Gage's words came rushing back. "What are you talking about?"
"Damn, girl, before we even showed our faces, I was back in that house. But I was quiet as a mouse. You never knew I was there."
He was right. With her washer and dryer in the kitchen, she had rarely gone into the basement and certainly not during the last hectic few weeks. "Why would—my God, what were you doing?"
"Let's just say I'm back in business."
Her bewilderment must have shown on her face.
"Oh, come on. I had a good little drug-run setup years ago, all the way into Canada. It didn't take long to get back in the game. Now I've got a chance to get into the big bucks, but it takes money to make money." Billy Joe grinned and motioned to her and Jack with his gun. "I knew you'd never hand it over if I asked nicely. So I decided you needed a bit more incentive."
Drugs? In her house? "Was the fire your doing?"
"Did I set it deliberately? Naw, but who cares. Now, hand over that check."
"I…I don't understand…"
He threw his beer across the room and kicked at the nearby ice chest, sending empty bottles flying toward her. "I've got people waiting. Give it to me."
Adrenaline rushed through her, changing her confusion to fear and then to anger. She wasn't going down without a fight. Gage was on his way. He'd said so. How long would it take? She needed to get out of the cabin. Without her keys, her car was useless. The woods were their best defense.
One of the empty bottles rested at her feet. She released Jack from the leash. He lurched as if wanting to run but stayed put, body quivering with suppressed energy. If she could knock out Billy Joe or at least get a head start—
"What's it going to be?" He moved closer and aimed the gun he was holding at her. "You gonna hand it over or do I have to take it from you?"
"Would you please point that thing somewhere else?" The words rasped over her dry throat.
"Ya never did like guns, did ya?" Billy Joe lifted the revolver, cradling it in both hands, bringing it upward to point at an imaginary target. "Remember those shotguns Daddy had? I used to wish he'd take me hunting—"
"Let her go, Billy Joe. Now."
Gage's command filled the air. Jack reacted and sprang at her brother, jaws clamping down on his wrist. Blasts of gunfire and her brother's scream rang in her ears. She cried out as Billy Joe crumpled to the floor, landing on top of her. She pushed until he rolled off, clutching his bloodstained leg.
Then she saw Gage lying in the open doorway.
"No!" The scream tore from her chest as she crawled on her hands and knees, reaching him as more of Destiny's finest rushed into the clearing.
"Gage!" She ignored demands to stay still and grabbed at his hand clutching his chest. Blood seeped through his fingers. "Ohmigod, he's been shot. Get help! Get help now!"
She turned his face toward her, praying she'd see his beautiful blue eyes looking back at her. Lids closed, he remained still. "Gage, stay with me. Please, stay…don't leave me—don't leave…I love you—"
She bit hard at her bottom lip, cutting off her outburst as the shock of her admission hit her.
Oh, God, she loved him.
Racy Dillon loved Gage Steele.
A blur of activity surrounded her as people swarmed over them and moved past her toward Billy Joe. Jack sat nearby and growled when a deputy reached for the gun he held in his jaw, then released it.
"Are you hurt, Ms. Dillon?" Hands grabbed at her. "Let us help—"
"I'm fine," she cried, thrashing her shoulders, struggling to free herself. "It's not me, it's Gage. Please, help him."
"We will, but you need to get back."
"No, please, I don't want to leave him."
Her plea was useless as someone pulled her away. Jack rushed to her side as her unblinking eyes settled on the man she'd finally admitted loving, looking for any sign of life.
The man she was one hundred percent certain was all wrong for her had somehow found a way past the bravado and boldness she'd used since childhood to protect herself. The boy who'd been her first crush, her first real kiss, was the man who'd shown her what physical love could be between a man and a woman. Tender, playful, passionate, daring. Giving and taking, sharing and exploring.
But he was so much more than that.
As certain as she was of her feelings, she was equally certain he deserved a woman who could be everything he needed, who would be worthy of him. She wasn't that woman.
She didn't remember getting into the ambulance with Gage but she couldn't look away from the stillness of his features, her eyes willing him to wake up. The EMTs worked frantically, speaking in medical jargon she didn't understand, as they hooked him up to an IV and placed an oxygen mask over his face.
He can't die. He can't die.
They arrived at a hospital and she realized they'd driven all the way to Laramie. Oh, God, what did that mean? Destiny's clinic couldn't handle Gage's injuries?
She was rushed into an exam room while a crowd of medical personnel disappeared down a long corridor with Gage.
He'd never woken up, never said a word.
She let them check her over and repeated all she knew about Billy Joe to the deputies. They told her Jack had been taken to the station for safekeeping and, when the nurse requested her closest family member, she gave Justin's name.
And she asked about Gage.
Again and again she asked, but no one could tell her anything. She had no idea how much time passed. Then Justin was at her side, telling her she was being released.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Racy—"
"Forget it." She pushed him out into the hall and closed the curtain between them. "I'm not leaving until I find out about Gage."
Yanking off the silly excuse for a hospital gown, she reached for her clothes. Her jeans were passable, but there was no way she was putting on her blood-soaked shirt or jacket.
She stuck her hand between the curtain openings. "Give me your shirt."
"What?"
"Mine's trashed and I'm not modeling the latest push-up bra from Victoria's Secret for the ER. Hand it over. Now."
Seconds later, soft fabric landed in her hand. It was a gray-and-black flannel shirt.
"Thanks."
She tugged it on and buttoned it but didn't bother tucking it in. A scrunchie from her purse held her hair off her face. Grabbing her boots, she opened the curtain again.
"I wasn't suggesting you leave the hospital." Justin held up both hands as if to appease her. "There's a group of people in the waiting room."
"For Gage?"
He nodded. "And for you."
She paused to pull on her boots and blink away the sudden rush of hot tears. Justin steadied her as she straightened and then surprised her by pulling her into his arms.
"I'm so sorry." He wrapped her in a strong embrace, his shaky words whispered into her hair. "I had no idea what Billy Joe was doing. Please believe me."
Racy leaned into him for a long moment, then stepped back to look at her brother. A rush of sibling love she hadn't felt since she was a little girl filled her. "I believe you."
"Billy Joe is back in custody. Gage wounded him in the leg, but he's going to survive. He'll probably be transferred to the state facility once he's stabilized."
Justin released her, but she kept one arm around his waist as they walked to the waiting room. She didn't want to think about her oldest brother right now. Gage was the only person on her mind. "Is Gage's family here?"
Justin slowed. "Ah, I think the youngest ones are out there. They came in with Leeann, but I didn't see Gina or her mother."
"You didn't see her at the bar? Doesn't she usually work on Tuesdays?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"Justin, what aren't you telling me—" Racy stopped as they stepped into the crowded waiting room.
Jackie, one of her assistant managers, sat on a nearby bench with three other waitresses and Ric Murphy, her bouncer. Max
headed toward her after giving a steaming cup of coffee to Willie Perkins, one of Maggie's cowboys and Racy's favorite customer.
"What—what are you doing here?" Racy said, flabbergasted.
He stepped forward and enveloped her in his arms. "I had to see for myself you were okay. Damn, you had me worried."
Racy closed her eyes and allowed the strength of his hug to seep into her. "Max! You're supposed to be in Florida."
"I'm supposed to be where I'm needed. I flew home early this morning. I'm needed here. We're all here…for you."
Racy took a deep breath. To know her friends had dropped everything to be here overwhelmed her.
Leeann joined them, stepping away from a circle of people that included a couple of Destiny's deputies. "I was at the end of my shift when the sheriff's call came in. When the on-scene personnel reported his…injuries, I tried to find his mom, but only the twins were home. They said Sandy is in Cheyenne shopping with Gina. We reached them. They're on their way."
Racy spotted Gage's siblings sitting on a nearby couch. The sight of Giselle's red-rimmed eyes and Garrett's clenched fists tore at her heart. She walked over and embraced them.
"Can you tell us anything, Ms. Dillon?" Garrett asked.
Racy wasn't about to share the details of what had happened in the cabin. She glanced at her watch, shocked to see almost three hours had passed since she'd gotten Billy Joe's phone call. "Have the doctors told you anything?"
Giselle shook her head. "We've been here almost an hour and all they've said is they're working to stabilize him."
A doctor in green surgical garb walked into the room.
Racy turned to him, knowing instinctively he was there to see them. "How's Gage?"
The doctor took a moment to look at everyone. "Sheriff Steele is alive, but it doesn't look good."
Her heart stopped beating. She was still conscious, still breathing, but the part of her that belonged to Gage was silently screaming.
"Is there a next of kin here?" the doctor said. "A bullet is lodged near his heart. He's losing blood and we need to get in there and try to stop it. A signed consent form from a family member is needed."
"I'm his brother." Garrett rose. "I'll sign it."
"I need consent from a legal adult. How old are—"
"My mom's still an hour away," he protested. "I'll be eighteen in three months!"
Racy laid a hand on his arm and gave the boy a gentle squeeze, then stepped forward. "I'll sign it. I'm Gage's wife."
Stunned silence filled the room.
"I didn't realize the sheriff was married," the surgeon replied.
Racy felt the weight of everyone's gaze on her as she reached into her purse, but she didn't care. Gage was all that mattered. She rummaged inside, finally pulling out the folded piece of paper. "Here's a copy of our marriage license."
The doctor looked at the paper, then handed Racy a clipboard. "If you'll just sign at the bottom, Mrs. Steele."
A collective gasp and murmurs filled her ears as she penned her name.
"We'll keep you updated as much as we can," the doctor said. "I'm not sure how long the surgery is going to take."
Racy nodded. "Thank you. We'll be here."
The surgeon turned and hurried down the hallway.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, and turned around. Unspoken questions filled the air with a heavy cloud of curiosity. She had to tell them, but first things first.
She went to Garrett and Giselle, humbled when Giselle gripped her hand in a tight squeeze. Racy said, "Your brother and I were married last summer in Vegas."
"Wow."
Racy smiled at Garrett. "Yeah, wow."
"But you didn't tell anyone?" Giselle asked.
"It's a long story."
Racy's gaze connected with Leeann's, whose stunned expression shifted into a compassionate smile. She crouched and took Racy's other hand. "Well, I guess Maggie was right about you two. She'll be glad to hear your big news."
Racy tried to smile, but she couldn't.
"He's a strong man, Racy." There was certainty in Leeann's voice. "He'll pull through."
The tears she couldn't hold back any longer flooded down her cheeks. "He has to, he just has to."
Chapter Fifteen
I t took more strength than he thought he possessed, but Gage finally managed to open his eyes. His throat burned like it was on fire and everything was bright, but hazy. He blinked a few times then realized he was in a hospital.
It all came rushing back.
The hunting cabin. Racy. Billy Joe with a pistol. The sound of gunfire—
Terror and dread filled his chest, cutting off his breath. He struggled to move, to sit up.
"Gage! You're awake. Oh, sweetie, calm down." His mother's soft voice and cool touch invaded his panic.
"Ra—cy…"
"She's fine."
Pain ricocheted in his chest as he turned his head. Eyes squinting, he searched for her familiar red curls and beautiful face. "Where…where is—"
"Considering it's almost five in the morning, she's most likely asleep in the waiting room. I promise you, she's fine." She squeezed his hand. "We've been taking turns. The hospital only allows two of us in here at a time. Gina just left to get some more coffee."
He looked back at his mother and saw tears in her eyes.
"You gave us quite a scare, young man. It's been the four longest days of my life. You've been breathing on your own for two days now, but waiting for you to wake up after the surgery…" She let her words fade as she brushed at her eyes. "Let me get the nurse. They need to know you're—"
"Wait," he tried to process his mother's words, but it was all a blur. He forced a swallow. "Surgery?"
"Let's wait until the doctor has checked—"
"Mom, please." He forced the words. "I remember…Racy and the cabin…Billy Joe…Jack…firing my weapon…"
"Billy Joe has been taken into custody. He was injured, but survived. Racy and her pup are just fine. Thanks to you."
Relief filled him at her words. He'd never forget the sight of Racy kneeling before her brother, the gun in his shaky grip aimed right at her. Then Billy Joe had raised his arms and Gage had called out, which must have sent Jack into attack mode. Gage had fired, aiming only to wound, not kill. The memory of the blinding pain in his chest caused him to tighten his grip on his mother's hand. "How bad?"
"It was very scary in the beginning. You'd lost a lot of blood and they needed to operate right away. Gina and I weren't—well, thank goodness Racy was here and able to…"
"To what?"
"She signed the consent form." His mother's familiar smile returned, as sweet and serene as he remembered. "As your wife?"
Shocked, he couldn't utter a sound. His heart pounded in his chest, but this time there was no pain, just hope.
It wasn't too late.
"It's true, isn't it?" his mom asked. "She told us you two were married in Las Vegas?"
He nodded. Despite his signature on those damn papers, they were still married. But he had no idea what that meant to Racy, the woman he loved more than life itself.
"Gage, we need to let someone know you're awake. And I want to call the kids and let Racy—"
"Mom…need you to do…something for me."
"Now?"
"Please…at my house." He was determined to do this right this time. "In my top dresser drawer…"
* * *
He looked like he was still unconscious.
Even though his mother had insisted Gage had awakened for a few minutes before dawn, he hadn't moved an inch since she'd sat down next to him. His chest rose and fell in an easy rhythm despite the wound that had taken almost eighteen hours to fix.
The longest night of her life.
Racy blinked back tears, amazed that she had any more left.
She'd told an abbreviated story of what had happened in Vegas to everyone, including Gage's family, stressing she and Gage had agreed it had been a mistake and th
ey were taking steps to fix it. Thankfully, Sandy Steele had kept her kids from asking too many questions, and Leeann had provided only quiet support after her assurance had caused Racy to break down and cry.
She'd tried to be strong during the long hours of the operation. It wasn't until the surgeon had assured them Gage would recover that she'd agreed to leave long enough to shower and change. And release a torrent of emotions beneath the hot, stinging spray, finally succumbing to the horror and anguish of all that had happened.
The Sheriff's Secret Wife Page 20
