An Unexpected Rescue (Oak Springs Series Book 1)

by Sherri McDuffie

  Chapter 9

  Kelly drove home, fighting against queasiness and a blinding headache. She was forced to stop twice along the way when the pain worsened to the point she couldn’t focus. Afternoon shadows were just beginning to fall when she pulled into Derik’s drive. His truck was sitting in the garage. The boys were playing in the front yard, and they ran to her car as soon as she parked. When she opened the door, they both froze. Suddenly, Win turned and ran toward the house, yelling, “Daddy! Daddy! Kelly’s back, and she’s been in a fight.”

  She shook her head and grinned, wincing at the pain it caused. As she stepped out of the car, Derik hurried out of the house, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel tucked into the waist of his jeans. As soon as he saw Kelly’s face, he grabbed her by the shoulders. She gasped as his hands came in contact with a bruise where Jarrod had slammed her against the wall. He quickly released his grip and said, “What the hell happened? Who did this to you, Kelly?”

  “Derik, can we please go inside? I’m okay, but I really need to sit down. My head’s killing me.” She was shocked as his hands slid behind her knees, and she was lifted in his arms.

  He carried her into the house and asked, “Do you need to lie down?”

  “No, please, put me down. I’m fine.”

  He lowered her feet to the floor and pulled out a kitchen chair. She sat at the table and rested her head in her hands.

  The boys had followed them into the house, and both were asking a dozen questions at once. Finally, Derik turned to them and said, “Win, get a bag of peas out of the freezer. D.C., get Kelly a glass of water.” During those few uninterrupted minutes, Derik studied Kelly’s face. Both eyes were black, her left one almost swollen shut. A deep slit extending below her bottom lip was held together by a butterfly bandage. She had a small cut above her left eye that was also held together with a butterfly bandage. A bruise on her left jaw and cheekbone had bloomed into a deep purple.

  “Derik, I don’t want to scare the boys. I know this looks bad. If it’s going to upset them, I can go somewhere else.”

  Win ran to the table with two bags of frozen vegetables in his hands. “Kelly, do you like green peas or purple hull peas best?”

  “I think the green peas will do just fine, Win. Thank you very much.” She took the cold bag and placed it against her cheek.

  “Those are my favorites, too,” Win said as he ran to return the other bag to the freezer.

  “Here’s your water, Kelly,” D.C. said as he sat the glass in front of her. “I didn’t put ice in it. Did you want ice in it? I can get you some, if you want me to.”

  “This is fine, D.C. Thank you.” She turned to Derik, who was still squatting in front of her. “Do you have any aspirin?”

  “Sure, hang on.” He sprinted up the stairs and was back almost immediately with a bottle of pills. “Take a couple of these then go upstairs and lie down for a while. I’ve almost got dinner ready. I’ll feed the boys and be up to check on you in a few minutes.”

  She swallowed the pills and took the frozen peas upstairs where she lay on the bed and cried with relief that her ordeal was over and because she knew she was safe. Her tears dampened the pillow as she drifted off to sleep.

  Kelly woke when she felt a blanket being placed on her shoulders. She opened her eyes and saw Derik standing beside her bed. “I didn’t mean to wake you. How do you feel?”

  Kelly pushed herself up against the headboard. She patted the side of the bed, inviting him to sit, and he did. She brushed the hair from her face and flinched in pain when her fingers touched the area on her scalp where Jarrod had held her hair during the assault.

  “Do you want to talk? What happened, Kelly? Did he . . .? Were you . . .?”

  “No,” Kelly said, knowing what he was asking. “He was an angry guy who thought he was my boyfriend and tried to convince me to change my mind about moving.” She told him about Jarrod and what had happened at the apartment and a little about their past relationship.

  “The night my car broke down on the side of the road I had been attending a costume party, sort of a going away party. I’d already decided to move but wasn’t sure where. I just knew I had to get away from Jarrod completely. We had argued two weeks before, but I guess he refused to accept that I didn’t want to have a relationship with him. He showed up, uninvited, about an hour after the party started. He was furious with me for being there, said some awful things, and tried to force me to leave with him. There were a couple of guys who saw us and held him until I managed to get in my car and take off. I just drove. And the rest is history,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

  “Is that when you got the bruise I saw on your cheek the night I towed you into town?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does he know where you are now? Did you tell him where you were moving? Do you think he followed you?”

  “No, they arrested him last night. I told my roommate, but that was all. No one else knows where I am.” A realization struck her, and she said, “But if you’re worried that there might be trouble, I’ll leave. I’d never put you or the boys in danger.” Kelly dropped her face into her hands. “I’m sorry, maybe that would be best.”

  “There’s no reason for you to leave. You’re welcome here, and we want you here. And don’t forget, you work here,” he added with a wink. “Now, get some rest, and we can talk in the morning.” He stood and looked at her swollen face then turned and left the room.

  Derik was still thinking about Kelly as he helped the boys into their pajamas. When they crawled onto D.C.’s bed, Win said, “Daddy, who hurt Kelly?”

  Derik closed the book he had been ready to read. “A man she thought was her friend.”

  “Why?”

  “He didn’t want her to move. He wanted her to stay there.”

  “But you said men aren’t supposed to hit girls. Didn’t you?” D.C. asked.

  “That’s right, son. Men should always treat women with respect. There is no reason that someone bigger or stronger should pick on anyone who is smaller or weaker. And men are usually bigger and stronger than women. It’s wrong for men to hit women, or boys to hit girls. That is something you guys should always remember.”

  “Is he going to come here and hit her again?” Win asked.

  D.C. jumped to his feet in the middle of the bed and flexed his tiny muscles. “If he does, I’ll protect her.”

  “Yeah, we’ll protect her. Won’t we, Daddy?” Win said, jumping up beside his brother.

  “We’ll do our best, boys.”

  The next morning Kelly was up early. Her jaw hurt, and her neck and shoulders still ached. She prepared breakfast for Derik and the boys, but her queasy stomach kept her from eating. The children had a million questions about her injuries, which she answered without going into a lot of detail.

  “I got a black eye once, when I got hit by a ball. It really hurt, but my eye didn’t get fat like yours. Can you see out of it?” D.C. asked. “Daddy says boys are never allowed to hit girls. He says girls are special, and boys are supposed to treat them with respect.”

  She glanced at Derik, who winked at her over his coffee. “That’s very sweet. It’s nice to know that there are men who feel that way. But I think everyone should be treated with respect, even little boys.” She reached out and ruffled D.C.’s hair, bringing a grin to the child’s face.

  Once the boys had gone to school, she and Derik sat at the table and talked. He told her about the boys’ after school activities and their recent weekend outings.

  “You guys stay pretty busy,” she said.

  “After their mother died, I thought they had to be involved in everything possible, but that only made all of us tired and irritable. I discovered they didn’t need to stay busy as much as they just needed me. Mary Ann’s mother died last year, so they lost both
a mother and grandmother in a very short time. I’m all they have. Well, me and their grandfather.”

  “Does he live nearby? Do the boys get to see him?”

  “I guess we chat with him about once a week or so. He doesn’t have any family left, except for us. He lives about a hundred miles west of here. I’ve suggested he move closer, but so far he hasn’t been interested. I imagine leaving the house you and your wife shared for over forty years would be hard to do. The boys and I spent a weekend with him a couple of months ago.”

  “I don’t mean to pry, but do you two get along?”

  Derik stared into his coffee cup for a few minutes. “Jack was, and still is, like a father to me. Mary Ann and I were high school sweethearts, so I’ve known her parents since I was sixteen. From the first time we met, he’s treated me like a son. That includes chewing me out when I needed it and assigning me chores when things needed done.” Derik sat for a minute longer, a smile dancing at the corners of his mouth. “I couldn’t ask for a better grandfather for the boys. I really do wish he was closer so he could spend more time with them. It would help them, and him, too.”

  “I loved having my grandparents close enough to visit when I was young. Every child needs that type of relationship that grandparents provide. Why don’t you ask him again the next time you talk?”

  “Maybe I will. The boys would love having him around. And so would I.”

  Derik left for work after they finished their coffee. Kelly wiped down the kitchen, started the dishwasher, then went upstairs to see what needed to be done. The house was already tidy. Each child was responsible for his own room. They were required to put away their toys every night and make their beds every morning, so their rooms looked fairly clean. She’d made her bed when she woke that morning. A glance into Derik’s room showed he’d made his bed, too, but Kelly couldn’t help but notice it looked like he’d done it in a hurry. She went into the room and straightened the bedding.

  She stood beside his bed and looked around. The dresser contained a small dish with a few loose coins, probably where Derik emptied his pockets each night. On the nightstand, a book lay next to the lamp and on the corner was a photograph of the same woman as the picture in his office. In this one she was alone, sitting on a sandy beach in slacks rolled to her knees and a light blue sleeveless top. She wasn’t looking at the camera. Her black hair was wrapped around her face by the wind while she stared across the water. Kelly doubted the woman was even aware the picture had been taken.

  She spent the rest of the morning moving boxes out of her car and into her room. It didn’t take long to put her clothes away in the closet and drawers. What few personal things she had she scattered around the room. After she put a few items in the bathroom, she carried the empty boxes to the garage. The job was done. She’d officially moved in.

  A quick glance in the fridge and freezer told Kelly she’d need to make a run to the grocery store if she was going to prepare a decent meal that night. She spent the next hour planning a week’s worth of menus and creating a shopping list.

  On the way to the store, stomach pangs reminded Kelly she’d worked right through lunch. She stopped at the diner for a quick snack. When she walked through the door, a noticeable hush fell across the room. Kelly immediately realized the customers were staring at her battered face. She dropped her head to hide her injuries with her hair and went to a corner booth. She was sitting with her back toward the door, reading the menu, when a man in a khaki uniform slid into the seat across from her. He’d brought his coffee with him and studied her over the rim as he took a healthy swallow. His dark eyes scanned her face. He motioned with the cup. “Anyone local do that?”

  “No,” Kelly said softly. “Ex friend, where I used to live.”

  The tall man with broad shoulders continued to study her bruises. He appeared to be a few years older than her, perhaps the same age as Derik. In spite of his youthfulness, his eyes showed signs of a maturity that could only be gained through his line of work. He offered his hand across the table. When Kelly shook it, he said, “Sheriff Pete Foster. You’re new around here, aren’t you? Is this going to be a problem?” he asked, nodding toward her face.

  “Kelly Hastings. Nice to meet you,” she said, as his large hand wrapped around hers. “No, this won’t be a problem. He was in jail when I left. I only told one person where I was going, so I don’t think he’ll be following me here.”

  Sheriff Foster pulled a business card from his shirt pocket and slid it across the table. “If he shows up, here’s the number to call. Do you have anywhere to stay? We have a shelter for women, if you need a place.”

  “I have a room, thank you. And I have a job. I’ll be okay,” she assured him, and herself.

  Sheriff Foster left the booth when her food arrived. She slipped the card in her purse. As she played with her salad, fears crept into her mind. Is there any way Jarrod would be able to follow me here? How mad will he be if he does?

  Chapter 10

  Kelly was helping the boys with their homework when Derik entered the kitchen. The aroma of baked chicken filled his nostrils. “Wow, I hope that’s dinner. How was your day? Did you get settled in?” He peeked into the pots on the stove. “How’s the face? Any sign of the ex?”

  “My day was fine, and yes, I got everything unpacked. The face looks worse than it feels, although the lip still hurts if I try to smile, and no, I haven’t heard from Jarrod. I doubt I ever will again.”

  After the kids packed their books away, Kelly placed dinner on the table then watched the family eat as though they were starving. Derik noticed her grinning at the boys. “It’s really good. Guess you can tell we don’t get home-cooked meals very often. Guys, don’t forget to thank Kelly.”

  Both boys nodded and mumbled their thank-yous as they continued to eat.

  It was D.C.’s night to load the dishwasher, so Win had to wipe the table. Kelly cleaned the kitchen after the boys were done. When Derik took them outside to play, she chose to stay inside, afraid if she joined them it would cross the lines of their agreement. She was here on business, strictly business.

  As Kelly relaxed on the sofa and read, she could hear Derik and the boys playing in the front yard. He brought them in for their baths as soon as the sun began to set. She was interrupted when the three came down the stairs in a flurry of arms and legs and voices.

  “You gotta read my book tonight, Kelly. It’s my turn to pick, remember?” D.C. said as he pushed a book into her hands.

  “Okay, but if we’re reading your book, we have to climb into Win’s bed. Everyone upstairs.”

  Win fell asleep before the story was over. After Kelly closed the book, she tucked the covers around the sleeping boy and kissed him. She ushered D.C. to his room and tucked him into bed. When she turned toward the door, she saw Derik leaning against the frame with his hands in his pockets. She walked out of the room as he went in.

  Once the boys were in bed, Derik went downstairs to watch television. Kelly didn’t want to infringe on his privacy, so she went to her room and read before taking a shower and turning in for the night. A pattern had been established.

  A week after moving into Derik’s house, a gentle shake woke Kelly from a sound sleep. “Sorry to wake you, but I just got a call,” Derik said. “I’ll be out a few hours.” She looked at the clock beside her bed and saw it was almost two in the morning. She nodded and listened as he left the house and drove away.

  The next morning, she fed the boys and sent them off to school. After they left she loaded the dishwasher then climbed the stairs. As she approached her room, she noticed Derik’s door was open. He was lying across the bed, with his clothes still on. She closed the door and started to straighten the house.

  An hour later, she was sweeping the back deck when Derik stepped outside. “Good morning,” he said as he yawned. “Boys get off okay?�
��

  “Yes, they ate, brushed their teeth, and got on the bus without a problem. Well, maybe one problem. Win had his shoes on the wrong feet, but we caught it in time.”

  Derik settled into one of the deck chairs. He took a sip of coffee and watched her sweep. The swelling had gone down and the bruises were fading. “Your face is looking better. How do you feel?”

  “I’m fine. I’ll be glad when it’s completely healed so people will stop staring at me. At least I’m not scaring small children and dogs anymore,” she said with a chuckle. She sat across the table from him. “Was it a disabled car last night?”

  “No, it was an accident. The driver apparently fell asleep and hit a tree. I doubt he made it out alive, but the ambulance had already left when I got there, so I don’t know. The front end was messed up pretty bad. It’s hard enough seeing the vehicles, but I hate it when I have to wait for them to remove the victims, and hear the crying and screaming. I’ve only had a couple where children were involved, and that just about did me in.” He shuddered at the memories. “I don’t do pain very well, ever since Mary Ann.”

  “I understand. I watched my mom suffer, and I know how hard it was. Did you have a support system to help you during that time?”