by Susan Stoker
“Okay,” Kara agreed reluctantly. “Just ask her to come see me at the hospital, please. I-I can’t handle my father’s king-size drama anymore.”
“Okay,” he said, pulling his cellphone out of his pocket. “Give me her number and I’ll give her a call after the ambulance arrives. It shouldn’t take her long to get over to the hospital to see you.”
“Good,” she whispered, suddenly feeling so weak she could literally melt into a puddle. “I’m exhausted.”
“It’s the adrenaline leaving your system. We call it ‘crashing.’ It’s a normal reaction to what you’ve experienced. Just sit and rest.”
His reassurance helped steady her. Did Cade know how calming he was for her? She had been hysterical before he arrived, sobbing and unable to stop crying. Again, she hung onto the soothing, deep timbre of his voice. It took away her fear and replaced it with a sense of safety she’d never known before now.
Cade had turned into a big man with a set of broad shoulders, not heavily muscled, but definitely in top shape. There was no fat on his body. Just the way he held himself in this crisis told her of his quiet strength. Tufts of black hair peeked above the white neckline of the T-shirt he wore beneath his shirt. Yes, Cade had grown into a man—a ruggedly handsome one, and it made her heart beat a little harder.
It was all so crazy! Kara was literally shaking from the adrenaline crash and he was holding her steady in the chair, his hand never leaving her arm. Emotions were whipsawing around, colliding with one another until she felt even wearier than before.
All she knew at this moment was that Cade would protect her. Every once in awhile, she would glance furtively toward the opened door, afraid that she’d see her assailant standing there. Cade, too, would routinely sweep his gaze around the room, to the entrance, the windows, as if expecting him to show up again, as well.
That frightened her, but she tried to stop the spiral downward into abject terror. She’d never been hit in her life and this had shattered her in many unexpected ways. Logically, she knew there was a police cruiser outside and that the man would probably see it and not come back to hurt her some more, but her emotions were running her right now.
The wail of the ambulance short-circuited the rest of her thoughts. Cade stood up, his hand tightening on her shoulder as if to keep her steady so she wouldn’t fall out of the chair. Two EMTs from the Clayton Fire Department entered the facility with their medical bags in hand. They knew Cade and greeted him warmly.
Kara’s world shifted when Cade stepped aside to allow the EMTs to examine and take care of her. She saw him walk to the entrance, keeping guard and remaining alert. She was relieved that he wasn’t leaving and she gave her attention to the EMTs who crouched down in front of her. Her last, fleeting thought was that she wished she’d had more one-on-one time with Cade. How badly she wanted to talk to him alone.
Kara had dozens of questions for him. They’d been separated when she was eighteen and she was twenty-six now. That was a long time to be away from someone you’d cared for once. Really, Kara had never thought she’d see Cade again. Something old and hidden deep within her burst open now, sending rays of hope she’d thought had died when Cade had left.
Perhaps she might be able to connect with Cade now. After all, she didn’t see a wedding ring on his finger. He was so good looking, confident, and gentle, Kara couldn’t imagine him without a woman in his life. For a moment, her hopes were dampened. She recalled when she was young dreaming of Cade being the only boy she ever wanted in her life. But her wish hadn’t come true. Then.
*
Cade had to get a grip on himself. He felt as if a bomb had detonated inside him. He kept hearing Kara’s soft, broken words. Just—you…I don’t need anyone else. Please don’t leave me, Cade.
He knew very well that people, when traumatized, tended to be honest about their feelings. In fact, people who hid behind masks often had them ripped off in a moment of shock. Kara’s honesty cut deeply into his heart, reminding him how much he’d dreamed of her at his side for a lifetime when he was a teen.
Kara didn’t wear a mask, nor was she manipulative, like her old man. Thankfully she’d never turned into a female version of crafty, greedy Jud Knight. Instead, she’d taken after her very kind, warm-hearted mother, Pamela.
His throat tightened as he stood nearby, watching the EMTs work quietly around Kara, calming her. Whoever had hit her had meant to break her nose. Trying to suppress his rage, he knew he had plenty to do when they took Kara out of here. Already, a forensics team was on their way here. If they could look at tire treads or boot prints in the parking lot or anything else, they might get a lead on her attacker. But Cade wasn’t holding out much hope of that because the recent thunderstorm had probably washed them away. But inside the building, the team might be able to lift fingerprints or DNA from her attacker.
Cade knew he’d be busy well into the evening. When he got done with his investigation here, working with the photographer and forensics team, he’d drive to the hospital and take Kara’s statement. His weekend going fishing wasn’t going to happen now, but he wasn’t disappointed about it.
His spirits lifted as he thought of being able to see Kara alone. At last…a dream come true. Cade was scared because the lawman in him knew this break-in could either be a one-time thing or worse, it could be someone after Kara. That grim knowledge made him want to find some clue that would lead to the attacker’s capture. Maybe when he talked to Kara, he’d find out more.
*
It was nearly nine p.m. when Cade finished up with the investigation team at the school. The weather was humid from the Gulf air smothering the area after a second line of thunderstorms rolled through in the early evening hours. He talked to the ER physician who had seen Kara; she wanted her to stay overnight for observation. Kara had sustained a mild, level two concussion. Clamping down on his anger toward her unknown attacker, Cade took the exit stairs up to the second floor of the three-story hospital where she was being treated.
Because it was after visiting hours, he checked in at the nurse’s station to get directions to Kara’s room and give them his name and badge number. No one was allowed on the floors after eight p.m. without good reason and it was a good security measure.
Cade was glad to see Kara had a corner room, a private one. The door was closed so he knocked lightly before entering, not wanting to scare the hell out of her. The TV was on with the volume turned low. He walked through the outer area where the bathroom was located and halted at the second entrance. Kara had heard him and was sitting up in bed, wearing a light blue gown, the covers pooled around her waist.
“Hey,” Cade called softly, removing his Stetson, “sorry to be so late getting here. How are you feeling?” Hungrily, he scanned her shadowed features, all the lights off except for the TV.
“Hi,” she said, her voice rough. Clearing it, she said, “That’s okay. Come on in, Cade.” She gestured to a nearby chair on the left side of her bed. Picking up the remote, she turned off the TV. “Go ahead and flip on some lights,” she told him.
Nodding, he pushed one switch on, the lights farthest from her bed. Getting a good look at Kara’s face, he saw her left eye had swollen shut and the surrounding flesh a deep purple-bluish color. She had a chemical ice pack in her hand that she’d been putting on it.
“Do you have a headache?” he asked, pulling up the chair and setting his tablet on the edge of the mattress near him.
“I did. The nurses gave me some ibuprofen earlier. It really helped reduce the swelling around this eye.” She grimaced, giving him a worried look. “I look awful. I saw myself in the mirror when I went to the bathroom earlier.”
Her hair was mussed and in need of a good brushing. His fingers itched to pick up that brush on the bed stand and do just that, but it was out of the question. That would be a highly intimate gesture and Cade knew it. “Well hey,” he teased, giving her a slight smile as he sat down, “give it a week or two and you won’t have that
black eye any more. How’s that nose of yours feeling?”
She sat back on her bed that had been raised, stuffing the pillows around her back and relaxing. “The doctor said that horrible breaking sound I heard in my head was the bone breaking. It sounded much worse than the break itself.” She gently touched her swollen nose. “It’s fractured, but the good news is there won’t be any surgery, thank goodness.”
“Good,” he said, opening up his tablet, getting ready to use it for his report. “Did you get to see your mom earlier?”
“Yes. She was shocked that I was attacked. I told her I was fine, which was a lie. I just didn’t want her to worry. She believed me. I told her I’d call her tomorrow morning after the doctor released me from the hospital.”
“What about your father?”
“He was in Houston for a conference. Mom called him immediately after she talked to me and said I was going to be fine. I guess he didn’t believe her and he’s flying home right now. He’s supposed to arrive soon.” Looking away for a moment, she admitted distastefully, “I don’t really like seeing him these days.”
Leaning over, Cade set his Stetson on the bed stand. He heard the pain in her voice. “When I was around, I remember that you never wanted to go home at night after school.”
She tilted her chin, studying him in the low light. “We don’t get along. We’ve never seen eye-to-eye on anything, and I hated his efforts to control me.” She pushed her damp palms against the light blue bedspread. “Probably sounds awful, but that’s the way it is.”
“Your father isn’t exactly a warm, fuzzy person, Kara.”
“No, and I’m the softy in the family,” she said, her lips lifting a little. “He’s always called me ‘marshmallow,’ and it was never said nicely, believe me.”
He saw the weariness in her shadowed blue gaze as Kara picked nervously at a loose thread she’d found on the bedspread. Cade knew she was shy by nature and rarely made eye contact with anyone—even him. It looked like some things about her hadn’t changed.
“But the kids you teach and have in day care love that side of you,” he said gruffly. She lifted her head, and he saw the tears swimming in her eyes. She swallowed several times, battling them back.
“You say the nicest things, Cade. I wish…,” and she opened her hands, leaning back against the pillows, “I wish we could have known one another better back in school. I knew you would understand how I felt now.”
“Things were different then, Kara. I was from the wrong side of the tracks and your father didn’t want white trash around you.” He saw pain come to her eyes and instantly regretted his harsh comment.
“No one should ever be told they’re white trash. He was wrong to do it then and now.”
“He hates anyone who doesn’t look like him, and who isn’t as rich as he is,” she muttered angrily, shaking her head, giving him an apologetic look. “I’ve never seen anyone as prejudiced as he is.”
Cade wanted to get off that topic. “The only thing we can change, Kara, is the present and ourselves.”
She sighed. “You’re right. When you stood in the entrance of the day care center, I didn’t realize it was you until I looked closer at your eyes and mouth. Getting away from Clayton has done you good. You look great, Cade.”
“Thanks.” How badly he wanted to get personal with her. It was a selfish desire on his part and Cade knew he had other reasons for being here. “Life has a way of shaping or reshaping us.” He held up his tablet. “Are you up for me taking a report on what happened to you?”
“I can’t sleep. My mind and emotions are a jumble,” she admitted. “Go ahead and ask me your questions for my statement.”
“You’ll feel better tomorrow morning,” he reassured her, making a few touches on the screen. There was a warm light glowing in Kara’s eyes, and Cade tried to tell himself it was his crazy-assed imagination at work. Getting down to business, he asked her exactly what had happened at the day care center.
When Kara finished her story, she added, “I have no idea who that man was.”
“Would you have time to look at some photos? Your assailant might have a criminal record. I’m hoping forensics can find a good set of fingerprints from him at the day care center.”
“Sure, I’ll go with you and try to identify him. But is the sheriff’s department open on Saturday?”
“Absolutely. Crime stopping doesn’t take a holiday—we have three shifts, seven days a week. I think we can handle your visit to identify this dude, if possible.”
“Will you be there?”
He heard the quiet strain in her tone and realized she was still terrorized. “It’s my case, so I’ll be there.”
“I’m so glad…” Giving him a distraught look, she added, her voice a hoarse whisper, “I have this horrible feeling that he’s still around. I can feel him nearby, Cade.”
Brow furrowing, Cade heard the fear in her whisper. “You can feel him nearby?”
Shrugging, she said, “My mom is very psychic and I get it from her. My feelings have saved me from a lot of trouble, and once I avoided an accident by listening to them. I know this sounds crazy—”
“No, it doesn’t. When I was in combat over in Afghanistan, there were times I had only a raw, primitive knowing that saved my butt. I’m not going to make fun of your knowing, Kara.” At that moment, the hair on his neck stood up. Cade knew it was the sign of a threat and he snapped his gaze toward the doorway.
Jud Knight, dressed in a designer, blue pinstriped business suit, halted in the entrance, his narrowed gaze settling on his daughter.
“Kara,” he demanded, “Are you all right?”
Cade said nothing, remaining silent, watching the man enter the room like he was a king. Every instinct in him wanted to throw Knight out of the room as he came and sat down on the edge of Kara’s bed, his hands lightly framing his daughter’s swollen face.
“I-I’m fine, Father, really,” Kara pulled away, wanting to avoid any contact with him.
“How did this happen?” he asked, his voice rising. “Tell me everything.”
Kara scooted back against the bed, wrapping her arms across her body. She told him what had happened in as few words as possible.
Cade saw Knight’s face grow black with rage as he continued to study his daughter.
“I don’t know him, Father. I was telling Deputy Patterson earlier about it. I gave him a full description of the man.”
Knight got to his feet, glaring across the bed at Cade. “What are you doing about this, Deputy?”
“Ms. Knight is coming tomorrow to look through mug shots at the sheriff’s office. By that time, my forensics team should have collected all the evidence that they could find resulting from the assault. And maybe some fingerprints left behind, if we get lucky.”
Knight’s fists knotted, standing tensely, looking between his daughter and the deputy. “He could have killed her!”
Cade was used to this man’s drama tactics. “But he didn’t. Your daughter fought back and saved herself.”
“No thanks to you and your law enforcement,” Knight ground out.
Ruffled, but hiding it with his game face, Cade stared at the man whose arrogance dripped off him. His chin was thrust forward, his hands curling into fists. He wasn’t going to verbally spar with Knight because he saw how stricken Kara was beginning to look because of her father’s nasty reaction toward him.
“Father, I’ve had enough anger for one day,” Kara said abruptly. “I’m fine. You can leave now.”
“Your mother said you’d be released from this hospital tomorrow morning?”
Wearily she replied, “Yes.”
“Then you need to come home and stay with us at the ranch after this attack.” He lifted his index finger, shaking it in her general direction. “We built you a small house on the ranch years ago. It’s ready for you to move in and make it your home. You’ll be safe there, Kara. No one will beat you up like this goon did at the day care center. It’s
time you returned to us and learned how to run the ranch. Someday, you’ll be a foreman. You need to quit this stupid Delos charity job and come home. That’s all there is to it.”
Cade saw Kara’s eyes widen, and even her swollen one opened wider for a moment.
“I’ve heard this from you before, Father. I’m not quitting my Delos job and I’m not moving back to the ranch. I made that clear a long time ago. Nothing has changed.”
Cade saw Knight’s mouth tighten. He silently applauded her for taking charge and not allowing the bastard to run her over as he had when she was still under age.
“Now listen here, young lady—”
“Mr. Knight,” Cade said in a firm, authoritative voice, slowly unwinding from the chair, “your daughter has been through a lot today and she’s traumatized. I’d like to suggest we leave her to rest for now. I’m sure you can hold this type of conversation for a later date when she’s gotten some rest and feels better.”
Knight glared at him, his jaw jutting out, as he considered the suggestion.
“Go home, Father. When I’m released tomorrow I’m going back to my house to clean up. Then, Deputy Patterson is going to drive me to the Kenedy County Sheriff’s Department to look at mug shots to see if I can identify the guy who did this to me. I won’t be going out to the ranch for any reason.”
Her jaw was set and Cade smiled inwardly. Kara might look soft, but she had her father’s stubborn chin and a backbone of steel when she chose to use it. Father and daughter stared at one another like two pit bulls gauging each other’s strength. There was no real love between these two. Cade felt sad for Kara because right now, she needed to feel loved and safe. Jud Knight was clearly incapable of either.
“Okay,” Knight muttered, displeased. “But if you need anything you let me know, understand?”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Kara said. “Thanks for dropping by.”
Cade wondered how often she’d said those same words to Knight. There wasn’t a hint of parental love in the man’s face for his daughter. That raked Cade’s emotions the wrong way. If anything, Kara needed to be comforted right now and God help him, he wanted to be the man to do just that.