Under the Midnight Stars

by Shawna Gautier

He gave a quick nod and raised his eyebrows. “Yep. Now are you gonna tell me what happened or not?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know exactly what happened. All I know is that I took a shower and when I opened my bedroom door I started choking on smoke. I looked out the window and the barn was on fire.”

  Her eyes filled with tears as she relieved the haunting event. She prayed Colt had survived through the night. “Colt came just as I was going in after you. He went in instead. He went right into the fire to save you.”

  She sucked in a ragged breath as pain engulfed her heart once again. She started to cry. “He might not make it, Jack. He’s still unconscious. He might die. And I’m pregnant. I’m gonna have his baby and he might never know.”

  Jack’s eyes widened before they filled with sympathy. “Aw, Brielle.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “He’ll make it through this. You’ll see. He’s strong.”

  She nodded and pulled away, sniffling. “I hope so, Jack.”

  “Not I hope so — he is gonna make it,” he said confidently.

  She managed a weak smile and nodded. “He is gonna make it.”

  He grinned. “That’s more like it … So, I’m gonna be an uncle, huh? I have to say, that’s pretty good news. How do you feel about it?”

  “Well,” she sniffed again, “I was kind of shocked at first. But now … now a part of Colt is growing inside of me and I can’t wait to see him … or her.” She forced a smile. “I just hope Colt gets a chance to see his baby too.”

  Jack took her hand in his and patted the back of it. “Hey, what’d I tell you … he’ll see his baby. I know it.” He coughed and then took a sip of water. “So how did we get out anyhow? Did you pull us out?”

  She shook her head. “Colt pulled you out. He shielded you from the flames as much as he could with his own body. He’d just stepped through the doorway when a bucket — a bucket of all things — fell on his head. It knocked you two forward enough to escape the flames. I tried to pull you both away, but you were too heavy. Then the firemen came and carried us out of there. That’s when I passed out.” She threw herself against his chest and cried. “I couldn’t take it if he died, Jack! I couldn’t!”

  He rubbed her back soothingly, just as their parents had done to ease away their childhood woes. “He’s not gonna die, Brielle.” His voice was strong and confident. “Colt’s a survivor. He just found out he has a son. And now he has another baby on the way — with you. He’s gonna pull through. Plus, he’s crazy about you. There’s no way in hell he’s gonna leave you so soon. He’ll fight tooth and nail. You’ll see.”

  Tears continued to flow. “You don’t understand. I told him to go. That I didn’t wanna be with him. That I thought he should try to be a family with his son and Miranda. I told him to stay the night with her.”

  Jack frowned. “Now why in the hell would you go and do something foolish like that? Colt loves you. He doesn’t love Miranda. And besides, she’s engaged to the fire chief. They seem to be crazy about each other.”

  “What? She is?” Shocked, she pulled out of his arms to face him. She sucked in a deep ragged breath to stay her tears as anger took over. “Why didn’t you tell me that when I told you about her?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. It didn’t cross my mind that you needed to be told. I didn’t think you’d go off and tell Colt to marry her. I just thought you’d work it out together. I don’t know what goes on in that pea-sized brain of yours sometimes, Brielle.” He sighed. “Sometimes you just leap before you look. For once you need to sit back consider all logical solutions to all parties involved.”

  She placed both hands on hips, ready to give him a piece of her mind. Instead, she considered the wisdom of his words. “You’re right, Jack,” she replied dismally. “I do leap before I look … I’ll try to work on that.” She bit her trembling lip as her heart broke all over again for causing Colt such unnecessary, undeserving pain.

  “Come here, brat.” He hugged her again. Then he pulled away to look her in the eyes. “How’d the fire start anyway?”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “Huh.” Jack took a minute to think. “Maybe it was an electrical short of some kind. They’ll figure it out. Anyway, don’t you think it’s time to get out of here and go tell Colt how you really feel about him?”

  “He’s unconscious.” She sucked in another ragged breath, trying to hold back her tears.

  “He’ll hear you, Brielle,” he replied softly. “He’ll hear you.”

  “Okay.” She sniffed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She left Jack’s room and went to the nurses’ station, determined to see Colt whether they said it was okay or not. The nurse there pointed her in the right direction to Colt’s room. Her heart pounded fearfully as she made her way down the corridor to his room. “Please let him be okay … Please let him be okay…” she whispered unsteadily before she entered.

  All was quiet except for the low repetitive beeping of his heart rate monitor. And aside from the sunlight trying to push its way over the top of the closed navy curtains, the room was dark.

  Slowly, quietly, she made her way to his bedside. Silent tears trickled down her cheeks. “Oh Colt,” she whispered through hiccup-like sucks of breath to keep from sobbing. Staring at his unresponsive form, she gently placed her hand in his. It was warm and soft. She wanted to hold onto it forever.

  “I’m so sorry for everything. I’m sorry I pushed you away. I was wrong. So wrong. I hope you get a chance to forgive me. Please don’t die, Colt.” She cried as quietly as she could. “I’m pregnant. You’re gonna be a daddy. Our baby needs you. I need you. Please, please wake up.” She carefully laid her head on his chest.

  “I knew it,” Colt croaked hoarsely as he reached up to gently stroke her cheek with his thumb.

  “Uh.” Brielle snapped her head up and stared at him in disbelief.

  “I knew you were pregnant,” he croaked again through a proud grin.

  “You’re awake! You’re gonna be okay!” She giggled quietly. “I’ll get the nurse.” She turned to leave but Colt tightened his grip on her hand.

  “No,” he whispered hoarsely. “Don’t go yet. They were in here half the morning sticking me and taking me for x-rays. I just wanna be with you.”

  “Oh Colt,” she whispered lovingly, crying tears of joy. “The doctor told me you were seriously injured and unconscious. I was so afraid that I’d lose you.”

  “I woke up a few hours ago. It’s gonna take more than a burning barn falling on my head to keep me down.”

  She smiled softly. “How do you feel? Are you in any pain?”

  “My head hurts like a son of a bitch.” He felt the bandage on top of his head. “Guess I got a few stitches. What in the hell hit me anyway?”

  “A bucket,” she replied.

  “A bucket? I run into a burning building and nearly die from a bucket?” He chuckled slightly, then started to cough.

  Brielle reached over to the bedside tray, poured him a cup of water, and handed it to him. “I don’t think it’s funny one bit.” She frowned.

  “I suppose it isn’t.” He pinched a smirk between his lips and sat up before he drank heartily.

  She bit her lower lip as she watched him drink. She’d hurt him badly and was intent on repairing the damage. “I’m so sorry about everything, Colt. I’m not mad that you have a son with Miranda. And I don’t want you to be with her. I want you to be with me. I want us to raise our baby together. To raise your son together.”

  He grinned and placed both hands on either sides of her face. “I didn’t have any doubts otherwise. I knew you’d come around sooner or later.” He guided her lips to his and kissed her softly. Pulling away to gaze into her eyes, he whispered, “I love you, Brielle, and only you. Don’t you ever question that again. We belong together, baby, you and me. And we always will.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
“Oh, and I’m not Junior’s father,” he added casually.

  She quickly pulled away and opened her mouth to speak.

  Not giving her time to reply, Colt crushed his mouth to hers again and kissed her passionately.

  She took a moment to relish his kiss — his love — before pulling away breathlessly. “He’s not your son?”

  “No.” Colt grinned. “Apparently she’s the cheating kind.” He cupped his hand to the back of her neck and guided her lips back to his again.

  “Good morning.” A chubby elderly nurse flipped on the lights and entered the room.

  Colt and Brielle jerked away from each other and shielded their eyes from the blinding lights.

  “I’m sorry.” She dimmed the lights. “I just came to take your vitals. The doctor will be in shortly to check on you. Oh, and Ms. Sinclair?” She looked at Brielle.

  “Yes?” Brielle nodded.

  “Sheriff Collins is here to question your brother. He’d like to question you too.”

  “Why?” Brielle asked.

  Colt flipped his blanket aside and stood, wearing only a hospital gown. “Let’s go find out.”

  “Oh no,” the nurse interjected and placed a hand on Colt’s shoulder, easing him back onto the bed. “You have to stay in bed. You have a concussion. We don’t want to risk you falling or passing out and hitting your head.”

  “Sorry, ma’am, but you’ll have to hog-tie me to keep me here,” Colt replied.

  “You won’t have to do that.” Jack grinned as he entered the room, fully clothed in a white T-shirt, jeans, and boots. He headed straight for Colt.

  Sheriff Richard Collins entered behind him.

  “Glad to see you up and around.” Jack gave Colt a hearty hug. He pulled away and gave him a manly pat on the shoulder. “Thanks for saving my life.”

  “Ah, it was nothing,” Colt replied. “I’m sure it’s not the first time someone’s had to rescue a fireman from a fire,” he teased.

  Giggles and chuckles filled the room.

  “Anyhow,” Colt continued. “I know you would’ve done the same for me. And thanks for finally talking some sense into your stubborn sister.” He grinned smugly.

  Her jaw dropped in surprise. “How’d you know Jack talked to me?”

  “Are you kidding?” Jack playfully pushed her shoulder. “That pea-sized brain of yours ain’t big enough to think logically. Someone’s gotta think for you.”

  “Funnee!” she snapped.

  Richard Collins cleared his throat. “Glad to see you’re all okay. I usually don’t perform questioning in a hospital room, but I’ve known y’all for a very long time and had to see for myself that you were all okay.”

  Everyone remained silent as Richard spoke. The nurse left the room.

  “Y’all are very lucky…” Richard said. “Jack, Gabby, sorry about what a rough time you two have had lately. I just don’t understand it. Doesn’t seem fair. But I imagine it can only get better from here. Anyway, I know y’all are recuperating, but I need to ask a few questions.” He opened his leather notepad and pulled a pen from his shirt pocket. “Jack, tell me what you remember before the fire.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.” Jack scratched his head and placed both hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “I was just cleaning the horse stall when everything went blank. Then I woke up in the hospital with one hell of a headache and four stitches to boot. I don’t know how it caught fire.”

  Brielle studied Richard as he wrote. He reminded her of her father, right down to the gray-streaked black hair. It even looked as if his harsh life had drained the happiness from his spirit. But unlike her father, this man was not broken. He was strong and determined, as if he had unfinished business to attend to. As if his purpose here was not yet fulfilled.

  “Gabby.” He looked her way. “What do you remember?”

  “Uhhh, after my shower I went to my bedroom and when I opened the door, my room was filled with smoke — it was coming through my window. I looked out the window and saw the barn on fire. I ran out to the barn, and was gonna go in to get Jack, but Colt stopped me and he went in after him instead. Then as he was coming out of the barn with Jack in his arms, the doorway shifted and a bucket fell out of the upper window and hit Colt on the head. It knocked him out cold.” She closed her eyes and shook the horrifying image from her thoughts.

  “Did the bucket hit both of them?” he asked calmly, writing diligently.

  She thought for a moment. “No. Just Colt. By the way he was carrying Jack, I’d say Jack was already unconscious. Then I tried to pull them away, but they were too heavy. That’s when the firefighters came and carried us all to safety. I don’t remember after that. I guess I passed out from the smoke.”

  “Colt, what’d you see?” Richard asked.

  “I woke up from my couch around midnight when I saw a truck drive past my farm, coming from the direction of their property,” Colt motioned with a finger to Brielle and Jack. “I thought it was odd that someone was there so late. I stepped out onto the porch and saw an orange glow coming from their ranch. I rushed over and called the fire department on the way. When I got there Brielle was just about to run right into the fire to save her brother. I stopped her and went in myself. I found Jack unconscious and facedown in one of the horse stalls. The back of his head was bloody. Then I carried him out. That’s all I remember.”

  “Did you see anything that might’ve been used as a weapon lying around?” Richard asked, continuing to write.

  “A weapon?” Brielle interrupted. She started to worry.

  “No, nothing,” Colt answered.

  “All right.” Richard sighed. “Now tell me about this truck. Did you get the make or model? The color?”

  Colt shook his head. “It was too dark. I only saw an outline of it. But from its rounded shape, I’m positive it was a newer model.”

  “Jack, is there any reason why you would think someone was out to hurt you?”

  “Why? Do you think someone tried to kill me?” Jack asked.

  “You were definitely struck over the back of the head,” Richard said. “If you’d fallen and hit the back of your head, you would’ve been lying faceup. Something, or someone, hit you from behind. And the fire is still being investigated, but we’re sure it was arson.”

  A chill ran down Brielle’s spine. She was horrified. Someone had violated their privacy, breached the security of their own home, and purposely tried to kill her brother. She instinctively reached out and took Jack’s hand into hers. “So someone tried to kill him? Who? Why?” She turned to her brother. “Jack, who’d you make enemies with?”

  Just then the deputy who’d been standing guard outside the door brought Amy Johnson into the room. “Sheriff, I know you didn’t want to be interrupted, but Ms. Johnson claims to have information about last night.” The officer stepped in and closed the door behind him.

  “Gabby, Jack, I’m so sorry about all this.” Amy’s eyes filled with tears. She pulled her necklace from under her blouse and began to nervously toy with it.

  Brielle’s eyes widened as she focused in the white-gold necklace twirling around Amy’s fingers. “Where’d you get that necklace? My mom was buried with it!”

  Amy shook her head and drew her brows together. “No, it was a gift.”

  Jack turned his attention to the piece of jewelry. “Son of a bitch!” he boomed. In two strides he was standing in front of Amy, studying the charm shaped like the state of Texas with a heart-shaped pink diamond in the middle of it. He clenched his jaw and yanked it from her neck. “This was my mom’s necklace!”

  “Wh … what?” Amy stepped back fearfully, clutching her throat. “I … I’m sure it wasn’t. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.”

  “My dad had it specially made for her!” Brielle snapped. She inspected the necklace lying in Jack’s hand. The pink diamond sparkled brilliantly under the lights. “It’s one of a kind. She was wearing it the day she died and was buried with it. How’d you get i
t?”

  “It was a gift … from Billy,” she replied, cowering against the wall.

  Everyone fell utterly silent, except for Brielle. “How in the hell did Billy get my mother’s necklace?” She placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Amy. “What’d he do? Dig up her grave?”

  Amy shook her head fearfully.

  Brielle turned to Colt and Jack, confused.

  Colt swiped a hand over his mouth and sighed heavily. His eyes filled with sorrow.

  Tears rolled down Jack’s cheeks. He clenched his jaw, causing his temples to pulsate. “Because the bastard killed her! And now I’m gonna kill him!” He rushed for the door.

  “No! Jack!” Richard shouted as he and the deputy grabbed him.

  Jack struggled to break free. “Let me go, dammit!” he shouted angrily. “Get the hell off me!”

  Brielle screamed and covered her mouth as she watched her brother struggle with the officers. “Jack! What’s going on? Please stop!” she cried. She took a step toward him.

  Colt quickly grabbed her by the waist. “No, Brielle, stay back. They’ll arrest you too.”

  “Jack!” Brielle watched helplessly as both Richard and the deputy tackled him, forcing him face first to the ground, and pinned his wrists behind him. They quickly snapped handcuffs around his wrists.

  “That bastard raped and killed Mom!” Jack cried, enraged. “I’m gonna kill him! Ugh!” He rested his forehead on the cold hard floor and started to sob.

  “Oh my God!” Brielle’s voice shook with horrified dread. “What do you mean? I thought she died of a heart attack? Is it true, Jack? Is it true? Why’d everyone lie to me? Why? Why’d Billy hurt her? Oh my God!” Uncontrolled tears streamed her cheeks. Her knees weakened. She felt as if she’d just lost her mother all over again.

  Colt held her firmly to him. “I’m so sorry, baby,” he cried. “I’m so sorry.” Remaining on the edge of the bed, he pulled her into his lap and consoled her as her body shook with sobs.

  “Jack,” the deputy spoke firmly, pinning him to the ground with his knee between his shoulder blades. “Don’t make me haul you in. Just stay calm and I’ll release you.”