Free Inherited: Instant Family by Judy Christenberry Page A

to each other.
    Abby welcomed them, too. “Of course, you are. It will give you some relief after having to cook for all of us. Bring the boys, too. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them.”
    “And I haven’t met them yet. I still can’t believe you have two more babies at home.”
    “Some babies,” Kate said through a laugh.“Jason and Matt are already over six feet tall. Wait till you see them.”
    In her mind’s eye the only six-foot-tall man Sarah saw was Brad.
    It wasn’t long after lunch on Saturday when Sarah had sent Abby back up to bed for a nap and threatened the kids with naps if they woke her up. She settled them in the family room in front of the television.
    She was cleaning up after lunch when someone started banging on the front door.
    Startled, she hurried to the front of the house, intending to yank open the door before the banging got louder. But something made her look through the peephole.
    She gasped when she recognized one of her stepfather’s friends, checking his pistol to make sure it was loaded.
    Panicking, she ran back to the kitchen and immediately dialed Mike’s number. He told her to lock both doors and get the .22 that Nick kept loaded.
    After she hung up the phone, she found the.22. It felt cold and hard in her hand and she prayed she wouldn’t actually have to use it.
    Then she remembered Nick’s cell number, which he’d given her in case of an emergency with Abby. She called it.
    It was Brad who answered.
    “One of Ellis’s friends is at the door and he has a gun!”
    “Sarah, get the .22.”
    “I’ve got it, Brad, but—but I’m scared.”
    “We’re on our way, honey.”
    She hung up the phone. When she heard banging at the back door, she moved into the hallway, so he couldn’t see her. Robbie opened the door to the television room.
    “Who’s knocking?” he asked.
    “Go back in the TV room and don’t come out until I come for you.” She knew her voice was harsh, but she didn’t have time to explain.
    She was trembling as she hid behind the hall wall, hoping the man outside would give up and go away. But she didn’t think that was going to happen. When she heard theglass breaking on the door, she knew he was going to force his way in.
    Waiting until she heard him open the door, she stepped out, lifting the rifle to her shoulder. “Throw your gun down.”
    “You don’t scare me, little girl.”
    As he lifted the gun toward her, she squeezed the trigger on the rifle. Much to her surprise, she hit him in the shoulder and he fell to the kitchen floor, his gun skidding across the floor.
    Covering her face with her hands, she sobbed into them, appalled at what she’d done.
    Suddenly she heard footsteps pounding hard on the back porch. Brad came charging through, followed by Nick. He ran over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you all right?”
    “I—I think I hurt him, Brad! I didn’t know what else to do. He lifted the gun up like he was going to k-kill me.”
    “You did what you were supposed to do.”
    “But Mike will arrest me!” she said with a wail.
    “No, he won’t, honey.”
    Just then they heard the sirens of the sheriff’s car. “Here’s Mike now. He won’t arrest you, I’m sure.”
    She sobbed against his shoulder, in spite of his reassurances.
    Mike stepped into the kitchen. Nick was bent over trying to stop the bleeding on the man’s shoulder while Brad held Sarah.
    “She shot the guy when he broke in and lifted up a pistol to kill her. She’s sure you’re going to arrest her.”
    “Sarah, it’s all right. Calm down so I can ask you some questions.”
    But she couldn’t seem to pull herself together, despite Brad’s help. He got her some tissues and helped her to a seat at the table.
    Mike’s first question was “Where’s the gun?”
    “What?”
    “If he raised his gun to shoot you, what happened to the gun?”
    She pointed to the floor by the cabinets where the gun had ended up.
    Mike picked up the gun and