"UP WE GO, Tank," Jayce said, though walking was the last thing she wanted to do now. Her head pounded as if stampeding horses had used it as a crossing. Her vision blurred so she could barely make out Tiara being carried away by Majestic, the ridiculous goose trailing alongside. Peter pressed against her--or was it the other way around-- and he was solid as a concrete structure.
Without missing a beat, or a step, Peter asked, "Why do you call me Tank?"
Jayce snorted. "Because, my friend, you're as sturdy and powerful as a tank. Gotta tell you, I didn't mean it to be nice when I first used it, but I'm glad now."
"Am I?" he asked.
She didn't know what he was asking, and decided to tell him so. "My head is throbbing, so I don't know what you're asking?"
Peter seemed uncomfortable having to explain. "Am I your friend? I'm the reason you're hurt, so are you not being nice again?"
Wow. How do you answer that with the guy who could remove you permanently from this world with a single punch? What the hell? She hadn't the strength to put up a fight even if she wanted to. She was angry with him for kidnapping Tiara, pissed that he'd hit her so hard, but like so many people doing what they thought was right, Peter believed he was helping his brother. No, if she were to blame anyone, it would--and will, next she saw him--be Slim. With the information Tiara provided, Jayce couldn't truly blame Peter for any of this debacle. And, he seemed genuinely upset by all that had transpired. "Yeah, Peter, you're a friend."
That seemed to please Peter, who grinned. "Thank you. I don't mind if a friend calls me Tank. I think I like it."
"Good," she told him. "'Cause I like nicknames for people I care about, that's why I call Tiara Red. When we were younger, her hair really was red." She smiled at the memory. "Boy, did I tease and pull a lot of pranks on her."
"She still likes you after you did it," he said.
Almost there, Jayce noticed. Maybe once they hit the main trail the walk would get easier. But it didn't. As they reached the hilltop, Jayce felt queasy again. "Let go," she ordered Peter, shoving him away. Reluctantly, he complied and she stumbled a few steps away, leaned into a tree slipping to her knees as she vomited for the second time that night. Using the tree to lever herself to her feet, Jayce stood, though wobbly.
A handkerchief appeared to float in the air to her left. "To wipe your mouth," Peter told her. She wished for something to rinse her mouth, too. As this thought ran around her head, Peter placed an arm around her waist and the other under her knees, drawing her into his chest. "We'll go faster if I carry you." He bent and picked up the lantern he'd put down while she was retching.
"No way are you treating me like some toddler," Jayce groused. "Put me down."
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from further down the trail. Jayce looked in that direction but she couldn't focus. From the darkness, she heard a voice say, "Yeah, mister, put her down." Jayce thought she recognized the voice, but couldn't be certain. A moment passed before two men with rifles came into the sphere of weak light from the lantern. She couldn't concentrate to recall their names, but they seemed to know her relatively well.
"Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you," Peter said close to her ear.
"I'm not the one who should worry," she told him. "I think they're after you."
"Oh, okay, Jayce."
"Really, mister, put her down. You can't come to our town and hurt people, you know," the man said, swinging his rifle around in his agitation.
The second chimed in. "We'll shoot you if we have to."
Peter glared at them. "Move aside, I have to get her home."
Man number two stepped forward. "Looks like you've done enough damage. Let her go."
Crap. Enough is enough. She was ready to tear into these two, but the area flooded with light, piercing her already sensitized eyes. "Police, hands up," echoed through the woods. Jayce didn't know if man one or man two had been startled most, but one of them pulled the trigger on their rifle, and a burning pain shot across her thigh. "Holy shit," she screeched.
Then darkness swallowed Jayce.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
TIARA HAD NO idea how long or far she'd ridden Majestic, however she felt immense relief when a Jeep came into view, pulling over as soon as she appeared in the headlight's beam. Majestic, intuitive as he'd been the entire time, slowed to a stop by the drivers' door. If her nerves weren't so shot, or Tiara hadn't been mad at Slim, she would have cheered at seeing her father behind the wheel. Instead, she slid from the saddle and peered into the jeep.
"We have to hurry." She pointed in the direction she'd come. "Jayce has been hurt, and needs a doctor."
Edna slammed a fist into his shoulder. "Damn it, Edward Michael, I told you." To Tiara's relief, Edna took charge. "Mo, take the horse to the ranch." Elmo hopped from the jeep and grabbed the reins from her. "Tiara get in the back. Slim, break the sound barrier," Edna ordered. Tiara had no sooner closed the door than the jeep leapt forward.
Now that Tiara had found help and was heading back, she worried about Jayce all over again. Edna asked questions, which Tiara answered absently. Her focus was on the road ahead, worry consuming her about Jayce's condition. "Please, sweetheart, be okay," she whispered in prayer.
"What was that, dear?" Edna asked, closing her cell phone, after letting Darla know the status of the situation.
Tiara shook her head in reply.
"Hey, look," Slim whooped, "a sheriff's vehicle." Tiara shifted to see out the windshield.
Happiness flooded Tiara, knowing she truly had brought the Calvary. Jayce would get all the assistance she needed. "Hurry, Dad," she encouraged. As she watched, Alison stepped out from the driver's side, pulled her pistol from the holster and rested her forearms on the car door, announcing, "Police, hands up."
The echo of a gunshot exploded through the forest.
SARAH SAT TENSELY, Darla's hand clasping hers in a death grip, waiting for Mark to disconnect the call and tell them all what news he'd received. Sure, the call only lasted about half a minute, but it felt like thirty to her. "Well?" she asked as he clicked the phone off.
"They found Tiara and Majestic and were going to get Jayce." He paused, glancing at Darla. At a nod from her, Mark said, "Peter punched Jayce, and she needs stitches and might have a concussion."
Sarah thought she might pass out. "I should get to the hospital, wait for them." She got up from the couch, but couldn't move further because Darla's grip tightened.
"We all need to go to the hospital," Darla hissed through clenched teeth. "My water just broke."
"Oh, shit," Craig muttered.
Sarah agreed. Mark and Craig hadn't moved, and she knew Darla wasn't getting to the hospital by wishful thinking. "Okay, then. Darla, sweetie, we need to get you to the car. Mark, go get her overnight bag. Craig, bring the car around front by the porch. Now, people," she bellowed hoping to kick everyone into action. "Okay, here we go," she said, pulling Darla up from the couch. After alternating a lot of heavy breathing and groaning, Sarah had Darla out the door, down the porch and to the car. Craig stood by the back, holding the door open.
Mark flew down the stairs with a small overnight bag, which he tossed on the floor in the rear. Gently, he took hold of Darla's hand and helped her crawl into the back seat, then following her in. "Let's go."
"All right," Sarah said, climbing into the passenger seat. "Craig, you drive."
"I have no idea where to go," he admitted.
"No worries, I've got your back," she told him. He got behind the wheel and headed down the drive, as Sarah gave directions. Sarah wondered how long it would take Edna to get Jayce to the hospital, even as she listened to Mark giving Darla directions on breathing. They made their way through the streets, and Craig reached across the console for her hand and squeezed. "She's gonna be okay, you know."
"I know," Sarah said, glancing toward the backseat. "She's probably happy to have it over with after so long."
Craig chuckled. "Jayce, honey. I meant
Jayce will be fine." A warm rush of pleasure filled her that he understood her worry. He lowered his voice a little. "Darla will be in delivery for a bit, we'll wait by the doors so we see when Jayce arrives."
Squeezing his hand, Sarah realized Craig understood her better than anyone had, with the exception of Jayce. Someone had finally been able to see her as Sarah Marsh, not defined by her career. Hope for a normal future wasn't lost after all. "Here we are," Craig said, pulling up to the emergency room doors.
Darla eased into a wheelchair, with the help of the medical staff and they whisked her off to the maternity ward, Mark following behind. Craig left to park the car, as Sarah's cell rang. She recognized Edna's number. "Edna, did you get Jayce?"
Edna's strained voice said, "Sarah, Jayce has been shot."
Sarah didn't know what else Edna might have said, because the next thing she knew Craig grabbed her and wiped away the rush of tears.
TIARA JUMPED FROM the jeep, fresh tears falling down her face.
She ran down the road, hoping she'd find Jayce and Peter unharmed. Parallel to the sheriff's vehicle, Alison grabbed her arm, stopping her forward momentum. "Whoa, hang on," Alison ordered.
"I need to get to Jayce! She's already been hurt," Tiara cried.
Alison nodded. "I understand, just let me go first. We don't need these boys more freaked than they are. Give me a minute, okay?"
Tiara nodded, reluctantly.
Up ahead Peter cradled an unconscious Jayce protectively in his arms, slightly turned away from the men with rifles. He seemed torn between beating the two men up, if the dangerous glint in his eyes were any indication, and worry about Jayce, who had fresh blood darkening her jeans-clad leg.
Alison, pistol pointed at the two men, shouted orders. "Drop the rifles, boys, and put your hands behind your heads." They complied. "Drop to your knees and cross your legs at the ankle." Only when the men were in position did Alison move forward, stepping in front of Tiara. Alison looked over her shoulder, "Breathe, Tiara. Jayce is a fighter, but she'll do better if you're calm. You might want the first-aid kit under the driver seat."
Nodding, Tiara inhaled deeply. "You're right, Sheriff, thank you."
Flashing a beautiful smile, Alison said, "Let's go save Jayce from herself, or them from her wrath when she wakes up." Tiara waited as Alison slapped cuffs on the two men. Holstering her gun, Alison cocked her head in Jayce's direction. "Go on. I'll be right there."
Tiara rushed to Peter and Jayce. The moment Peter realized Tiara was back, he burst into tears. "They shot Jayce, and I couldn't stop them. Should'a been me got shot."
"No, Peter, it was an accident." Tiara told him. "Can you hold on to her for a little longer?" she asked him.
Peter nodded, and sniffed noisily. "She's not that heavy."
"Okay," she said moving close enough to see the rent in the fabric and fresh blood from the bullet. Luckily, though deeper than a graze, the wound didn't look life threatening. Tiara took a roll and a three-bythree square of gauze from the first aid kit and applied it to Jayce's wound. "Are you able to carry her to the jeep? It's behind the sheriff's car."
As they approached Alison's car, she was closing the back door on the two men sitting on the bench seat. "How bad is it?" Alison asked, peering under the material Tiara laid on the wound.
Tiara said, "It'll need more than a band-aid."
"Right. Here's the game plan." Alison pointed to the backseat. "They have some thinking to do, and aren't going anywhere. I'll turn the cruiser around, and you have Slim follow me, and don't worry about speed. I'll take it a bit slower on the rutted roads, but once we hit pavement I'll go like a bat outta hell. Ready?"
Tiara nodded, telling Peter to carry Jayce to the jeep.
"Tiara?" Alison put a hand on her shoulder, and Tiara saw the concern in her eyes. "Hang in there. She'll be fine. Let's go break some speed limits."
Beside the jeep, Peter stood stiffly. "Slide in and I'll pass her through."
Tiara jumped in, telling her father Alison's plan. Once she slid in, Peter leaned nearly completely inside, gently laying Jayce on the seat, carefully resting Jayce's head on her lap. Then, Peter bent her legs and closed the door. "Hurry, Peter, climb in." He shook his head. Tiara watched him rush toward the cruiser and climb into the passenger seat. "Every boy's dream, I guess, to ride in a cruiser. Hurry, Dad. Follow Alison. She's our escort."
With them finally on their way, Tiara rechecked the leg wound to make sure the bleeding was controlled, and the bandage on Jayce's forehead didn't show any fresh blood. Tiara's full attention was on the woman on her lap.
How could any of this have happened in only two weeks? Being around Jayce had been an emotional roller coaster ride. Jayce had been kind and funny the entire time, as she had always been when they were younger. A decade ago, Tiara had remembered that one kiss as mind-blowing. Later, she had downplayed her reaction to the fact that it was her first, so it had left an impression. Though Tiara hadn't really put any effort into dating, she had been kissed by other women, but remained unimpressed. Of course, she believed that was because she'd held her first kiss in such a high regard. And earlier today, Jayce's kiss in the barn had again been overwhelming, and Tiara realized no other woman could kiss her as Jayce did. Then Jayce professed her love. Tiara concluded that was the deciding factor for her response to be so eye-opening. Jayce loved her.
And Tiara loved Jayce. She'd loved Jayce since childhood, why else had she allowed Jayce to play her games? Were those pranks to get Tiara's attention? Had Jayce been giving signals the entire time?
Jayce moaned, and Tiara looked down into her pale face. Tiara ran her fingertips lightly across Jayce's cheek, and her forehead where it wasn't covered with the bandage. Life would be so different without Jayce in it. Empty was the first word to come to mind. No more laughter, no gentle caresses, and no love shining in those beautiful blue eyes.
But one major question still loomed overhead. Could Tiara give up everything for one woman, even Jayce?
Abruptly, the jeep door swung open, Edna and a nurse stood there. "We're here," Edna said. "Time to let go."
Tiara nodded, and let the medical personnel take over Jayce's care. They placed her on a gurney and rushed through the emergency room doors into the hospital. Tiara watched and noted Sarah, held by Craig, already standing by the ER doors and realized she should let Darla know everyone would be okay. Tiara became distracted. Edna's words
rang in her head, and Tiara worried it was an omen. Time to let go. Tiara wondered, let go of what? Her old life? Or let go of Jayce?
Chapter Thirty
JAYCE HATED HOSPITALS. Hospitals meant confinement to a bed while being poked and prodded by strangers. And she'd only been in the room for less than an hour. Of course, if the nurses had been cute enough to flirt with, not the grandmotherly type, it might have changed her opinion. She waited for someone other than hospital personnel to come see her. Her leg hurt like the dickens and she had a headache the size of Texas. "Where is everyone?"
On cue, a knock sounded on the door. "Please, whoever you are, come save me?" Jayce called out.
The door opened and Alison strode in. "Why, what trouble have you gotten yourself into now?"
"Hey, Ali." Jayce craned her neck to see if anyone else was behind her. "Where is everyone?" she asked.
Alison chuckled lightly. "Translation, where is Tiara?" Jayce shrugged, not willing to confirm her conclusion. "You haven't been forgotten, my friend. I've asked everyone to hold off visiting until you were settled and we had a chance to talk."
"So this is an official call?"
"Afraid so, even if you had plain-ole-Ali scared witless."
Jayce raised an eyebrow, but the sharp pain the action elicited made her stop. "Sweetie, a body can't use 'plain' and 'Ali' in the same sentence when referring to you and expect the observation to be believable. It's impossible."
"That's sweet, but not necessary. I'm not here to arrest you, or give the third degree."
>
Shifting to take some pressure off her thigh, Jayce tried to get comfortable. She'd had plenty of time alone in the last few hours to give a lot of thought to what could be expected. "Okay, shoot." Ali raised an eyebrow. "Not literally. If this is about pressing charges, I won't have Peter arrested for anything. Not only didn't he comprehend what was going on, Peter kept me safe. Now, for the other two morons, I hope you put the fear of Lady Justice into them. However, dumb as their actions were, ultimately they meant well."
Alison smiled at her, a bit of mischief of her own sparking in her eyes. "Yeah, I started the process and have them both locked up already. Those two will suffer some consequences from me for discharging their firearms." Ali ran her fingers through her blonde locks. "Mostly I wanted to check on you before everyone else monopolized your attention. You gave me a bit of a scare. I hope Jimmy stops whining about 'Bubba's gonna have his way with him.'"
Jayce knew Ali was worried more than as a local law enforcement official. As if noting Jayce's observation, Ali held up her hand. "The worry is as your buddy and friend, Jayce, nothing more. I just hope I can find someone who makes me giddy and has my face light up the way Tiara does for you. And, now that I've used my law enforcement position to jump the line, I'm going to get back to work and let the horde loose." She walked to the door and paused. "I've heard rumors, and even as I hope it won't be necessary, I'm a good listener, just in case things don't go too smoothly." At Jayce's nod, she left.
Jayce would probably have to take Alison up on that offer, knowing how hell-bent Tiara was on leaving Silver Waters.
Over the next hour, Sarah and Craig, then Slim and Edna had come to visit with her. She wanted to ask after Tiara, but feared she'd learn Tiara had already gone home, knowing Jayce would survive. Once again, Jayce had let herself hope that her love alone was enough to make Tiara stay. Finally, she couldn't stand it any longer. "Aunt Edna, where--"
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