Men of Mercy: The Complete Story

by Cross, Lindsay

  “Seems she knows things she shouldn't. That she couldn't possibly know. Things she claimed to see with her own eyes. Girl says you're planning to betray me.”

  Miss Kay's voice rang loud and clear. Jimbo seethed with hatred and Sparrow squared her shoulders. She wasn't scared of him, not anymore. “Why don't you tell her what you had planned, Jimbo? Tell her about the land deed.” It was a gamble, but it paid off when Jimbo’s skin went pale. Still, he was a stupid man and he didn’t know when to quit. “You mean you want me to tell her how I caught you trying to steal it?”

  “Me? I wasn't the one hiding a prisoner in the old shack.”

  Jimbo smirked and leaned back against the door frame. Alarm bells went off in Sparrow’s mind. He appeared too confident.

  “Ma already knows about what you did, girl. About how you helped your prisoner escape. I told her I tried to stop you, but that fella knocked me out and I got the scar to prove it.” Jimbo pulled a clump of dirty red hair back from his temple, revealing a jagged red wound.

  Sweat beaded across her hairline and she scrambled for a better explanation. “Did you tell her about stringing Hoyt Crowe up in that shed?”

  Gasps filled the clearing, but Sparrow didn't dare take her gaze from Miss Kay’s boy.

  “Everyone knows the Crowe brothers died a long time ago. If you're going to lie, you at least need to speak sense.”

  “I saw you with my own eyes.” Sparrow felt control slipping from her grasp.

  “I would never betray my ma. But I will kill for her.” That familiar hard glint lit Jimbo’s mud brown eyes. Sparrow felt the hard press of steel dig into her back and grief settled heavy on her shoulders.

  Miss Kay’s whispered words practically scalded her ear. “I told you, you shoulda stayed away.”

  At that moment Geraldine, drunker than Cotter Brown, stumbled out the front door. It took her a minute to realize what was going on. Once she did, she slapped her hand over her chest and nearly fell over sideways. “Oh Lord! Miss Kay, I swear to you I was gonna tell you. I tried to stop him. I swear to God. Please don't kill me.”

  Jimbo turned on her in a flash and knocked her to the ground. “Shut up you filthy whore!”

  Geraldine was either too drunk, too stupid, or a shade too much of both. She wailed, crawling on her hands and knees off the porch, and reached out to grab the bottom of Kay’s long dress. “I swear I tried to stop him, but he threatened to kill me. I never wanted to betray you.”

  Sparrow felt a wave of darkness behind her as Kay pulled the gun from her spine. Sparrow side-stepped out of the line of fire.

  “Dammit Ma, you gonna believe that filthy whore? She's crazy.”

  Geraldine's practiced tears stopped in an instant and she turned on her lover. “You didn't say that when I was riding you like a lazy horse a minute ago.”

  “Shut up.” Kay booted Geraldine, and the rail thin girl went rolling. Jimbo pushed away from the door frame, his hand sliding up to his waist band. Sparrow tensed and reached behind her back to ease the knife from her pants. She held it by the very tip, carrying it low and out of sight.

  Kay aimed the pistol at her son. And for the first time in her life, Sparrow saw the woman's hand shake. “You betrayed your own kin?”

  Any semblance of love disappeared from Jimbo's face and he sneered, “This place needs a man to run it. You don't let me run the heroin, and you're costing us a fortune.”

  Kay's eyes bulged and she locked out her elbow, lowering her finger from the side of the gun to hug the trigger. “This is all about drugs and money. You're too stupid to run this place.”

  Sparrow took a small step closer to Kay, trying not to draw Jimbo's attention and failing miserably. “This is all her fault. Ever since you adopted her, you favored her over your own sons.”

  “That's a lie.” Sparrow gasped. She’d fought tooth and nail for every ounce of respect she’d earned from Miss Kay.

  “I always knew you’d turn out to be a coward like your daddy. He was always looking out for himself, rather be fucking some whore than taking care of business,” Kay said. “Only way you're getting control of this mountain is over my dead body.”

  Sparrow flinched as Kay pulled the trigger. The entire courtyard echoed with the sound of a hollow click. Kay pulled the trigger again and again and still nothing happened.

  “Now see that's where you're wrong, Ma. I've been planning this for a long time. You can pull that trigger all you want, but that gun ain’t gonna fire.”

  Jimbo lifted his own pistol, aiming at his mother. Sparrow froze, her heart stopping.

  “If you’d just listen to me, I’d let you live. But there ain't room but for one leader. It's time for you to step aside.”

  Jimbo's finger dropped to the trigger in slow motion. Sparrow lifted her knife and let it fly, diving sideways at the same time. An explosion boomed through the air. Sparrow heard a thud and felt her body jerk backwards and then fall to the ground. Kay stood, her face pale with shock. Stunned, Sparrow followed her gaze to see Jimbo drop to his knees, Sparrow’s knife embedded in his throat.

  “Sparrow, hold on. I'll send Bob for the doctor.” Kay dropped to her knees beside Sparrow and yelled out for Bob Crowe. She ripped a kerchief out of her dress pocket and shoved it against Sparrow’s shoulder. Pain erupted down her arm, making her gasp. But it was nothing next to the satisfaction of seeing her knife protrude from Jimbo’s neck. Her arms and legs felt like they were going numb and black edged around her vision. Sparrow embraced it, silently praying she’d pass out, her mind unable to process the horror.

  “Where's that boy? Bob!” Kay shouted and pushed against Sparrow’s shoulder. She tried to listen for his footsteps, but all she could hear was the blood pounding in her ears.

  Then she heard the ominous click of a gun being cocked and saw the nozzle of a pistol press against Kay's temple. Sparrow met Miss Kay’s eyes and saw the banked fury burning there.

  “You're right, mother. Jimbo was too stupid to run this mountain. I tried to bide my time, but I couldn't stand back and watch you two run this place into the ground.”

  So both my boys have betrayed me,” Miss Kay whispered.

  Suddenly Geraldine appeared out of nowhere and landed a vicious kick to Kay’s side. Sparrow watched helplessly as she fell over, gasping for breath. Geraldine spat next to her head and said, “You and Jimbo were so easy to play. Now it's my turn to be queen of the mountain.” And then Geraldine wrapped her arms around Bob and planted a deep kiss on his lips. So they’d been planning this together all along.

  Bob broke free and turned back to face Sparrow. “Have to thank you for taking him out for me. I really wasn't looking forward to it.”

  “Screw you.” Sparrow said and coughed harshly as the burning fire spread across her chest and her vision went blurry.

  Geraldine clapped her hands and jumped up and down like a little girl cackling. “Can I kill her? Please?”

  Patting her on the back, Bob gave her a benign smile. “Anything for my girl.”

  Geraldine bounded up the porch and yanked the knife out of Jimbo’s throat. The realization of what she was about to do made Sparrow’s chest go tight. Geraldine returned to kneel next to her in the dirt. She placed the bloody blade at Sparrow’s jugular. “’Member when you held that knife to my throat? Payback’s a bitch, ain't it?”

  Sparrow closed her eyes and tensed, waiting to feel the sharp slice across her flesh. Then she heard a dull thud and she looked up to see that Geraldine had tumbled to the ground—a small bleeding hole in her forehead.

  Bob screamed, “Geraldine! Baby!” He swung his gun around wildly as his gaze darted around the clearing. Finding no one, he settled back on the two women at his feet and took aim. “You’ll pay for that.”

  Another red dot appeared in his forehead and Sparrow watched the life leave his eyes as he dropped to the ground next to her.

  She should have been frightened, but she couldn't seem to get a firm grasp on reality. She was f
loating, her vision losing its crispness at the corners.

  “Sparrow!” She turned to see Jared running full out from the woods, a rifle raised and ready. “Dammit, Sparrow, answer me.”

  Sparrow opened her mouth but couldn't quite figure out how to say the words. She concentrated, focusing on getting her lips to move, “Jared…”

  Chapter 32

  Jared dove to his knees just in time to see her eyes slide shut. Terror gripped him, piercing his heart like a knife as he doubled over her. “Wake up baby, don't do this to me.”

  “She ain't dead, just passed out.”

  Jared ripped his gun from the ground and pointed it straight at Kay Crowe, all of his pent up rage concentrated in his trigger finger. “This is all your fault.”

  Jared shook with the effort to regain control. But all he could see was Sparrow’s lifeless body next to him. Although Kay hadn’t pulled the trigger herself, he felt certain she was responsible.

  He leaned in, pressing the end of his rifle to Kay’s head, ready to put a bullet into her brain. His need to avenge and protect ripped a guttural cry from his lips. “You tried to kill us! We were just little boys! Why?”

  Kay looked at him, her gaze afraid but resigned. He wanted to scream at her for being calm when the things she had done to him had tormented him his entire life. When she didn’t answer his question right away, he pressed harder, bowing her backwards under his fury.

  “Jared, stop. I can’t let you do this.” Merc approached, his weapon raised, scanning the crowd that had gathered around them.

  “You have no idea what she’s done to me and my family.”

  “I know, but you’ll regret it if you kill her. Besides, think of what that would do to Sparrow.” Merc’s no nonsense words penetrated the fog of rage. “Put it down, brother.”

  Jared tried to lower his weapon, he tried really hard, but he couldn’t unlock his arms. “Tell me.”

  Kay sighed, her gaze skittering to Sparrow before returning to him. “I guess you’re gonna kill me no matter what. There ain’t no big deal about it. I wanted the land, plain and simple. When your ma and pa died, I saw the opportunity and took it.”

  Red colored his vision, his muscles bulging with exertion. “You locked us in a closet. Left us to starve to death!”

  “Yeah and you escaped. So, you had it tough growing up. Welcome to the fucking family.” Kay held his gaze even as Jared fought with every ounce of control he possessed not to kill her. Not to finish it.

  “Jared, you need to make a choice,” Merc said. “Save your girl or have your revenge. I’m not so sure you can have both.” He backed up to him, constantly shifting and keeping the crowd in sight. “But you gotta make a choice now cause these hillbillies are getting antsy.”

  Jared shook his head, trying to physically get his emotions under control. Blood seeped from Sparrow’s wound, spreading over her shirt in a growing circle of red. Her life was slipping away. He knew then he’d choose her every day for the rest of his life. Jared lowered his gun, slung it over his shoulder, and stood. “Your entire family betrayed you. Now they’re dead. And everyone here knows that the true heirs to Crowe Mountain are alive. Good luck with that.”

  Jared gently scooped Sparrow into his arms and walked away. The people in front of him parted to allow him through, everyone but Squirrel, who stood at the very back, a bag thrown over his shoulder and his knife at his hip. “You got room for one more young fella?”

  “You’re coming if I have to drag you.” Jared kept walking, heading straight to his waiting truck. He laid her in the back seat and then ran around to the other side to climb in and put her head in his lap. Her skin was only one shade darker than a piece of paper. Blood splatter covered her face and shirt and arms.

  “Dammit, Merc. Hurry up!”

  Merc climbed into the driver’s seat and Squirrel hopped into the other. When Merc sped out of the compound, Squirrel turned around. “Don’t worry, boy. That girl’s got grit in her veins.”

  “Sparrow?” He gentled his voice like a caress. No response. He raised a hand, unable to control its shaking, to touch her face. Still nothing.

  Jared had trouble meeting Merc’s gaze in the rearview mirror, but he forced himself to do it. Regret flooded him when he saw the pitying look in his friend’s eyes. He clenched his jaw. “She's a strong woman. She's going to make it.”

  Even if she never spoke to him again, he’d make sure she lived. He could live with regret. He’d done it his entire life.

  But he couldn’t live without Sparrow.

  * * *

  “You’re going to have to set me up a permanent room if you keep bringing me new patients.” Dr. Hartsfield rose from inspecting Sparrow’s newly stitched gunshot wound. “She looks great. The bullet came out without any permanent damage to tissue. She should recover fully with lots of rest and care.

  “What about when she wakes up? She saw a lot of death. Do you think she’ll be like Hoyt?” The words tasted like acid on his tongue, but he forced himself to ask. Sparrow needed him to be strong.

  “I’ve seen men check out for less.” Doc shrugged, “Some come back, some don’t.”

  “She's scrappy. She’ll wake up just fine.” Squirrel sat in an old folding chair next to her bed, his gaze fixed on Sparrow.

  Jared didn’t know if the old man was trying to convince them or himself.

  “I'll be back by to check on her and your brother again tomorrow. Notify me if there's any change. But Jared, she's been through a big trauma. It may take some time for her to recover.”

  He’d put Sparrow in his own bed, unable to stand the thought of her being any farther away from him. Now he had her, a bit damaged on the outside, but still alive. He could only pray she wasn’t destroyed on the inside. Like his brother.

  If only he’d kept a better eye on Hoyt. If only he’d believed Sparrow sooner. If only he could turn back time and rescue them. He’d never let either of them go.

  “It ain’t your fault. That girl was destined for something big. You can’t stop fate.” Squirrel pulled a small flask from his pocket, took a swig and then offered some to Jared.

  “No, thanks.” He didn’t deserve the least respite from his suffering.

  Suddenly, Jared heard a crash and ran to Hoyt’s room, hot on Dr. Hartsfield’s heels. They both skidded to a stop in the doorway to his brother’s room, Jared nearly plowing her over. Hoyt was on the floor on his hands and knees, a broken glass of water splattered out before him. He was pale and gasping for breath, but he was awake.

  After he and Doc helped Hoyt back onto the bed, Jared grabbed his brother’s hand. “You scared the shit out of me, bro. Don't ever do that again.”

  Hoyt offered up a weak smile “Swear. Won’t ever do it again.” He coughed and immediately groaned.

  “I'm glad to see you're awake, the doctor said. “I need you to answer a couple of quick questions. Where are you hurting?”

  “My side hurts like a mother.”

  “Anywhere else?” she asked.

  “No, it's all good.”

  Jared smiled. The doctor smiled too. “Well, I think other than a few bruised ribs, you’ll survive.”

  Jared met the doctor’s eyes. And the look he saw there soothed his soul. The IV bag was still attached to Hoyt’s arm, so Jared righted the knocked over stand. All the other lines going into him had been ripped out, but the doc said they weren’t needed anymore. Jared leaned over and touched his head to Hoyt’s. “I'm glad you're back.”

  Hoyt squeezed his hand. “Me, too, bro.”

  Hoyt closed his eyes and fell asleep. Dr. Hartsfield touched Jared’s arm and indicated for him to follow her out into the hall. “He’s okay. He's just resting. It's going to take him a long time to get his strength back up, and he may have to do some physical therapy, but I don't see any reason why he can't get back to a hundred percent physically.”

  Jared’s heart skidded and jumped at her words. His entire focus for the past few weeks had been on l
ife and death. Now he could finally focus on making sure his brother found his way out of the quagmire of nightmares—and on making sure Sparrow made a full recovery.

  That night, he slept in bed with Sparrow with the door open, listening for any sounds from Hoyt’s room. Dr. Hartsfield had injected her with painkillers before leaving. Jared fell asleep praying she’d forgive him when she awoke.

  Chapter 33

  Jared was ripped from his slumber by a loud scream. Sparrow thrashed and kicked and screamed louder. He barely restrained himself from throwing his body over hers. Instead, he grabbed her arms to hold her down, but she didn’t stop thrashing her head from side to side, mumbling and sobbing.

  “Sparrow. Wake up, it’s me, Jared. You were having a bad dream, honey.” Her breathing hitched, but she stopped screaming. Her eyes fluttered open; for a split second her gaze was blank, but then awareness took over.

  Her breathing hitched, and then she sucked in a broken breath and emitted a low keening wail that broke on a sob. The sobs wracked her body, ripping him in two. His need to protect and soothe her was his only conscious thought as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, careful not to put pressure on her injury, and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

  “I...I killed him.” She managed between crying.

  “You were trying to protect your home.” Jared wanted to wrap her in a cocoon and take away every last drop of her pain. His first kill had given him nightmares, and he was a soldier.

  “Oh God, I can't believe he…”

  “Hush now. It's over. You're safe.”

  “I should have known. Should have—should have done something sooner.”

  Jared felt nothing but anguish. “No. There was no way for you to know. You’re not evil like them. I know that.” Tears gathered in Jared’s eyes and he let them fall, unashamed. “It’s my fault. If only I’d listened to you sooner, you would never have gone back. I'm so sorry.”