Randall on the Run Read online

  She handed him the water, then dug in her purse with one hand for the aspirin bottle, which she gave him. “It’s a child protection cap. Can you open it?”

  “I’m not a child.” The fever was doing nothing to assuage his attitude, obviously.

  Steve worked on the bottle but had no success. Still, he never asked for help. After a while, she pulled the SUV over to the side of the road and held out her palm. “Hand it over.”

  He still seemed reluctant to admit defeat. “I can’t see the arrows in the dark,” he said, as grumpy as an overtired child.

  She opened it and handed him two pills. “Do you need help with the water too?”

  He said nothing, merely shot her a testy look and unscrewed the cap. He took his dosage and laid his head back, not saying a word.

  “Are you warm enough?” The temperature was dropping and the snow coming down harder as they climbed to a higher elevation. Her wipers and defroster were struggling to keep up.

  “I am a little cold,” he said grudgingly.

  She dug past Murphy in the back and pulled out another blanket, which she spread over Steve’s long legs. Much to her surprise, Steve muttered a thank-you.

  Tucking the blanket over his wounded shoulder, she took a long look at her patient. Considering the circumstances, she guessed he was doing as well as he could. There was something about him that told her his surliness was only a byproduct of the situation, not a permanent part of his personality.

  His dark hair fell over his forehead, and she pushed it back with a light touch. She told herself it was only to check his temperature, but she knew better. She wanted to touch him. Judging by the scars she saw on his face, Steve had certainly seen his share of trouble. Or maybe that was part and parcel of his career, roughing it up with the bad guys. For some reason she was suddenly glad that she was the one who’d found him in the alley. She was the one who could bring him to safety. Wherever that may be.

  The falling snow had covered her windshield, creating a cocoonlike atmosphere in the car. Tucked in with Steve, and with Murphy sleeping in the back, she realized how tired she was. Lack of sleep was catching up with her now. And the storm was raging worse than ever. She had no choice but to continue. They’d never ride out the storm on the side of the road.

  She pulled back out onto the highway, nearly losing control of her car when her back tires spun out. Gripping the wheel tighter, she slowed, steered into the skid and got control of the car. It had been three years since she’d driven in snow; she’d best remember that.

  As she drove down the road toward Rawhide, she debated her options for Steve. If she could keep going until they got to Rawhide, she could take him to the small hospital her brother-in-law and her cousin ran. There would be someone on duty all night long.

  But that someone would be a nurse, not Caroline or Jon. There would be talk.

  Or she could go straight to Caroline’s house. But her husband, Mike, a wonderful man, was also the sheriff for the surrounding area. He would have to report Steve’s gunshot wound, according to law.

  Jessica decided it might be better to go to her sister’s house. Tori was married to Jon, Caroline’s partner. Maybe Jessica and Tori could gang up on Jon and convince him to delay reporting the wound for a day or two.

  It wasn’t as if Steve had done anything wrong. At least, she hoped not. She’d believed him when he’d said he’d discovered some bad things about his partners and was trying to prove it. Sure, she could have examined the contents of the manila envelope, looking for proof, but he’d trusted her with it, and she didn’t want to betray that trust.

  It was almost two in the morning when she pulled into the short driveway to her sister’s house. She didn’t remember to turn off her lights until after they’d hit the house. Jessica hurriedly shut them off and killed the engine, coasting down the drive.

  Taking a deep breath, she expelled it slowly, trying to relax after the strain of driving so long. She looked over at Steve, sleeping soundly. She’d need him awake and coherent to get him into the house.

  A knock on her side window almost made her jump straight up and bang her head on the ceiling of the car. Her heart slowed down a little when she identified Jon, her brother-in-law, peering in the window.

  She unlocked the door and opened it. “Jon! Did I awaken you? I’m sorry.”

  “No problem. We’re both up with Jamie’s 2:00 a.m. feeding.”

  “Oh. Uh, Jon, I…have someone with me.”

  “You mean Murphy?” Jon asked, but his eyes were searching the darkness in the SUV.

  “No. He’s a friend.”

  “Well, wake him up and come on in.”

  “Okay, but he may need some help.”

  “Why? Is he sick?”

  “Sort of.” Jessica turned to her passenger, pushing against him. “Steve.”

  “What?” he growled.

  “We’re at my sister’s house. We need to go inside.”

  “’Kay.”

  Jon said, “Should I go around and help him? Does he have the flu?”

  “No, he’s been shot,” Jessica said, knowing she wouldn’t be able to keep it secret for long, even if she tried.

  “What? Has he seen a doctor?”

  “No. I’ll explain when we get inside.”

  “I’m counting on that,” Jon said in a determined voice. He circled the vehicle and pulled open the door. “Here, lean on me,” he said as Steve slipped from the SUV to the ground.

  Murphy, suddenly aroused, jumped into the front and followed Jessica out into the snow. He bounded beside her, seemingly thrilled with the events.

  “No, Murphy, we’re not going to play. We’re going inside,” Jessica informed her dog, who seemed to understand because he raced ahead of her to the front door.

  Tori was standing at the door, anxiously watch ing. When Jessica came in, she hugged her sister. “Sorry for disturbing you,” Jessica said. “But I didn’t know where else to go.”

  Her sister was already looking past her, to the man her husband was helping to the door. “Who’s this?”

  “Um, it’s Steve,” Jessica replied.

  “Who is Steve?”

  “It’s a long story. Oh! I forgot something. I’ll be right back.” Jessica ran back out to her vehicle and got the manila envelope out from under the driver’s seat. If it contained the evidence Steve said it did, she knew he’d want it safely with him.

  Back in the house, Jon had put Steve on the sofa and opened his shirt. He was removing the bandage when Jessica got back.

  “Does it look bad? I did the best I could.”

  “Looks like the bullet is still in there. Why didn’t you take him to a doctor?” Jon asked sternly.

  “Because he refused. He said he was a DEA agent and he had evidence that his partners had gone bad. If I took him to a doctor or called the police, he was sure he’d be killed.”

  Jon frowned. “You know I have to report the wound, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I thought— I hoped maybe you wouldn’t have to report it right away. I want him to be able to protect himself.”

  “First things first. I need to get that bullet out.”

  “Are you going to take him to the clinic?” Tori asked.

  “But you can’t!” Jessica protested. “Someone might see him.” She moved closer to Steve, wanting to protect him.

  “There’s only one nurse on duty right now, and I know her well. She doesn’t gossip about what happens in the hospital,” Jon said.

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure, Jess. But even if I delay telling Mike, that will have to happen. You understand that, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I know. Where can we hide him after you take out the bullet?”

  “He’d be safe at the clinic.”

  “That would cause a lot of talk. Isn’t there somewhere I could take care of him and no one would notice?”

  “How about Mike’s old apartment over the sheriff’s office?” To
ri suggested. “We could tell everyone Jessica is back, but she wants to stay in town instead of out at the ranch.”

  Horrified, Jessica said, “We can’t tell Mom and Dad that!”

  “No, they can be trusted,” Tori reassured her. “You know that, Jess.”

  She did. “Then let’s use the apartment. I can take care of him, can’t I, Jon?”

  “Sure. And if your sister and her husband come see you every once in a while, no one will think anything of it,” Jon said as he left the room.

  “Where’s he going?”

  “Probably to get a coat. It’s cold outside. Do you have one?”

  “Not unpacked. When I left California, it didn’t occur to me it would be snowing here,” Jessica said with a rueful smile. “Hard to believe I could’ve forgotten, isn’t it?”

  “You were gone a long time, sis,” Tori said with a smile. “Borrow my coat. I have to stay here with the kids, so I won’t need it until morning.”

  “Thanks, Tori. And do you mind if Murphy stays with you, too?”

  Before Tori could answer, Jon came back wearing his coat. He moved to the sofa and shook Steve, who had fallen asleep. “Come on, man. We’re going to take that bullet out of you.”

  “No! No doctors,” Steve protested, his voice groggy.

  Jon ignored the remark. “Right. Just come with me. It’s going to be all right.”

  “Where is she?” Steve asked.

  “Who?”

  “The redhead. Where is she?”

  Jessica stepped to his side. “I’m here, Steve. It’s all right. Jon is going to help you.”

  “You’ll come with me?”

  “Yes, I’ll be there with you. I promise.”

  Jon sent a look toward his wife as he helped Steve to his feet.

  “Wait!” Jessica called, turning back to get the manila envelope.

  “What is that?” Jon asked.

  “It’s the proof Steve has about his partners’ activities. I promised him I’d keep it safe.”

  “Maybe you should leave that here. I’ll put it away.”

  “I’m afraid someone might’ve followed us, or will come looking for us tomorrow.”

  “All the more reason not to take it with you. They won’t come here looking for it.”

  “I don’t want to put you in any danger, Tori,” Jessica protested.

  “I won’t be. They won’t even know we’re kin.”

  “All they have to do is ask anyone in town.”

  “Who will send them out to the ranch, not to my house. This way will be safer.”

  “Okay. Thanks, sis.” She hugged Tori and followed Jon and Steve out to her SUV.

  Jon helped Steve into the front seat. Jessica could hear Murphy protesting her disappearance. She slipped behind the wheel, hoping to get out of there quickly, so Murphy would settle down.

  “I’ll follow you to the clinic,” Jon said.

  Chapter Three

  When Jessica parked in back of the clinic, she roused Steve again. “Can you walk if I help you?”

  “Where are we?”

  “At the hospital in Rawhide. My brother-in-law is going to help you.”

  “No! I need to get to Washington.”

  “I’m not even sure I can get you inside, Steve. You can’t make it to Washington in your condition.”

  “My evidence?”

  “It’s hidden. I’ll keep it safe, I promise. Now, I’m going to come to your side and help you out. Pull the blanket around you. It’s still snowing.”

  With that, she slipped out of the SUV, wearing her sister’s coat, and opened the door on the passenger side. Steve almost fell into her arms. She braced herself, but fortunately Jon appeared at that moment. “Here, let me help him.”

  Jessica stepped aside, but she felt a strange sense of loss. Steve had depended on her for more than twenty-four hours.

  She opened the door for the pair and followed them in. Jon turned into the first room and put Steve on a gurney. Then he turned to Jessica. “Stay here with him until I make sure the nurse on duty won’t be in the operating room with us. It will just be me, Caroline and Anna.”

  “You called Caroline? And my mother?” Jessica demanded. “She didn’t even know I was coming home.”

  “I know, but I want her to assist with the surgery. I told your dad to come, too. And Mike. You’ll need to explain everything to him. You can trust him to do what’s right, Jess. You know that.”

  “Yes, I know,” Jessica admitted with a sigh. “I don’t know how I’ll explain it to Steve, though.”

  “Don’t try right now. Wait until we get the bullet out and move the two of you into that apartment over the sheriff’s office. He’ll grasp the obvious then.”

  “I hope you’re right. And I’m glad my parents are coming. I’ve missed them a lot.” And she was glad her mother, who was a nurse-midwife, would be assisting with the surgery.

  Jon smiled and patted her on the shoulder. “Welcome home, Jess.”

  Jessica settled in a chair beside Steve, who appeared to be asleep. She had to have drifted off, too, because in what seemed like a couple of minutes, her mother and father came in and woke her up. After she hugged them, she explained everything.

  “You did a dangerous thing, honey,” her father, Brett Randall, said. “You could’ve been killed.”

  “I know, Dad, but I couldn’t just drive away and leave him there to die. You wouldn’t have done that.”

  “Well, no, but—but I’m a man.”

  “Oh, Dad, you’re so hopelessly out of date. Women can be brave, too.”

  “We’re so glad you’ve come home,” Anna said, hugging her again. “Now, I have to go get ready for the surgery. Maybe you should go tell Mike what’s going on.”

  “Yes, as soon as they take Steve into surgery, I’ll go to the waiting room. I’m assuming that’s where Mike is?”

  “He and Caroline had to bring their son, so I think Mike’s in there, getting him back to sleep.” Anna stretched up and kissed her husband. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Only a few minutes later, Anna came back to take Steve into surgery. Jessica went out to talk to Mike.

  She found him and her Dad sitting in the waiting room with cups of coffee. She told him about finding Steve and what he had told her.

  “The information he had is in a manila envelope that Tori promised to hold for me. He said it was proof that some of his partners were dirty. And he keeps saying he needs to get to Washington.”

  “Can we look at what he has?” Mike asked.

  “Would it make a difference in reporting his wound?”

  “I might be able to hold off for a couple of days,” Mike said. “You know, things get mislaid sometimes.”

  Brett nodded. “That works for me.”

  “Okay. But we should wait until morning before we call Tori. She should get a little more sleep,” Jessica said.

  “How about you?” her father asked. “Don’t you need some sleep?”

  “Yes,” Jessica agreed, “but I’ll have to wait until I’m sure Steve is all right.” She turned back to Mike. “Is it okay if we use the apartment over the sheriff’s office? He seems to think these guys will come after him.”

  “Yeah. I’ve got the key. You want to run over now and look at it? Maybe unload some of your things?”

  “Wait a minute!” her father protested. “I don’t want Jess staying there if there’s going to be any danger. And she shouldn’t be alone with the guy, anyway!”

  Jessica was waiting for that response. “Daddy, I’m not your little girl anymore. I’m all grown up.”

  “Not that grown up!”

  “I lived in L.A. by myself. And besides, I promised Steve I’d be beside him all the way.”

  Mike intervened. “I’m sorry, Brett, but if it’s not Jess, than it will have to be Anna.”

  Her father looked at her as if he’d been caught in a nasty trap.

  “I’ll be fine, Daddy.” She took his silence for appr
oval and turned to Mike. “Let’s hurry and get the apartment ready so we can get back before they finish the surgery.” Already she felt an odd sensation at being separated from Steve.

  She recognized it as loneliness.

  IT WAS A LITTLE AFTER FIVE in the morning when Mike and Brett carried Steve up the stairs to the bed Jessica had gotten ready for him.

  She stood anxiously at the top of the stairs, knowing Steve was probably in some pain. But she had some pills Caroline had sent to ease his pain, to help him sleep. She would have to start his IV. Thankfully, her mother was following the threesome up the stairs to show her exactly what to do.

  When they put Steve in the king-size bed and Jessica pulled the cover over him, she saw him relax. She looked at her mother. “Did they get the bullet out?”

  “Yes, and Mike kept it as evidence. Steve is going to be fine. He’ll be on an antibiotic drip for three or four days and will need to stay in bed, except for trips to the bathroom. I’ll show you how to start the drip.”

  Jessica drew a deep breath. For a role in Hollywood she’d acted as a nurse, but it hadn’t been real. She hoped she could do what was needed.

  After watching her mother insert the connection into the needle in his hand, Jessica realized her job would be easy. “Thanks, Mom. How long will it last?”

  “I think three hours. An alarm will sound to let you know. If it’s not changed at once, it will still be all right. Just do it as soon as possible. We have to keep the antibiotics going to be sure there’s no infection.”

  “Okay. So, it’s all right if I sleep in between?”

  “Yes, of course, dear. In fact, I can stay and keep an eye on him if you’re not comfortable—”

  “No! No, I can take care of him.”

  “We do need you to stay awake until you talk to Tori and tell her to bring that manila envelope to me on her way to work,” Mike said. “Can you do that?”

  “Yes. Uh, how early does she get up?”

  “Jon said she gets up at seven. That’s only a couple of hours from now. Then you can sleep all day. I promise I won’t do anything until I’ve looked at the evidence and talked to Steve. Jon and Caroline said he should be able to talk in the morning.”

  “Thanks, Mike. And you, too, Dad, for getting him here. I’ll try to explain everything to him.”