Texas Reckless

by Gerry Bartlett

  “Actually, when we had the chance, my brothers and I played out here.” Sierra walked over to the closet and stomped around until she found it. “There’s a loose board where we used to hide treasures. I’m sure the ranch hands knew about it.” She bent over and wiggled it free. “Look, there are some papers here.” She pulled them out. “Oh, boy. I think we’ve found something.” She glanced through the envelopes. “Darrel has a bank account in Ada, Oklahoma. That’s interesting. He set it up under his initials, not his first name.”

  “Let me see that.” Rhett frowned. “He also has a post office box in town here. So he isn’t getting his mail at the ranch.”

  “Not all of it, apparently.” Sierra pulled out her phone. “I’m calling Dylan. I’m sure he’s still up anyway.”

  “Give him the account number. The latest bank statement isn’t here. If Dylan can find a large deposit right before the barn fire, we’ve got Darrel dead to rights. Let him know when your fence was pulled down, too.” Rhett hugged her when she shivered again. “I’m sorry, Sierra.”

  She took a shaky breath before she hit speed dial. “So am I. I trusted that son of a bitch.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  They were pulling into the well-lit parking lot when the truck hit a speed bump that jolted Sierra awake.

  “Oh, we’re here.” She looked around but didn’t see Darrel’s battered pickup. Of course, the hospital near downtown had a couple of lots. The truck could be anywhere. Rhett found a spot not far from the emergency room entrance, the only one open at this late hour, and turned off the engine.

  “Do you have a plan?” She hated asking him that. She should have a plan.

  “We need to find out what room he’s in. Then I can wander by. Just do a casual bed check. I’m calling the hospital now. Want to pretend to be a distraught girlfriend? Checking on his condition?”

  Sierra took the phone. “Sure. Listen and learn.” It was already ringing. When a woman answered, she was ready.

  “Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! I just found out my boyfriend was hurt in an accident and they took him to your hospital.” She fake-sobbed. “Can you tell me if he’s okay?”

  “Honey, calm down now. What’s your fella’s name?”

  “Darrel Lockhart. He fell on the job over in Muellerville. That’s a long way from Austin. It must have been bad for them to carry him to such a big hospital.” More fake sobs. “Is he gonna die? And us with a baby on the way. What will I do?” She managed a long, drawn-out “do.”

  “Now don’t you worry. I guess you count as a relative. I’m looking him up right now. Yes, I see his name. It’s just a broken leg, sugar. A serious break, though. They did surgery today.”

  “Surgery!” Sob, sob. “He said he has good insurance. Is that covered? We don’t have a lot of money.”

  “Yes, looks like he has good insurance, but I’m not supposed to say anything about that.”

  “I need to see him. What room is he in? Can I come now?”

  “It’s too late for visitors tonight, honey. But you come in the morning. He seems to have made it through that surgery just fine and I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. They moved him to a room after he left recovery. Should be in room nine fifteen. You got that?”

  “Nine fifteen? Is that on the ninth floor?”

  “Sure is. He’ll be in a lot of pain, of course. I’m sure they’ll be taking care of that with sedatives so he should sleep through the night. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

  “That’s great. I sure do appreciate you telling me this. You are so kind. Have a good night now.” Sierra hung up and looked at Rhett. With the phone on speaker, he’d heard the whole thing. “How did I do?”

  “You were perfect. You convinced me.” He touched her chin and looked her over. “I almost expected tears.”

  “I wouldn’t waste waterworks on a phone call.” She grinned at him, pumped that she’d managed to pull that off. “What’s next?”

  “Now I need to take a trip up to nine and make sure Darrel is sleeping like she promised.”

  “I’d feel better if we saw his truck here.” Sierra realized Rhett hadn’t moved yet. “Wait a minute. You said ‘I,’ not ‘we.’ I’m going with you. Don’t even think you’re leaving me here.”

  “One person could sneak in unnoticed.” He stuck his phone in his pocket.

  “Save your breath. I want to see for myself that Darrel is there. I’ve been in this hospital before. Know it too well.”

  “All right. Your knowing the hospital just won me over. Careful, it’s starting to rain.” He jumped out of the car and ran around to open her door. “I’ve learned from a few previous adventures that walking in like you belong is the best way to get into places where you don’t.”

  “Oh, really? I want to hear about those previous adventures sometime.” She clung to his arm as they walked toward the emergency entrance. The arrival of an ambulance helped them slip inside unnoticed. Busy doctors and nurses were taking care of the patient who had been in a car wreck. Sierra looked away from the sight of blood as she let Rhett lead her toward stairs instead of a bank of elevators.

  “Sorry about the stairs. Are they going to be a problem?” He shut them inside the stairwell.

  “Only if we have to do nine flights.” Sierra hated to admit that. Too bad it was the truth. She didn’t do stairs easily in the best of circumstances, and today had already been a hard day.

  “No, we’ll come out on the next floor and take the elevator. Like I said, we’ll act like we have a legitimate purpose for being in the hospital at this time of night.” He started up then stopped. “Want me to carry you?”

  “Don’t be insane. I can make one flight of stairs. Call it physical therapy. Probably overdue.” Sierra took her time. “Go ahead, please. Don’t watch. I’m slow and awkward. You can check the exit door at the top and make sure the coast is clear.”

  “You’re amazing, you know that?” He stopped and came back down to kiss her. “Take your time. Hopefully Darrel is in a morphine haze and we made this trip for nothing.”

  “Hopefully.” Sierra grinned at him. “Keep kissing me like that and I’ll think you like me.”

  “Oh, I do, Sierra MacKenzie. I’m liking you a lot.” He brushed her cheek with a fingertip then bounded up the stairs.

  She watched him go, so athletic, so…everything. Why would a man like that want her? She was clumsy as she lurched up the stairs. Her leg hurt like hell, and she had to sit on the top step of the landing and breathe through the pain. She was surer than ever that her accident was on Sally Ann. She wanted to pound the woman. No one else had had the means and motive to do this to her. And now it looked like Sally Ann might have had a hand in this latest attack on her property and her life. Oh, but that bitch was going down.

  Sierra looked up. Ten more steps to go. She could practically feel Rhett’s impatience as he waited at the top. But he didn’t say a word. She used the handrail to drag herself to her feet. She wasn’t about to disappoint him by letting a tear fall, but she felt perilously close to it. She was not a victim, damn it. She was a survivor. And she was going to make Sally Ann or whoever had started this pay and pay big.

  They came out on two and were waiting for the elevator when a nurse stopped them.

  “Excuse me, but it’s past visiting hours. May I ask your reason for being here?” She looked them over.

  “Baby, I’m not sure I can make it.” Sierra collapsed against Rhett. On cue, he swung her into his arms. “Isn’t X-ray on four?” She put an arm around Rhett’s neck. “I fell at the ranch and my doctor ordered me to come in. I’ve had multiple surgeries on this leg.” She gestured at it. “Maybe you remember me. Terrible fall from my horse at the arena here a dozen years ago.”

  “No, honey, I just got hired here last year. Are you in terrible pain?” The nurse reached past them to punch the up button again,
even though it was already lit.

  “God, yes. I’ve got a rod and pins in it and any fall is worrisome.” Sierra buried her head in Rhett’s shoulder when the elevator doors opened. “At last. I don’t know what we were thinking, getting off on two.”

  “Good luck. Hope everything comes out all right.” The nurse looked concerned as the door shut in her face.

  “Punch four. In case she watches to make sure we get there.”

  Rhett did then hit nine. “You really are quite the actress.” He kept his arms around her.

  “You can put me down now.” She smiled up at him.

  “Now why would I do that? I kind of like where you are now.” He put on a frown when the doors opened on four but they didn’t see anyone. “Okay, nine coming up. I’ll put you down, but only because we don’t want to draw attention. If we get caught again, I expect you to save us.”

  “Nine isn’t as easy, just patient rooms, but I’ll do my best.” Sierra slid down his body. When the doors opened again, she was relieved to see the floor deserted.

  Nine fifteen. A right turn and then a left. They could see a nurses’ station down the hall. When they got near Darrel’s room, two nurses stood in front of his door, arguing in quiet voices.

  “I told you, I didn’t take him anywhere. He’s not scheduled for tests at this time of night.” The tall nurse held a chart.

  “Darrel Lockhart had his medication two hours ago. He should be sleeping soundly. So where the hell is he?” Nurse two, a short redhead, looked over her shoulder. “May I help you?”

  “Are we lost? My doctor sent us for X-rays.” Sierra clutched Rhett’s arm. “I’m in so much pain I can’t remember what he said.”

  “Sorry, honey. It’s on four. Down and to the left. Someone in the emergency room should have escorted you.” The nurse turned back to the one with the chart. “We’ve stalled long enough. We either find him or call the supervising nurse and security.”

  Rhett picked up Sierra again and strode back to the elevators. “Don’t say a word.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m speechless.” She waited until they were in the elevator and on the way down before she pushed and he let her go.

  “What now, Rhett?” Sierra was clearly pissed. “Where could he be? How did he leave?”

  “I’d say he had help. No way could he be in any shape right now to leave on his own.” Rhett stared at the numbers flashing on the board in front of him. Before they reached the lobby, he held her shoulders. “We’ll find him. I swear it.”

  “You can’t promise that.” She kissed his cheek. “But thanks for trying. Maybe it’s time to call in the authorities.”

  “At two in the morning?” Rhett took her hand and pulled her into the hall. “Let’s look for his truck first. Drive around the hospital. He might have passed out somewhere close by. We still only have conjecture that he’s done anything wrong. Maybe he dug that hole. But you didn’t get hurt; he did. Maybe he started the fire, but so far the sheriff hasn’t found proof of it.”

  “Stop sounding so logical.” Sierra wobbled. “I want to do something. Doesn’t the fact that Darrel ran prove he’s guilty?”

  “It is the act of a desperate man.” Rhett stopped talking when a doctor walked quickly past them toward the emergency entrance. “Guess they had another ambulance come in.”

  “It was raining. This late, drunks are hitting the road after the bars close. It’s a recipe for disaster.” Sierra grabbed Rhett’s arm and held him back as several hospital workers rushed past them. “This must be a bad one.” They heard the siren shut off abruptly as it arrived at the emergency room doors. Soon a gurney was shoved inside.

  The EMT was talking rapid-fire as he handed the patient off to a doctor. “Looked like a high-speed chase, the cops said. This guy was in the first truck. It went through a guardrail and hit a tree. No seat belt.” He shook his head. “Look at his wrist, Doc. He’s a patient here. See the hospital bracelet and gown? I called it in. Patient is post-op named Darrel Lockhart. Records confirm he’s carrying a shitload of morphine in his system. Don’t know how he managed to get out of the hospital, much less drive a truck on one leg and stoned out of his mind. You save this one and you’re going to get a medal.”

  Sierra gasped, and Rhett helped her get through the emergency room. They’d almost made it when another ambulance arrived.

  A female EMT pushed inside with a doctor listening intently to statistics. This time it was a crying woman on the stretcher. “Vic in second truck spun out when the first one went airborne. Her truck lost control then flipped. This one was luckier. Had on a seat belt. Trauma to abdomen, possible internal bleeding. Possible concussion.” The woman on the gurney held on to her stomach and moaned loudly. Blood ran down a cut on her forehead and partially obscured her face.

  “Marty!” Sierra ran toward her. “What the hell happened?”

  “Ma’am? Do you know this person?” A policeman stopped her before she could get close enough to touch the gurney that was pushed past them into a cubicle.

  “Yes, it’s Marty Lewis. She’s from Muellerville.” Sierra put her hand to her mouth. “Is she okay? Was anyone else in the truck with her?”

  “Paramedic said she’ll live, even though she was clearly driving recklessly. Far as we know, she was by herself.” The cop held Marty’s driver’s license. “You happen to know her next of kin?”

  “That would be her husband. I have his phone number.” Sierra pulled out her phone. “He’s my mechanic.” She fumbled with it.

  * * * *

  Rhett eased over to where the medical team was working on Darrel while Sierra kept talking to the cop. What he heard before he hurried back to Sierra’s side wasn’t reassuring. She’d finally found Marty’s home number and passed it on.

  “Everything okay?” Rhett grabbed her arm when she swayed.

  The cop noticed him. “A little late to be here. May I ask your business?”

  “A friend just had surgery. We were waiting to see if he came out all right. Finally got word a few minutes ago.” Rhett tugged Sierra toward the exit. “We were just leaving. Hell of a thing, seeing a friend come in like that.”

  “Strange situation.” The cop turned toward the emergency bays where they were working on the patients. “This was a two-car pileup. What about the other guy just brought in? Do you know him?” He focused on them again. “I’ll have to check with the other patrolman for a name. He ran the license plate.”

  “Uh. I can’t imagine…” Sierra managed to sway again, as if about to faint. Clearly she wasn’t going to admit a connection to Darrel. “I don’t feel well, honey. Can we go home now?”

  “Sure. Sorry we can’t help you, Officer. The sight of blood makes her queasy.” Rhett nodded and hustled Sierra out of there, relieved when the cop didn’t try to stop them. Outside, it was still raining as they hurried to the car and climbed inside. He started the engine. “You’re shivering. I’ll turn on the seat warmers.”

  “Thanks. It’s just…” Sierra wiped rainwater off her face. “I wanted answers but I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Poor Darrel. Why did he think he had to run?”

  “If he burned down your barn, he knew he was facing jail, Sierra. We need to call the sheriff right now.” He stared at Sierra in the dim interior. “You realize Darrel may die?”

  “What? I knew it sounded serious, but where did you get that?” Sierra’s face was white.

  “While you were giving the cop Marty’s husband’s number, I managed to hear a little of what the doctors working on Darrel were saying. He was thrown through the truck windshield when it hit that tree. He’s critical and hanging on by a thread.” He glanced at the two highway patrol cars parked near the ambulances. “Cops said it looked to them like Marty was pursuing Darrel in her truck. Can you imagine why?”

  “Wait. It wasn’t the other way around?” Sierra frowned. “Mar
ty was behind Darrel?”

  “That’s what the other cop said.” Rhett picked up her hand. “Could Marty have been trying to stop Darrel from taking off?”

  “That doesn’t make sense. She helped Sally Ann get his truck. So where’s Sally Ann now? I don’t think she had time to take Sally Ann home then come back to the hospital.” Sierra tugged on Rhett’s hand.

  Rhett turned on the windshield wipers. “I didn’t want to get too inquisitive, raise questions with the highway patrol. But one of them did say there were still people there, measuring skid marks and figuring out exactly what had happened. If Marty had a passenger, they would have found her.” He put his hands on the wheel. “We can’t stall any longer. We have to call the sheriff. The highway patrol will talk to Myra. Once she’s involved, hopefully we can get some of the answers we want.”

  “Maybe. Or we can get some answers we don’t want.” Sierra looked down at her phone. “You realize it’s almost three in the morning? Myra won’t be happy to hear from me. She’ll want to know why we’re here in the first place.”

  “Maybe she won’t mind, Sierra. We were being careful, making sure Darrel hadn’t taken off. Then look what we found.” Rhett pulled out his own phone. “Let me call. Darrel making a run for it looks suspicious. This may mean things are coming together. Maybe not in a good way, but coming together. Marty is now trapped in that hospital too. She’s going to have to answer some important questions.”

  “Right. How did Darrel get out of the hospital? Was Marty the one helping him? Why was she chasing him? And where the hell is Sally Ann?” Sierra shook her head.

  “I can tell you are exhausted, and you’re rubbing your leg again. Those stairs were too much for you.” Rhett felt like hell. They should have called the sheriff from home. Had her send someone to the hospital. Damn it, he’d dragged Sierra into this and she looked like she was either going to cry or fall over.

  “Stop it!” Sierra glared at him. “I don’t need taking care of, Rhett. I can tell that’s what you’re thinking. Call the sheriff. Yes, that’ll mean we’ll be here forever, waiting for her and answering her questions. But I can handle it.” She reached across the console and grabbed his hand. “Do it now. Darrel ran. What if Marty gets the bright idea to bolt as soon as she has the chance?”