Free Where One Road Leads by Cerian Hebert Page A

shoulder. It wasn’t about the past anymore, not to her. The possibilities of where this moment could go made her heart race, an exciting sensation she wanted to pursue. She wondered what would happen if she turned her face to his. Sparks burst through her body.
    Their cozy moment was disturbed when Gus struggled to rise. At first Krista thought it was because he didn’t like the close proximity of the two humans.
    Then he started barking frantically, facing the trail behind them.

Chapter 5
    Matt pulled away and got to his feet as well, holding out a hand to help Krista up. Gus’s woof reminded her of the dog’s reaction after the incident with the brick. She doubted that some casual, innocent hiker was coming. She thought about the pepper spray, but instead took the leash and attached it to the dog’s collar.
    “What is it?” she asked Matt, straining her eyes to see through the thick cover of trees. The only movement was the restless fall of leaves in the breeze. If anyone was out there they were out of sight, but Gus sensed it, pulling on the leash to rush over and sniff their stalker out.
    “I thought I saw something. Stay here, I’m going to take a look.”
    Krista grabbed his arm. “No, why don’t we just walk away, get down the trail. I’d rather not know.”
    “Damn it, Krista, I’m not going to run away.” He pulled from her and started down the trail that entered the woods. He walked slowly, searching all around him.
    Krista considered letting Gus loose. Maybe the dog would flush out the person hiding out there.
    Matt paused and stared into the dense woods. He took two steps off the path and paused again.
    “Okay, John, come on out. Damn, what in hell are you doing up here?”
    Krista had expected to see Ricky, not John Frechette emerge from the trees, a hangdog look on his face. She felt her jaw drop open when the older man, dressed in a camouflage jacket and olive drab hat, walked up the path in front of Matt. He didn’t meet her eyes, just stared at the ground.
    “So what’s going on here, John? Out for a hike?” Matt asked quietly, keeping his gaze fixed on the older man.
    He didn’t reply. Though she remembered what Patricia had told her about John’s feelings toward her, she couldn’t imagine John would think so ill of her that he’d follow her here. To do what? Talk?
    “Come on, John,” Matt urged. “We’re all friends here. Let’s discuss this, get it out in the open.”
    Krista wanted that, too. It was horrible to think this man still blamed her for Liz’s death.
    “I’m not in uniform here, John,” Matt continued when John remained silent and nervous. “We can talk about it off the record.”
    “Please, Mr. Frechette. I don’t want you to hate me.” Krista finally spoke up. She walked to him, got close enough so she could look into his eyes. He tried to avoid her gaze but she took hold of his chin as if he were a child and lifted it.
    He jerked his face back from her hold. Disappointed, she dropped her hand. “Why did you come here today?”
    “I wanted to get you to leave,” he replied gruffly.
    “How did you think you were going to do that, John?” Matt didn’t look pleased at all. His eyes narrowed and his lips tightened.
    The older man shrugged and stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. “Don’t know. I was figuring it out as I went.”
    “Did you throw the brick through Krista’s window?”
    That seemed to get his attention a bit. He swung a startled glance toward Matt. “No, I didn’t do that. I haven’t been near her house.”
    “Or the center?” Matt added.
    Krista grabbed Matt’s arm. “Stop it, Matt. I’m sure he had nothing to do with that, either.” Well, she hoped not. There had to be a chance she and Liz’s father could return to their old friendship. “Mr. Frechette . . . John. Please, can’t we talk about this? I would give anything to have Liz back. I loved her, she was the best friend I had in my whole life.”
    She took his