by Leigh Riker
Annabelle sank down on her desk chair.
Today Finn wore his usual pressed jeans with a yellow polo shirt that contrasted with his dark hair, his hazel eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses that made him appear both tough and even more handsome. He smelled of fresh air and sunshine. She felt tempted, as Shadow had done, to fan her cheeks.
Finn glanced at her laptop. “Didn’t mean to interrupt your workday,” he said. “How’s Emmie?”
“She took a rare nap, which should have alerted me that she wasn’t feeling well, then woke up with a fever.”
“Could be her body’s reaction to that fall.” He looked at the laptop again. “What’s her temperature?”
“I couldn’t tell. I don’t own a current thermometer.” Annabelle had rooted through the bathroom cabinets but all she’d found was an old glass version that contained dangerous mercury. What if Emmie broke it? Contaminated the room and herself? Another failure on Annabelle’s part. Maybe Emmie had an infection from the scrapes she’d gotten at the playground and the germs had already spread through her system. “She’s with Blossom right now. After we see Sawyer McCord, I’ll stop at the pharmacy to buy one.”
Her face had warmed. Finn looked at the computer a third time, and she turned the machine so he could see its screen. “You didn’t interrupt my work. I’m a sweepstakes junkie. For years I’ve entered contests. This prize would be an all-expense-paid Caribbean cruise.”
“I saw your travel posters at your house.” Finn removed his sunglasses. “Ever win anything?”
“A fifties jukebox.” Annabelle welcomed the safer topic. “For a while I had an unlimited supply of oldies but goodies to play.” She had to smile. “Smaller items, too, over the years. A ‘diamond’ necklace I thought was so expensive I’d need to insure it.” Her mother had said, Didn’t they have anyone else to give it to? “But the necklace turned out to be paste. Oh, and I won a weekend at a spa in New Mexico—including nutritional advice and some sort of cleanse—” she shuddered “—but my parents were ill then so I couldn’t go.” Leave a sick man to take care of himself? her dad had asked. What kind of daughter are you?
“Sorry about the diamonds,” he said.
“I don’t need them.” She took a breath. Better to let him know she wouldn’t be here much longer than to let him see how she felt about him. “I’ll be embarking on a new career very soon. I’ve signed up for a course in Denver.”
His gaze sharpened. “What kind of course?”
“To become certified as an international tour director. I always envied Sierra her job, which as I told you, takes her to different places. At first I thought I’d like to do that, too, but I want even more travel. I want to meet new people, go to all the places I’ve never been.” She went on, “Once the diner is sold, I’ll need a new way to make a living, and this seems perfect.” She paused. “I paid for it the very day Sierra phoned that she wanted to come visit.”
“Sierra’s still in the hospital, Annabelle. I haven’t even tried to ask her about the warrant yet, and I’m sure you haven’t been able to talk to her about Emmie’s long-term care.” He turned the computer around to her again.
Her heart sank. “Sierra’s awake more now and even alert, but when I tried to bring up Missouri, she called you a liar, and accused me of not taking good care of Emmie. That was the end of that.”
Finn’s gaze hardened. “Well, it’s not, and I don’t care what she called me. In my business I have a thick skin. I realize you don’t accept the fact that your cousin has been involved in illegal activity in Missouri, but I’ve talked to the police in St. Louis. Apparently Sierra did steal some money—”
Annabelle stood up. “Just because someone accused her doesn’t mean—”
“—she’s guilty, I know, but she has to answer the charges. And since she’s here in my jurisdiction I’ll have to serve that warrant—which I can’t do until she’s been medically cleared.” Finn leaned over her desk. “Let the system work, Annabelle. If she’s innocent, that will come out in the evidence and I’ll apologize. I wish I could do more to help.”
Annabelle flushed. Her gaze was level with Finn’s yellow shirt, which covered his very masculine chest. “I wasn’t asking for help.”
She could tell he didn’t know how to take that. Finn shifted his weight, his gun belt jangling with the motion, his expression opaque.
He put one hand on the butt of the pistol. “Maybe you should think about your relationship with Sierra. From what you say, she wasn’t exactly grateful to you for taking Emmie. Could be she’s not the person you remember.”
That thought had crossed Annabelle’s mind but she wasn’t ready to condemn her cousin, even when Sierra had all but accused her of neglecting Emmie. Sierra must be in pain. After what had been that near-fatal accident, and with drugs on board, she couldn’t be held accountable for what she’d said. Besides, Sierra knew that Annabelle made an easy target. She had rarely fought back, the story of her life. I stuck up for you...because you didn’t for yourself.
“Not the same person?” Annabelle echoed. “Maybe not, but for now I’m her protector—and Emmie’s. Someone has to believe in Sierra.”
Finn studied the floor. “I have to admire your loyalty.”
“Which you consider to be misplaced.”
He raised his gaze to Annabelle, looking as if he didn’t want to say what came next. “That’s your business. But have you asked yourself the serious questions? What if Sierra stays in that hospital? She’s shown few signs of being able to go home so far. Even if she could, considering that warrant, she might end up in jail. And if you’re gone, what would that mean for Emmie?”
“I haven’t thought that through. The next time I talk to Sierra, I hope to ask her about Emmie’s father. Maybe he could take her and I won’t need to—”
“Maybe you will. Time is short and there’s a three-year-old child to consider here. You can’t just up and leave even if that’s what you want most in this world.”
“You’re saying I’m selfish.”
“I’m saying you need to think of Emmie’s welfare.” This from someone who didn’t have children, but Finn made her feel guilty anyway.
“You sound like Sierra, but I’m doing the best I can,” she said. “I’ll do what’s right for Emmie—and for me.”
Finn put his sunglasses back on, started for the hallway then stopped. “And I’m sure Emmie trusts you to do just that. Sierra, too. Everyone in Barren does, Annabelle, and people rely on you too much. Doesn’t leave you any protection for yourself.” He glanced back over his shoulder, catching her with an astonished look on her face. “But don’t let Emmie down.”
She wasn’t accustomed to validation from anyone—and not from a man who’d also implied she wasn’t doing a very good job. That she didn’t care enough about Emmie. Coming from Finn, rather than Sierra, that hurt even more.
She watched until he disappeared around the corner into the main room of the restaurant, heard him greet the mayor, Harry Barnes, and several ladies who were having a late lunch.
Finn’s department motto was To Protect and Serve. He hadn’t meant anything else. For Emmie. Or her.
* * *
“REMEMBER MISS CLARA’S SHOP, Sierra?” Annabelle asked, having spent the past half hour at her cousin’s bedside. She would have to leave soon to pick up Emmie, who was with Blossom, for her doctor’s appointment. Annabelle’s earlier talk with Finn, except for his parting words, had already ruined her day. “We laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe.”
Sierra waved a limp hand in the air, almost dislodging the IV line in her arm. “Your mother grounded us for the next week.”
Annabelle caught her arm. Sierra had torn out that line before, and half of Annabelle’s visits seemed to involve calling the nurse to redo it. “That was the last time we went to the store,” Annabelle said, “but Miss Clara
did have the most interesting things for sale.”
She didn’t go on. All at once the memory didn’t seem funny. At the store, to her horror, Sierra had slipped a cheap, flashy ring in her pocket, and that night Annabelle’s mother had found it. Of course she’d blamed Annabelle, too—Now my daughter is a thief?—and the next summer Sierra hadn’t come to stay. She’d never come again. Better not to pursue this topic, which might bring another angry outburst from Sierra about Annabelle’s parents.
For the first ten minutes today, Sierra had ranted—resting between bouts—about them and about Finn.
“Never mind Miss Clara,” she said. “If that sheriff walks into this room again—”
“You can’t blame him for doing his job,” Annabelle pointed out although she’d come close to the same accusation. Never mind how good he’d looked in those aviator sunglasses.
“Don’t believe him, Annabelle.” Sierra waved her arm again. “He’s nothing but a small-town cop looking to make his name. Accusing me of something I didn’t do should get him fired. Instead, you’re actually buying into his lies.”
Annabelle rubbed her forehead. “I’m on your side, you know that.” All the more after Finn’s visit to the diner. “It would help, though, if you’d tell me why the sheriff has that warrant.” Her mouth turned down. “Maybe someone else has the same name as you or some clerk entered the wrong charges on the form.”
Sierra struggled to sit straighter in the bed. “If you value our friendship—and for years it hasn’t seemed like it—stop talking about this. By the time I’m released from this hospital, Finn Donovan will know how wrong he is.”
Annabelle sank back in her chair. Sierra had a point. Annabelle hadn’t been a very good friend, and because of her trip to Denver she’d discouraged Sierra from coming to Barren. No wonder Sierra had accused her of not caring properly for Emmie, which, as Finn had implied, could be partially true.
She reached out, brushing the blanket that covered Sierra’s legs. “I’m still your friend. I’ve told Finn you must be innocent. Please believe me.”
“Why should I? You didn’t even bring Emmie to see me like you promised.”
Annabelle’s mouth tightened. Why was Sierra being so difficult? “I wanted to, but the hospital’s regulations wouldn’t allow her to come,” she said. “The age for child visitors in this facility is twelve years old.”
“They need to make an exception. I’m her mother! I need to see her.”
Annabelle tried to find patience. “You’ve talked on the phone.” And Emmie had seemed upset afterward. “For now that will have to be enough.” She gently pushed Sierra back against her pillows. “The sooner you get well, the quicker you can come home. You’ll stay with me as long as you want. I promise, Sierra.”
Sierra turned her face away. “All I’ve got left,” she murmured as if Annabelle’s vow, like her care of Emmie, wasn’t enough.
“That can’t be all,” she said, trying to choose her words carefully. Was Sierra depressed? “If you don’t believe me, you still have Emmie.”
“Worried.” Sierra’s eyes brimmed. “If something happens to me...”
Her pulse leaped. Had Sierra lost hope that she’d survive? “The only thing that’s going to happen is you’ll walk out of this hospital soon and be with Emmie again.”
“But if I don’t...” She clutched Annabelle’s hand. “Please. Promise me—you’ll find Emmie’s father.”
“I would love to. I’ve wanted to ask about him. You’re right, he should know about your accident and where you are, how you’re doing now. He needs to know where Emmie is, too.”
A bitter smile touched Sierra’s lips. She’d said she had loose ends to settle in Barren. Before the accident had she been on her way to see Emmie’s dad, not Annabelle after all? And what was their relationship to each other now?
Sierra’s arm sliced through the air again and the IV popped out. Blood began to pool on the tile floor.
Annabelle reached for the call button. “Sierra. Tell me more about him.” In the minute or two it took for a nurse to appear, she leaned closer to Sierra. “Give me his name. Tell me where I can reach him...”
But Sierra didn’t answer that. “Find him, Annabelle. He’s tall, not so dark, and dangerous,” was all she murmured before she seemed to lose the last of her strength and didn’t go on.
When the nurse swept into the room, Annabelle stepped back from the bed while the woman clucked her disapproval of the IV line that had come unhooked again. And, with a last glance at her cousin’s still form and gray complexion, Annabelle slipped back into the hallway. Sierra’s fading bruises were the only color in her face.
This visit hadn’t gone well. Tomorrow she would press Sierra again about Emmie’s father.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ANNABELLE FOLLOWED SAWYER MCCORD from the exam room into his office across the hall. They’d left Emmie in the reception area playing with the toys that had been there since Annabelle was born. A grape lollipop seemed to be soothing Emmie’s sore throat, and she’d accepted the treat with as much enthusiasm as she might another doughnut. Sugar was apparently her favorite food, as it had been for her mother years ago.
Sawyer, who was engaged to Olivia, had recently joined Doc Baxter’s practice. He gestured at the old-fashioned surroundings, a battered wooden desk, a bookcase stuffed with medical texts, a creaky desk chair. A faded Navajo rug covered the floor. “I thought it would be easy to share this space with Doc.” Sawyer sent her a rueful smile, his deep blue eyes sparkling. “But he’s not easing into retirement after all.”
“We grew up seeing him for our aches and pains, not to mention all those vaccinations.” Annabelle settled into the other chair in front of his desk.
“Good times,” he said. “I only wish more people would ask for me when they call for an appointment. It’s harder than I expected to get traction here.”
“Over time Doc will hand off more of his duties, I’m sure. Thanks for taking such good care of Sierra. And Emmie today.”
“No problem,” Sawyer said, glancing at her chart. “The scrapes she got at the playground look clean and are already beginning to heal.”
“Her fever, though...does Emmie have strep?”
“No, it’s likely viral. Not connected to her fall. Doc and I have seen quite a few kids this week with the same symptoms. Her throat hurts now but will mend on its own. Probably within the next five days or so. If not, bring her in again. Don’t hesitate to call me, Belle. You have my number.”
Five days? She’d be in Denver then. “It’s good to hear it’s nothing serious, but how is she doing otherwise? I’m concerned about her language development. I have nothing to go by except for being around Nick and Ava now and then. They’re older than her, but they’ve always been real chatterboxes. Does Emmie seem a bit behind?”
“Nothing to worry about that I can see. Kids vary—a lot—and I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Sawyer eyed her for a moment, arms crossed over his chest. “What about you? Holding up all right? Running your business, worrying about Sierra and having Emmie with you must take a toll. Olivia tells me you’ve put the diner up for sale.”
She tried a smile. “If you know anyone who’s looking for a white elephant, let me know. I’m open to negotiation.”
Sawyer nodded. “That’s a lot to have on your plate, but I’ve always thought your heart wasn’t really in that diner. I can’t blame you for wanting to do something else. Seeing the world’s a great idea—for anyone—but we all have roots somewhere. Mine—and yours—are here. Maybe you’re not looking for adventure as much as you need to simply get away for a while.”
Sawyer should know about that. He’d left his family’s ranch, the Circle H, to finish medical school then journeyed halfway around the world to establish his clinic in far-off Kedar. He’d only been back for a few months.
His gaze s
eemed to look through her. “Be aware, though. There’ll be times when, away from home, you’ll lie awake wondering at the choice you made. Wondering if you could fit in again where you once took it for granted that you belong.”
Annabelle had never felt she belonged here. “Are you trying to discourage me?”
“No, only hoping you don’t make the right choice for the wrong reasons.”
He must mean her family. Certainly they’d factored into her decision to sell the diner and eventually the house, her strongest reminders of how they’d treated her. How to explain to Sawyer that her parents’ restaurant made her feel trapped? That they’d named it after her when she was born seemed worse because their lifelong expectation was for her to stay here, preserving their legacy while keeping Annabelle from discovering herself.
“I have to do...what I have to do.” She held his gaze. “Right now that means taking care of Emmie and, yes, worrying about Sierra. I know her condition has been upgraded...but she didn’t seem good at all to me today. What’s her prognosis?”
“She has a long way to go.” Sawyer mentioned her broken bones, including a number of ribs, numerous contusions, internal organ damage. “Her kidney values still aren’t normal. We’re doing all we can but at this point a lot of her recovery is up to Sierra. I’m not happy about her mental outlook either. She doesn’t seem to be really...trying.”
Annabelle told him about Sierra’s concern for Emmie, her plea to Annabelle to find her father. “I have no idea about Sierra’s relationship with him but she never mentioned him until today. And she’s also worried about Finn Donovan.” Annabelle remembered her earlier conversation with him. “I’d be worried, too, if I knew the sheriff was waiting for me to get better so he could see me extradited to some other state, to jail.”
Yes, she would find Emmie’s father for Sierra.
Tonight she had to start getting ready for Denver.
