Immediately, they saw that the pantry doors were blocked by the kitchen table. Normally, Cindy might have been able to push the door hard enough to get out, but not if she’d been tied up like Jacob claimed.
Clint put a hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got Cindy. Go get the girls.”
Without hesitation, Leslie dashed down the hallway to Bree’s bedroom.
Inside, Izzy was trying to lift her little sister into her arms. “Come on! We have to go!”
Bree covered her ears with her hands, her face wet with tears.
Leslie ran up and scooped Bree into her arms. Izzy whirled around, her sweet little face transitioning from terrified to relieved.
“Auntie! I can’t find Mom.”
“Officer Clint is getting her. Let’s go, girls. We need to get to the backyard. You remember how we talked about meeting at the tree there if there’s a fire?”
Izzy nodded. “That way we can find each other.”
“That’s right.” Leslie reached down and took Izzy’s hand firmly.
Together, they ran through the house, which was quickly filling with smoke, and out the back door into the cool night air.
“Mom!” Izzy pulled away from Leslie and ran to her mom, who was sitting on the ground. Clint stood nearby, part of a rope in his hands.
Cindy pulled the little girl into her arms. “Oh, baby. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
He dropped the rope on the ground and strode across the grass to pull both Leslie and Bree into a hug.
“Thank God,” he breathed.
Sirens split the air.
Clint pressed an urgent kiss to her lips. “I need to go out front and deal with Jacob.” He touched her wounded arm where blood had soaked into the sleeve. The stitches had likely been pulled out when Jacob was squeezing her arm earlier.
She nodded. “I’m okay. Go. We’re good.”
He gave her another kiss, then jogged around the edge of the house.
Cindy scrambled to her feet, one arm around Izzy, and stretched her other arm out for Leslie and Bree. Together, they hugged and cried.
Leslie knelt on the cool grass in front of Izzy. “You were such a brave big sister. I have no doubt that, if I hadn’t beenhere, you would’ve gotten Bree out of the house safely. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Auntie.” The little girl threw herself into Leslie’s arms and then looked up at her mom, who was smiling down at her daughter with pride.
Clint wasn’t sure whether or not the hospital had a rule about how many people could be crammed into one room, but if it did, no doubt it’d been broken about six people ago.
Danny Bracken’s room was crowded with a bunch of people from the fire department as well as a couple from the police department. Everyone was laughing, swapping stories, and reveling in the relief that the nightmare of the last few days was over.
Had it only been early this morning that Jacob Boulder had been shot and taken into custody? It felt so much longer than that. The bullet Clint fired struck him in the back and had done a fair amount of damage. The doctor operated, and while Jacob was in critical condition, he was expected to make a full recovery.
Clint crossed the room to where Leslie was standing. Her arm was freshly bandaged after a new round of stitches. This time, hopefully, it would have a chance to heal.
She looked up at him with a smile and reached for his left hand, lacing their fingers together. That brought on a round of whistles and applause from her co-workers. He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand and grinned.
Detective Paris, who was standing on the opposite side of his room, caught Clint’s attention and winked.
Clint reached out and shook Danny’s hand. “Glad you’re doingso well.”
“Me, too. They’re releasing me sometime this afternoon.”
