Kara's Protector

by Angela Franklin

  “She didn’t want anyone to know. I told her if there were any problems, we had to call you, but nothing ever happened.” Susie said crying again. “Until now.”

  “Until now.” Cameron repeated.

  After they brought Kara back, they brought him in another chair. Susie sat on one side of the bed holding her hand, and he sat on the other side at an angle so he could watch Kara and the door both. He wasn’t taking any more chances with her. It was an hour later before the doctor came in.

  “Is she okay?” Susie asked.

  “I’m afraid she will have to stay here at least overnight. She has a concussion, and a cracked rib. She’s lucky not to have any other broken bones. We will stop the pain medicine she is on and put her on something that will allow us to wake her up, and a nurse will be in to wrap her ribs. We will take her upstairs to a room within the hour.” The doctor told them. Considering how bad she looked this was best case scenario.

  “Thank you, doctor.” Cameron said and shook his hand.

  “You can go home. I can stay and watch her.” Susie said once the doctor left.

  “Susie, I have a badge and a gun. I can protect her better.” Cameron told a half truth. He simply refused to leave her, was the rest of it.

  “Hell hath no fury like a Mama bear protecting her cub.” Susie’s eyes were lit with a fire he had never seen in her before.

  “You are right, how about we both stay.” Cameron conceded. He didn’t want on the wrong side of that mama bear.

  “I’m gonna ask her to come stay at my house for a while. She isn’t safe at the apartment anymore.” Susie said staring at Kara’s bruised face.

  “I agree that she isn’t safe at the apartment anymore, but she can’t stay with you either.” Cameron knew Susie wouldn’t be happy about that, but Kara needed protection.

  “Why can’t she stay with me?” Susie asked, her eyes were already narrowed and he could tell she was gearing up for a fight.

  “Susie, you are a strong woman, but this person is obviously dangerous.” He told her as he nodded at Kara’s face as an example.

  “I know how to use a gun, I can protect her.” Susie jutted her chin out stubbornly.

  “Kara knows that she has been found. Do you think she would stay with you, knowing someone was coming for her?” She might not talk to him much, but he was sure Kara would do whatever it took to keep the people she cared about safe.

  “She will try to run.” Susie said, echoing his thoughts.

  “I won’t let that happen.” Cameron promised her.

  “How can you stop her?” Susie was gripping Kara’s hand as if she was already trying to hold her here.

  “That is something I need to talk to Kara about first.” Cameron replied as he watched Kara carefully.

  “Can I ask you something, sheriff?” Susie asked, then waited for his nod to continue. “Are you going to try to put her in witness protection?”

  “No.” Cameron assured her quickly.

  There was a knock on the door, and Cameron tensed ready to protect Kara. A nurse poked her head in and told them she needed to wrap Kara’s ribs. His gaze focused on Susie, her small nod assured him she would stay here with Kara. He didn’t want to leave her, but he didn’t think she would appreciate him seeing her topless. He walked out and stood guard by the door as he waited to go back in.

  Cameron’s mind was going a million miles a minute trying to figure out a way to keep her safe. He could drive by her apartment more often, but that only helped if he was there at the right time. The person who did this knew where she lived. She couldn’t stay with any of her friends, because that would stir up questions, and considering Susie was the only one who knew about her past, he assumed she wouldn’t want to tell anyone.

  Suddenly an idea came to him. She wouldn’t like it, but he would convince her it was the best way to keep her safe. He only had until they released her from the hospital to convince her it was the only way. They would have to make everything look real. That wouldn’t be a problem on his end, but she might be a bit more difficult. As his plan fell into place, the nurse told him he could go back.

  “They said she would come around soon.” Susie told him as he pulled his chair close to the bed.

  “Good. At least if she’s conscious we know she is okay.” Cameron said as he reached out and took Kara’s hand in his. Susie looked at their hands, but he shook his head to stop her questions.

  “Do you think she will be okay?” Susie had been there when the doctor came in, but it looked like she was still worried.

  “It will take a while for her to heal, both physically and mentally, but I think with our help she will be fine.” Cameron wouldn’t except anything else.

  Kara was obviously a strong woman. She could be shy, but he had a feeling that was because of her abusive ex. Once she had been in town a couple months and started hanging out with Callie and the girls, she had opened up to show her true self. She was independent, stubborn, strong, and absolutely beautiful. She was still stand offish with him, but knowing what he knew now, he understood why. At six foot three, he was almost a foot taller than her. He had been told many times he was intimidating, especially in his uniform. When he felt a movement on his hand he looked up to see her gray eyes start to open.

  “There’s my girl.” Susie said standing up beside the bed.

  “Where am I?” Kara looked confused, but she hadn’t looked his way, so he didn’t think she knew he was there.

  “You’re at the hospital.” Susie said frowning at her. “Do you remember what happened?”

  “Yes, I was attacked in my apartment, but how did I get here? Oh no, did you call the ambulance?” Kara’s voice was weak, but he could tell she was upset.

  “No dear, he helped me.” Susie said nodding to Cameron.

  Chapter 2

  Oh no. She was in the hospital, and someone had helped Susie get her here. As soon as she was released she would have to run again. She hated the idea of leaving her home, but Aiden had already found her. She felt the tears start to spill down her face, leaving wet tracks on her bruised skin.

  “Hey, none of that sweetheart.” A deep voice drawled on her other side. She knew that voice.

  “Sheriff.” Kara whispered as she looked over at him.

  Having one of her eyes swollen shut at least made it easier not to make eye contact. Even with him sitting, he was still on eye level with her. She hadn’t wanted to involve anyone. She felt something squeeze her hand, and looked down to see he was holding it in his enormous hand. She tried to pull hers back, but he held on firmly, but gently. She looked up and he smiled at her. Time to get it over with.

  “I will answer your questions, but I’m not pressing charges.” Kara made her voice as firm as possible as she spoke.

  “Why not?” He was frowning down at her.

  “Kara, he can help you.” Susie said from the other side. Her head hurt too bad for her to turn and look at her.

  “No one can help. I have to disappear again.” She mumbled, but he squeezed her hand and she knew he heard her.

  “Who?” His mouth was a firm line.

  “Who what?” Kara asked keeping her eye focused on his mouth.

  “Who did this to you, sweetheart?” He asked quietly.

  “I don’t know.” Kara whispered.

  “You said you would answer my questions.” The sheriff reminded her.

  “I am, I don’t know who he was. He beat me, then before I passed out, he said he had a message for me.” Kara didn’t want to talk about this.

  “What was the message?” He asked her through clenched teeth. She kept quiet. They didn’t need any of her drama.

  “Kara, you need to tell us.” Susie said softly, as if trying to coax her into doing it.

  “Fine.” She started. She couldn’t look at them as she said it, so she closed her good eye. “He said, ‘Aiden will see you soon, bitch.’” She heard Susie gasp, but kept her eye closed.

  “I will protect yo
u.” The sheriff told her.

  “When will I be released?” No one could protect her. Her only choice was to run, run fast.

  “Not going to happen.” Cameron said in a firm voice.

  “What? Of course, I will be released, I just need to know when.” Kara tried to take a deep breath, but it made her ribs ache and she winced.

  “Settle, Kara. You will be released, what’s not going to happen is you running.” His stare seemed to go straight through her, but it only made her angrier.

  “You don’t understand. He will kill me.” Kara’s anger was melting more with every breath she took. As much pain as every breath caused, she didn’t have the energy for being angry.

  “I will keep you safe.” She could hear the promise in his voice. She looked up at him and saw the sincerity on his face.

  “Sheriff, you don’t know him like I do. He will not stop until I’m dead, and he will kill anyone who gets in his way. You can’t protect me twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.” Kara told him as she looked into his eyes with her one good eye. She already felt like she was getting drunk on his whiskey colored stare. She blinked and looked away quickly, breathing was hard enough, and the heart monitor had already sped up. Hopefully they would think it was from fear.

  “I know what people like him are capable of. I can and will keep you safe.” She had forgotten he was holding her hand till he squeezed it while he was talking.

  “The sheriff is right, he can protect you, Kara. You need to trust him.” Susie said softly.

  Kara had forgotten Susie was there. Just his presence had drawn her in. His rumbly voice soothed over her jagged nerves. If she wasn’t in this bed, she would probably be a puddle of goo at his feet. She tried to pull her hand back from him, but he held on strong and steady. She had finally found a place she belonged, people she loved, and herself really. She didn’t want to lose it all, but if she left, he couldn’t hurt them to get to her.

  “Sheriff, you have an entire town to protect. I truly appreciate all you have already done for me, but you can’t stop him. No matter how often you patrol by the diner, and my apartment, he will find a way to get to me. Trust me, this is the only way.” Kara felt the tear run down her cheek. She hated that she couldn’t stop it.

  “Susie, can you give us some time to talk.” Cameron asked politely.

  “Of course. Please do as he asks. I can’t lose you Kara, you are like the daughter I always wanted.” Susie said then kissed the top of Kara’s head before walking out and leaving them alone.

  “Alright, Kara, I was going to wait till you were a little better before we discussed this, but I have a feeling you will disappear before that happens. I need you to listen to me, and keep an open mind, can you do that?” He moved his chair so his face was right in front of hers. Kara nodded, then he continued. “Do you want to stay in Cedar Springs?”

  “Yes, but…” Kara started, but he interrupted her.

  “It was a yes or no question, and here’s another. Are you afraid of me?” She could tell this was very important and assured him quickly.

  “No.” Her voice was solid and unwavering as she spoke.

  “Good. You don’t want our friends to know about this right?” He asked and she shook her head no. “That’s what I thought. I have a way that I can protect you all day every day. Me and Susie were talking before you woke up about protecting you. She wanted to have you move in with her, but I told her no. I wouldn’t tell her the plan I had come up with until I talked to you first. If you go along with this, we will move fast, and she will be the only one who knows the truth. Are you still with me? Are you dizzy?” He considered her close as he asked the questions.

  “I’m good. My head hurts, but the world is staying in place.” She said and smiled at him.

  “That’s good.” He rumbled, but she heard him mumble “I’m about to change that.” She looked up at him confused and waited for him to continue. She was keeping her eye on his face, but not his eyes. “Kara, I need eye contact now.” He said causing her good eye to snap to his.

  “Will you marry me, Kara?” His grip on her hand tightened. She blinked a couple times, then busted out laughing.

  “Kara, I’m serious about this. With us married, you would live with me, I would go everywhere you go, and I can protect you at all times.” He said shaking her hand to keep her focused on him.

  “Sheriff, I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I can’t let you do that.” Kara had hidden any feelings she had for him a long time ago, but there was a part of her that wished this could be real.

  “You do know that’s not my name, right?” He asked with a smile. Her eye drifted to the dimple in his chin.

  “Of course.” Her mind wandered to what it would feel like to run her finger over the dip there.

  “Then what’s my name, sweetheart?” He asked softly.

  “Cameron.” She sounded breathless as she said it for the first time out loud, hopefully he thought it was from her injuries.

  “I’m going to ask you again.” He started, but she cut him off.

  “Everyone will know something is up. I told you I didn’t want them to know. Plus, I have no idea how long it will be till he comes. I can’t let you put your life on hold for a fake marriage not knowing when you can be set free.” Kara squeezed his hand hoping he would listen to her.

  “Kara, this marriage won’t be fake.” Cameron brought his free hand up to cup the side of her face. “We will live together, hold hands in front of everyone, and once this lip heals, I will kiss you. You will sleep in my bed.” She jerked back and it made her whole-body ache.

  “You would force me to…” She couldn’t even say the words. She sobbed making her ribs hurt worse.

  “Kara, I would never do that. I said sleep and that’s what I mean. If you have my last name, and we are seen together, and you live with me, word will spread that you are married to the sheriff. It might make him think twice, but if not, I will be by your side at all times, even when you sleep. I would never hurt you, sweetheart.” Most of what he said made sense, maybe that meant she had a concussion.

  “Our friends would never buy it. They know we haven’t been together.” Kara knew she had never mentioned anything about the sheriff to her friends.

  “We can say we have been hanging out in the diner. Susie will back up our story, and I’m always there with just you and her. Plus, I’m sure there are plenty of evenings we can say we spent together.” Cameron had a point, Susie would back whatever they said.

  “How long till we would have to get married? Maybe we can just say we are dating and I’m moving in with you.” Kara was trying to find any alternative to him being legally stuck with her.

  “We will be married before you are released from the hospital,” His tone was serious and she gasped.

  “Why so fast? How?” She was wishing for pain meds to explain this crazy conversation.

  “I can get it done, and there will be less questions.” His hand was actually soothing, so she nodded, and leaned into his touch.

  “One more time, sweetheart. Kara, will you marry me?” His gaze held her and she could tell he was serious, and she was out of excuses.

  “Yes.” She whispered. Cameron leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead over her good eye.

  “Cameron, what about my injuries? Our friends will ask.” Kara wasn’t sure even he could explain this away.

  “I’ll think of something before you get out.” He told her as the nurse came in.

  “Hey there Miss Walker, glad to see you’re awake.” The nurse went over to the monitor hooked to her, and frowned. “Your heart rate seems to be a bit fast, are you in a lot of pain?” The nurse asked.

  “Yes.” Kara was telling the truth, but Cameron laughed beside her, and she squeezed his hand to shut him up.

  The nurse asked several questions, then asked if she wanted something for the pain. Kara nodded and she left to get it. The nurse came back quickly and gave the medicin
e to her, but warned her it wasn’t too strong, because they needed to keep an eye on her for a concussion. The meds would make her sleepy, but she could still wake up easy.

  “Kara, I’m gonna step over here, and make a few calls. I won’t leave the room, I promise.” Cameron told her and kissed her forehead again.

  She could hear the rumble of his voice, but not what he was saying. She hoped he could keep her safe, but she was worried something would happen to him because of her. As her pain eased, her body relaxed, and she started to drift off to sleep. The nurse came in and woke her up a lot to check her, and every time she did Cameron was beside her.

  *****

  Cameron had arranged for the Chaplain to marry them tomorrow when she woke up. Susie said she would be a witness, and the Chaplain said he could find another. He had talked with a friend at the court house who was willing to rush the license so this would be legal. He had stayed by Kara’s bed all night, dozing when she was asleep.

  Their plan had confused Susie, but she said she would go along with whatever they said if it kept Kara safe and in Cedar Springs. She had asked him if he was only marrying her to protect her, and he had said yes. She didn’t look convinced, but Susie let it go. He wasn’t sure if it was the truth or not, but after holding her hand all night he was starting to think there was more to it than that.

  “No!” Kara screamed and jerked in the bed. Cameron stood up ready to fight, but nothing was there, Kara was still asleep. “Please don’t hurt him, take me instead.” She said thrashing around in the bed. Her heart monitor was going wild.

  “Kara, sweetheart, open your eyes.” Cameron coaxed as he tried to hold her still so she wouldn’t hurt herself worse. “Kara, baby, it’s me Cameron, come on baby wake up.” He moved his hand to rub the side of her face that wasn’t bruised. She stilled and began opening her eyes.

  “Sheriff.” She whispered and covered his hand with hers. Some of the swelling had gone down so she could at least open both eyes, but one would only open half way.