Wrapping his arms around my chest, he pinned my arms to my sides and dragged me backward toward the hall.

I kicked his legs and screamed, my throat burning. The rolling pin was clutched in my fist, but I couldn’t raise my arms.

He lifted his right hand to cover my mouth. “Shut up!”

I bit hard on his finger and he cursed, shoving me down.

I rolled to my side and scrambled to get up. “Help!”

He reached for my arm and I swung wildly with the rolling pin, connecting with his side.

He grunted and let go, then hit me across the face.

Fuzziness filled my head, but I tried to hit him again when he whacked my arm. My weapon rolled across the hardwood floor.

“Leave me alone!” I screamed, kicking his legs.

“Rose!” A male voice shouted, followed by pounding on the front door.

The intruder fell on top of me, crushing me and covering my face with his hands, cutting off my breath. I bucked trying to throw him off while opening my mouth and biting him again.

His hand slipped and I gulped air.

“Help me!”

My attacker’s fist hit my cheek and my vision faded. I fought against it, knowing I needed my wits about me to get out of this.

The banging on the door grew louder. “Rose!”

The man stared at the door, then wrapped his hands around my neck and squeezed.

Glass shattered behind me, but everything was fading. Suddenly, the pressure was gone and I gasped for air.

I rolled to my side and struggled to get to my feet, too dizzy to stand. A figure approached from the front window.

Panic flooding my head, I crawled into the kitchen, my limbs slow to react.

“Rose!”

Arms wrapped around me, pulling me off the ground.

I fought against him, my screams sounding hoarse.

“Rose, it’s me. You’re safe.”

I looked up into Mason Deveraux’s shadowy face, then fainted.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I came to on my front porch. Red flashing lights slipped through my cracked eyelids. I heard Mason’s terse voice. “Are they searching out back?”

“Yeah.”

My eyes fluttered open. I was lying on the porch and something soft was under my head.

“Send someone to pick up Skeeter Malcolm now.” Mason paced in the yard in front of my porch, running his hand through his hair.

“We both know it’s a waste of time.” I recognized the voice, and my hazy vision confirmed it was Detective Taylor. He stood to the side, watching Mason with a guarded expression.

Mason stopped pacing and faced the detective, and although his back was to me, I knew he had an arsenal of snotty looks at his disposal. I suspected he was using one. “Just do your goddamned job for once,” Mason spat through gritted teeth.

The policeman looked like he was about to strangle the assistant district attorney.

I tried to sit up. Pain pierced my head at the movement, and I groaned.

Mason spun around and was next to me in two steps. “Don’t try to get up.” His hand pushed gently on my shoulder. He looked up, his eyes wild. “Where’s the ambulance?”

“I’m fine. Let me up.”

“You lost consciousness and you have an obvious head wound. You need to lie down.” Mr. Stuffypants was back.

I brushed his hand away. “No I’m fine. I pass out when I get really scared. Well, and probably from being strangled. But, really. I’m okay.”

His eyes widened and he held me down. “Someone give me a flashlight!”

“I’m not dying and I’m not bleeding.” I felt blood trickle down my cheek. “Okay, I’m not bleeding to death. I’m sure it’s just a scratch. Let me up.”

He looked doubtful but helped me sit.

I winced at the throbbing in my face.

“Rose, please—”

I swung my legs over the side of the porch and smiled, even though it pulled the sore muscles in my cheek. “See? I’m fine.”

A crowd had already begun to gather in the street. The good folk of Henryetta could count on Rose Gardner to put on a neighborhood show. Before tonight, my events had been restricted to the weekend. Apparently, I was branching out into weekday shows now. I needed to start selling tickets.

“You are far from fine. What the hell were you doing here? You promised you wouldn’t stay here. You gave me your word, Rose.”

“Calm down. I wasn’t stayin’. I was just grabbin’ some stuff to take to a motel.”

“A motel? You were going to stay alone?”

While I appreciated his concern, his attitude was irritating. “You never said anything about not being able to be alone.”

“You told me you were going to your sister’s.”

“And I was goin’ to until she told me earlier this evening that her husband was leaving her.”

Officer Ernie walked over with a long flashlight and narrowed his eyes at me.

Mason took the flashlight and flipped it on. “I want to look you over, but the light’s going to be bright so you might want to close your eyes.”

“Mr. Deveraux—” A blinding light made my eyes squeeze shut. “Is this really necessary?” I asked, irritated.

“Yes.” He grunted. After several seconds the light left my face and I felt him lift my hand. I opened my eyes to find him examining my arm.

“I’m fine.”

He put my arm down with a gentleness that surprised me. Over his shoulder, he shouted, “Where is the ambulance?”