After ripping open Jazzy's blouse, he tried his level best to remember his first aid training as he examined the entry wound, then he searched but didn't! find an exit wound. That meant the bullet was still inside her.
* * *
The light hurt her eyes. Turn it off. I'm trying to sleep. But no one responded. Jazzy's eyelids fluttered.
"Wake up, beautiful. You've been asleep way too long."
She recognized that voice. "Caleb?"
He squeezed her hand. "Yeah, honey, it's me."
When she opened her eyes, she barely recognized him. "You look like hell," she told him.
He grinned. "Guess I do look pretty rough. I haven't shaved in a couple of days and I've been taking a whore bath in the men's room down the hall."
"Why…" She glanced around and realized she was in the hospital. Pale green walls, white sheets, and a strong medicinal smell were sure signs, not to mention the nurses she saw at the their station just outside her door. "Am I in ICU?"
"You're in SICU. Surgical Intensive Care." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Do you remember what happened?"
Did she remember? Flashes of a woman holding a doll. Fragments of memory about someone shooting her. Then it all came back, one horrific incident at a time. "That crazy bitch tried to kill me. And Laura and Cecil Willis, tool"
"Calm down, honey. She's dead. Margo Kenley, whose real name was Margaret Bendey, is dead. She won't ever hurt anyone again."
How… who?" Jazzy wanted to know details.
"Laura Willis is all right, physically. She's in the psychiatric unit of the hospital here."
"And Mr. Willis?"
Caleb remained silent for a minute, then heaved a deep sigh. "I'm afraid he didn't make it. The doctors said he suffered a massive heart attack."
"That poor man."
Caleb nodded. "It seems Margo was once Cecil's wife and was Laura's biological mother. She was insane, of course. Spent most of her life in a mental institution.''
"Poor Laura. Oh, God-Jamie."
"Yeah, Margo probably killed him because she thougt she was protecting Laura." Someone cleared their throat. "Is she awake?" Genny asked from the doorway.
Caleb glanced over his shoulder. "Yeah, our girl's awake. Come on in."
"I've got Dallas and Jacob and Sally and Ludie pu here with me," Genny said.
"All of you, come on in here."Jazzy tried to lift he head, but found she didn't have the strength. Not yet.
Within a minute, her bed was surrounded and one of the SICU nurses came in and scolded them for breaking the rules. Two visitors at a time. Jacob walked the lady out, reminding her that he was the sheriff. Jazzy could hear the RN informing Jacob that his authority didn't extend to her domain.
"You're damn lucky Caleb found you when he did," Sally told her. "He shot that crazy woman right in the head. One shot."
"Sally!" Genny scolded.
"Hell, gal, our Jazzy ain't no hothouse flower who needs to be shielded from the truth. She's got a right to know who saved her life."
Jazzy lifted her hand and discovered just how difficult that simple task was for her. Caleb leaned over her. She caressed his scruffy face. "Is that right? Are you my white knight?" 'You bet he is," Ludie added her opinion.
"We're so grateful that you're all right" Genny's gaze went to Jazzy's side, the side bandaged beneath her hospital gown.
Jazzy looked at Caleb and saw tears in his golden eyes. "I guess I am lucky to be alive."
"Got that damn right," Sally agreed.
Jazzy kept staring at Caleb, deeply touched by his tears, knowing how unlikely it was that a man such as he cried easily or often. 'Thank you for saving me," she said quietly, then added, Tm so glad you came into my life."
Caleb cleared his throat, then swallowed. ''There's somedhng I want you to know," he told her. "Something I want your family and friends to hear. It's something I promised myself I'd tell you, if you… if you lived. Actually, I swore to God that if he kept you alive, I'd tell you exactly how I feel. As a matter of fact, I tried making all kinds of bargains with the Lord if he'd just let you live."
''This sounds serious." Sally grinned. "Making an oath to the Almighty and all."
"Jazzy, I love you," Caleb said quickly and without hesitation. "And if you'll give me a second chance, I'll prove to you just how much."
A hush fell over the room, as if everyone was holding their breath. She looked from one person to another and was met with smiles. They all knew that Caleb McCord just might turn out to be the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Jazzy swallowed tears of happiness, grateful to be alive and loved by so many people.
She smiled at Caleb. "I think maybe you and I both need a second chance."
He kissed her then. Warm and tender, with a hint of passion. 'Thank you," he whispered against her lips.
* * *
Epilogue
Of course the day was perfect. Genny and Dallas deserved nothing less than true perfection on the most special day of their lives. Sunshine in abundance. Blue sky overhead. Green grass beneath their feet. Wild flowers blooming profusely. Birds chirping. Fiddlers playing alongside flutists. The melodies ancient. Celtic. Cherokee. Sometimes a subtle blending, just as the bride herself was a mixture of the two noble people.
Genny had never been more beautiful than she was this spring afternoon in June when she exchanged vows with the man she loved. Of course the groom was handsome. In his simple black suit and gray-striped tie, his attire complimented his new wife's unadorned antique white sheath of sheer organdy over an aged silk underlay. Genny's granny, Melva Mae Nelson, had wed her true love, Jacob Butler-the present day Jacob's grandfather-in the dress Genny wore today. Her long shiny black hair hung loosely to her waist, unfettered by jewelry or a headpiece and veil, the sparkling diamond on her finger, now mated to the simple gold wedding band, her only embellishment.
Jazzy joined the group of unwed women as Genny prepared to toss her bouquet of pale pink wild roses. Jazzy's life had changed unbelievably in the past six weeks since she'd nearly died at the hands of a madwoman. Nothing would ever be the same again. Her views on life in general had altered. She was stronger, wiser, far more cautious. And she was happier than she'd ever been, mostly due to her relationship with Caleb McCord. She hadn't told him she loved him. Not yet. It wasn't that what she felt for him wasn't love, but after what she'd gone through with Jamie, she wasn't ready to commit her whole heart to anyone. Not until she was sure. Not only of the man, but of herself.
She trusted Caleb and believed he loved her. But she couldn't forget that he was now the Upton heir or that Miss Reba, despite Big Jim soundly defending Jazzy to his wife, still disapproved of her. Caleb hadn't moved into the Upton mansion, but everybody knew who he was now. She'd told him that he couldn't put off the inevitable for much longer and he h
adn't disagreed with her. He still lived in the rental cabin and still worked as the bouncer at Jazzy's Joint. But even he admitted that he was considering Big Jim's offer to come into the family business empire.
Jazzy supposed she didn't quite trust Caleb to choose her, to put her first, if it came to a choice between her and what his grandmother wanted. And someday soon, it would come to that. He understood that she would want marriage and children. And Miss Reba would oppose their union. They hadn't discussed marriage. Not yet. But they would. She'd been the one who'd suggested they take their relationship slow and easy and give themselves plenty of time to be sure. Reluctandy, Caleb had agreed.
Maybe dhngs would work out for them. It was what she wanted, what he professed he wanted, too. But she needed time. She was barely on the mend after her long hospital recuperation. And there was another relationship she had to work out first-the relationship with Reve Sorrell.
Reve had called her while she'd been in the hospital. And in the weeks since her release, they had talked on the phone several times. Jazzy had questioned Aunt Sally about her birth and her aunt had told her the same old story again and again. No twins. No second child. Corrine Talbot gave birth to one baby girl. Jazzy had no sister. No twin. But a part of Jazzy doubted her aunt. Her gut feelings told her that Reve was her sister-her twin.
Before she could move forward with her life and make a commitment to Caleb, she had to find out the truth. And from some things Reve had said recendy, Jazzy was pretty sure she felt the same way. If Aunt Sally wouldn't help her unearth the truth, then she'd have toj find another way to discover who she really was. Caleb had prothised her that he'd do everything he could to help her. For the first time in her life, she had a strong, reliable man at her side.
All the bridesmaids fluttered and giggled as they lifted their arms and reached for the bouquet that sailed toward them. Maybe it was because she stood a couple c&, inches taller than the others, or maybe because Genny aimed directly at her, Jazzy wasn't sure, but the bouquet; of wild roses landed in her uplifted hands. She clutched; the fragrant nosegay to her bosom and laughed. Would; she be the next Cherokee County bride? Would she and: Caleb truly find their happily ever after? With bubbly; happiness warming her heart, Jazzy glanced around the crowd and her gaze connected to Caleb's, who stood alone, away from the crowd.
Barefoot, as were Genny and her other attendants, Jazzy ran across the field at the back of Genny's house where the outtloor ceremony had taken place. She raced straight into Caleb McCord's open arms. Life was good. And the future looked bright.
* * *
Dear Reader,
Now that you've finished reading the second book in my Cherokee Pointe trilogy, I hope you're curious about what's coming up next. In September 2004, the third and final installment of this series will be released. You can expect to see more of Genny and Dallas, as well as Jazzy and Caleb. Picking up where left off, AS GOOD AS DEAD reintroduces Jazzy's look-alike, Reve Sorrell. Are these two women really twin sisters who were separated at birth? If so, why was the infant Reve thrown into a Dumpster and left for dead? Would a mother really keep one child and dispose of another so heartlessly? And do the recent murders in Cherokee County have anything to do with the mystery surrounding Reve and Jazzy? The upcoming third book in the trilogy will put Sheriff Jacob Butler in the forefront and pit him in a deadly game against a brilliant killer. Also, look for sparks to fly between Jacob and a certain lady he intensely dislikes. For a hint of what's to come, check out the prologue for AS GOOD AS DEAD in the back of this book.
In 2004, I have seven new books tentatively scheduled, two from Zebra and five from Silhouette. For those of you who have been following my "The Protectors" series, you'll be pleased to know that four of my five Silhouette novels this year will be part of this on-going series. Coming in February, look for my next The Protectors" book from Silhouette Intimate Moments, DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. The book picks up where the June '03 single tide, GRACE UNDER FIRE, left off and has Rafe Devlin and Elsa Leone as the protagonists. Using her position as the manager of WJMM radio and TV stations in Maysville, Mississippi, Elsa founds the Maysville Good Samaritans, an organization of concerned citizens determined to clean up the seedy area of the town where crime goes unchecked. But someone wants to stop the MGS and zeroes in on Elsa. After an attempt is made on Elsa's life, her boss hires Dundee agent, Rafe Devlin, to protect her.
Look for my very first 'The Protectors" DESIRES in April and June. Both stories have reunited lovers as the protagonists and deal with a parent's worst nightmare- child abduction. Look for the return of FBI agent, Dante Moran, from GRACE UNDER FIRE, who'll show up in both of these DESIRES. When Moran leaves the FBI, his first case as a Dundee agent turns out to be much more than he bargained for in my November '04 novel. I'll be taking part in the launch of Harlequin's new mainstream romance line, HQN, with Moran's The Protectors" book tentatively tided WORTH DYING FOR I'm excited about the opportunity to move my Dundee agents from series romance into mainstream romance fiction.
In May, my contribution to the "Family Secrets" continuity series, CHECK MATE, Book #12, will be on the stands. This book wraps up all the loose ends of the series and gives readers the long-awaited Jake Ingram story. I truly treasure each of my readers and enjoy hearing from you. You can write to me in care of Kensington Books. And please check out my Web site at www.beverly-barton.com, sign my guest book, and sign up for my monthly e-mail newsletter.
Warmest regards,
Please turn the page for an exciting sneak peek of 's
* * *
AS GOOD AS DEAD.
Coming in September 2004 from Zebra Books!
Chapter 1
Reve Sorrell closed the lid on her suitcase, lifted it off the foot of her bed and set it on the floor. She'd been up for over an hour, after waking at three, unable to sleep. Her decision to return to Cherokee Pointe had been made after a great deal of deliberation. She'd spent months unable to put Jazzy Talbot out of her mind. Back in the spring she'd driven up to the mountains to seek out the woman Jamie Upton had told her was her spitting image, a woman who looked enough like her to be her twin. She'd met Jamie at a party here in Chattanooga, back before Christmas last year. He'd been a charming jerk, the type of man she usually avoided. But he had piqued her curiosity when he'd mentioned that his teenage sweetheart, a bar and restaurant owner in Cherokee Pointe, would easily pass for Reve's twin.
If she hadn't been an abandoned child, adopted in infancy by wealthy socialites, Spencer and Lesley Sorrell, she'd have passed off Jamie's comments without a second thought. But since she knew nothing of her birth parents, she
wondered if it was possible that this Jasmine Talbot Jamie had mentioned could be her sister. So she'd disregarded what her common sense had told her-not to go digging around in the past-and had gone to Cherokee Pointe. Her first encounter with Jazzy had been less than pleasant. She'd found the woman to be rather crude and vulgar. They had disliked each other on sight. And Reve would have returned home that very day, if she hadn't been involved in a minor car accident.
As if wrecking her Jag hadn't been bad enough, following the accident, the local sheriff had treated her abysmally. Sheriff Jacob Butler was an old friend of Jazzy's and took offense at an offhand comment Reve had made about the woman. It had seemed to Reve as if half the men in town were Jazzy's friends, a fact Reve had learned both firsthand and from local gossip.
The Last To Die Page 41
