Point Blank

FATAL BULL’S-EYE

For archery expert Hannah Riley and her daughter, nowhere on her Smoky Mountain ranch is safe with someone aiming to kill her. She’s not sure why they want her dead, but with the help of her best friend, Sheriff Ben Whitman, she won’t give up until she knows—and stops them. Hannah’s comeback in competitive mounted archery is looming, though, and time is running out to uncover the truth. Years ago Ben promised Hannah’s late husband he’d watch over her. But guarding her proves more dangerous than the stalker when Ben is forced to confront his growing feelings for Hannah. He can’t lose another woman he loves...but if Ben wants to save her and her little girl, every move he makes must be on target.

“Will I ever be safe again?”

Tears filled her eyes. “I keep hearing what he said about payback, and seeing his face—”

Ben took her hand. “I’ve ordered a unit to stay outside until morning, and a crew is coming to install a security system then. About Faith...I’m not sure it’s a good idea to send her to school tomorrow.”

“You’re always thinking of us.” Hannah placed a hand on his cheek. “I’m so thankful for you.”

As he was for her.

He stood and pulled her to her feet. “Go on to bed. You’re safe for tonight.”

“But what about all the nights after that? What am I going to do?”

He put his arm around her. “Let me worry about that.”

Ben watched her go, her questions echoing in his head. How was he going to protect her? For now, all he could do was wait and see what else this guy had planned for Hannah and pray he’d be able to stop him.

Before it was too late.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading Point Blank. The idea for this book is a result of my daughter’s interest in mounted archery. It is a sport that combines excellent horsemanship with the accuracy of archery. Perseverance in learning these skills is of vital importance if someone expects to excel in this sport. So it is in life. Each day we must persevere if we are to live the life that God expects of us. Sometimes the mistakes we’ve made in our pasts come back to remind us of what we once were, but Jesus’s teachings tell us that we must always look to the future and put away those things that are behind us. We must press on as if we are in a race and are determined to win. If you haven’t accepted this attitude in your life, I pray that you will. He is waiting to give you the peace you’re seeking.

Sandra Robbins

SANDRA ROBBINS is an award-winning, multipublished author of Christian fiction who lives with her husband in Tennessee. Without the support of her wonderful husband, four children and five grandchildren, it would be impossible for her to write. It is her prayer that God will use her words to plant seeds of hope in the lives of her readers so they may come to know the peace she draws from her life.

Point Blank

Sandra Robbins

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 3:13–14

To Marti,

for introducing me to the world of mounted archery.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

Extract

Copyright

ONE

Hannah felt the gun pressed to her back the minute she returned the nozzle to the gas pump. She stiffened and glanced over her shoulder. A man, his face obscured by a black hoodie, nudged her with the gun again.

“Don’t make a sound, lady, or it will be your last.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him reach out with his left hand and open the driver’s door. “Get in and crawl over the console to the floor in front of the passenger seat,” he hissed.

Hannah’s body stiffened, but her legs went so weak that they threatened to collapse. She reached out and grabbed the top of the door to keep from falling. The thought kept running through her mind that this couldn’t really be happening to her. Robberies and car jackings were supposed to happen to other people—strangers she heard about on the news. But then the terrible realization hit her that this time she was the one people might hear about tomorrow.

As the reality of her situation soaked in, a new fear swept through her. She was a single mother, with no family other than her daughter. What would become of Faith if something happened to Hannah? She had to do everything she could to make it out of this encounter alive. The problem was she didn’t know whether her safest choice was to obey her attacker or scream for help.

Still gripping the door, she took a deep breath and spoke in a shaky voice. “P-please, take m-my car. Take m-my money. Just let me go.”

He laughed, and this time he pressed the gun even harder. “Get in now,” he ordered.

Hannah cast a terrified glance toward Bart’s Stop and Shop, the convenience store where she always bought gas for her car, and prayed that Bart was watching his security cameras.