The Widows of Wichita County

by Jodi Thomas

  Meredith stared at him as she turned the knob. "I'll worry about Anna first and your evidence second." She stepped into the room before he had time to say more.

  He watched as she knelt beside Anna and opened her arms. Without a word, Anna leaned toward Meredith and hugged her tightly.

  For a long while he heard Anna's crying and Meredith's soft, comforting words as he went about the careful job collecting details. There was no sign of forced entry, but Granger knew few ranchers bothered to lock their doors.

  His pager sounded, blinking the hospital number.

  "Adam," Granger said, when he finally got the deputy.

  "Sheriff," Adam's voice sounded relieved. "I was afraid you had trouble with the snow and ice. I thought you'd be here by now."

  Granger hadn't bothered to look out. When he glanced through the kitchen window, he was surprised to see huge snowflakes covering the ground. "We're still here. Mrs. Montano hasn't agreed to come in yet. How are Zack and Carlo?"

  "Carlo is being prepped for surgery. The bullet's lodged just behind his knee. Doctor wants him to spend a night, maybe two. That's if everything goes all right with the removal.".

  "Zack's too full of painkillers to say much. He took twenty stitches across his skull and another five over an eyebrow. Somebody hit him with something besides a fist to do that kind of damage. He's also got a couple of cracked ribs."

  "When can we move him to a jail cell?" Granger was more worried about someone getting to Larson than Larson running away. The roughnecks, the ranch hands, someone might decide to make him pay back once word got out that Anna had been raped.

  "Doctor says he can go tomorrow morning if nothing's still bleeding." Adam hesitated. "I might be able to take him out to the county jail after the sun's up, but with this snow, it's not going to be an easy drive. And you know how they hate checking people in on Sunday."

  Granger knew what Adam was thinking. But taking his chances against the storm seemed easier than trying to watch all the doors and windows in a hospital. "We'll take him up to the cell on the third floor above the office until he sees the judge Monday morning. We'll make sure he has plenty of blankets and take shifts staying with him. He'll be all right up there for one night."

  "Sounds like a plan," Adam voiced one of his favorite responses.

  "I'll check in with you as soon as we're on our way back to town." Granger hung up the phone as Meredith walked into the great room. She stepped over and around things careful not to disturb anything. "How is she?"

  "Bruised and cut a few places, but all right." Meredith looked tired. "She won't talk much, only to say she's not leaving this house. She's not pressing charges and says she doesn't want to see anyone, including you. She's frightened, truly and completely frightened. And it is more than just for her own life. I'm no cop, but I'd say she's protecting someone with her silence. Or maybe saving someone."

  "What?" Granger was angry at himself for being surprised. How many rape cases had he worked over the years he was in Houston? Thirty? Fifty? And how many went to trial, one? But this one would have been easy. A woman in her own house, minding her own business. A brother who saw the act. No unknown assailant, no dark alley. This tine he had more evidence than he'd be able to sort through in a month. Only the lady wasn't talking. The state could press the charges against Zack, but without Anna's testimony they wouldn't have a chance of getting a conviction.

  The phone startled him from his thoughts.

  "Yes," he took the call.

  "Sheriff?" Adam's voice came across the line.

  "What?"

  "I almost forgot to tell you, there was no powder residue on the hands. I checked between the thumb and finger. Learned two facts-Zack didn't shoot Carlo, and Carlo didn't shoot himself."

  This time Granger showed no sign of being surprised.

  "Maybe the gun fell and fired accidentally?" Adam guessed. "Or maybe Zack washed his hands after he fired."

  "Maybe," Granger mumbled as he hung up the phone.

  "Where is Anna?" He looked at Meredith. Carlo's sister was the third piece to this puzzle. The only other one in the room who could have fired the gun.

  "Showering," Meredith answered.

  Granger fought to keep all emotion from his face. "She just destroyed evidence."

  "She figured that," Meredith answered. "There's no need fur you to hang around. I'll stay with her."

  "We'll go after Zack on trespassing charges and attempted murder." Granger sounded determined. "Anna may he afraid to testify, but her brother won't be."

  The new man at the rig site was called "the worm" because he got all the grub jobs. He would be called that until another new man was hired, or until he lost a finger.

  December 18

  9:00 a. m.

  Howard House

  "What do you mean, the ambulance is not available?" Crystal fought down panic so thick in her throat it threatened to choke her. "The ambulance is always available." With Shelby's life-threatening condition, it was the only safe way of transporting him. And she needed him transported immediately.

  "Mrs. Howard?" The nurse yelled from the second-floor landing. "We need you as soon as possible."

  "Look." Crystal nodded to the nurse then turned her attention back to the phone. "As soon as it's available, send it here. My husband's having trouble breathing. We need to get him into X ray as soon as possible."

  Crystal didn't bother saying goodbye. She dropped the phone and ran upstairs. "What is it? Is he worse?"

  "No worse. No better," the nurse answered honestly. "He won't calm down. He keeps asking for you."

  Crystal charged through the door and into the makeshift hospital room. The scene before her would have frightened her three months ago, but now it seemed normal.

  Machines surrounded a man who was more mummy than person. What skin showed was raw and newborn, or scarred and withered. Patches of fine hair dotted his head. His left ear would have to be completely reconstructed. He'd lost most of the use of his left hand, and no one knew if he would ever walk again once he healed enough to try. If he lived long enough. If infection or hypothermia or pneumemia or a hundred other things didn't kill him first.

  "I'm here," she repeated as she had for months. "You're going to be all right, Shelby. I've called an ambulance. In a few hours, your breathing will be easier."

  He mumbled something between short breaths, and she leaned closer.

  "Don't leave me," he whispered. "Please, don't leave me."

  Crystal took his right hand. "I'm not going to leave you I promise."

  "You got every right." His voice was so rough no one else could have understood his words. "No one would blame you."

  "We'll get through this, darling. I swear." She held his hand and waited. The nurses tried to make him comfortable. Finally he dozed off.

  Crystal didn't let go of his hand. She thought about their five years together. The good times and the bad. In truth the past months fell more in the good times category thann the bad, if all she weighed was their relationship. Since the accident, she'd been more of a partner. More of a wife.

  Laying her forehead on the edge of Shelby's bed, she tried to forget all the things Trent had said to her yesterday.

  Shelby's son had stopped by to tell her he would not be coming for Christmas. He and his sister had agreed the children didn't need to see their grandfather in such a condition.Why have them get to know the old man now, Trent said when Dad may not make it through the winter.

  The fact that Shelby might like to see the children was not a consideration.

  Trent talked on of other plans they had made as he calmly walked over and closed Shelby's door when the nurse stepped out.

  "Since we have a few minutes alone," he spoke as if Shelby wasn't in the room. "I've something to offer you. Cull it an early Christmas present."

  He pulled out a thick envelope and spread the document over Shelby's tray.

  Crystal guessed Shelby was awake, but as always when Trent
came to visit, he chose not to speak.

  "This is all fair. Elliot Morris made sure of that, though he didn't want to prepare the document at all. Threatened not to, until I told him I'd go to Dallas and have it done. When, he came around. I knew you'd know it was on the square if old Morris did the paperwork."

  Trent straightened, proud of himself. "My sister and I are willing to offer you the value of one third of Howard Drilling. We can pay you a lump sum up front, then installments over the next thirty years. You have to agree never to contact this family again once your divorce is final or make any further claim on Howard Drilling."

  "But Shelby?"

  "Don't worry about him. He'll continue to have round-the-clock care." Anger fired Trent's face. "I'm almost bankrupting the company with this offer, but it will be worth it to get my father out from under your control. You may say you're talking things over with him, but it's you making all the decisions. I understand you've even taken to visiting the sites to make sure I'm following through at my end."

  "I visit the sites because there are things that need checking. I'm not interested in your offer." Crystal fought to remain calm. Trent no longer frightened her.

  "Think about it, Crystal." He always made her name hound cheap, on the rare occasion he used it. "My father could die any day, and you'll get nothing. Not his house, or any money or any part of the company. His will leaves erything to his children and, if you fight us, you'll bankrupt us all. This way you walk away with a fortune, and we get to keep Howard Drilling in the family where it belongs."

  Trent paused, letting the last word sink in. "Even if he lives another year, you'll never have your sugar daddy back. He could never be a husband to you, not the kind a woman like you needs. It's too late for him to change his will now. There's not a court in Texas that wouldn't throw out in attempt with all the drugs he's taking. But if you play along with us, you'll be set for life. All you have to do is sign."

  Crystal cried against Shelby's sheet as she rememberd Trent's words. He was right about so much. Eventually Shelby would die, maybe in a week, maybe in a year, and then she'd have nothing.

  Trent reminded her that if she'd been the one hurt, Shell wouldn't have stayed with her. She knew Trent was right Shelby wasn't the type of man to sit beside a hospital bed.

  Then why hadn't she signed the paper? Why hadn't she taken the money and packed her bags? No one would blame her. She'd already stayed longer than most of the them thought she would. She could have taken the money and gone someplace where no one knew her. She could start a new life without hospital runs and medicine checks, and business problems.

  "Mrs. Howard?" The nurse drew her attention. "The ambulance is here. He's parking in the garage so we won't have to take Mr. Howard out in the cold."

  Crystal pushed aside the last of her tears. "Good. I'll get my coat. I'll be riding in the ambulance with my husband."

  A wildcatter is a man in the oil business willing to risk it all. The word probably came from the term "wildcat bank" which originally referred to a bank in Michigan that went bankrupt in the 1830s. On the banknotes was a picture of a panther.

  December 18

  11: 15 a.m.

  County Hospital

  Crystal watched the traffic in the hospital hallways as Shelby waited for X rays. She had spent so much time in the place, no one noticed her anymore. The staff was too busy to worry about her, anyway. A woman was in labor in one of the front rooms, some man was in surgery in the wing that had been set up for operating rooms, and a prisoner must be three doors down from where Shelby slept.

  She helped herself to a cup of coffee at the nurses' station and offered one to the deputy on guard. Everyone in town knew old Adam. There were even some who thought he should have run for the sheriffs job a few years ago. He liked to "talk cop." No one could ever get a clue out of Sheriff Farrington, but Deputy Adam loved to impress anyone who would listen with his inside knowledge.

  "What's up?" Crystal handed him the coffee.

  "Nothing much." Adam grinned his thanks. "Just a shooting this morning and a rape. When all the evidence is in, it may go down as breaking and entering, assault and even attempted murder."

  Crystal leaned against the hallway wall. She heard the nurses say they were going after a bullet in some guy's leg so Adam must be telling the truth and not just making up something to pass the time. "Slow morning, huh?"

  Adam laughed. "You might say that. I've seen busier ones."

  Crystal didn't want to get him started on some old story that he'd had years to color. If she had to waste time talkiug to him, she might as well find out what was happening so she could tell Shelby.

  She nodded toward the operating room. "Anyone I know in there with a bullet in him?"

  "Can't say," Adam answered. "Sheriff said to keep this one under wraps. My job is to guard the suspect, not the victim." He pointed with his head toward the door behind him. "Got the rapist in there."

  "Come on, Deputy Adam, I know everyone in town. Don't you think the word will be out in a matter of hours. You might as well be the one to tell me."

  "I'm under orders. No one gets in. No one talks to the prisoner on my watch." He twisted as if being tortured front inside. "But I can tell you, it'll have ranchers and rough necks all upset. Might even have an effect on Howard Drilling."

  Crystal tried a few more times, but Adam would not say more. Normally, she wouldn't care what the locals were doing to one another, but he had said it might affect Howard Drilling. And if it affected Howard Drilling it would affect Shelby.

  She strolled down the hall to the X-ray room and sat in the plastic chair. After a few restless minutes, she walked back past the deputy and went to the rest room. When she returned, Crystal slipped into the door between Deputy Adam and the X-ray room.

  The room was empty. Crystal crossed to the connecting door that opened into the hospital's whirlpool bath. On the opposite side of the room was a side door that connected to the room Adam so diligently guarded.

  Crystal told herself she would just open the door slightly and have a look at the bad guy. Because of her days in bars and running with the wild crowd, she figured she probably knew most of the men who even thought about committing a crime in this town. Or, if he worked for Howard Drilling, she might recognize him. Either way, she would be better prepared when bad news came down.

  But when she opened the door, she couldn't see much. A tall, lean man lay atop the sheets. He had on worn jeans and no shirt or shoes. There was a long white patch across his Ieft ribs and another over one eye, but they could not begin to cover up all the bruises on him. The bandage wrapped around his head was stained with blood in several spots and looked like it would fall off if he moved.

  Crystal stepped closer. She had a hard time believing this was the criminal. He looked like someone had tried to kill him. But he must be the bad guy. This was the room Adam was guarding.

  She tried to figure out what the man would look like without the swellings, bandages and bruises. He did not appear familiar, but she definitely thought he would fit in the "finelooking" category once he healed.

  As she leaned closer to brush his brown hair off his face, he opened one eye.

  Crystal jumped back, expecting a monster to break out of the bandages and lunge at her. Then, she noticed one of his wrists was handcuffed to the rail of the bed. He wasn't going anywhere.

  He didn't move. "Who are you?" Hatred and anger blended with the pain in his voice.

  "Crystal Howard," she answered like a fool. She shouldn't have told him her name. He might be a rapist and an attempted killer now, but he'd probably escape from Deputy Adam and come after her just because she told him her name.

  "What do you want?"

  "Nothing." She backed away, unable to think of a lie as to why she was in his room. "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

  "Wait."

  Crystal was already at the door. What was he going to do, ask her to help him escape? "I have to get back to my husband
. I cannot be talking to you."

  "You know Anna?"

  Crystal paused. What a strange question for him to ask.

  "Anna who?" She wasn't going to give him another name so he could go on a crime spree when he escaped.

  "Anna Montano. She said you were her friend."

  "Yes." Crystal took one step back into the room. Afraid of what he might say about Anna. Afraid not to listen. "If you hurt her, I swear I'll…"

  "Is she all right?" He snapped in frustration.

  His words shattered her planned threat. He was in agony far deeper than any of the cuts and bruises could make. He was not thinking of himself. For some reason he was thinking of Anna.

  "I don't know." Crystal tried to think of the last time shr had talked to Anna. Two days? Three?

  The man turned his face away from her. Crystal glanced at the chart beside his bed. The name at the top read, Larson, Zack. She moved to the exit and slipped away. She hurried back to her chair in the hallway.

  Deputy Adam did not look as if he had even noticed she had been gone. He was busy trying to talk the nurse out of another cup of coffee.

  Crystal stood and walked as far down the hall as she could from the deputy. Making sure one of the hospital staff wasn't watching, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed Anna.

  No answer.

  Next, she tried Meredith. Anna rarely left her ranch and if she did, she might be with Meredith or Helena.

  No answer. Crystal began to panic. She tried to think of reasons they wouldn't answer. Maybe they were shopping?

  "Mrs. Howard?"

  Crystal jumped, dropping her cell phone.

  "I'm sorry to have startled you." The nurse knelt to help pick up the pieces. "I just wanted you to know that the X rays are complete and we've given Mr. Howard a breathing treatment. He's much better and shouldn't have any more trouble for a few days."

  Crystal didn't say a word as she followed the nurse to Shelby. She knew cell phones were not allowed, but for some reason the nurse had not said a word.

  "How are you, darling?" She tried to sound cheery, but the bandaged prisoner's question haunted her.