Chapter Thirteen, This Can't Be Happening...

"Thanks for stopping by to help unload my shopping spree goodies." Beth smiled at Adam, whose arms were overflowing with bags. She enjoyed sharing lunch with him and was glad to extend their time together - even if just for a few minutes.

"Not a problem." He grunted as he smiled and shuffled his way to the front door of her cottage. She held it open as he squeezed through the entrance.

"Just drop those on the floor right inside my bedroom, please. Can I talk you into staying for some iced tea and brownies?"

"Brownies?" His face lit up like fireworks on the Fourth of July. "Wild mustangs couldn't drag me away." He stepped into her bedroom, set the bags down and turned to face her - keeping his hands behind his back.

Beth had to laugh. "I'm guessing you like brownies?"

"Almost as much as fudge," he said, wagging his eyebrows.

"Oh, no you don't." Realization dawned on her. "You're not going to eat a single bite of that fudge. That's for Tiffany and her boys." Hands on her hips, she tried to act fierce. "I see you trying to sneak my bag of fudge out of there, Adam Blythe. You put it back right now."

Pretending a deflated look, he exaggerated a sigh as he set the bag beside the others. "Ok, ok."

Mirth-filled laughter bubbled from somewhere deep inside. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this care-free and happy.

"Come on. Let's take the brownies and tea out on the back porch."

Following her into the kitchen, he stopped behind her and reached around to snitch a brownie. Peering sideways into his face, she opened her mouth to scold him for it when the back door flew open. Her eyes went wide. Adam wrapped his arms around her protectively. Trembling, she clutched his arm.

"Kyle. It's Kyle. This can't be happening."

Adam whipped around, leaving his body between Beth and Kyle. Reaching back, he grabbed her waist and pressed her against his back making it impossible for her to see or be seen.

"Who are you and what do you want?"

Beth heard the steel in Adam's voice and knew he would brook no nonsense.

"I'll tell you what I want. I want your hands off my fiancé! Lizzy, who is this guy? Is he the reason you ran off and left me? 'Cause if he is, you're gonna both be sorry. You're mine, Lizzy-Beth…mine."

A fear she never knew existed crushed her in its grip, stealing her breath and turning her legs into noodles. She curled her fingers into Adam's shirt, pressing her face against his back.

"Look at me, Liz!" Kyle yelled, stepping inside the door and slamming it. "I won't put up with this!"

Pushing up on tip-toes, she peeked over Adam's shoulder and saw a mean looking hand-gun pointed directly at Adam's chest. No! Oh, dear God, what is he doing?

"K-Kyle. P-p-p-please…p-put that gun down. Don't be crazy. We c-can talk this out. Just, please…d-don't hurt anyone."

"Don't hurt anyone?" He scoffed, "…as in your boyfriend, here?"

She swallowed hard. "He-he's not my b-boyfriend. J-just a f-friend who's helping me out. Please, let him go."

Beth could tell by his rigid stance that Adam wasn't going anywhere, but she had to try. If Kyle wanted to hurt someone, it should be her - not Adam. Oh, God, please don't let him hurt Adam! Please, help us!

"Kyle." Adam's jaw ticked, but he kept his voice even. "Put the gun down. Kind of hard to convince a girl you love her with a gun pointed at her, don’t you think? There are better ways to deal with this."

Laughing a mirthless laugh, Kyle taunted as he waved his gun. "Tell, me…just how close are you with my fiancé, anyway? Are you in love with her? Huh? It's too bad if you are, because you…can't…have her! She's mine!"

The steely, possessive gleam in Kyle's eyes reminded her of his father the day she visited their home - the day she decided to leave town. It made her blood run cold. How could I have ever loved this man? How could I have been so blind?

"So, this is how you plan to win her back? With violence? No woman in her right mind would want you after this."

"Yeah? Well, whether she comes back with me or not remains to be seen. But, one thing is certain. She will never be yours!"

Before Beth knew what happened, Adam shoved her to the floor and the gun went off. As if in slow motion, she watched Adam's body fall beside her.

"NO! NO! Adam, NO!" Her wail echoed in her ears.

She shifted to kneel beside him, tears streaming down her face. She scooped up his head and cradled it in her lap, caressing his face.

"Adam. Speak to me. Please tell me you're not dead! Please, Adam, please."

No response. Head bent over his, she wept.

She heard Kyle's ragged breathing coming closer. The whine of his voice grated on her. "He can't have you, Lizzy. He can't. You're mine. Remember? You belong to me."

Beth shook her head as she sobbed over Adam's still form.

Steel entered his voice, cold and strong, "Where's your ring, Liz? You took it off. You took off your engagement ring! Big mistake Liz…big mistake! You see…if I can't have you, Lizzy-Beth…nobody will."

She looked up in time to see him raise the gun and pull the trigger. Hot, searing pain ripped through her. Fighting against the blackness that threatened to overtake her, she screamed. Then, darkness engulfed her.

~Linnette R Mullin