by Wendy Vella
“Macy,” Jake drew her eyes. “There are four people here in this room who will now watch over you. Four people who will do everything we can to keep you safe and you know as well as me that there are plenty more like us in this town. This has to be stopped now, Macy, before Brian kills you and the baby.”
Jake had no idea if Brian would get to that point, but from what Branna had told him, the beatings must have been bad.
“Wh-what should I do?” she whispered a few minutes later, to the relief of everyone.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Cubby had gone to arrest Brian Delray after he’d left Macy at Branna’s, but he’d gone, apparently fleeing Howling sometime during the night. That he’d left in a hurry was obvious by the mess the sheriff found. Clothes were scattered around the bedroom, and papers in the office. After a thorough search, they found an envelope tucked down the back of a cabinet that Cubby reckoned Brian must have forgotten about, or lost. Inside it was a document that incriminated Delray and gave Cubby more than enough, along with his treatment of his wife, to put the man away for many years.
“Seems he wanted Branna’s land to build some kind of housing development on. Had people lined up and plans drawn up. He wanted to put Howling on the map, from what I gather.” Cubby scratched his head as he looked at Jake.
Jake had called in to see Cubby and hear the news firsthand after the sheriff had called him. He’d left Declan at home with Macy and Branna and he’d be home before it got dark. Because, even though the sheriff had assured him Delray had left Howling, Jake was taking no chances until the man was caught. Branna and Macy would be safe; he’d ensure it.
“I’ve put an APB out for the authorities to pick Brian up and I’m hoping that won’t take too long, because he’s not exactly a man to hide out in the woods, if you know what I mean.”
“I’d like a crack at him,” Jake said.
Cubby nodded. “Wouldn’t mind putting a pair of cuffs on him myself and then watch him trip over and bang his head on something.”
“We’ll keep Macy with us until he’s found,” Jake added, as he climbed to his feet and headed for the door. “Mom’s just left after checking her over. Both she and the baby are doing okay.”
“Still can’t believe it, Jake.”
“Yeah, it messes with your head if you think about it too much.”
“Hard not to.”
Lifting his hand, he headed for The Hoot. It was getting late, but Buster was still there preparing stuff for tomorrow and Jake had the idea of taking home a few muffins for his girl and Macy.
***
“You’re cheating.”
Macy laughed. “No, you’re just really bad at cards.”
Branna rolled her eyes and began to shuffle again. Her father was outside in the shed doing something and she and Macy were playing cards in the lounge. Branna was on the floor, Macy sitting on the couch.
Jake had gone to town after taking a phone call from Cubby and Branna was sure he was getting all the latest information on Brian Delray. He’d promised to return before it got dark and even though they had her father here, she’d feel better with Jake in the house too.
Jake had told her that Macy’s husband had left Howling, but she was still nervous that he might try to come for his wife.
“Thank you, Branna.”
What did she say to that, when she knew that what Macy was thanking her for was not the hand of cards Branna had just dealt her?
“Just look after you and the baby and that will be all the thanks I need, Macy.”
“I will, I promise.”
Macy looked worn out and bruised, but Branna thought her eyes looked clearer and she wondered if it was hope that she could see in them, and maybe relief.
“As soon as Dad and Jake get back, I’ll make us some hot chocolate, it’s better for you and the baby,” Branna said, dealing the cards again.
“Brian hated hot chocolate,” Macy said, picking up her cards.
“All the more reason to drink lots of it now,” Branna added, picking up her hand.
“Doctor McBride said I will be tired for a while and that rest and eating good healthy food is really important.”
“Did she say how far along you were?” Branna asked.
“About thirteen weeks.”
“What a shame you won’t be going full term, wife.”
Both women froze at Brian Reynolds’ words. He stood in the hallway, and Branna realized he must have come in through the back door. In his hands was a gun and it was pointed at Macy.
“You bitch,” he said, pointing to Branna, “Get over here so I can tie you up before I teach my wife a lesson.”
“Brian, no,” the anguish in Macy’s voice made Branna move to stand before her.
“You can’t honestly believe you can get away with this, Brian? People know what you are now; you can’t live in this town anymore,” Branna reached behind her and grabbed a handful of Macy’s robe to stop her from moving.
“People know what a whore she is; me, they like. I’m the gentle one they love and she’s the one people hate.”
He wore a dark sweater and trousers and the face that Branna had thought belonged to a nice man was now twisted in rage. He really believed what he was saying, Branna could see that. He thought people would turn on Macy and accept him. He was crazy, just like Macy had said he was…crazy and unlikely to see reason.
Branna looked to the front door that was closed, and wondered how she could get her and Macy out without one of them being shot. What if her father arrived? Would Brian shoot him?
“I won’t let you take her.” Branna took a breath to steady herself; panic would not help them get out of this unhurt.
“Then, I’ll shoot you,” Brian Delray said.
“Branna!”
Macy tried to get around Branna again, but she tripped and fell to the floor, and that was when he fired, the bullet hitting Branna in the arm. Her mind went completely blank and it was Macy’s cry that made her look down. Blood was soaking into the sleeve of her shirt, and then she felt the pain. It was sharp and vicious, and literally took her breath away, and Branna was on her knees seconds later. She couldn’t focus; her vision seemed to have narrowed and her head felt strange.
“No, dear God, no!”
Branna turned to face Macy as she cried out, but she couldn't move and then suddenly she was falling.
Jake heard the gunshot as he climbed out of the car. To his right, he saw Declan sprint out of the shed, and they arrived on the porch seconds later.
“Branna!” Bursting through the door, Jake saw her on the floor, her body still, and then the blood; he was on his knees beside her two heartbeats later.
“I’m going to kill you!”
Ignoring Declan’s roar as he charged Brian Reynolds, Jake turned Branna over slowly.
“Move the table, Macy; get me sheets or bandages and blankets now.” He didn’t look to see if she’d done what he asked; Jake had eyes only for Branna.
“It’s okay, baby,” his heart was thudding so hard in his chest he was struggling to breathe, as behind him, he heard the sound of fists hitting flesh.
The bullet had hit her in the arm. Pulling his shirt over his head, he applied pressure to the wound.
“Stay with me, Rosebud.”
The sensory receptors completely overload the brain, and the victim goes into shock, forcing the patient to lose consciousness. Pressure, elevation above the heart, and if bleeding won’t stop, apply pressure directly to the brachial artery.
Lifting the arm, he used his other hand to check her pulse. It was weak, which told Jake that shock was taking hold.
“Get my phone out of my pocket,” Jake yelled. “Call my mother, then Ethan…tell him to get the helicopter ready!”
He felt hands in his back pocket, taking out his phone, and then he heard Macy making the calls.
“Branna, love.” Declan O’Donnell appeared on the other side of Branna, his face white, eyes on his daughter.
“She’ll live,” Jake vowed. She wouldn’t be leaving him now, not when they’d just found each other.
Lifting his shirt, he checked the bleeding, but it was still flowing, and way too fast.
Wrapping his hand around Branna’s arm, Jake pressed his fingers directly into the brachial artery. Pushing aside the fear, he relied on what he’d been trained to do, save lives, heal people, and care for the woman he loved. His mind raced through the things he’d learned in his years of study, whatever he would need to keep Branna alive.
“I’ve called Cubby, Jake, to come get him…Brian,” Macy said.
Jake didn’t speak, just tried to keep himself controlled as he held Branna’s arm, feeling the blood pump over his fingers and out of her body. She needed this from him now, needed the doctor that he was to take charge.
“Is it s-slowing…the blood?” Macy was crying, tears streaking her face as she knelt beside Declan and looked down at the still unconscious Branna.
“Yes. Now get her van as close to the house as you can, and we’ll take her to the helicopter,” Jake said, and he could hear the rasp in his voice that fear had put there.
Cars started arriving as he bound the wound and prepared her to travel. His parents were the first.
“The bullet severed the artery; I’ve stopped the bleeding.”
His mother didn’t speak, just opened her supplies, and between them they started treating Branna.
“She’s as stable as we can get her now, Jake. Let’s move her to the van,” Doctor McBride said minutes later.
Slipping his arms under Branna, he picked her up while his mother held her arm and they walked slowly to the van that Declan had running.
“Macy, you and I will follow in my car and pick up Declan. Then we’ll collect Annabelle and follow in the van to the hospital,” these words were from Jake’s father.
Jake heard Buster say something to Macy, his voice deep with worry.
Branna was still unconscious, her face white, pulse weak, and Jake wanted to shout at her to open her eyes and stop scaring him. He needed her to look at him, needed that as much as he needed the next lungful of air.
“Let me have a crack at him, Cubby. I want to make him hurt for both Macy and Branna,” Buster was now saying to the sheriff.
Add a round dozen for me, Buster, Jake thought, as he walked into the back of the van with Branna in his arms, his mother at his side.
“You know I can’t do that, Buster. Aww hell, I’m sure there’s like seven rules as to why I shouldn’t let you kick Brian while he’s lying trussed like my ma’s Thanksgiving turkey.”
“She’ll be all right, son. I’ll get to the hospital as soon as I can.” Jake nodded as his father said the words, then closed the door. Seconds later, Declan was driving down the driveway.
“Someone should just put a bullet through Delray’s head and save everyone a bucket load of trouble,” Jake’s mother said, as she sat beside him and wrapped an arm around his neck.
“I may just do that for you, Mom, when I know Branna is okay.”
“She will be, son, you have my promise on that.”
Ethan had the helicopter ready as they drove up Jake’s drive, so they had to duck under the blades to get in. His handsome face was lined with worry as he met them at the door and helped maneuver them all inside.
“How’s our girl doing?” Ethan’s hand gripped Jake’s shoulder briefly.
“She’s stable at the moment,” Nancy McBride answered him.
“Okay, good.” He stood back to let Declan move closer.
“I can’t fit in here, Jake, so look after my daughter for me.”
“Count on it,” Jake said, squeezing the hand the man held out to him. The doors then closed and they were taking off. The others would follow by vehicle.
“I’ve radioed ahead. We’ll land on the hospital roof and they’ll be ready,” Ethan said, and then they were in the air.
“Jake?” Branna had regained consciousness. Her eyes were dazed as she looked up at him.
“It’s all right, baby, we’re on our way to the hospital.” He leaned over her, resting his cheek beside hers. “You scared me.”
“It was Brian; he shot me. I-is Macy all right?”
“She’s fine, and your dad dealt with Brian. Christ, Rosebud,” Jake said, breathing in the scent of her. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“But, because you’re my hero, you saved me,” her words were weak, but the best sound he’d ever heard.
“Something like that. I love you, baby.”
“You too.”
She didn’t speak again, just pushed her face into his and kept it there until they landed.
They took her away from him and he tried to follow, telling them he was a doctor and that she was scared of hospitals, but they said Jake needed to get cleaned up before he saw her again. Branna was then wheeled through a set of doors that swung closed behind them, shutting her away from him.
“Mom,” he whispered, as he started to shake. Jake felt her arms close around him and he held on as he let the tears fall.
“She’s going to be all right now, son; you know it just as I do.”
“Can you just keep reminding me of that every second or so?” Jake said into her shoulder.
“I’m proud of you, Jake. You did exactly what needed to be done, no panicking, no drama. You saved her, son.”
“Maybe, but you would have arrived in time to do the same.”
“Where is she?” Ethan arrived then.
“Through there,” Jake stood and pointed at the closed doors.
“Aren’t you two doctors? Shouldn’t you be in there too?” Ethan demanded.
“It’s a hospital, Ethan; there are plenty of capable doctors here.” Nancy McBride took Jake’s hand and then Ethan’s in the other one. “Now, let’s find the waiting room and some really bad coffee.”
Slowly, family and friends started to arrive. Buster burst into the room with his hair standing on end, turning the air blue with Declan O’Donnell, Jake’s dad, and Annabelle at his side. Macy had been taken away at Annabelle’s insistence to be checked over.
“Buster, calm down!” this from Jake’s dad, who had an arm around Declan’s shoulders and was leading him to a seat.
“I’m giving Branna the recipe to every mystery muffin I’ve made since she arrived.”
Jake regained his feet and walked to where his friends stood.
“You okay, bud?” Buster questioned him.
“No.”
“Do I have to hug you?”
“Had plenty of that already,” Jake said, looking at the doors as they opened behind Buster.
“Doctor McBride?”
“Yes,” both he and his mother said.
“Miss O’Donnell is doing well; she’s stabilized and the bullet went straight through the arm.”
“Can I see her?”
“I’ll have a nurse come and get you as soon as she’s out of recovery.”
Jake paced around the room, while everyone sat silently staring at either their hands or the walls. Belle, who was sitting beside Declan, cried into his shoulder and Jake heard Branna’s father speak softly to her.
People pushed cups of coffee into his hand and Jake drank without tasting a drop. Newman arrived with Mikey in his arms. The boy was crying and looking terrified, but Jake couldn’t do more than place a hand on his head and kiss one damp cheek before he continued his pacing. His mind was on her, Branna, his love. Finally, after what felt like hours, a nurse finally arrived.
“Mr. McBride, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to Miss O’Donnell.”
He looked at Declan, who nodded that he wanted Jake to go to her first and then followed her from the room.
She had her eyes closed when he walked into the room, lying there in the blue hospital gown, looking small and vulnerable connected to machines with her heartbeat beeping on the monitor. Bending over her, he placed a kiss on her lips, and kept it there for long drawn
out seconds.
“Jake?”
Her eyes were unfocused, still coming out of the anesthetic. “Hey, Rosebud.” Stroking her cheek, he tried for a smile and failed.
“You okay?” She lifted her good hand and touched his cheek.
“I am now that I know you are.”
“Is Macy all right?”
“The doctors are checking her over, but she seems okay,” Jake said.
He couldn’t stop touching her, running his hands over her hair, and stroking her face. He could have lost her today.
“I’m all right, Jake, really.” Her smile was soft and sweet.
“Jesus, Branna,” he bent at the waist and got as close to her as he could without causing her pain. “Seeing all that blood and you lying there—”
“Shhh, Jake I’m here with you now, everything’s okay.”
It would take him awhile to get that fact into his head, because right now all he could think about was that she could have been taken from him tonight.
“Did they get him…Macy’s husband?”
“Cubby got him, and he and Buster put a few in for both of us, plus a few for Macy, before he locked him up nice and tight.”
“Good, now Macy is really safe,” she whispered, as her eyelashes began to lower.
“I need you to know how much I love you, Branna, and how much you mean to me.” He kissed her again.
“I know,” she whispered, as sleep pulled her under. “And ditto,” she added, and then Jake felt her body grow weightless as she succumbed to the sleep her body so desperately needed. He stayed there, breathing her in, feeling her heart beat until he had himself under control. Only then, did he go and tell the people who loved her almost as much as him that she was going to be all right.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
“I want to take this brace off.”
They’d let her out of hospital a week later, and Branna was not what you would call an easy patient. Luckily, Jake had experience with the difficult ones, so he was up for the task.
