Stalked In Conard County (Conard County: The Next Generation Book 41)

by Rachel Lee

  “Okay. Okay.” He felt as if emotions were roiling inside him, a bunch of them so mixed up he couldn’t have named them. Relief, he guessed. Infinite relief. Then he remembered.

  “Did anyone get her cell phone? She’s got a friend expecting her in Baltimore tomorrow. She was on her way to the airport.”

  “I’ll check. If it’s with her belongings, do you want me to call?”

  Roger pulled his thoughts into line. “What would be worse? Hearing the sheriff on the other end of the line or me?”

  “Does she even know you?”

  Roger realized that not only did Della not know him, but probably didn’t know his name, either. He couldn’t remember Haley mentioning it. Just some stuff about cowboys.

  “No.”

  “Then I’ll do it, Rog. I can tell her more anyway. What’s her friend’s name?”

  “Della. That’s all I know.”

  Gage turned away then looked back. “One of the nurses will come to get you. I lied a bit, said you were all but engaged.” Gage winked with the unscarred side of his face. “I’ll let you know what her friend says.”

  “Thanks, Gage.”

  “Unfortunately, I’ve had experience with making this kind of call.”

  Roger was sure he had.

  * * *

  Grateful he was alone in this waiting room, Roger resumed his pacing. He hadn’t felt like this since his father’s fatal heart attack over a decade ago. Waiting, endless waiting, on tenterhooks, trying to pray but unable to utter more than a few broken phrases as his mind whirled with worry. The doctors had fought for hours and failed to save his dad in the end.

  This was different, he assured himself. Gage had said Haley was going to be fine, although in a lot of pain. Still, Roger knew he wouldn’t feel any better until her eyes opened and he heard her voice again.

  Damn, he should have insisted on driving her. Except what good would that have done if some reckless driver had sideswiped her little car, even with him at the wheel? Those subcompacts had no weight to them. Thank God, they had front airbags. But his truck might have been better.

  Aww, hell, what good did it do to think about this now? There’d been an accident, Haley was hurt, and what-ifs weren’t going to change anything.

  Later Gage appeared with news. “Okay. Della, who’s her roommate by the way, wants Haley to know she’ll fly out on Tuesday or Wednesday.” Gage consulted his pad. “Something to do with getting word about Casey.”

  Roger nodded. “Casey’s having a biopsy on Monday. Another of Haley’s friends.”

  “Okay, so Haley will have help, at least for a while.”

  “Not like I wouldn’t do it,” Roger muttered. God, had he said something so asinine? This day had taken a lot of out of him. “Good news,” he managed to say.

  “And final word. Haley’s in recovery. They’ll call you as soon as they move her to a room.”

  Roger nodded as the first real relief began to hit him. As he watched Gage take his leave, heading back to find out what he could about the accident, Roger wondered why he could feel relief but couldn’t feel that the worst was over.

  * * *

  If any part of her didn’t hurt, Haley couldn’t feel it. Coming out of inky blackness, pain seemed to fill her universe. Every breath hurt in her left side. Every single one. Her leg felt heavy and useless, but she couldn’t see. The visual world seemed to want to lag, but her hearing was already working. She heard stirring around her, voices talking, male and female. Maybe a groan or two, but she might have been the one groaning.

  “She’s waking,” said a female voice.

  Then she felt fingers pry her eyes open one at a time. “Good reflex,” a male voice said.

  She knew what that meant, even in her muzzy state. Her head ached, probably indicating a concussion, but if her pupils were reacting normally, then she hadn’t suffered any severe damage.

  “Can you hear me, Haley?” the man asked.

  “Mmm.” Even that little sound hurt to make.

  “You’ll need to breathe deeply even though it hurts. You have a broken rib. We don’t want pneumonia.”

  Of course she didn’t want pneumonia. Steeling herself, she sucked in a long, slow breath despite the shriek in her side.

  “That’s good. Do it as often as you can manage.”

  “How bad?” she whispered.

  “One broken rib, a concussion, some lacerations and a broken leg. Nothing major, just painful.”

  Good. She didn’t know if she said it out loud, but she tried another deep, gentle breath. Being a nurse, she knew what counted.

  “Back?” she whispered.

  “You mean your back? No spinal injury. You were one very lucky lady. But your left shoulder will probably hurt like the dickens when you wake up a little more. Seat belt.”

  “Collar?”

  “Amazingly, you didn’t break your collarbone. And the airbag must have kept your head from rolling around too much when your car tumbled.”

  All good, she thought. All good. But the darkness was creeping back.

  “Feel up to going to your room? You have a friend waiting.”

  “Yes.” Friend? Della? She couldn’t be here already. Roger? Oh, she hoped it was Roger. Then she let the gray gauze of surgical drugs carry her away again. So much easier than all the pain.

  Chapter 10

  Haley woke to night beyond the window of the room, hammering pain reawakening in what felt like most of her body, and a warm, large hand holding hers.

  She blinked. Awareness, she thought, was overrated. She couldn’t prevent a mewl of pain escaping her lips.

  “Haley?”

  Roger’s voice. So welcome. Reaching out to her like a lifeline. Gingerly she turned her head, seeking him. Only the floor night-light was on, but she could still see his concerned face. “Mmm.”

  “I was starting to get worried,” he admitted. “Welcome back. The nurse said you didn’t seem to want to wake up.”

  “Would you?” she mumbled.

  “No, probably not. Feel that button control in your other hand? Morphine drip. You know all about that.”

  “Mmm.” Yeah, she did, and the gray gauze of hiding in it sounded good right now. But she didn’t want to sink away. Not yet. Not with Roger so close. “What...?”

  “What happened?” He completed the question for her when she said nothing else.

  “Car accident. Sheriff thinks someone sideswiped you. You’re fine, you’re gonna hurt, your leg has a pin in it or something, and you’re supposed to breathe deeply as often as you can.” He blew a breath. “I think I got everything, but the nurse will remind you, I’m sure. Oh, and your shoulder is going to add to your discomfort. Bruised from the seat belt.”

  Quite a catalog, she thought muzzily. But she’d seen auto accidents with far worse outcomes. She’d been lucky. “Roger?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Della?”

  “Oh, yeah. Gage called her, told her what happened. She said she’ll fly out on Tuesday or Wednesday to look after you, but she’s going to wait on Casey’s results.”

  “Good. Casey matters. Needs us.”

  “Yup. And you’re gonna need Della, too. From what they’re saying, you might need help for a while. You can definitely count on me.”

  She knew she could, and the knowing felt like a warm, soft blanket around her heart. “Thanks.”

  “Deep breaths,” he reminded her gently. “Then go ahead and push your morphine button. Dang, woman, you don’t have to hurt. And you don’t have to stay awake. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Get something to eat,” she managed to whisper as the morphine began to flood her system. The gauze was back. The pain slipped away.

  * * *

  Haley was released on Tuesday morning. Roger took her home, along with a wheelch
air. After a week she’d be allowed to get around on a walking cast, but right now she was under instructions to keep her leg elevated to prevent swelling.

  That had made for some amusement getting into Roger’s truck. She could bend her knee, but it was still awkward, and by the time he slipped her into the passenger seat, she was giggling and a bit flushed from the places he’d touched her all while trying to avoid doing so.

  She had a bag full of items like a water pitcher and cup that she’d probably never use, hand sanitizer and some nonslip socks, which she’d always liked. Tucked in her purse was a supply of pain meds.

  Because that rib hurt like hell. Her leg throbbed, but that rib... The doctor had told her they’d needed to wire it. Lovely. Well, that explained the small scar on her left side and the staple holding it closed.

  All in all, she was feeling like one very lucky person when they arrived at her grandmother’s house.

  Roger wheeled her inside, promising a ramp if she needed one. “I can fix one up in a jiff.”

  “Does anyone say that anymore? Jiff or jiffy?”

  He shrugged, flashing a grin. “Like I care? I’m dated.”

  She wanted to laugh, but that dang rib prevented it. “God, it feels good to be home.”

  “A place with food whenever you want it, coffee by the gallon, or tea if you prefer, and I even got you some ice cream.”

  “Hey...”

  “No hey. You’re recovering and you didn’t eat damn near enough in the hospital.”

  She nodded as he pulled a chair out of the way and slid her leg and wheelchair up to the table. “Morphine kills the appetite.”

  “And you can justify the ice cream because it has lots of calcium to help your leg, and calories to make up for starving the last several days.”

  She smiled up at him. “Damn, you’re good.”

  “I’m great with excuses.”

  He started a pot of coffee when she expressed a wish for some, then began pulling enough food out of the fridge for an army.

  “What are you doing?”

  “If you want a decent sandwich around here, you can get one from Maude easily enough. But I want more than decent. I went to Miranda’s bakery to get some hard rolls, real hard rolls, and I hit the supermarket deli, such as it is, for cold cuts and cheese. The only thing I need to know from you is mayo or mustard or both?”

  While she watched, he proceeded to build masterpieces on those rolls, and he hadn’t forgotten a thing. There was lettuce and tomato, as well, which she absolutely loved on a sandwich. By the time he put one in front of her, she wondered how she’d wrap her mouth around it.

  Before she could even try, her cell phone rang. Roger had set her small purse within reach and she grabbed for it, wincing as her rib objected. “Della,” she said as she read the name on the display.

  “Well, hi, girl, are you running marathons yet?”

  “Not yet.” Haley had to laugh. “I’m sitting at the kitchen table, with Roger, about to dig into the most amazing sandwich I’ve ever seen. How’s Casey?”

  “Great. Biopsy was negative, so she won’t be needing the tissue squad for tear-wiping. I’ve booked a flight that’s leaving this afternoon, and I’ll be parking on your front step by noon tomorrow.”

  “Della, you don’t—”

  “I know I don’t. I talked to that cowboy of yours. Roger? Sounds like a capable sort of guy, but you’re getting me, like it or not.”

  Haley felt tears prickle her eyes. “Oh, Della.”

  “Now, don’t you be crying. This is what friends are for, and besides, I’m a nurse. Your cowboy isn’t. I need to set eyes on you. You’ve been through hell, girl.”

  She had, Haley thought. She guessed she had.

  “Any idea what happened?”

  “Not yet. Probably just a weird accident.” But even as she said it, Haley realized that she didn’t quite believe it. Couldn’t quite believe it. The fear was back, even though pain meds were smothering it a bit.

  “Yeah, well, we’re gonna find out about that while I’m there or I’ll know the reason why.”

  Another laugh escaped Haley. “You are a force of nature.”

  “You will be again, too, once we get you mended. Now put that cowboy on.”

  Haley handed her phone to Roger. “Della wants to talk to you.”

  “I’m not surprised,” he said with amusement. He took the phone, saying, “Hi, Della. It’s Roger.” Then a long pause. “Yes, ma’am.” Another pause. “I sure will. Believe it.” Another pause. “Will do. But if I get hammered for it, you’re on the hook. Right. ’Bye.”

  He handed the phone back with a grin. “She’s gone to see Casey. And I have my marching orders. I guess she’s forgotten you’re a nurse, too. Breathing and all the rest of it.”

  Haley laughed. “That’s Della. A fire-breathing dragon. As for me being a nurse, the instant I put on my invalid cap, I lost my nurse’s cap.”

  “It sounds like it, at least as far as Della is concerned. Basically, I’m supposed to be a nag, but she’s catching fallout from me if you get annoyed.” His grin widened. “I trust you to know your orders, so mum’s the word unless I catch you cheating. Ready to eat?”

  Surprisingly, she was. The sandwich was a bit to handle, however, and Roger told her to just forget delicacy and manners and pick it apart however she needed to. “These meats aren’t bad at all,” she remarked.

  “I didn’t buy prepackaged. We don’t have the most extensive deli, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, but what we have is good.”

  Once she had eaten as much as she could, Roger set her up on the living room couch and moved an end table to be within easy reach. Beneath her leg, he propped a pillow and placed another one behind her back.

  Before he returned with her glass of water, she had fallen asleep again. Healing required most of a body’s energy, and she didn’t battle it. At least the couch was comfy.

  * * *

  She awoke quickly to the sound of knocking at the front door. Her instinctive move to answer it sent pain rocketing through her, and a groan escaped her. She’d forgotten she was totally laid up.

  But Roger was there. As if out of nowhere, he appeared to answer the door. “Hey, come on in, Gage. I don’t know if Haley’s awake—”

  “I’m awake,” Haley answered. “Didn’t you hear me groan when I tried to move?”

  “You’ve been groaning a bit in your sleep,” Roger told her as he ushered Gage into the small living room and waved him to the goosenecked chair. “Coffee, man?”

  “No thanks. This is business, not pleasure, unfortunately.”

  Haley heard that and desperately wished she could sit upright. Roger came to her aid with another pillow behind her back, but she still didn’t feel properly positioned for what she suspected was going to be a serious conversation.

  “About your accident,” Gage said to Haley as Roger took a matching chair nearby. “We had some state investigators come in to look it all over. Haley, it was no accident.”

  Memory, quiet until now, came crashing back. The white Suburban, the man driving it, the way it had hit her. “No,” she said quietly. “It wasn’t. I guess I was blocking it, but...not an accident.”

  “You’ve been doped up since we pulled you out of the wreckage. Concussed. I’m surprised you remember at all.”

  “Yeah.” She sighed, ignoring the protest her rib shrieked, and let her head fall back against the pillow. “The memory is vague, though. Some guy sideswiped me. I think I tried to slow down to let him pass, then...” She trailed off and furrowed her brow. “After that, I think I felt another bump, but then everything—well, mainly me—was flying and banging into things. I’m not even sure I felt the airbag deploy. I did feel the side of my head hit something.”

  Gage nodded. “Not bad, considering. You were sideswiped pretty strong
ly. A lot of paint gone from the side of your car. Then there were a couple of dents on your rear quarter panel. He hit you hard, and the only reason for that was to drive you into the ditch.”

  She gasped then ardently wished she hadn’t. Another helpless groan escaped her, even though she tried to swallow it.

  “Pain pill,” said Roger, rising. “More than six hours.”

  “I don’t want one.”

  “I don’t care.” He dashed from the living room to the kitchen and returned with the bottle of pills and a fresh glass of water. “If it makes you drowsy, I’ll bring coffee. You’re a nurse, but I’ll repeat what the doctor said anyway. The pain meds work better if you don’t wait to take them until you’re really hurting.” He tipped one out of the bottle and put it in her hand. “Don’t give me a hassle or I’ll tell Della tomorrow.”

  She’d have laughed if she had dared. “Good reason.” She swallowed the pill obediently.

  “Della?” Gage asked.

  “My roommate from Baltimore. She’s coming to keep an eye on me.”

  “A nurse,” Roger elaborated. “That’s more than I can offer.”

  “That’s right. I talked to her.” Gage nodded and shifted in his chair. “Okay, we know it was purposeful. Paint transfer says it was a white vehicle, but there was some brown on it, too. It had to be somewhat bigger than your vehicle.”

  “Not saying much,” Haley murmured. “Yeah, it was bigger. Really big, like a Suburban.”

  “Suburban,” muttered Gage. “Just so happens, the high school reported one missing from their auto shop lot yesterday afternoon. Now we just have to find it. Did you see the driver?”

  Haley closed her eyes. “No. Not really. I only got a glance and his face was well shadowed by a cowboy hat.”

  Gage scrawled that in his notebook. “Can you remember anything else at all?”

  She looked at him. “He turned out of one of those little side thingies, with a gate in the fence. Whatever they’re called. He followed me for a while at a reasonable distance. I didn’t think a thing about it. Not until he pulled up beside me. I thought he was trying to pass, so I slowed down.”