Roping a Runaway Wife

by Jans, Honey

  As Rafe headed toward the sun, his thoughts returned to their lovemaking. Maybe he’d give Rose the night off so he and Sarah could have a cozy dinner for two. He smiled. It was just the kind of thing Sarah would love.

  He crested the rise and looked around. He didn’t see Sarah anywhere. Where could she have gone? She said she’d be here taking some shots of the cliffs.

  Then he spotted a still dark object lying in the high grass, several hundred feet away. Maybe she’d dropped some of her equipment. Rafe told himself he was just worrying for nothing, but his footsteps hurried toward the object anyway. He drew closer, and saw it was Sarah, crumpled like rag doll in the grass.

  His heart lurching in his chest, Rafe knelt beside her, reaching out to touch her warm, still, arm. “Sarah, are you okay?” There was no reply. He felt for broken bones and then carefully turned her over. She gave a tiny moan, but her eyelids remained closed.

  What was the matter with her? Was she shot? He couldn’t see any wounds. He brushed the hair back from her forehead and his hand came away with blood.

  Looking closely he saw a gash with a deep purple bruise underneath her hairline. Rafe leaned down, placing his ear near Sarah’s nose. Her sweet breath came slow and shallow into his ear.

  “Sarah, sweetheart, can you hear me?” There was no response. Her face was so pale. How long had she been like this? She must have fallen and hit her head. Rafe looked around, but didn’t see any stumps of rocks nearby, just soft grass.

  It hit him like a sucker punch. Someone had attacked her. Rafe’s jaw tightened as he looked around. Whoever had done it was gone. Damnit, he thought they were safe, otherwise he never would have let her go off on her own. This was all his fault. He should have anticipated the unexpected attack. He should have taken better care of her.

  He shrugged the backpack off his shoulders, and yanked out his cellular phone. He dialed the number for the local rescue service. The wait for an answer seemed like an eternity.

  “Shelbyville nine-one-one, how can I direct your call?” a businesslike female voice asked.

  “This is Rafe Halliday from the Double-H. I need paramedics right away. My wife has a severe head injury. We’re camped out just one mile east of Jersey Lake.”

  “I just dispatched the Rescue Service. They’ll be there as soon as possible, Mr. Halliday. In the mean time, stay on the line with me. I need to ask you some questions.”

  “Fine,” Rafe said tightly. “Just please hurry them up.”

  “Please remain calm, sir. They’ll be there soon. How did the injury occur?”

  “Somebody bashed her on the head,” Rafe said harshly, through gritted teeth. His stomach convulsed at the image and he thought he was going to be sick.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” He reached down to touch Sarah’s cheek. “Send the sheriff, too.”

  “Do you know who attacked your wife?”

  “I don’t know for sure. I found her lying on the ground, unconscious.” He stopped to take a calming breath. “But I have my suspicions,” Rafe continued. Nevell Blackthorn would be one sorry bastard when he got his hands on him.

  “I’m going to assist you by phone until the paramedics arrive. Is your wife having any trouble breathing?”

  “Her breathing seems to be kind of shallow but I guess she’s doing okay that way. The main problem is she’s bleeding a lot. There’s a big gash on her forehead.”

  “Mr. Halliday, I need you to apply gentle pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Do you have a clean cloth to place on the wound?”

  “There’s a clean towel in my backpack. Hold on a second and I’ll get it.” He searched around the contents of the pack and tugged out the towel. He never used it last night. “I’ve got it.”

  “Okay, Mr. Halliday, you’re doing great. Just fold the towel into a square and use it to apply gentle pressure to the head. Remember we don’t know what kind of damage might be underneath so you need to be careful.”

  “Right,” Rafe said calmly when he was really shaking in his boots. The thought of a skull fracture or brain damage had him terrified. If he lost her, he wouldn’t want to live. Sarah meant everything to him. She’d finally taught him how to love.

  Rafe paced the hall outside the emergency room. Why in blazes didn’t they tell him anything? It seemed like hours had gone by since they’d arrived by ambulance. Sarah had been whisked into the trauma bay while he had been shoved back into the waiting room. They’d even tried to keep him out of the ambulance but he’d bullied his way on board. This was all his fault and no one was going to make him leave her side until he knew she was going to be okay.

  Rafe couldn’t stand the agony of not knowing what was happening. He quit pacing and stopped near the window. The sun still shown brightly, but his world was dark with fear and rage. How dare the slimy skunk lay a hand on her. This time nothing would save Blackthorn from his revenge, no matter what the consequences were. Sarah had looked so pale and lifeless lying on the gurney. He didn’t think he could bear it if anything happened to her. Rafe’s gut twisted at the mind-numbing thought.

  It seemed he’d brought her nothing but trouble this summer. It was his own damned, love-blind fault for putting her in danger. Maybe Sarah was smart when she left him in the first place.

  He heard footsteps coming down the hall and turned to look. Bob Wilson was coming toward him. His face looked haggard and his pace was slow.

  Bob stopped next to Rafe and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Rafe, how’s she doing?”

  Rafe shrugged and tightened his jaw. “They haven’t told me anything yet. They won’t even let me in there, but maybe it’s just as well. I’d only be in the way. She’s having a CAT scan right now so we should know something soon.”

  Bob put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll wait with you. But let’s have a seat, I’m bushed.”

  Rafe walked with him to a row of green vinyl chairs in the waiting room and sat down. Then it struck him as odd that Bob had showed up now. “Hey, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you at the crime scene with the sheriff’s boys?”

  Bob stretched his legs out. “They’ve got things well under control and I’ve already done my part. I thought I’d stop by and fill you in on some good news.”

  “Oh yeah, I could use some good news right now. What is it?”

  Bob grinned. “We got the guy.”

  Rafe relaxed and leaned back in the chair. It was good news. “Blackthorn?” he asked sourly.

  “Not quite.”

  Rafe frowned at his enigmatic answer. He’d be damned if Blackthorn was going to get away with this. “What do you mean not quite?”

  “He had help,” Bob said tightly. “A man on the inside worked with him.”

  “Who? I’ll tear the bastard apart.” Rafe’s jaw set firmly. He thought he could trust all his hands. No wonder they got the drop on them so easily.

  Bob shrugged. “Too late. We already took them both in. We got a make on the rifle this afternoon. It belongs to Travis Cain.”

  Rafe’s mouth dropped open, it was the last name he expected to hear. “Are you sure about that, Bob? He’s just a green kid I hired on for the summer. What motive could he have to try to kill Sarah?”

  Bob’s lips narrowed as he scowled. “He’s Nevell Blackthorn’s nephew, that’s why. Didn’t you check his references?”

  Rafe winced. He’d just taken Travis’s word. “What references? He looked strong enough and claimed to have experience. I would have found out soon enough if he was lying about that. He fit the bill.” Rafe looked at Bob. “That means Blackthorn was behind it all.”

  Bob nodded. “It looks that way. Travis has admitted to spying for his uncle while he’s been at the ranch. You know, giving him inside information and pulling a few pranks. You ought to have seen his gear. He’s got some pretty sophisticated electronic equipment. He said he agreed to do it because his uncle was going to pay his next year of college. But he claims he didn’t attack Sarah or sh
oot the wolves.”

  “Oh yeah, then where was he this morning when Sarah was hurt?” Rafe’s eyes narrowed.

  Bob shrugged. “He claims he went for a long walk. He said that he felt bad about what he’d been doing, spying on you and all. He said he was considering giving it up.”

  Rafe’s jaw tightened. “That sounds pretty lame to me. Has he got any witnesses to back him up?”

  Bob shook his head. “No.”

  “Good. I want to see them both pay for what they did. Blackthorn always thought he was above the law. Now I mean to make him see he’s no better than anybody else. I want to see the son-of-a-bitch fry.”

  “Don’t worry, charges are already being brought against them for attempted murder. There’s no way he’s going to wiggle out of this one. The jerk is already bitching about false arrest, but we’ve got him dead to rights.”

  Rafe sighed and looked down. “So my phones were bugged. No wonder he always seemed to be one jump ahead of me.”

  Bob nodded. “Yeah, it was a pretty high-tech setup. The kid’s a computer major in college.”

  “Rafe,” Doctor Phillips called out.

  Rafe turned to look at Mark who was striding toward him. He tensed, bracing himself for the worst. The painful reality of the situation was like a slap in the face. “How is Sarah doing?”

  “I think she’s going to be okay, buddy. She’s one lucky lady.” Mark sat down across from them. “The CAT scan was negative. There’s no fracture, no bleeding in the brain. She just has a simple concussion. Now all we have to do is wait for her to wake up.”

  “How long is that going to take?” Rafe asked.

  “That’s hard to say. Head injuries are tricky. But I think she’ll regain consciousness soon.”

  Rafe let out the breath he was holding. “Thank God.”

  “Cheer up, Rafe. At least you didn’t have to watch me put in the stitches this time.”

  Rafe thought of the last time and grimaced. Two attacks against Sarah were two too many. He couldn’t put her in that kind of danger again. Blackthorn had long tentacles.

  Mark glanced at Bob. “Do you think she was hit by the same guy that shot at her last week, officer?”

  Bob nodded. “Yes, but we got him this time.”

  Mark stood up and shook his head. “Somebody sure had it in for her.”

  “It was Blackthorn,” Rafe said.

  Mark nodded. “I wondered. You two never did get along, even back in school. I remember when you made quarterback on the high school football team and he wound up sitting the bench for most of the season. Still, you wouldn’t think an old rivalry would drive him to attempt murder.”

  “I think the guy’s got a screw loose myself,” Bob said sourly.

  Mark shrugged. “It sure seems that way.” He turned back to Rafe. “We’ll want to keep Sarah here under observation for a few days. We’ll be moving her up to her room in a few minutes. The nurse will come out to get you first.”

  “Thanks, Mark.”

  Bob patted Rafe on the shoulder “Well that’s dandy news, Rafe. It’s good to hear your wife is going to be okay.”

  Rafe sighed in relief. “It sure is.”

  “Oh, before I go,” Bob said pulling a note out of his shirt pocket. “I did that checking you asked me to. Mrs. Sarah Blake is alive and living in Durham, New Hampshire. I’ve got her number right here.”

  Rafe looked down at the note. “I had a feeling that old devil was lying. So Sarah’s maternal grandmother is alive.”

  “I brought it along because I figured you might want to give her a call and tell her about Sarah being hurt.”

  Rafe clasped the note tight in his hand. This would mean so much to Sarah. “I owe you, Bob.”

  Bob smiled and stood up. “Good, you can pay me back by letting me handle this thing with Nevell Blackthorn. I don’t want you interfering with the case we’re building against him.” He pointed toward the lobby. “I believe the pay phones are down that way.”

  “I’m right on it.” Rafe walked to the pay telephone in the lobby. He dialed Sarah’s cousin, Pipi’s work number first.

  “Maxwell and Mackenzy law offices,” the cheerful female voice on the other end of the line answered.

  Rafe leaned against the wall. This wasn’t going to be easy. “Put me through to Phillipa Maxwell.”

  “I’m sorry,” the drone on the other end of the line said sweetly. “Ms. Maxwell is in a meeting right now, and can’t be disturbed. May I take your name and have her call you back?”

  Rafe frowned at the receiver. “Listen, ma’am, this is an emergency. Tell her that her cousin Sarah has been hurt.”

  There was a pause. “Very well, I’ll give her the message. Hold please.”

  Rafe listened to the music playing softly in his ear and scowled. How was he going to tell her the news? Either way she was going to blame him and she’d be right. Sarah wouldn’t be lying in a hospital room if he hadn’t conned her into coming back to rescue him. He had to make it up to her.

  “Phillipa Maxwell here,” a brusque, woman’s voice said. “My receptionist said Sarah was hurt. Is this Rafe Halliday?”

  “Yes, I’m Rafe Halliday.”

  “Let me tell you one thing, Rafe Halliday. If you’re to blame for this, I’ll kick your behind clear across Wyoming. I’ll sue you till you’ve got noting left but the lint in your belly button.”

  Rafe grimaced at her words they were too close to his own thoughts. “I’m to blame all right. I left her alone and someone bashed her on the head.”

  Phillipa gasped. “Oh my God. How is she?”

  “Unconscious.” It hurt to talk about. He stared at the geometric pattern of the ceramic tile on the wall to get a handle on his raging emotions. “Sarah has a concussion, but there’s no skull fracture and no bleeding in the brain. On the bright side, the doctors think she’ll be all right.”

  “They think, but they don’t know.”

  Rafe thought that Pipi’s apprehensive tone reflected his own fears. “That’s about the size of it.”

  “I’ll be on the first plane out there,” Phillipa told him in an assertive voice.

  Rafe nodded. “Good, I was hoping you’d say that. Sarah needs her family around her now. Listen, before you hang up, I did some digging and got Sarah’s grandmother’s phone number.”

  “But that’s impossible,” Phillipa sputtered. “She’s dead.”

  “No, she’s not.”

  “But, Grandfather... Why that nasty old man. How could he do such a thing?”

  Rafe shrugged. “Judging by his personality, I’d say it was easy. Anyway, I’m going to call her.”

  “Why don’t you let me do it? That way we can make arrangements to fly out there together. I might even haul Grandfather out there with me. He’s got a lot of explaining to do and he might as well do it in person. Settling things with Grandfather would probably do Sarah good.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Rafe murmured. “I suppose it would be good for her to have it out with the old grump. Just don’t let him upset her. It’ll be nice to have a go-between like you that Sarah’s comfortable with.”

  “But what about you? You’d be the natural one to intercede.”

  Rafe’s hand tightened on the phone. “I won’t be here.”

  “Are you running out on my cousin?” Phillipa shouted.

  Rafe held the phone away from his ear until her tirade was over. “I’ll wait until I’m sure she’s okay, but then I have to leave.”

  “Why, did you find out she’s not going to be wealthy after all?”

  Rafe tensed. “I’m going to ignore that because I know how upset you are. To put it plain and simple, I’m not going to hold her to me with lies anymore. All it’s done is cause misery. This way she’s free to follow her own path.”

  “Don’t act so innocent. Sarah told me, before she went out on her fool’s errand, that you were using her connections to get funding for your dude ranch. And aside from that, she had me wire all he
r personal funds to give to you.”

  “I married Sarah because I love her. And I wouldn’t accept her help. She still has the check.” Rafe tensed because the accusation reflected Sarah’s own fears. He had taken advantage of her but not in the way she feared. He’d taken all her love and given back nothing but pain in return.

  Pipi sighed, “I don’t want to spend any more time arguing with you. I’ll be on the first plane out, and don’t you dare leave until I get there. I have some annulment papers for you to sign.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  Rafe sat in the chair by Sarah’s hospital bed. At least she wasn’t so deathly still anymore. Her eyelashes were like dark crescents on her pale cheeks. She’d turned her head and he’d heard her murmur. It gave him hope that she’d be all right.

  It was dark outside but he didn’t mind sitting in the dark. It cocooned them together for the last night he’d spend with her. Leaving her was right. He couldn’t hold her with lies and deception anymore. He knew she loved her career, this would give her time to pursue it. If he was lucky some day, she’d come back to him.

  He reached out to touch her hand. Her beautiful eyes slowly swept halfway open.

  “Rafe?”

  “I’m right here, sweetheart,” Rafe husked.

  “I’m so sleepy.” She yawned.

  “I know, close your eyes and rest now. Nothing will hurt you anymore, sweet Sarah.”

  Her eyes fluttered shut. Rafe let go of her hand, sweeping a light caress across her fingers. He swallowed the lump in his throat and got to his feet. Men didn’t cry, but he wanted to bawl like a two-year-old kid.

  Getting up, he gave her one last lingering look, memorizing her sweet features, before he hustled out of the room. If he stayed one moment longer, he could never leave. He shut the door firmly behind him. Leaving her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he knew it was right. Had Sarah felt this way when she left on their wedding night? The notion haunted him.

  He pushed away from the door, turned and walked toward the nurse’s station. He’d report that she’d regained consciousness and then get the hell out of here before his nerve failed him. Phillipa would just have to mail the papers to him.