She couldn't believe this was happening. Hadn't Slim told her the whole gangster thing was part of a ploy created to get her to Silver Waters? Tiara couldn't believe Slim had planned or anticipated this part. He'd also assured her he had purchased Majestic honestly. So why had the little gangster sent his henchman to kidnap her? First, to allegedly talk, then as part of an exchange. She'd been horrified to hear Tank tell her he'd left a note at Edna's house.
What distressed her more than her raw flesh, was the knowledge that at any moment Jayce would come to the line shack to rescue her. That fact Tiara didn't doubt for a moment. Jayce had declared her love, even knowing Tiara had no intention of staying. And she knew Jayce well enough to realize she never let her friends down.
"Do you have a name?" she asked, tired of only their breathing in the room. "In case you don't remember, I'm Tiara."
"Everyone has a name."
"Okay, yours would be?" Tiara asked.
"Huh?" He stood as if suddenly remembering something. "My name is Peter, Peter Sparretti. Please to meet you." He bowed, extended a hand, and then looked at his hand strangely. "Guess we can't shake yet."
"Are you kidding me?" Tiara wondered how someone could keep a straight face while being so patently sarcastic.
"No, I'm really Peter."
Great, she thought, he must be trying to tick her off before stealing her father's horse. "Got it. Peter. Want to tell me why you think you deserve Majestic more than Slim does?
His brow furrowed. "I don't know about deserving, but I'm supposed to help Elmo, that's what brothers do. He's never let me work with him before. I can't let him down."
Tiara was puzzled. Something about this wasn't right, something about Peter wasn't connecting, either, at least not with Slim told her. "Peter, what does your brother do?"
With a shrug, he said, "I dunno. He usually leaves me home, having Mrs. Dreyer check up on me. In case I need something." Peter grinned. "We don't tell Elmo she lets me drink beer sometimes, and eat delivery pizza."
Okay, maybe she'd figure out the puzzle after all. "This is the first time you've been allowed to tag along?" Peter nodded. "Did he tell you what to do and say the day you drove to my house?" Another nod. "What did he say, Peter?"
Peter looked excited about his part. "Elmo told me the words to say, and to act like the people in the Sopranos. He said Slim stole a horse he'd bought, and he had people to help him get Majestic back."
"You were acting?"
He sat straighter in his chair, thrilled to explain. "Yeah, and when Deadly Aimes rode up, I knew Elmo was right, someone to help. She always helps people on TV. Only you still didn't give us Majestic."
So Peter recognized Sarah from television. From what Tiara figured, Peter couldn't quite separate fact from fiction, not that all people could, but she realized Peter may be slow. Mentally challenged, she corrected herself. Well, that would change the dynamics of rationalizing. How do you reason with a tank of a man who had the intellect of a small child? Honesty?
"Peter, Elmo was acting. He was helping my dad." She watched closely for a reaction. His face appeared neutral, but it could be his way of analyzing.
After what seemed like forever, Peter shook his head. "No. That would mean Elmo lied to me. My brother's never lied to me." Peter scowled and jumped from the chair. "You are the one lying. Are you trying to make me mad at Elmo?"
Involuntarily, Tiara cringed at the anger in his voice. Please don't let him hit me, she begged silently. Then motion at the window caught her attention. Jayce? Crap. She had to calm Peter down before Jayce got all gung-ho on her behalf, and got herself killed. Was there any way to get rid of Peter, recommend a walk to cool off? "Relax, Peter. I'm just trying to understand. I don't know Elmo well enough, so I can't accuse him of being a liar, can I?"
He appeared to give her words thought, calming enough to return to the chair. Only now, he kept shaking one leg. Tiara took a stab at the reason, remembering what Jayce had told her about the line shack. "Peter, do you have to go to the bathroom?"
Peter looked at her guiltily, and nodded. "But I shouldn't leave you in here alone. I don't want anything to happen to you while I'm gone."
Relief flooded through her. Tiara tilted her head toward the mannequin. "There's a toilet in the wall behind him. Just push on it a little. It's not like I'm going anywhere." Peter appeared to be judging her honesty. "If you think you can hold it..."
Like a little boy, he frowned at implying him chicken. "Okay. Wait here."
Yeah, where would she go all trussed up?
No sooner had Peter disappeared into the bathroom, then Jayce silently pushed the cabin door open. Leaving it ajar she rushed to Tiara's side. Tiara smiled with relief, happy to see Jayce despite the circumstances. Jayce's gaze fell to Tiara's mouth and she drew in a sharp breath, her fingertips carefully accessing the damage. Her expression darkened. "I'll have you free in a minute, Red," Jayce vowed, tugging at the duct tape.
"You should leave. He'll be done soon." Tiara's gaze darted toward the wall. "He's not going to hurt me, Jayce. Bring Elmo and Slim here."
Horrified, Jayce stared at her. "No way in hell I'm leaving you here, like this."
"You don't understand--" Just then, the dreadful goose appeared in the doorway and honked loudly.
"No," Peter bellowed as he launched his bulk through the opening.
Clearly startled, then immediately defensive, Jayce stood between Tiara and Peter. "You asshole, you'll pay for hurting her," Jayce vowed before slamming a right fist into his jaw.
Peter barely flinched, but Tiara watched painfully when his body, reacting instinctively, threw a right hook of his own. Horrified, Tiara watched helplessly as the huge fist smashed into the side of Jayce's face, propelling her over the table, the lantern tottering but not falling, and Jayce's head slamming into the bunk. Jayce slid lifelessly to the floor. Tiara saw the blood flowing.
"Jayce," she screamed, oblivious to all else around her.
SLIM'S PACING QUICKENED with each tick of the second hand on the clock. For the hundredth time, he glared at the passing time. Occasionally he'd stare helplessly toward Edna. Finally, the knock on the bunkhouse door spurred him into action. Pulling the door open, grabbing Elmo by the lapels, Slim demanded, "What has your brother done to my daughter, Sparretti?"
Elmo's face contorted. "Honest, I had no idea Peter would ever act on his own." Slim released him with a less than gentle shove, only slightly aware of Elmo's gasp for air. "He's never tried anything like this. I can't imagine what's going on in his head."
"That's what you're supposed to be able to tell us, so I can get Tiara." Slim growled. "You're the one who included him in this debacle. You should've been able to oversee your own damn part." He stalked to the coffee table and picked up the slip of paper and thrust it under Elmo's nose. "And, what the hell, Mo? 'Or I'll hurt her'? Peter wrote cabin in the woods like this is some friggin' horror movie."
"Come on, Slim. You know Peter would never make those mental bridges."
Barking derisive laughter, Slim shook his head. "No, Mo, last week I may have believed that, but today he's threatening Tiara, over a horse that was never really yours."
"Stop it, both of you," Edna yelled. "We'll play the blame game later. Right now we have to get to them, because if I know my niece, and I most certainly do, Jayce will get hurt trying to save Tiara, whether she's in real danger or not."
"Okay, honey," Slim said, cowed. Inhaling a deep breath to calm himself, he walked over to Edna and hugged her. "Do you know where in the woods this cabin could be? I certainly can't remember any."
"Um, if it has four walls and is bigger than a shoe box," Elmo said, "Peter will call it a house. In this case, cabin, so that's what you're working with. Don't confine yourselves to standard meanings."
Shaking her head, Edna cried. Slim felt horrible, knowing Edna loved both women with her whole heart. He rubbed his hand up and down her back. Then she jerked out of his grasp. "The line shack, it'
s the only type of building that far from the house."
"Great, honey, let's go," Slim said, grabbing his keys, then Edna's hand. Outside, he tugged Edna toward his jeep, noting how dark it had become. Elmo, Slim noted, just a step behind them, pulled himself into the back seat. With a glance in Edna's direction as he started the jeep, he said, "You better call Alison and let her know what's going on. Just in case," he added, praying it was an excessive precaution.
"I should call Darla, too," Edna whispered. "She's already worried sick."
"Do we have to get so many people involved?" Elmo asked fussily.
"Shut up, Mo," Slim and Edna demanded simultaneously. Sharing a reassuring glance with each other, they clasped hands and squeezed tenderly.
"Let's go save our girls."
Chapter Twenty-eight
"PLEASE, BABY, TALK to me," Tiara begged, unable to control the alarm in her voice. No, no, no, Jayce, I can't lose you like this. She leaned atop Jayce, a wet cloth pressed to the cut on Jayce's forehead. Tiara had ordered her release the second Jayce had hit the floor, and Peter responded with more speed than expected for a man his size. The terror on Peter's face let her know he hadn't meant to hit Jayce back, and he felt shame for what he'd done. Right now, he sat in the chair by the door clutching the goose to his massive chest with all his might. Reluctant at first, the goose didn't appear to mind anymore.
"Can't," Jayce replied with a croak, eyes still closed.
Tiara felt panic. "Is it too painful to speak? Can you open your eyes for me, please?"
"Is Tank still here?" Jayce asked with a snarl.
Tiara nodded until she realized Jayce couldn't see her. "Yes, why?"
"Come closer," Jayce whispered. Tiara pressed herself almost flush against her, shifting so her ear was close to Jayce's lips. She felt the sharp intake of breath before Jayce whispered, "Because you feel too good, I don't want to open my eyes and realize I'm dreaming. And I don't want Tank to know how turned on I am."
Relief flooded Tiara. Under different circumstance, she might have been angry with Jayce for scaring her, but when Jayce's hand gently touched her waist, Tiara realized Jayce was reassuring through teasing. Well, two could play at that game. Tiara swiveled her head slightly so her lips were close to Jayce's ear. "Not that I like seeing you bleed, but I'm turned on too, Galahad." Tiara nipped the earlobe, rewarded with a groan; this one announced a different kind of discomfort from Jayce. This would also provide an opportunity to alert Jayce to Peter's mental circumstance. "Jayce, honey, Peter is a little slow. Some things he isn't going to notice because he doesn't know what to look for." Tenderly, she placed a kiss just below Jayce's lobe, then to her temple. Raising herself off Jayce, and cupping a hand to her cheek, she said, "You're wound is starting to bruise so you can't lie about the pain, but I do have the bleeding under control. I need you to open your eyes and sit up so I can assess the damage."
Tiara recognized the flash of pain crossing Jayce's face as her eyes fluttered open, they squinted against the glare of the soft lantern light. She tried to guide Jayce to a leaning position against the bunk. Jayce gritted her teeth and Tiara understood that she was in a great deal of pain, but didn't want to acknowledge or draw attention to it. When Jayce's face suddenly paled, Tiara jumped to her feet, rushed to the fireplace and upended the metal tub to remove the firewood. She returned to Jayce's side just in time to place a hand to Jayce's brow. Tiara crooned, "It's okay, I've got you," as Jayce vomited.
"She gonna be okay?" Peter quietly inquired from the chair. His face was looking a little green, too.
"Peter, maybe you should wait outside, in the fresh air." It dawned on Tiara that Majestic had to be nearby if the goose was here. "Jayce, where is Majestic?"
"A little walk that way from the shack." Jayce indicated the direction as behind her. Tiara stood up and glanced out the window, but it was too dark to see. She turned toward Peter and directed him to where he'd find Majestic. "Bring him over here, and put him in the stall at the side. Can you do that for me?" He nodded. "Good, Peter. I'm going to fix Jayce's head, and then we can go back to the ranch, okay?" One more nod and Peter was off to do as he'd been told. Tiara rummaged through the trunk for the first-aid kit.
While Tiara bandaged the gash, certain it would need stitches, Jayce asked, "You think he'll run?"
"No, he feels ashamed for what he's done to you." She sat back to assess her work. It looked like the bandage would hold until they could get her to real medical help.
"Yeah, I'm a little ashamed of what he did to me, too," Jayce said. "Guess I have to give up my hero card." Tiara realized from Jayce's expression, she was truly embarrassed about what had transpired. Did Jayce really believe she could go against a man the size of Peter and not get the worst of it?
Giggling, Tiara told her, "Just the butch card, sweetheart." The shocked that crossed Jayce's face was adorable, for the second it took for her to realize Tiara was messing with her. Tiara placed a quick kiss to Jayce's lips. Tiara's body responded immediately, and she would have pressed further if Peter hadn't walked in.
"He's in the stall, Tiara. I put the goose with him."
"Thank you, Peter." Tiara gathered up the bandage wrapper, stuffing everything else back into the little plastic first-aid container. Then she hefted the tub and took it into the bathroom, dumping the contents down the toilet and flushing. There was no way she could rinse it in the tiny sink, so she took it outside and placed it upside down at the side of the shack. Wearily, Tiara leaned against the wall.
Her stomach was in knots from the little kiss. Tiara knew her anxiety had started the instant she determined Jayce would come for her. Seeing the tall muscular woman flung unconscious across the room like a rag doll had nearly seized her heart. Then, the blood... Tiara shuddered, barely able to contain the tears of distress. Damn, one stupid misunderstanding from a plan her father had set into motion and her whole life was off kilter. Jayce could have been killed. She felt the tears fall. What would she have done then? How could she have lived with herself knowing Jayce would never give one of those mischievous smiles? Or looked at her tenderly with those beautiful blue eyes?
"Tiara!" Peter hollered from the shack in what sounded like pure panic.
"Coming." She wiped at the tears as she rushed to the door. Peter nervously danced from foot to foot focused toward the bunk. Jayce had gotten to her feet, and was currently swaying as if she'd pass out again. Even as Tiara entered the room, Jayce attempted to walk. "Grab her," she ordered Peter, as she rushed to Jayce's side. Peter latched on and supported Jayce against his right side. Glaring into Jayce's pale face, Tiara demanded, "What the hell are you thinking?"
Jayce's voice was strained as she answered, "You took too long. I got worried something happened." Her breathing sounded labored. "Can we go home? I'm tired and don't feel so good."
Peter offered, "I'll get someone, and bring them back."
"No, Peter," Tiara said, "they might not listen immediately. We have to get Jayce help soon." She gazed into Jayce's pain filled eyes. "You need to stay here, honey, I'll go get help," Tiara said.
Jayce shook her head, and then groaned. "I don't like you going out alone. But I have to agree about Peter not going. Damn, I can't think straight."
Despite her fear, Tiara tried to reassure Jayce, which would ultimately comfort Peter. "You never did think straight as long as I remember."
With a snort, Jayce said, "Cute, Red. What else do you suggest? Just know that I'm not sitting here no matter what the plan is."
Tiara bit at her lip trying to formulate a plan surprised when Peter made a suggestion. "Majestic will take Tiara home. I could carry Jayce until you find us."
"That's a good idea, Peter," Tiara acknowledged before realizing the full implication of the proposed resolution. "Um, I don't know how to ride." She didn't add that the very idea scared her witless. "Why don't we let Jayce ride and we'll walk back."
"I don't know if I can hold on to the reins, Tiara," Jayce said. He
r voice sounded weaker, and Tiara figured that if Jayce stood on her own accord, her legs would buckle beneath her. The full impact of the situation hit Tiara. Jayce was in bad shape and needed help urgently, and it was up to Tiara to make that happen.
Trying to remember anything she could about concussions, Tiara recalled minor things like dizziness, nausea, and that the person wasn't supposed to fall asleep. Walking, or being carried, would help keep Jayce awake. Tiara also suspected that the thought of Peter carrying her would help keep Jayce alert. Did people die from concussions? Hell, yes. A fresh flood of dread coursed through her.
"Okay, everyone outside." As Peter cradled Jayce, helping her walk, Tiara grabbed the lantern, hoping it had enough fuel to keep it lit for a while longer. Jayce and Peter stood by the stall, the reins clutched in Jayce's trembling hand. "Which direction is Meadows?" she asked.
"Majestic will know," Jayce told her. "But go slow. It's dark and I couldn't live with either of you getting hurt. Peter and I will follow the road," she pointed toward the rough trail leading up the hill. "Anyone you find at the house will know it. We'll all meet up in a little while, okay?"
"Okay." Tiara felt anything but okay. She thought Jayce looked weaker. Tiara squeezed Jayce's hand gently as she took the reins. She hoped she'd conveyed her concern. "Be back with the Calvary before you make it the road."
"I'll hold you to that, Red," Jayce said. "Help the lady up, Tank." Peter seemed conflicted, knowing Jayce required his support.
"I've got this," Tiara announced, tension twisting her gut. Ignoring fear, she shoved the lantern in Peter's hand. Tiara placed her foot in the stirrup, grabbed the saddle horn and pulled herself into the saddle. Majestic gave her no trouble, true to his name he stood regally and still until she was settled. She adjusted the reins comfortably. The goose stood to the side of Majestic waiting for the procession to begin. With one last glance at Jayce, Tiara tapped Majestic with her heels. "Be back in a sec," she said, leaving a wounded Jayce with her attacker, even if he was relatively harmless. "Please don't let leaving her be a mistake," she begged of the darkness.
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