by Kira Chase
“Should she go?” Johanna asked worriedly.
“I’ll let you know after we ascertain the extent of her wounds. Her vitals are stable. We’ve stopped most of the bleeding. The neck wounds aren’t serious. We need to get her out of this rain and cold.”
Johanna watched helplessly as the paramedics laid Frankie stomach down on the stretcher. She ran ahead followed by her mother as they brought Frankie into the living room.
George followed the paramedics. “Arlan and Kate took Gretchen Wyler to lockup. I’ll get your full statements tomorrow. Do you want me to hang around?”
“There’s no need, George.”
His usually gruff expression softened. “I’d like to…just to make certain she’s going to be okay.”
Johanna patted his arm. “I’d like that, George. I know Frankie would, too.”
He rubbed his chin. “I tried to get a hold of you and Frankie to warn you that she was on the loose. We would have been here sooner, but there was a ten-car pile up due to the storm. By the time the sanders came out I was afraid that she’d somehow gotten here.”
“I should have stayed put and not been so stubborn to leave.”
He sighed tiredly. “Well, that’s all water under the bridge now.”
They seated themselves as they watched the paramedics. Johanna cringed when she saw Frankie’s back. Frankie moaned as they gently pulled her blood-soaked sweater from her skin. She saw a look pass between the paramedics. She jumped up and hurried to them.
Her throat dried out when she saw how deep the knife had cut. “Will she be alright?” she croaked.
“She’s lost a lot of blood and is weak. She’s going to need quite a few stitches. She needs to go to the hospital, but she refuses. We can’t force her to go.”
Johanna peered down at her. “Hey, sweetie. You need some stitches, so you’re going to be transported to the hospital.”
“No hospital. I’m just tired. I want to go to bed. I’ll be okay in the morning.”
Johanna saw the pain in her eyes. “No, baby. Come on. I’ll be with you, I promise.” She turned her attention to the paramedic. “I want to ride in the ambulance with her. Is that okay?”
“Of course.” He gave orders to his team to prepare Frankie for transport.
Johanna, George and Gracelyn watched as Frankie was loaded into the ambulance.
“I’ll drive you to the hospital,” George said, focusing on Gracelyn. “I want to make sure she’s going to be okay.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“After Frankie’s taken care of, we’ll call Trey and Will for a ride home,” Johanna called over her shoulder as she scrambled into the back of the ambulance.
Chapter 16
Frankie shifted in the hospital bed. “I’m really getting sick and tired of ending up in this place,” she joked. “They need to give me a discount.”
“You’re going to be fine and that’s all I care about,” Johanna said, bending and brushing her lips against Frankie’s cheek. “Thank God she didn’t cut any deeper. If you hadn’t been wearing your jacket and heavy sweater—” her voice trailed off.
“But I was.”
George stood to the side of the bed looking down at Frankie. “Frankie, I’ll stop back in the morning after you’ve gotten some rest and take your statement. Gretchen Wyler’s racked up quite a few new charges to add to her list.”
“Good. I hope she never gets out of prison,” Frankie bitterly replied. “Please tell Kate thanks for me. If she wouldn’t have shown up when she did… Well, you know.”
George nodded. “Yes, I know, but thank God Kate did show up.”
Gracelyn walked George to the door while Johanna pulled up a chair and sat next to Frankie’s bed.
“Why do I have to stay here tonight? I’d rest better in my own bed.” Frankie complained. “My back is stitched up and the doctor says I’ll be as good as new in no time at all.”
“It’s a precaution. Besides, I’d feel better if you stayed, baby,” Johanna said, grabbing Frankie’s hand and caressing it. “In fact, I intend to stay right by your side all night.”
“What about your mother? You can’t leave her alone in the house. I’d never do that to her.”
“Not to worry. I called Trey and Will to fill them in and they are on their way over here to take her to their house.”
Frankie lifted an eyebrow. “Did she agree to it?”
“It was actually her idea. She’s crazy about them.” She grinned.
Frankie’s jaw dropped. “Will wonders never cease.” She looked toward the door. “Looks like they’re here.” Trey and Will nodded to George, who was leaving as they entered. Frankie watched as they affectionately hugged Gracelyn and then the three of them made their way over to the women.
“Hey, sunshine,” Trey said before bending and kissing Frankie’s cheek. “You gave us quite a scare.”
Will kissed her forehead. “That’s an understatement. When Johanna called we couldn’t believe what an ordeal you three had been through. I wish we would have known. We would have been over to your place in a flash.” He shuddered. “Thank God it wasn’t worse.”
“I agree,” Gracelyn replied. “I’ll give you boys all of the details.” She turned to Frankie with tears in her eyes. “Francine, I don’t know what I would have done if Gretchen would have carried out her threats toward you.” She brushed the back of her hand against Frankie’s cheek, then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’re a special woman, Francine, and I’m proud to call you my daughter.”
Gracelyn’s remarks rendered Frankie almost speechless. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked with tears of joy in her eyes at the older woman. “Thank you. You’ll never know what that means to me,” she sputtered.
Johanna stood up and flung her arms around her mother’s neck. “Thank you, Mom. I’m the happiest woman in the world.” She released her and looked at Frankie who was grinning from ear to ear as tears rolled down her pale cheeks.
“I mean every word of it.” Gracelyn took a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about and if the boys are ready, I’d like to treat you to an early dinner.”
The men stood on either side of Gracelyn and put their arms through hers.
“We’ll be here to pick you two up just as soon as Frankie is discharged,” Trey promised.
“And we intend to pamper you three all day long,” Will added. “Trey’s going to make a feast and your wish will be our command.”
“What did we ever do to deserve such wonderful friends like you two?” Frankie asked.
“The feeling’s mutual,” Trey said. “Now you get some rest. We’re going to run over to your house and Gracelyn’s going to pick up a few things. We’ll make sure everything’s locked up tight.”
“Thank you. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
After the three departed, Johanna turned the light off and readied the cot the nurse had earlier brought in. “Are you tired, sweetie?”
“No. Just feeling very blessed on so many levels.”
“It’s true what they say. Something good can come out of something bad.”
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Johanna leaned over and kissed her deeply. “Even if you never said it I would feel it in my heart, baby.” She sat back in the chair. “Can I get you anything or do you want to watch some TV?”
“No, I just want to lay here and count my blessings.” She closed her eyes and then suddenly popped them back open. “Honey, what happened to my jacket?” she asked alarmed.
“It’s at the house, why? If George doesn’t need it we’ll have to trash it. I put it in the mudroom.”
She chewed her bottom lip. “Did you empty the pockets?”
“Yes, I did. Your car keys and cell phone are on the kitchen counter.”
Her brow puckered. “Did you happen to find a small box and a card? It was in the inside zippered pocket.”
Johanna stood, walked over to the window counter and picked up her purse. She carried it back to the chair and sat. She glanced at Frankie and then rummaged inside her bag. She pulled out a small gift-wrapped box and a card addressed to her.
“Is this what you’re so worried about, baby?” she asked, handing them to Frankie.
Frankie breathed a sigh of relief. “I had a romantic night planned for us later tonight after we’d celebrated with everyone else. I wanted to give this to you then, but I want you to have it now.” She handed them back to Johanna and watched Johanna’s expression as she opened and then read the card.
Johanna’s eyes brimmed with tears. “You were put through more than I was. I don’t know what I did to deserve someone as kind, loving and compassionate as you are.”
Frankie reached out a hand and squeezed Johanna’s arm. “You deserve so much more than I can ever give you. Open it, sweetie. I hope you like it.”
Johanna opened the package. She stared at the diamond earrings and then got up and bent over Frankie’s bed giving her a long lingering kiss. “They’re beautiful! But they must have cost a fortune!”
“The cost doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re together and nothing or no one can ever tear us apart.”
“Never,” Johanna whispered. “When did you get them?”
“When I went to Atlantic City to see Savannah Granger. Which reminds me, I want to call her tomorrow and let her know that it’s over. She’ll probably already have heard about it on the news, but I know she’ll be relieved.” She chuckled. “Remind me to tell you sometime about the customer in the jewelry store. She was unbelievable!”
Johanna smiled. “I will, but right now I’d like to hear about the night you had planned for us.”
Frankie ran her tongue over her lips. “Ah…you want to know every little detail? You wouldn’t rather wait until I’m back on my feet and can show you?”
“Yes, I want every detail, “ Johanna prodded. “And as soon as you’re able we’ll have our special night and I just might have a few surprises in store for you myself. But for now I intend to have a nice quiet night with the woman I’m mad about. While you talk I’ll just sit here with my eyes closed while I hold your hand and imagine you’re doing all the things to me you planned.”
“You can never get enough, can you?”
“With you, never,” Johanna replied seductively.
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