Ranch at River’s End
Page 17
“I know what it means, sweetie.” Text messaging with sexual content.
“There were some boys in my gym class, and they were picking on me. The same kids who were cyberbullying me. One of them—Troy Montgomery—started harassing me after we’d showered. I was drying off with a towel, and Troy took my cell phone. Mom, he took a picture of my butt. And then he forwarded it, along with a crude message, to all my friends in my contacts list.”
Darci sucked in her breath. “Oh, my God, Christopher! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was too embarrassed.” His voice choked up. “It was awful, Mom. My friends were laughing at me, and Troy sent the shot to his own cell and then forwarded it to his friends, too. Everyone was making fun of me. That’s why I took the gun to school.”
Darci couldn’t have been more stunned. Fury at the humiliation her son had suffered raged through her.
“I don’t even know what to say, Chris. I can call the Northglenn police, see about pressing charges.”
“No!” He looked horrified. “It’s all over, Mom. I just want to forget it. Just like I want to try to forget what happened tonight.”
“Okay. If you’re sure.” Darci wasn’t certain she could live with not seeing Troy Montgomery punished. But she didn’t want to put Christopher through hell again.
“Did you talk to Nina about this?”
“Not yet. I’ve been debating.”
“I think it’s a good idea, Chris. Please think about it.”
“Okay. I will.”
Darci bent and kissed her son on the forehead. “Try to get some rest now, son. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom.”
Darci made a mental note to get in touch with Nina the next day and see if she could fit Chris in for an appointment. Talking to his counselor would be beneficial after what he had been through tonight.
He’d nearly been shot!
The thought terrified Darci.
And to find out he’d been through more in Northglenn than she’d known about…
In her bathroom, she filled the tub and sank into a hot sea of bubbles. She leaned back, sipping a glass of the wine Jordan had brought over for dinner. How must he feel, after what Michaela had already been through? Darci didn’t hold Mac’s part in what had happened tonight against the girl. Mac was just a kid who’d made a costly mistake. The same as Christopher had in Northglenn.
Once the bathwater had cooled, Darci slipped into a warm pair of pajamas. The evening air had turned brisk—typical Colorado weather. In October you could be scraping the frost off your windshield in the morning and the bugs off it at night. Darci crawled into bed with a book, determined to try to forget her problems for a little while. She was absorbed in the plot of the romantic suspense when she heard a soft knock at the front door.
Who in the world…?
Throwing back the covers, Darci slipped into her robe and went to see. She turned on the porch light and peered through the curtains at the front window. Jordan stood on her porch.
Quickly, Darci opened the door. “Jordan, what’s wrong?”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “Nothing, really.” He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I can’t sleep. I decided to take a short walk, and I saw your bedroom light on and thought I’d stop.” He took a step backward. “I can see you’re ready to go to sleep. I’m sorry to have bothered you, Darci.”
“Actually, I was just reading,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep, either.” She held the door wider. “Want to come in?”
He hesitated. “I can’t leave Mac for long. She’s sleeping, and Louise is keeping an eye on her.” He stepped inside and gave a short laugh. “Would you believe Louise has a police scanner, and she’d already heard about what happened? She knows the Longs and recognized their address, and she knew Mac was going to Shannon’s birthday party, so she put it all together and came over to see if Michaela was all right. That’s when it hit me hard, and I told Louise I needed some air.”
Darci motioned toward the couch. “Sit down, Jordan. It’ll be okay.”
He sat, then looked at her, his expression one of frustration. “I feel like I want to stand over Mac all the time to protect her.” He looked straight into Darci’s eyes, his own sad and serious. “Darci, how in the world do I protect my daughter?”
JORDAN SAT IN DARCI’S living room, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’d had to force himself to leave the house minutes ago, and even then he’d taken his cell phone, in case Louise needed to reach him. She’d reassured him she’d be right there in case Mac woke up. And still, it was exactly as he’d said to Darci—all he wanted to do was hover over Michaela.
It was the same way he’d felt after Sandra’s shooting.
“Want some wine?” Darci asked.
He nodded. “That actually sounds really good right about now.”
She went to the kitchen and came back with the wine bottle and two glasses. She poured them each a glass, nearly finishing off the bottle. She handed Jordan’s to him, and when he took it, he realized that his hands were shaking.
“Are you all right?” Darci asked, sitting beside him on the couch.
He took a sip of the wine. “It didn’t hit me until I got Michaela home,” he said, “how close she’d come to—to being shot again.” He raked a hand through his hair. “It made me feel so helpless. Darci, I can’t lock her in her room.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I felt pretty helpless, too. I don’t know how to keep my son safe if he can’t even go to a birthday party without someone threatening to shoot him!” Suddenly, tears sprang to her eyes. “I moved here to give us a fresh start, but it’s like we can’t get away from Chris’s past no matter what we do. Those kids are picking on him not just because of what Mac and Jenny might have said, or what anyone might have posted on the Internet. They’re picking on him because of who he is—the kid from Northglenn with the gun.”
Jordan set his wineglass down and slipped his arm around Darci’s shoulders. “It’s going to be all right,” he said.
“How?” she asked. “How is Christopher supposed to escape his past when no one will let him?”
“I know what you mean,” Jordan said. “I can’t seem to get past what happened to Sandra and Mac.” He swallowed hard. “I feel so guilty that there was nothing I could do to stop it. And it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Sandra trying to please me.”
“What did happen?” Darci asked quietly. “Do you feel like talking about it?”
He stared vacantly at the far wall. “It was December 24,” he said. “I was minutes away from the end of my shift at the hospital, looking forward to Christmas Eve with my girls, when the ambulance brought them in.” Never, if he lived to be a hundred, would Jordan forget the icy fear that had gripped him when his colleague took him aside. “Dr. Samuels had taken the call from the paramedics, who’d followed normal procedure, phoning ahead with details of the victims’ injuries.” He reached for the wineglass again, twirling the stem round in his hand. “Normally, names aren’t given, only the status and condition of the patients. Details like age, sex and what type of emergency the medics are dealing with.
“But the ambulance driver and paramedics knew Sandra and Michaela. They knew that my world was about to be torn apart. And when Dr. Samuels told me, I just stared at him for a long moment that I’ll never forget.” He looked at Darci. “His words were like a hatchet to my heart. The shooting victims are your wife and daughter. My wife and daughter, not someone else’s.
“For the first time in my life, I felt the helpless terror I’d seen so many times in the eyes of my patients’ family members. I literally came close to passing out.” The intensity of emotion that had gripped him was indescribable. He recalled little about those next few moments. Little except the denial.
Until he’d seen those glass doors open.
“And even though hospital protocol didn’t allow me to treat family members, there was nothing I could’ve do
ne to help Sandra.” Nothing. Dr. Samuels and the medical team had gone beyond the call of duty in their efforts.
“Later, the television news flashed images of two high school punks in handcuffs—they were the ones who shot up the convenience store. Mac and Sandra had gone there to pick up a last-minute item for our holiday dinner. And do you know what that was?”
“What?” Darci asked, blinking back tears.
“Pecans. For the pie Sandra wanted to make me. It’s my favorite, or at least it was. I haven’t been able to eat it since.” He turned to face her. “It was my fault. If she hadn’t gone to the store for the pecans…”
Darci cupped both hands over her mouth. “Oh, Jordan. It wasn’t your fault. It was just a horrible thing that happened.”
He felt his eyes mist, but went on. “Sandra was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital. And I spent the rest of the night sitting at my daughter’s bedside, praying like I’ve never prayed before. She’d taken one .22 caliber bullet to her hip. A second one grazed her face and a third hit her in the chest, missing her heart and other vital organs by inches…a miracle.”
He wiped the corner of his eye and faced her. “And now tonight. What’s next, Darci?” He took a drink of wine, then set the glass back on the table. “I couldn’t fix it. There was nothing I could do to fix it then, and I feel the same way now. I can’t stop another punk out there from wanting to go after my daughter.”
“They weren’t after your daughter,” Darci quietly reminded him. “They were after my son. Even though I don’t know how you must feel losing Sandra and almost losing Mac, I can at least imagine it. You’re not the only one who can’t outrun his past, Jordan. I feel like Chris is being made to pay for his crime in Northglenn over and over. And there’s nothing I can do about it, Jordan. Nothing—just like you said. All we can do is have faith. Something’s got to change.”
He reached with one hand to massage the back of Darci’s neck. His caress was gentle, caring. “Lord knows I’m trying to keep the faith,” he said. “I just thank God the kids are both safe. I don’t want to think about what might’ve happened. My God, Darci, I’ve been so selfish. Sitting here pouring out my heart when you must have been just as terrified as I was.” He pulled her close. “Come here.”
She slid over next to him, and Jordan planted a kiss on top of her head, then simply held her. “I’m truly glad Christopher didn’t get hurt.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’d better get home now.” Jordan gave her a warm hug then released her. “I promised Mac I’d take her out on the boat tomorrow if the weather’s not too nasty. Thank you for listening.”
“No problem. It’ll be okay, Jordan. Somehow. You’ll see.”
He nodded. “Good night, Darci.”
“Good night.”
She shut the door behind him, then turned out the light and went back to bed.
JORDAN THANKED LOUISE when he got home, then went to Mac’s room to check on her. She was sleeping soundly, bunched up underneath the covers with her knees tucked up to her stomach. It was as if even in her sleep she was defensive, curled in a tight knot. But at least she was sleeping.
Once in his room, Jordan lay in bed on his back, staring out the window above the bed. He could make out the stars sprinkling the sky. Even though he’d had the glass of wine, he still didn’t feel drowsy. What he felt was regret.
After talking to Darci tonight, he knew he couldn’t get involved with her. What had happened had shown him—again—that life was both precious and precarious.
He could have lost Michaela. Darci could have lost Christopher. Jordan couldn’t open himself up to caring about her when there was always the risk, lurking just around the corner, that he could lose her.
Tonight had shaken him up completely. He couldn’t let himself get close to Darci and her son. He’d seen so many horrible things in the emergency room. Domestic violence, stabbing victims, parents losing children. So many people suffering. He’d suffered enough, losing Sandra.
He could see Darci socially, but that’s where it had to end. He couldn’t risk loving her.
And maybe losing again.
DARCI SAT ACROSS THE table from her aunt after telling her what had happened the night before. Stella had gone to bed without watching the news.
“Lord have mercy.” Stella clutched one hand to her heart. “Are you sure you feel like being here today? You don’t have to give lessons if you’re not up to it. I can cover for you.”
Darci shook her head. “Nina’s riding today, isn’t she? I want to talk to her about Christopher.” Chris was currently out on a ride with Uncle Leon, who’d thought it best to keep his mind off what had happened the night before and focused on something fun.
“You want to take her lesson?” Stella asked. “We can trade. I’ll take Cindy Swanson for you.”
“Thanks, Aunt Stella. As long as that’s okay with Nina and Cindy, it works for me.”
“I don’t think they’ll mind. It’s not the first time you and I have switched.”
Nina arrived a half hour later for her lesson, and Darci walked out to her car to talk to her.
“Hi,” Nina said, smiling. “You doing okay, Darci? Jordan told me about what happened last night, and I saw the news.”
“I’m still a little shook up,” Darci said. “When I stop to think what might’ve happened…”
“But it didn’t,” Nina said. “And that’s the important thing to remember.”
“You mind having me for a riding instructor today?” Darci asked. “I wanted to talk to you, if that’s all right with you.”
“Of course. That’s perfectly fine. What’s on your mind?”
“Let’s get tacked up first. Ride a little. Then we can talk.” With Nina’s help, Darci saddled Dollar and Feather and the two women rode the horses to the arena.
Darci demonstrated a few riding exercises for Nina, going over some cavalletti. When they took a break to give the horses a breather, Darci led Nina over to sit on the arena fence.
“You sure you’re all right?” Nina asked. “You must have been scared out of your mind.”
“I was, that’s for sure,” Darci said. “But what I’m really worried about is Christopher. Do you think you could fit him in for an appointment sometime in the next couple of days?”
“Of course. Call my office and I’ll make sure my receptionist knows to work him in.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m worried about him, Nina. He’s pretty shaken. He now knows what it’s like when the gun’s pointed at you. I mean, he scared all those kids in Northglenn pretty badly, even if the gun he had wasn’t real. But he got an even worse shock yesterday when those boys actually fired a real gun at him. I think it’s affected him more than he wants to admit.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Nina said. “We’ll get it figured out.” She paused. “So what’s going on with you and my brother?” She gave Darci a crooked smile.
Darci felt herself blush. “We’re friends,” she said.
Nina chuckled. “I think it’s more than that if my brother’s actions are any indication. I think he likes you more than a little, Darci.”
Darci shrugged. “I like him, too.”
“Well, he’s too stubborn to know his own feelings, or at least to admit to them,” Nina said. “I can tell you that right now. You’re going to have to club him over the head to get him to come out and tell you how he feels.”
Darci laughed. “I don’t know if I’d go that far.”
“Don’t let him get away,” Nina said with a wink. “He’s one of the good guys.”
Her words stuck with Darci long after their lesson was over. Feeling restless, she searched out Stella.
“I’m going riding for a while, Aunt Stella. Do you mind keeping an eye on Christopher if he and Uncle Leon get back from their ride?”
“Not a bit. You go on and enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks. I just need to clear my head.”
At the reservoir, Jordan’s boat was moored at the dock, his SUV parked in the lot nearby.
“Hello,” Darci called out. “Anybody home?”
For a moment, she thought no one was there, then Jordan appeared from below deck.
“Hey,” he said. “What brings you out here? Other than your horse.” He grinned, and Darci’s heart nearly melted.
“Mind if I come on board?”
“Of course not. Come on.” He motioned with one hand, and Darci swung down off Feather’s back and tied her to a nearby fence.
She boarded the boat. “Where’s Michaela?”
“I let her go to Jenny’s.” He shook his head. “And believe me, that wasn’t easy. But Nina thought it would be good for her. Like I said last night, I just want to hover over her, but then the reasonable side of me knows that’s not going to work.” They sat in the chairs on deck. “I felt like coming out here for a while. The water’s so peaceful, even if it is a little cold out.”
Darci tugged at the collar of her jacket. “It is peaceful,” she said. “It’s a good place to think.”
Jordan propped one booted foot on the railing near his chair. “Speaking of thinking, Darci, I’ve been doing quite a bit of that since last night.”
“Oh?” She didn’t like the ominous tone of his voice.
“I can’t get involved with you, Darci,” he said bluntly. “I just don’t have it in me to love and lose again. Last night reminded me of Sandra’s shooting all over again.” His voice grew husky. “I could’ve lost Michaela. You could’ve lost Chris. Why risk another person’s heart—or your own—when life is so unpredictable?”
Darci didn’t know what to say. “Well, I appreciate you being up front with me.” At least he hadn’t led her on. A lot of guys would’ve tried to get what they could from her, namely sex. But not Jordan. A part of her felt sad at the thought. She’d enjoyed making love to him, but more than anything, she was falling for him.