“My pleasure. Now let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
An hour later, we walked down the street in the direction of the office. One thing Mossy Creek had going in its favor was the café and the best cup of coffee I’d ever had. With a to-go cup in hand, I found myself wondering if Miss Peggy and Janny would rent out a booth I could use as my office. That way I’d have coffee on demand. At the thought of trying to work in the middle of Gossip Central, I chuckled softly.
“What?” Annie asked as we stopped in front of the office door.
“I was wondering if I could rent space at the café just to be close to their coffee,” I admitted, grinning as she smiled in understanding.
“Why do you think I start every work day there?” She dug in her pocket for her keys. “We’ll get you your own keys by lunch.” She slid the key in the lock and, a moment later, opened the door.
I watched as Annie stepped inside, once again waiting as she disarmed the alarm. It gave one last beep and then went silent. I reached for the door and stopped, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Internal alarms sounded. I took a quick glance inside, locating Annie as she crossed to the inner door. Good. She was out of the line of fire, hopefully.
Carefully, doing my best to appear casual about it, I turned. As I did, I stepped slightly to my right, blocking the door. If Annie decided to see what delayed me, I didn’t want anyone noticing. Satisfied she was safe, I made no attempt to hide the fact I knew something was wrong. Nor did I try to be subtle about scanning up and then down the street. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. But what?
More important, from where?
I bit back a curse as the bell on the office door jingled as someone opened it. “Meg?” Annie asked.
“Get inside and call your brother or Lucas.” I didn’t look back at her. Instead, I shifted positions again, doing my best to stay between her and any danger that might manifest at any moment.
“What is it?”
Grinding my teeth in frustration, I quickly looked over my shoulder. Annie stood in the doorway. Her right hand held the door open. As I stepped backwards in her direction, the sound of several people nearing reached me. Time was running out. If anything was going to happen, it would be soon and I did not want to risk Annie or the baby.
Damn it, why hadn’t she listened to me?
“Get inside and lock the damned door.” To punctuate my order, I turned and grabbed her by the arm. Before she could protest, I pushed her inside the office. “Do it.”
Without waiting to see if she complied, I stepped away from the door. As I did, four people appeared from around the far corner of the building. My eyes narrowed as I squinted into the sun. Without conscious thought, I pulled on my sunglasses. Then I waited.
The four didn’t look like anything to be afraid of. An older couple in their seventies if I had to guess. He wore a dark suit and white, open collared shirt. His white hair had thinned to almost nothing across the top of his head. Tall, thin, he looked as if a strong wind might blow him away. The woman, on the other hand, had the look of someone used to getting her way. At one time, she had been of medium height, but age had shrunk her. Her iron gray hair had been pulled back into a no-nonsense bun. Her black dress and black serviceable shoes reminded me of what the stereotypical school marm or ultra-religious of the late 1800s wore.
The other two were younger, Mom’s age, give or take a few years. The man bore a striking resemblance to the older woman. They shared the same square jawline and dark brown eyes. The man was dressed much as the older man was while the younger woman wore a more modern, but not by much, version of the older woman’s attire.
They continued down the sidewalk in my direction, walking slowly but with purpose. As they neared, the older woman tilted her head in a way that had memories of Mom doing the same thing flooding over me. In that moment, I knew who at least two of the four were. My grandparents.
My lips peeled, baring my teeth even as my heart beat a little faster. This wasn’t exactly the sort of family reunion had I wanted. Truth be told, I hadn’t wanted one. I’d learned enough in my short time in Mossy Creek to convince me of that. Yet now, for whatever reason, they’d decided to push the issue.
Assuming they knew who I was.
“So, the Jezebel returns in the form of her daughter.” The older woman stopped several feet away and spat on the sidewalk.
I refused to rise to her bait. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she’d scored the first point. Whatever her game, she would not win. She could not win, not after all she and the rest of the family did to Mom.
“You seem to have the advantage over me, ma’am.” I forced myself to relax and smiled slightly. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t try to play us for the fool, woman,” the older man – my grandfather, I assumed – rasped. “We know who you are!”
“I’m sure everyone in Mossy Creek knows who I am, at least if they’ve been to Miss Peggy’s.” Another smile. From behind my dark glasses, I watched the four, shifting position slightly to keep them all in view. “Meg Sheridan.” I didn’t extend my hand as I would in most circumstances. They hadn’t earned that level of friendly greeting.
“At least that whoring harlot of a mother of yours had the decency to change her name,” the old woman sneered.
“Ma’am, considering I don’t know who you are, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop speaking of my mother that way.” I fought the urge tell her what I thought of her and her accusations. “Otherwise, you’ll leave me with no option but to call the sheriff and report someone I’m afraid is mentally ill is wandering his streets.”
She inhaled, her nostrils flaring. Her color rose and I wondered for a moment if she might stroke out. Then, moving quicker than I’d expected, she closed the distance between us. Her left hand flashed out, catching me with an open-handed slap that sent my glasses flying. Pain flared and so did anger.
“I wouldn’t,” I snarled and caught her by the wrist as she prepared to slap me a second time.
“Just like your mother!” The old man reached out and grabbed his wife, pulling her back. “You shame us just as she did.”
“I’m not the one who struck a stranger.” I waited, wondering if he’d say anything else. When he didn’t, I shook my head. “Say what you came for and then get out of here before I decide to press charges.”
“You’re just as disrespectful of your elders and betters than she was,” the younger man rasped as he moved to stand between his parents and me.
“And you and your parents are still as big of hypocrites as ever,” Annie said from behind me.
Damn it. Why hadn’t she stayed inside?
“How dare you!”
The younger man, my uncle I assumed, took a step in Annie’s direction. Instantly, I shifted positions, sliding to my right. I wouldn’t let him get anywhere close to Annie. Not with my face still smarting from the old woman’s slap. Unfortunately, as I moved, I took my eyes off the second woman.
“Meg, look out!”
I pivoted. Instinct had me lifting my left arm to block the incoming blow. Pain lanced up my arm as her purse connected. I’d often accused Mom of carrying everything she could in her purse, but this was worse. It felt like the proverbial kitchen sink just connected with the bones. My stomach roiled, and I swallowed against the nausea that tried to claw its way up my throat.
The purse fell back, swinging toward the woman. Fury unlike anything I’d felt in a very long time filled me. The pain only increased my anger. I looked quickly in Annie’s direction, making sure she was safe. Then I turned to the others. As I did, the younger man reached inside his jacket.
“No!”
Whether he was reaching for a weapon or a cigarette, I didn’t know, and I wasn’t going to wait to find out. I reached out mentally, gathering energy around me. The air felt alive, electric. It danced across my skin. The still morning turned breezy and clouds began
to gather. Three of the four of family gasped and took a step back. The old man pulled a cross on a chain from under his shirt and began praying. Not that it would help him or any of the others.
My eyes never left the old woman. I had no doubt she called the shots where the others were concerned. Instead of backing away with the others, she actually took a step forward. As she did, I felt the warning tingling in my fingers as the energy continued to build around me.
“Don’t,” I warned. I didn’t want to use my talent, not here in the middle of town, but I would if she forced my hand.
“Like your mother, you’re an abomination unto the Lord!” she screeched as the wind picked up some more. “He will wipe you and your kind from the face of the Earth.”
I shook my head. For a moment, I almost pitied her. Then I remembered how she and the others had treated my mother and any pity I felt disappeared.
“Our gifts come from God, you fool.”
“And you!” She turned her attention to Annie. “You are worse. You welcome them into your home and office. You help pollute God’s children with your actions.”
Anger flared as the old woman pointed an accusing finger at Annie. I shoved my right hand out in front of me, fingers opening as if I’d thrown a baseball. A slight smile touched my lips as a bolt of lightning struck the sidewalk mere inches from the tips of the old woman’s feet.
“I suggest you leave – now!” To accent my suggestion, I sent a second ball of lightning in their direction, making sure it hit the concrete close enough to back them up even further.
“And if you come near Meg or this office again, I will make sure you are brought up on charges,” Annie said as she tried to step around me.
My left arm shot out, holding her back. I cursed softly as a new wave of pain radiated up the arm. Despite it, I refused to let Annie step into potential danger.
“I said go!” With a thought, I sent the wind in their direction, helping them along their way. “You get your ass inside and stay there,” I growled to Annie as I watched to make sure they didn’t try to retrace their steps.
“Not without you,” she countered as she tried to drag me back toward the door.
Any retort I might have made was drowned out by the sounds of several cars speeding down the street in our direction. God, what now?
I turned in the direction of the sound, wondering what new danger had presented itself. Relief filled me to see two SUVs braking at the curb. Their doors bore the insignia for the Sheriff’s Department. Red lights flashed from the front grills. A moment later, Lucas appeared from the front SUV and Drew piled out of the second.
“Meg? Annie?” Lucas looked at us in concern as he hurried in our direction.
“Drew, get your sister inside,” I ordered. Then, seeing how her hand flashed to her stomach, I reached for her. Damn it, if she’d gone into labor. “Annie?”
“I’m all right.”
“The hell you are.” I’d seen the quick flash of pain in her eyes before it was gone. “Drew, hospital.”
He didn’t hesitate. Nor did he pay any attention when Annie ordered him to leave her alone. He simply lifted her in his arms and carried her to his SUV. I watched as he helped her into the front passenger seat. A moment later, siren blaring, he sped away. As he did, I turned back to Lucas. He needed to know what happened. To my surprise, instead of asking my anything, he reached out and gently tilted my head to the side.
“Who did this?” he asked, his voice hard.
“Her grandmother,” Janny answered from behind me.
I tried to jerk my head out of Lucas’ grip, but he stopped me. “What happened?” From the way he looked past me, I knew he wasn’t talking to me.
“I didn’t see all of it. Annie called me probably about the same time she did you and I hustled outside. Her grandparents, along with Mathew and Caroline, stopped them before they could get inside the office. You know what her grandmother’s like. Eileen tried bullying Meg, insulting Faith in the process. When Meg didn’t immediately promise to leave town, the old bitch hit her. Caroline hit her with the suitcase she calls a purse after that. Looked like she landed a solid blow.”
Lucas simply stared down at me and I nodded slightly. Until I did, I hadn’t realized I cradled my left arm in my right.
“And these?” He toed first one blackened spot on the sidewalk and then another.
“Meg was protecting Annie.”
“All right.” He looked up the street and frowned before glancing back down at me. “Are you pressing charges?”
“I don’t know.” And I wouldn’t until I found out how Annie was. Besides, I didn’t want to discuss it with what looked like half the town gathering around. Seeing Beth, I motioned her over. “Janny can explain what happened. Drew’s taken Annie to the hospital and I’m on my way to check on her. Claire Brumfield is due shortly. See if you can catch her and reschedule for this afternoon. Even if Annie can’t be back, I will be. Text me her schedule for the day.”
“All right.” Worry clouded her expression. “Will you let me know how she is?”
“I will.” I closed my eyes and tried to calm down some. “Lucas, if you’ll give me a ride, I’ll give you my statement.” Angry and hurting as I was, I didn’t dare get behind the wheel of the Land Rover.
God help my grandparents and the others if anything happened to Annie or her baby.
Chapter 14
“I’m all right, damn it.”
I’d said some variation of that at least a hundred times over the last hour and a half. Not that it made any difference. No one listened to me, least of all Amy. It was just my luck that she’d been at her doctor’s office across the street from the hospital when Beth called to tell her what happened. By the time I’d been taken back to a treatment room, she’d arrived. I still didn’t know what she told the nurses on duty, but she’d been escorted back and hadn’t left my side since.
“You’re as bad as Lexie,” she chuckled from where she leaned against the wall next to the door. “She hates hospitals.”
Amy didn’t know the half of it. I’d seen more than my fair share of hospitals, clinics, triage areas and more over the last ten years. Besides, I wasn’t hurt. Not really. My sun glasses had cut my face just under my right eye when Mom’s incubator– no way could I call her my mother’s mother or my grandmother, not after today – slapped me. A nurse had cleaned the cut and bandaged it. As for my arm, it was bruised and sore, but the x-rays showed nothing broken. So why wouldn’t they let me go?
Besides, I wanted to make sure Annie was all right. Especially since Amy hadn’t told me anything when I’d asked.
Before I could protest yet again that I was all right – or decide to just walk out – a knock sounded at the door. It swung open a moment later. Relief filled me to see Sam wheeling Annie inside. I didn’t know whether to laugh or duck and cover when I realized she looked as frustrated as I felt, especially when she glared at me across the small room.
Ignoring Amy’s warning to be careful, I slid off the examining table. Three steps and I dropped to one knee in front of the wheelchair. As I did, Sam rested a hand on his wife’s shoulder. She patted his hand and then reached out to tilt my face so she could see where my face had been bandaged.
“Are you all right?” we asked at the same time and then laughed. “You first,” I said.
“I’m all right and the baby’s all right and everyone can quit worrying about us.”
I heard the frustration in her voice and understood. Even so, relief filled me to know they were fine. That relief, however, quickly turned to frustration of my own as I remembered why we both happened to be in the hospital ER.
“Annie, you have to promise that the next time I tell you to do something, you’ll do it.” I pinned her with a firm glance, hoping she understood just how serious I was.
“Me?” She looked at me in disbelief. “You’re the one who stood there, ready to go toe-to-toe with those bastards.”
“You’re damn
ed straight I was.” I stood and looked down at her. “Annie, I was trying to protect you. I didn’t know who they were until the old woman started talking. All I knew until then was they were trouble.”
“Meg.”
“No, Annie, not now.” I shook my head. “I understand you thought you were helping, but I had things under control. I needed to know you and the baby were safe. I needed you to lock yourself inside the office and I needed you to call for help. You did the last but then you came back outside and put not only you but the baby in danger.”
“I didn’t!”
“Annie, you did.” Amy spoke softly and we all turned to look at her. “I’m not saying you were wrong. Or maybe I am. Maybe I’m saying you’re both wrong. But you did put yourself and the baby in danger.” Then she turned to me. “You, Meg, were just as foolish. By your own admission, you didn’t know who they were. You should have followed Annie inside the office and locked the door behind both of you until Lucas and Drew got there.”
I opened my mouth to protest and then closed it. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, she was right. Not that I’d do any differently were the circumstances to repeat. Then I swallowed hard, wondering if she’d told her grandmother what happened. I had a feeling Miss Serena would have more to say than I wanted to hear, exactly as Mom would if she were still alive.
“Leave off, Amy.” Drew stepped into the now very crowded room and moved to stand next to me. Without warning, his hands closed around my waist and he lifted me up until I once again sat on the examining table. “Stay.” He pinned me with a look that all but dared me to disobey before turning to face the others. “Sam and I have already told my sister just how foolish she was, and I have no doubt Lucas had a few choice words for Meg on their drive in.”
Annie and I both nodded. I had a feeling my expression was as mutinous as hers.
“Now, Janny and a half-dozen others gave us IDs on the four. I’ve even had three videos of the confrontation emailed to me,” Lucas took up. “I don’t need you to sign a complaint against them, Meg, but it would make it easier to make a case against them.”
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