“Ms. Barlow.”
Hardwick’s voice pulled her back from the darkness.
“Jill. Hang on. I’m putting on one of our deputies. She’ll talk with you. We’ll be there.”
“Jill, this is Clara Hicks. Can you tell me where Karen was hit?”
“Arm.” She bit her lip to get control. “Tried to stop bleeding.”
Karen carried blankets for emergencies. This qualified. Jill struggled to stand again. Her legs didn’t want to function. Up at last, but her knees wobbled.
“Clara, I’m putting you in a pocket...want to get the supplies from the SUV.”
“Be careful.”
Clara, nice woman, kind to her in the jail. Focus. She must help Karen. Jill’s breath huffed out in white vapor. Her legs gave way. They wouldn’t support her. She crawled through the snow, slipping and sliding to the back of Karen’s vehicle.
Had to get something to keep Karen warm. When she got the hatch open, the blankets lay in an open box. She pulled one from the car and carried it to Karen and covered her. Needed the other one. Could she make it to car and back again?
Her muscles burned with the strain, but she stumbled and tumbled her way back to where Karen still lay unconscious and tucked the second blanket around her.
“Jill. Jill.”
The muffled sound of her name. Who was calling her?” Damn. Her phone in her pocket.
“Yeah, Clara. Covered Karen with two blankets. She has no color at all.”
“Good job, Jill. You rest, now. You’ve done everything possible.”
The woman’s low voice droned on, Jill must’ve passed out for a time, because the sirens seemed to arrive fast. Jerrod, Tim, Sheriff Hardwick, and the EMTs gathered around doing everything to make Karen and her comfortable.
“Karen, Karen, speak to me honey.” Tim’s anguished cry tore at Jill’s heart.
“I’m sorry, Tim, I’m so sorry.” He never glanced her way. Perhaps her words were too soft for him to hear. A growl brought her gaze to Jerrod’s grim face. She flinched when his finger feathered near what felt like a gash on her cheek. “Oh.” She couldn’t stop the moan.
“You’re going to be okay, Jill.”
“Karen?” He didn’t answer. The EMTs lifted the stretcher with her friend’s body and carried her up the incline to the ambulance. Jill was next. The movement almost made her sick. Maybe she had a head injury.
“Jill. I’ll see you at the hospital. Hang in there.” Somebody patted her hand. Was it Jerrod? The ambulance door slammed. Then oblivion.
Chapter Sixteen
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Jerrod had contacted Tim the moment he’d disconnected with the sheriff. Tim had mentioned over lunch Karen and Jill were out shopping together. He and Tim had driven out to the crash site at speeds so high, only the very skilled or very scared would attempt on the snowy roads. Chills ran across Jerrod’s shoulders at the picture of Jill lying on the ground next to Karen. He couldn’t bear to think of what they nearly lost.
Repair to the two openings in Karen’s arm took lengthy surgery. Her blood loss would’ve been a lot worse if Jill hadn’t acted so promptly, or if the temperature had been higher. The cold had slowed the flow of blood.
Jerrod waited to bring his mother up to speed on the situation until he had positive news to give her. He leaned back in a chair in her kitchen. Mitch’s death had aged her. The grooves around her mouth were considerably deeper than before.
“Any idea what’s going on, Jerrod? This kind of thing doesn’t happen in Woodstock.” Strain raised the usual low pitch of her voice.
Jerrod shook his head. “Karen doesn’t remember much. Jill reported a large, dark colored truck came up on their tail and ran them off the road. They didn’t steal anything. No idea why they shot Karen. Jill has a mild concussion, is pretty bruised up, and her cheek was cut open.” His mother flinched at his choice of words. He ran a hand through his beard. He needed to be more careful.
“Will she scar?”
“We won’t know for a while, but Dr. Ludlow did the job.”
“Good.” His mother sighed. “He’ll give her excellent care.”
She was quiet for a moment before asking, “What is going on in Jill’s life to cause all of this? We never have this level of crime. My God. Mitch killed. The break-ins. Someone ran the girls off the road and shot Karen. Can we stop this madness?”
The slight touch of hysteria in his mother’s tone worried Jerrod. He sat forward, placed his cup on the table and took one of her hands. Since he wasn’t certain he said, It’s not clear, Mother.” He answered her first question rather than the second. Not exactly the truth, but not an out and out lie either. “Neither woman got the plate number.”
“Can Jill have visitors?”
“Want me to take you to see her?”
“Please. Can we go now?”
“JILL, I’VE GOT SOME company for you.” Her paleness, almost the color of the white bandage, took his breath.
“Jerrod.” Her word a soft murmur. “Oh, you brought Anne.”
Jill’s smile, only on one side, played havoc with his heartbeat. Despite the obstacles against them, Jerrod wanted to keep this woman near him.
The memory of the smoothness of her skin when he’d touched her while they made love in front of the fire kept him in a perpetual state of unrest. It didn’t matter that he was in politics, or she was from Texas and probably brought these bastards to his town. Jill Barlow touched something deep in his gut, and he’d fight to keep her.
His mother and Jill’s soft words filled the room.
“You two be okay if I leave for a while?” They nodded, and he slipped out to check on Karen. Maybe Tim learned more from her about the wreck than he’d managed from Jill. At this point, Sheriff Hardwick didn’t have a whole hell of a lot to go on. When Jerrod neared Karen’s room, the door opened, and Tim stepped into the hall.
“They’re changing her dressing again, but she’s coming along well. I can take her home tomorrow or the next day. We’re lucky the bullet didn’t hit the bone, and we’re hoping the scarring isn’t too bad. She had quite a bit of damage. Who the hell cares about scarring, right? She’s alive.”
Jerrod hugged his best friend and slapped him on the back. “Kids get in?”
“Yeah. Nothing would do but for them to see her for themselves. We’ve loved having them here, and it makes them all feel better, despite Karen’s early protests to the contrary. The kids ran home to pick up her toiletries.”
“Mother’s in with Jill, now. Want to grab a cup of coffee in the cafeteria?”
“Sure.”
Tim fell in step beside Jerrod and they walked in silence down to the cafeteria. They got their coffee and settled into straight-backed chairs.
“How’s Jill doing?”
“Mild concussion. Dr. Ludlow is concerned about how bad the knife cut will scar. He took thirty-two stitches inside and out.”
“Is she going back to the rent house when she’s dismissed?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Jerrod gulped his coffee. “But we haven’t had that conversation yet.”
“This shit’s connected to the other stuff that’s gone on around Jill?”
“Don’t know for certain, but yeah, I’d say so. Karen give you any other information?”
“Nah, she was focused on keeping control of the car.”
Tim’s hand squeezed the cup so tight his knuckles whitened, and the cup collapsed, sending the dark liquid everywhere. “Damn.” He used a napkin to sop up what he could. A nearby attendant brought a wet rag and removed the mess.
“She doesn’t remember the gunshot?” Jerrod asked.
“No. Thank God.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“How’s your mother doing?”
“Not too bad. She’s resilient. Maybe in some ways, she feels she lost Mitch a long time ago.” Jerrod finished his coffee. “We better get back.” They headed upstairs and separated.
Jerrod stuck his head around the door of Jill’s room. “Hey, ladies.” The two women looked up, apparently surprised he returned so soon.
“Jill’s heard rumors she’ll be released this evening.” His mother gave him a warm smile. “Good news, right?”
“Yes. And that means I’m going to run you home now, Mother, so I can return and help.”
Jill frowned. Jerrod couldn’t tell if it was from his insistence, or from the headache she must be suffering. “You don’t have to, Jerrod. I have a rental and can drive.”
“Well, you could, but it’s at your house. And,” he paused, “you’re on some powerful drugs. Nobody wants you behind the wheel.” He walked to the side of her bed, picked up her hand, rubbed his thumb along the back. “Let me do this. Please.”
She dropped her gaze and nodded. He hoped he was responsible for the slight flush, which put some much-needed color in her cheeks. He squeezed her hand once.
“Let’s get out of here, Mother.”
“Thanks for stopping, Anne.”
His mother leaned over and kissed Jill on her on the forehead. “You take care, dear, and do what my son says.” Her eyes twinkled before she turned and walked out.
“You’ve got your orders.” He smiled at Jill and followed his mother. He caught up to her at the elevator. “You trying to help?”
“Only if you want me to.” Her eyebrows arched in question.
“Won’t turn away any. Jill may be reluctant.”
“Are you serious about her?” His mother took his arm on the walk to his car.
“Absolutely.”
They were quiet on the drive toward her house. Each wrapped up in thoughts.
Finally, she broke the silence. “I’m sure you’ll manage, dear. You’ve gotten everything you ever wanted, or needed, and set your mind to. You’ll win her over.”
“And you’d be okay with that? I know she feels guilty about Mitch.” He stopped the car in front of her house.
“Mitch made his choices a long time before Jill came into our lives.”
Jerrod walked his mother to her door. She turned and rested a hand on his cheek.
“You go on. I’m fine, and if you were wondering, I’d love Jill to be a part of our family. She’s good for you.”
Jerrod returned to the hospital, and based on his mother’s comments, nothing less than anticipation and hope rushed through his system. Because he’d been incredibly lucky—aside from the fiasco with his kids’ mother—he’d tried to give back to the community and those less fortunate. Yeah, he’d worked his tail off, but he was born into a good family, raised with values. Others didn’t have his advantages.
Did he have an explanation for why his brother turned out the way he did? No. Jerrod made it a point to try to help others. The way Don had done by leaving a large tip for the waitress at the restaurant in Montpelier when he and Jack ate dinner with him.
It was time to bring Don up on the latest, not that they had much, but still. After Jill went to sleep this evening, Jerrod would call.
He took the steps leading to the front entrance of the hospital two at a time, eager to see her. The overly clean, antiseptic smells assaulted his senses. Maybe the staff working here didn’t notice it after a time. People could get used to almost anything, but right now, it annoyed him.
After a brief knock, he pushed open the door to her room. “Damn. Thought I’d catch you still wearing that sexy, backless hospital gown, and here I find you in real clothes. Nice, by the way.” The pants hugged her rear in a flattering manner. She turned from the window. He appreciated the sweater clinging to her breasts. The same pink stained her cheeks as when he left. He sure hoped he was responsible for the emotion behind the color.
“These were some of the clothes from our shopping trip. A deputy found them in the car and brought them to me.”
“Well, that part of the outing was a success. You look great in that sweater. It matches the color of your eyes.”
“Thank you.”
“Ms. Barlow.” A nurse pushed a wheel chair into the room.
“My chariot awaits, huh?”
“Best we’ve got.”
“Come on, Jill.” Jerrod walked to her, took her arm, and gently propelled her toward the chair. “Let’s go home.”
“Not to your home. To mine.”
“We can discuss it on the way. You ride with the nurse, and I’ll bring your things.”
Her sigh indicated acquiescence. Lack of an argument on her part indicated she wasn’t in good shape.
In the car, Jerrod couldn’t stop himself from reaching for and patting the hands clasped in her lap. “I’m glad you’re here.” He let go of her hands, put his back on the steering wheel, and pulled out of the hospital driveway. “For now, plan to come home and eat with me. We can talk about other arrangements later.”
“Okay. But I haven’t agreed to stay with you,” she said in a weak voice.
“I know.” Jerrod fought the smile struggling to break through. She didn’t know yet, but Jill Barlow was going nowhere but his house tonight. Afterward, they’d have to see. He wasn’t averse to using his mother to keep Jill with him. All’s fair, right? A cliché, perhaps, but if it improved his chances with this fascinating woman... Jill was quiet on the ride from the hospital. He guessed she’d dozed off. Her lids lay closed against her pale cheeks. He stopped in front of the house. She jerked when he opened her car door, but she didn’t rebel at his taking her arm to help her from the car and lead her through the front door.
“Lie down on the sofa while I throw together something to eat.” He could tell she wanted to refuse, but her pallor worsened. The short trip obviously wore her out.
“I’d offer to help, but not sure I can be of much use right now. I’ll take you up on the sofa proposition.” A moan escaped when she lowered herself onto the couch.
The bright red of her cheeks showed she understood the possible double meaning of the words “sofa proposition.” He certainly did and stifled a chuckle. Not fair to tease her now.
Jerrod went into the kitchen and reheated potato soup. He whipped up a salad and had it ready to go in around twenty minutes. After he put the rolls in the oven, he checked on Jill and found her asleep. He hated to disturb her, but she needed to eat. He sat on the edge of the sofa, leaned over, and kissed her gently on the lips. Her eyelashes fluttered.
“Ah, sleeping beauty awakes.” Her lopsided smile warmed his heart. “Dinner’s ready.” He put an arm around her back, helped her sit and after a minute to stand. “Slow and easy.” He kept his hold on her, and they walked to the table where he positioned the chair.
“No wine for you tonight, Jill. Your doctor wouldn’t approve with all the drugs in your system.”
“I know. Umm. Smells good, makes my mouth water. Wine would be nice, but oh well.” After several bites, she looked up at him. “This is excellent. You do this or your mother?”
“I’d claim credit, but honestly, she brought over the soup, and after we got here, I made the salad. She wanted to make sure I had something she deemed good enough for you.”
“She’s a dear.”
Jerrod wanted her to agree to stay the night but waited to broach the subject until they’d finished eating. “Sheriff Hardwick will probably stop by tomorrow. He has a few more questions for you.”
“I DON’T HAVE ANY MORE answers.” She hated the shrill sound of her voice, but she had nothing else she could tell him. “Why does he keep on about this? I’ve told him everything I know. A truck. Two men. One with a bad cough.” God, couldn’t they leave her alone? She pushed to her feet, her pacing unsteady.
She desperately needed some alone time to figure out what to do about the flash drive. Her nerves stretched to the breaking point waiting for the threatened call. At each trill of her new cell phone in the hospital, her heart had quaked. Her hand trembled every time she pushed receive wondering if this was the dreaded call.
Jerrod’s arms came around her, halti
ng her steps, pulling her from the maelstrom. He scooped her against his hard body, where she fit so well. He was solid, yet gentle. He rested his head against the top of hers. His breath feathered against her hair. Finally, he released her. Jill hadn’t struggled, and in fact, she could’ve stayed in his arms a long time.
“Come with me.”
Jill liked the way he took her by the elbow and led her from the kitchen. She didn’t inquire where they were going. At the stairs, Jerrod kept an arm around her waist, ready to support her if she needed the assistance, but letting her do what she could. He seemed to understand her desire to do this on her own. By the time they reached the top, she was breathless and shaky.
Jerrod walked past the room she’d previously used and stopped at his, pushing open the door. “Come in here tonight. I’m not suggesting we make love, Jill. But sleep next to me.”
Her heart tripped up to a heady beat. She reached a hand to touch his cheek, rubbing across his beard. He placed a soft kiss in her palm. Her insides melted, but she resisted. She’d brought so many bad things to his town.
“Please, do this for me. I’ll rest better knowing you’re safe.”
She nodded, giving in, and let him lead the way. “My bag’s here.” She looked from it to him. “Were you so sure of me?”
“No, but former Boy Scouts are always prepared. Liz went by your house and packed a few things she figured you’d need. You change out of those clothes in the bathroom while I turn down the covers.”
She took out the long-sleeved flannels she’d been sleeping in for a while and went across to the bathroom. Taking off the sweater made her wince. The doctors told her to expect to be sore for a while. The seat belt had done a number on her middle and shoulder. Bruising was already noticeable. Purple and red spread across her body like she’d fallen into two buckets of paint. The white bandage stood out on her pale face. How bad would the scar be? Would it bother Jerrod?
Vermont Escape Page 21