“Good grief, what happened to you?” she asked.
Jake rubbed a hand over his face. He stared at her for moments before answering, assuring himself that she was indeed alive and well.
Finally his breathing slowed and his heart rate returned to normal. He slowly shook his head.
Leave it to Maggie to try to turn the tables on him again. He bit back the answer that came to him.
You. You’re what’s happened to me, Maggie.
Instead he said, “Me? Look at you. Duffy said you were playing Superman. Did you really dive through a plate-glass window?”
“I have no idea what plate glass is,” she said. “I reacted. That’s all.”
Maggie was every bit as pale as the white sheets and hospital gown she wore. Her hair was a tangled mess around her face. But there had been no mistaking the pleasure in her eyes when he’d walked into the room.
Yeah, he was glad to see her, too. Relief had slammed into him like a fire truck, the moment he realized she was, indeed, okay.
Jake shook his head. He should have never left to go fishing. So much for his plan to keep Maggie out of his life and his heart.
Their eyes met and he flinched at the blue-and-purple bruise and the swelling that decorated her right eye and cheekbone. She’d be sporting that shiner for at least a week or two.
“Is there a place on you that isn’t bruised or bandaged?”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not. And according to the report I got from Sam, you’re a hero.” He walked closer to her bed. “You saved my father’s life.”
Her eyes widened at his words.
Jake stared hard at Maggie. He’d never for the rest of his life be able to forget the moment he got the call from Bitsy informing him about the fire. He’d quickly called Duffy and managed to impatiently interrupt him several times to get to the important facts on Maggie and his father.
She saw the smoke as she biked by his father’s house. How had she managed to single-handedly pull an unconscious man out of the house?
He shook his head. Maggie has two left feet, so naturally she fell while doing it, cutting herself on the glass from the window she’d broken to get in the house in the first place.
As he’d listened to Duffy, Jake realized one thing. Maggie Jones meant much more to him than he ever planned. More than he could quite comprehend.
More than he was prepared for.
He paced back and forth at the foot of her bed. Hospitals. They plain made him nervous.
“Have you seen your father?”
“Huh?” The question pulled him from his silent reverie.
“Your father?” she asked again.
“Bitsy is with my dad. They gave him a couple of respiratory therapy treatments and released him. He’s at my house.”
“Good.” Maggie breathed her relief aloud. “What caused the fire? Do they know?”
Jake continued to pace, hands thrust into his pockets, trying to recall the conversation he’d had with Bitsy.
“Jake.”
He stopped and jerked his head toward her.
“What caused the fire?”
“Dryer vent caught on fire.” Jake approached the bed and looked around, looking at everything except the woman in the bed.
“Sit down, Jake.” Maggie repeated the words, her voice gentle and soothing.
He sat down on the edge of the mattress. Then he got up. Then he sat down again. After a moment he relaxed, head bowed, and let out a breath of air. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”
It startled him when her hand touched his arm in a gentle caress of comfort. He should be comforting her.
Jake lifted his head and stared at Maggie before finally making an admission. “I want to hold you but I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
“It’s okay.” She dropped her hand to his, gripping tightly. “I’m sorry I made you worry.”
This time his slow silent inspection dared to examine her more closely, first one arm then the other, then her face and scalp. He looked deep into her eyes. What he saw there shook him to his core.
Maggie Jones wore her heart in her eyes.
Finally, his gaze moved beyond her and to another place, another time. Another woman he’d loved. Could he risk his heart like this all over again?
“Have you got a comb?” she asked.
“A comb?” He blinked and looked at her blankly. “A comb?”
Maggie nodded.
“I’ll ask the nurse.”
A moment later he returned, triumphant, a black comb and a large white towel in his hands. The nurse he’d argued with earlier practically thrust them at him, when he’d asked. She seemed delighted to have him go away.
He’d apologize to her tomorrow for his gruffness. Maybe have Bitsy bring all the staff pies. Tonight he wasn’t himself, that was for sure.
“Seems like a strange time to be concerned about combing your hair.”
“This isn’t about vanity, it’s about comfort.”
When Maggie held out her hand for the comb he shook his head. “I’ll do it. You can’t reach with both your arms tied up.” He gently lifted her hair and placed the towel around her shoulders. She stiffened for a moment.
“Does it hurt?”
“A bit.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not you. I have aches in places I didn’t know existed.”
“You dragged a one-hundred-and-eighty-pound man from the house to the front porch. You ought to hurt.”
“Pure adrenaline. Unfortunately he’s going to hurt tomorrow, too.”
“Mack is from sturdy stock. He’ll be fine.” Jake looked at Maggie’s head. “You’ve got glass in your hair. Why didn’t the nurses take care of this?” he growled.
“I’ve only been in the room an hour. I’ve been asleep until now. Then you arrived.”
Jake grunted and starting working, combing carefully near her scalp. He dropped a few small shards onto the over-the-bed table.
Maggie closed her eyes as he fingered through the strands. He worked with a quiet precision, moving slowly to remove glass, then combing, all the time lost in thought.
An angry tension simmered beneath the surface of his being as he considered just how precious life was. At times he couldn’t understand any of it. Nor could he do anything to change things.
Maggie’s voice broke through his conflict.
“Are you going to lose your job?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, going around the bed to finish the other side of her head. “Why would I lose my job?”
“Another fire that lists me in the incident report. The commissioner. Are you going to lose your job?”
Jake fumed at her words. “Who told you about that?”
She shrugged.
“I know who told you.” He frowned. “Once again, this explains a lot. That’s why I got the cold shoulder. Right? You were trying to protect me.”
Maggie looked away.
Carefully, he rolled up the towel and placed it on the bureau. “All done. Sally-Anne and the Emporium don’t have to worry about me stealing their business.”
He offered a rueful grin while looking at the disarray he’d created. “But it sure beats sleeping on glass.”
Maggie touched her head, running her fingers through the strands, shoving them into a semblance of order.
“Much better.” She sighed. “Thank you, but you didn’t answer my question.”
“My job is secure. You are a hero. Remember that.” Jake stood next to the bed, hands stuffed in his back pockets. He cleared his throat. “There’ll be plenty of time for talking later. I mean that. We will talk, Maggie. As soon as you’re out of here.”
“Will we?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“No problem. Thought I’d give you a little time to get your strength back.”
She raised a brow.
“Quit thinking. Maybe you should
try to get some sleep now.”
“What about you?” she asked.
He dragged a large, orange vinyl hospital-issue chair close to the bed and sank into it. “I’ll sit here a while.”
“The nurse will make you leave.”
He laughed. “Let her try.”
Maggie smiled serenely.
Jake gave her a wink as she leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. Without thinking, he reached across the blanket to touch Maggie’s slim fingers. They warmed him as they curled around his own. His thumb brushed her wrist feeling the pulse strong and bounding. With Maggie’s small hand tucked protectively into his he relaxed in the chair and closed his eyes.
If only he could keep her safe always.
Chapter Thirteen
A quick glance around the hospital room confirmed to Maggie that Jake was no longer present. He’d been there at six when the phlebotomist woke her to get a blood sample.
Now he was gone. Disappointment settled in her heart. Already Maggie missed him.
She lifted the cover on the breakfast tray that was in front of her. Rubber pancakes, runny blueberries and a little container of orange juice. She opened the juice, and then pushed the breakfast tray away. She’d kill for hot coffee and muffins or scones from Patti Jo’s. In fact she could almost smell them. She must be hallucinating.
The door creaked open and a silver head peeked in.
“Are you awake?”
“Aunt Betty?”
“And company. Come on in, girls.”
Maggie’s eyes widened as Bitsy held the door and half of the members of the Paradise Ladies Auxiliary marched into the little hospital room. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the gray-haired brigade filled the place.
“Dear me, Maggie. You look like you wrestled with the devil and he won,” Bitsy stated.
“Nonsense, Bitsy. Maggie won. The righteous always prevail,” Aunt Betty stated.
Maggie smiled at the exchange.
Bitsy stepped forward and placed a white box and a pile of napkins on the over-the-bed table. Aunt Betty added a tall covered container of coffee to the mix.
“Oh, Bitsy. Is it?”
Bitsy reached into the box and pulled out a few pastries.
“Chocolate scones. How did you know?”
The older woman carefully placed one between the fingers of Maggie’s right hand. “Julia from the bakery called me this morning. Told me I had to get these to you.”
“How did she know what happened?”
“Ha. News spreads fast in Paradise,” Bitsy answered. “The phone trees are still ringing.” She said a quick prayer of thanksgiving before Maggie bit into the delicacy.
“This is wonderful, absolutely wonderful,” Maggie announced, savoring the rich pastry. “I think everyone needs to help me eat them.”
“Oh, no, we brought our own,” Bitsy announced. Bags rustled as the women settled around the room and joined Maggie.
Maggie fumbled with the lid to the coffee and Aunt Betty reached over and removed the white top. “Can you lift that with those arms?”
“I think so. This coffee smells too good not to try.”
She gripped the warm container and lifted it to her lips, eyelids drifting closed as she inhaled the aroma. What a blessing simple pleasures were.
“How are you feeling, Maggie?” Aunt Betty asked.
“Sore. All over. But other than that, okay.” Maggie glanced down at her hands, grateful she wasn’t burned or worse. Grateful she was right-handed.
“You know you saved Mack’s life,” Bitsy said.
A general buzz began around the room at that announcement.
Maggie shook her head. “I did what any of you would have done.”
“The Lord certainly ordered your steps last night. Why were you out at night on your bicycle?” Bitsy continued.
“Silly, really. I was going to talk to Beck.”
“I thought we agreed that I would handle that.”
“The more I hang around Paradise, the more stubborn I become, I guess.”
“Not to worry. I have that problem under control,” Bitsy murmured.
“Is there something I should know?” Aunt Betty asked.
“No, Betty dear, this is one of those situations where ignorance is bliss. Trust me.”
“Good. I prefer to defer the problems to you whenever possible. You handle them so well.”
Bitsy turned to Maggie. “The bottom line is that Mack and I are plenty grateful you were the vessel the Lord chose to help him last night.”
Maggie bowed her head, humbled by the words. Aunt Betty beamed. “You made the newspaper again.”
“Not really? How did they manage to get it into the paper already?”
“Stayed up all night, I imagine. I told you, you sell papers. They’re calling you a hero. Heroes sell even more papers.”
Maggie nearly choked with laughter at the irony. Then she grimaced, clutching her side. “Ouch, that hurt.”
“Careful, dear. I hate to mention this, but they called and said that they want to do a feature article on you.”
“I’ll have to think about that.”
“When will they let you come home, Maggie?” one of the women asked.
“I haven’t any idea,” Maggie answered. “In fact I don’t know much of anything except that I have stitches under here and an assortment of bruises all over.”
“I’ve already made inquiries,” Bitsy announced. “You have twelve stitches on your arm and two bruised ribs. They are waiting on the results of your blood work to be sure your hemoglobin and hematocrit are normal.” She leaned in closer. “That means you lost blood.”
The ladies all nodded with fascination.
“The doctor will be making his morning rounds soon. They may want to keep you until tomorrow to watch for side effects of a concussion.”
“Oh, do you think she might have Dr. Ben or Sara Rogers as her doctor?” Aunt Betty asked.
“You never know,” Bitsy said.
“I’m curious how you got them to give you all that information?” Maggie asked, amazed.
“Official business, of course. I informed the charge nurse that I am the administrative assistant at the Paradise Sheriff’s Department and I am gathering investigative information regarding the fire, for the sheriff.”
Maggie grinned. Of course. Besides, who would argue with Bitsy?
“It’s the truth,” Bitsy said. “Sam will be needing that information. The fire department, as well. I’m merely anticipating their needs.”
“You anticipate other’s needs well, Bitsy. Thank you,” Maggie said. She lifted the rest of her scone from the table. “For bringing the pastries, too.”
“You’re a member of the auxiliary, Maggie, and our friend. We take care of each other. I assured the staff here that you will have plenty of care upon discharge, as well.”
It was like having family again. Maggie fought the urge to get weepy over Bitsy’s comment.
“We’ll be bringing meals to your house once you get home, so you don’t have to worry about cooking,” Aunt Betty said.
“Thank you,” Maggie said. She nearly laughed out loud at the thought of her aunt inspecting her cupboards and finding only bags of cheese puffs and assorted boxes of toaster pastries.
“Where’s Jake?” Bitsy asked, lowering her voice.
“He was here last night,” Maggie said.
“He should be here now. I spoke to him in passing this morning. Told him we were on our way in,” she said.
That would explain Jake’s absence, Maggie realized. He wouldn’t come within a mile of anything that could even loosely be construed as a meeting of the auxiliary.
Before Bitsy could comment further, a no-nonsense nurse entered the room. Hands on hips, she looked around, a horrified expression on her face.
“The visiting hours don’t even begin until ten,” she said, examining her watch. “And you can’t possibly have this many visitors at one time.”
> “We are not visitors, we are family,” Bitsy informed the nurse. She stood ramrod-straight and stepped smack into the nurse’s personal space.
The nurse opened her mouth, but Bitsy continued. “Ms. Jones has a very large, and very close, extended family.”
“You’re all her family?” the nurse asked, narrowing her eyes to inspect each and every one of the women.
Maggie’s visitors looked at each other and then to their leader.
“You’re new in town, aren’t you?” Bitsy asked.
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Everyone in Paradise knows that Betty is Maggie’s aunt, and myself and the rest of these ladies are practically family,” Bitsy said.
The nurse sputtered.
“However, as it happens we were just leaving.” She gave a nod to the other women.
Leave it to Bitsy to have the last word. At her order, the ladies of the Paradise Auxiliary scrambled to gather the remains of their breakfast and began filing past Maggie’s bed to say their goodbyes.
“We’re going to church, then for a little shopping,” Aunt Betty said as she gave Maggie a kiss goodbye. “I’ll be back in a while. If they discharge you early today, I’ll drive you. Otherwise Susan will take you home later in the day. She’ll be here soon.”
“Oh, I hate to be a nuisance.”
“It’s no trouble. You weren’t planning to ride home on your bicycle, were you?”
Maggie laughed. “No. Good point.”
Bitsy leaned over to plant a kiss on Maggie’s forehead. The gesture both surprised and touched Maggie. Bitsy Harmony and Jake MacLaughlin were more alike than they knew. Efficient bulldogs on the outside, and teddy bears on the inside.
With a quick wink Bitsy led the troops into the hall.
Aunt Betty gave a little finger wave and a salute as she marched past Maggie’s bed.
“’Bye, Maggie,” she called out on her way out the door. “See you at home, later.”
Home.
The word flowed over Maggie liked a sweet balm.
* * *
Safe in the Fireman's Arms Page 15
