Something knocked her in the back and sent her flying through the air. She landed facedown at the base of the stairs, her face hitting the floor hard. Her head spun. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire. She coughed and realized that smoke was filling the air. Was the house on fire?
Digging her fingers into the floor, she dragged her body toward the front door. There was no going back through the kitchen. She thought about her laptop and moaned. It was certainly destroyed along with all of her new work. Which wouldn’t matter at all if she didn’t get out of here. It was getting harder to breathe and she coughed again.
The door seemed to be getting farther away rather than closer. Still, Emerald persevered. One inch at a time, she pulled herself closer to safety. When her hand hit the door, she almost cried in relief. The handle seemed a long ways away, but she pulled herself up, ignoring the agony in her back. Wrapping her hand around the knob, she turned and tugged. It didn’t open. She tugged again, harder. Frantic now, she pulled again and again until a little voice in her head reminded her that the front door was locked. Jackson made her keep it locked at all times when she was home alone.
It was hard, but she forced her hand away from the knob and found the locks and turned them. Her head was spinning and something was in her eyes. She swiped at them and stared at her hand when it came back bloody. A siren rang out in the distance and she knew that Nathan was coming for her.
Determined now, she grabbed the doorknob, turned it and pulled. The door came back with such force it hit her. Moaning, she dropped back to the floor. Fresh air hit her, reminding her of what she needed to do.
Shoving her shoulder against the screen door, she pushed it open, all but toppling onto the porch. She lay there totally spent, half in and half out of the house. Just as the world closed in around her, she thought she heard someone calling her name.
Chapter Sixteen
Terror unlike anything Jackson had ever known flooded his veins as he raced toward the house. He’d been on his way home for an early lunch when he’d heard the explosion. He’d started to run when he saw the smoke and knew it was coming from the direction of the house.
Yanking his cell phone from his back pocket, he dialed the house. It rang and rang, but no one answered. Swearing, he disconnected and dialed Nathan’s number.
“Emerald!” his brother’s voice barked into his ear.
His gut clenched. “No, it’s me. There’s been an explosion at the house. Call the fire department and get out here.”
“I’m almost there and the fire trucks are just behind me. Emerald heard from the stalker. He’d sent a package to the house addressed to you.”
Bomb! Neither of them said it even though both of them were thinking it. “Just get here,” Jackson snapped as he cut off the call.
He ran faster than he’d ever run in his life, his long legs eating up the distance. He practically flew through the orchards, past row upon row of apple trees, his feet thudding heavily against the parched ground. If Emerald were dead… He couldn’t even finish the thought. His chest felt hollow, his legs like rubber, but he ran.
He broke from the fields and sped across the yard, taking the stairs in one leap. Smoke billowed out the back door, thick and oily. Ignoring it, he yanked aside what was left of the back door and plunged into the kitchen. Coughing, he tried to see, but the smoke obscured his vision. “Emerald!” He called her name again and again as he felt his way around the room.
He ducked into her room, but it was empty. Stepping into her small bathroom, he grabbed a towel and plunged it in the sink as he turned the cold water tap on full. When the towel was soaking wet, he held it over his head and mouth and hurried back into the kitchen.
Jackson dropped to the floor and began to search. He heard the crackle of fire but ignored it. Nothing mattered but finding Emerald. His hand hit the doorway leading to the stairs. Maybe she’d made it upstairs. “Emerald!” he yelled and then went into a spasm of coughing.
He continued to move forward, sweeping his hand out around him as he went. He paused when he thought he heard something. “Emerald!” he called again and then listened. There it was again, a soft moan off to his right.
Scrambling as fast as he could, he made his way to the front door. Lying halfway in and out of the house was Emerald. Blood covered her back, making him sick to his stomach.
“Emerald? Sweetheart?” He tossed away the almost dry towel as he rolled her over, wincing as he saw the smeared blood on her face and forehead. He knew it was dangerous to move her, but he didn’t really have any choice. He had no idea how bad the fire was, but the smoke itself was a hazard.
Picking her up, he stumbled into the grass as Nathan swerved into the yard and came to a screeching halt. His brother jumped out and hurried toward him. “Is she all right?”
Jackson shook his head and coughed. “I’m not sure, but I couldn’t leave her in there.” He sank down into the dirt with Emerald still clutched tight in his arms.
A multitude of sirens filled the air and within minutes the entire yard was filled with fire trucks, police cars, an ambulance and the vehicles from every volunteer firefighter in the area.
Jackson didn’t care about the fire. The only thing he cared about was the woman being gently loaded onto a stretcher. He held her hand tight, refusing to let it go. Harry Flynn, the paramedic on board, didn’t even try to stop him from going with them, but just told him to stay out of his way. Jackson hunched down on the bench across from her as Harry worked on her back. It seemed that the cuts on her face were superficial and most of the blood was from her nose. Jackson winced as he imagined the force with which she must have hit the floor.
Emerald moaned and he squeezed her hand tighter. “It’s okay, Emerald. I’m here.”
She moved her lips and he leaned closer to hear her. She licked her dry, chapped lips and tried again. His name was more of a breath than a spoken word, but he heard it, felt it, right in the center of his chest.
“I’m here,” he told her again. Reaching out, he brushed her hair out of her face. She was lying on her stomach so he could only see part of her face. What he could see was battered and smoky, but to him she was still beautiful. All that mattered was that she was alive and that she would recover.
Two hours later he was sitting in a corner of the waiting room with his head bowed and his arms resting on his legs. His hands were clasped and he was doing something he hadn’t done much of in years—he was praying.
He’d had way too much time to think in the last two hours and he’d faced some pretty hard truths. He loved Emerald. There was no two ways about it. He didn’t care if the house burned to the ground as long as she was okay. He’d have rather died in there today with her than to live without her. He released the death grip he had on his hands and rubbed one of them over the back of his neck. Man, he had it bad.
He also loved her enough to protect her and then set her free. Whatever it took to make her happy was what he wanted. It was enough. It had to be because it was the only choice he had.
He looked up when footsteps approached, but it wasn’t the doctor. It was his family. He wasn’t surprised to see them all here and stood as they approached. Nathan and Abel looked grim and concern was written all over Erin’s expressive face.
“How is she?” Erin threw herself into his arms and he automatically closed them around her, drawing strength from her nearness.
“I don’t know. No one has told me anything yet. I guess they’re still working on her.”
Nathan glanced his way and then headed for the nurses’ station. As a police officer and part of the official investigation, he might be able to find out something. Jackson sure hoped so, because he was quietly going crazy waiting for news.
Erin drew back and stared up at him, her blue eyes cloudy with distress. “How are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
Erin looked as if she might argue the point, but thankfully let it drop. “The house is surprisingl
y okay. There wasn’t as much fire damage as we thought. Mostly smoke. The kitchen table and floor are a write-off and the room will need to be painted from top to bottom. Some of the kitchen cabinets may have to be replaced. I’m not sure about that. Other than that, a good cleaning will go a long way to setting the place back to rights.”
He gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her. “Thanks for sticking around until the fire was out.”
She patted him on the arm. “The police and the fire marshal are out there investigating, but there’s little doubt that the package contained some kind of bomb.”
They all paused when Nathan came striding back. “The nurse said that the doctor would be out in a minute.”
Jackson nodded as he raked his fingers through his hair. He hated not being able to do anything. Emerald was somewhere behind the large swinging doors at the end of the hallway, and she was alone. He needed to be with her.
“Why don’t you sit down?”
His sister’s voice penetrated his thoughts and he gave her a soft smile. “Don’t worry about me, honey. Other than smelling a bit smoky, I’m fine.”
“Did the doctor check you for smoke inhalation?” Abel stepped up beside his wife, wrapping his thick arm around her shoulders.
“Yeah.” Jackson realized that his voice was slightly hoarse. That, coupled with the fact that he was covered in soot, was making him appear much worse than he was. “I’ll be back to normal in a day or two.”
Erin looked relieved and even the tight set of Nathan’s shoulders eased slightly. Jackson felt anything but relaxed or relieved. That wouldn’t happen until he knew what was going on with Emerald. As if his thoughts had finally summoned him, the doctor pushed through the door and headed toward the waiting room. Jackson met him halfway.
“How are you holding up, Jackson?” He’d known Dr. Williams his entire life, but right now he wanted to shake the man to get him to hurry.
“I’m fine. How’s Emerald?”
“She’s a lucky lady. Whatever device set off the explosion, it wasn’t all that powerful, but she’s still fortunate that she wasn’t standing right next to it when it went off. The fact that her back was turned means that it took the brunt. We removed some flying pieces of debris, mostly shards of wood from the kitchen table. She hit her face when she fell forward, but her nose isn’t broken. Mostly, she’s bruised and shaken. There are some minor burns on her back as well, but they’ll heal with little problem.” He clapped his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “She’ll be hoarse for a few days because of the smoke, but physically she’ll be as good as new in a week or two.”
Jackson cleared his throat, almost overwhelmed by the news. “Can I see her?”
“Sure. She’s been asking for you. After you see her, we’ll get her cleaned up and moved to a room.”
Nathan stepped forward. “Is someone with her now?”
Dr. Williams nodded. “The officer you sent showed up about the same time I started working on her. He’s posted right outside her door.”
Jackson stared at his brother, thankful for the precaution. It hadn’t even occurred to him that Emerald might be in danger here at the hospital, but it should have. “Have you contacted Hatcher?” It was important that Emerald’s investigator in New York know about this latest development.
“Yeah. I talked to him and the detective in charge of the case back in New York. We’ll be sending them all the information on the bombing as soon as we get a report together. In the meantime, he knows what’s going on.” Nathan hesitated. “I talked to her sister’s bodyguard as well. He answered the phone when I called, so I explained the situation to him. You should probably call them later.”
“I will.” He rubbed his hands over his soot-covered jeans and glanced at the doctor.
“Follow me.” The doctor gave them all a nod and headed back toward the heavy closed door of the emergency room.
“Don’t worry about a thing with the house,” Erin said. “We’ll take care of everything.” He turned and gave Erin a grateful smile as he stepped inside the doors. They swung shut behind him, shutting his family on the other side. He followed the doctor to a room at the end of the hall. A uniformed officer nodded as they passed. That was one of the benefits of living in a small town—a stranger would stand out like a sore thumb.
“She’s a bit groggy, but don’t worry. She truly will be fine.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Jackson pushed through the door, pausing just inside.
Emerald was lying facedown on the pristine white mattress. He could smell the smoke from here. Or maybe it was himself he smelled. He took a deep breath and went to her side. Her face was pale and he could see the smattering of small cuts on her cheek. Her nose looked slightly swollen, but not too bad considering the blood she’d had on her face.
His hand was trembling ever so slightly when he reached out to stroke her hair. The ends were a bit singed, but nothing a trim wouldn’t take care of. He swallowed back the lump forming in his throat. He was so damn grateful she was alive.
She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. “Jackson,” she croaked.
He winced at the sound of her voice. Her throat sounded incredibly sore. “I’m here.” Stroking the side of her face, he leaned closer to her. “Everything is okay. You’re going to be fine.”
“The house?”
“To hell with the house. I’ve got insurance.” He wasn’t sure it would cover a mad bomber, but he didn’t care. She flinched at his harsh words and he gentled his voice as much as he could. “The house isn’t important. The only thing that matters is that you’re going to be all right.”
She nodded, her fingers plucking at the sheet beside her. “I’m sorry.” Her red-rimmed eyes filled with tears.
Jackson eased down onto the mattress next to her, careful not to jar her. “What are you sorry for?”
“I brought all this trouble to you.” A lone tear spilled out of the corner of her eye, nearly breaking his heart.
“I’m not sorry.” He brushed her hair over her shoulder and gently wiped the tear from her cheek. His thumb caressed the side of her face. “I’m glad you came into my life.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips lightly against hers.
Emerald gave a soft sigh and parted her lips. It was a brief kiss, but they both needed the connection, the intimacy of it. Jackson sat back, lightly stroking his hand over her shoulder. “Me too,” she breathed and then started to cough.
“You need to rest.” He started to stand, but her hand shot out, catching his. She winced as the movement shifted her battered body. “Don’t worry,” he promised. “I’m not going farther than that chair.”
Her fingers slowly released his and she sighed. “You should go and get cleaned up. Maybe check on your house. It’s selfish of me to keep you here.”
“If it’s selfish, then I’m selfish too,” he assured her. “I don’t want to leave you.” The memory of hearing the explosion and the realization that Emerald was inside the burning house was still too fresh. He wanted to haul her into his arms and keep her there for at least a month, if not longer.
Her eyes were beginning to droop. Staying awake was becoming more difficult for her by the second. “My sisters?”
He knew what she wanted. “I’ll call them.”
“Don’t let them come here.” He could hear the frantic worry in her voice and sought to calm her.
“I’ll make sure that they stay where they are and that their bodyguards are aware of the situation.” Bending forward, he brushed a kiss over each of her eyes. “You just rest and concentrate on getting better. I’ll take care of things until that happens.”
“All I need is a nap.”
He almost smiled at the fierceness in her voice. He had no doubt she’d be back to her usual independent self in no time at all. In the meantime, he’d watch out for her. “I know,” he soothed.
She snuggled her face into her pillow and sighed. “My work burned,” she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.
Jackson winced, knowing that was another blow to her that could be laid at the stalker’s feet. There was nothing more to say, so he stood and watched her until he was sure she was asleep. He was just moving away from the bed when the door opened. A nurse walked in. She was an older lady and had been a friend of his mother years ago. “Mrs. Patterson,” he nodded.
“How are you holding up, Jackson?” By now he had no doubt that everyone in town knew about his and Emerald’s relationship. He’d worry about the implications of that later. Right now, he was more worried about Emerald’s rest being disturbed.
“I’m okay,” he stated briskly. “She just went to sleep.” He could hear the challenge in his own voice and saw the twitch of the nurse’s lips as she tried not to smile. “I’m being an ass, aren’t I?”
Mimi Patterson shook her head. “No, you’re being concerned.” She kept her voice low, which Jackson appreciated. “We’ll clean her up when she wakes. Why don’t you go home and get cleaned up.” She shook her head as she reached out to pat his arm. “Or at least go to your sister’s place if yours is too bad. I’m sorry about the fire.”
“Thanks.” Jackson’s head was spinning with the sudden realization that he might not even have any clean clothing. Even if the upstairs was okay, it was going to smell of smoke. “I’m not leaving her.”
She nodded as if she’d figured that would be his reply. “Then why don’t you at least get someone in your family to get you a change of clothing? You can shower here.” Her eyes were kind and understanding as she gave him a soft smile of encouragement.
“Yeah. I can do that.” He glanced over at Emerald’s still form, huddled under the sheet.
“I’ll stay with her until you get back. All of them are still in the waiting room.” She squeezed his forearm and then strode briskly around to the far side of the bed.
Jackson’s hands clenched at his sides. It was hard for him to leave her now that he was finally by her side, but he knew the nurse was right. He’d feel better if he showered and changed. He’d get Nathan to loan him some clothes until Erin could get back out to the house and assess the situation better. If his clothing wasn’t too bad, she could launder some for him and pack him a bag. He wasn’t leaving this hospital until Emerald went with him.
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