was quiet, but the heavy, suffocating dread that had marked their journey up the mountain was gone. Sarah walked slowly, leaning heavily on Mark for support, her bare feet aching from the sharp stones. As they crossed the rusted iron bridge over the churning creek, the lights of their suburban neighborhood twinkled warmly in the distance, promising safety, warmth, and a long-overdue family reunion.
