A Bridge Unbroken (A Miller's Creek Novel) (27 page)

Matt ambled back around the table to where she stood. "He really cares about you, you know."

A snort escaped her nostrils. "Yeah. So much that he turned me in."

"You do realize he could've been charged with aiding and abetting if he hadn't? Besides that, he truly believes this will help resolve your situation so you can stop running."

The words gored a hole in her heart. She hadn't seen it from that perspective. "Guess I'm still a little angry."

Matt sent a close-lipped smile. "Hurt does that to you, making it hard to understand someone's actions and making it hard to forgive."

Forgive. That word again. How many times had she forgiven Chance? And this felt like just another one of those times, resurrecting old hurts and memories, making her hurt as badly as they had the day they'd happened. She released a sigh. "Why is it so hard?"

"Maybe it's just easier to hold onto resentment and bitterness. But when you hold on to them, you're imprisoning yourself, not the other person. Not forgiving is pretty heavy baggage to carry around."

The profound words echoed in her brain, rolling around like a tasty morsel on her tongue. It was true. Heavier than even her stuffed backpack on a long walk, holding on to past hurts and grudges locked her behind bars that prevented escape, imprisoned her for someone else's behavior. A double whammy or even more. Not just the original offense, but the weight of the painful memories which replayed themselves in her mind.

Matt patted her shoulder. "Chance has gone to get Daisy and a few things you might need. He said to tell you he'd be back as soon as possible."

The hole in her heart enlarged. Here she was blaming him for the situation, and all while he did what he could to take care of her. It was her who needed his forgiveness, not the other way around.

Ernie entered the room and motioned to her.

She moved to the door.

"The holding cell isn't the Hilton, but it's not Alcatraz either." His moustache bobbed up and down as he talked.

Dakota followed him down the narrow hallway. Though the cell was small and somewhat dark, at least it was clean. Fresh sheets, a pillow, and a blanket lay on the end of the cot. She moved inside, flashbacks of her previous experience with the police assaulting her memory.

Ernie smiled apologetically as he locked the door. "Either Carter or I or both of us will be in the office. Just call if you need anything."

After he left the room, Dakota turned to make the bed, then laid down and peered up at the ceiling, one arm across her forehead to block the light's glare. Still too early to go to sleep, but nothing else to do.

A wave of fear rumbled through her like a pre-earthquake tremor. How long before she was back in Kane's clutches? And what if her bail was set higher than the measly amount she had in the bank?

A knock sounded on the door. Dakota sat up as Ernie held open the door for Chance.

"You already have a visitor."

The strain from the situation visible in the lines around his eyes, Chance stepped into the room and handed her a cardboard box. "I wasn't sure what all you'd need, but I picked up a few things for you."

The box held a baggie with her toothbrush and toothpaste, her makeup bag, brush,  deodorant, Bible, a pair of sweats, and the laptop. He'd anticipated what she needed with perfect accuracy. Now her time here would be more like a mini-writing retreat, and not the imprisonment she'd expected. All because of Chance.

She set the box on the bed, gave him a hug, and planted a soft kiss on his scarred cheek. "Thanks. Sorry for the way I acted earlier." She pulled away quickly.

Chance's mouth hung open for a moment, but then snapped shut. He gave his head a shake as a chuckle erupted from his throat. "You're gonna get whiplash bouncing around like that." His cheeks took on a tinge of red as he rubbed the back of his neck. "And take me with you." Chance moved his gaze to the floor, the tip of his right boot moving some imaginary object across the concrete floor.

Why was he suddenly so shy? "Chance, I promise to make this all up to you someday."

A weary smile appeared, and he caught her fingertips in his own. "I'm gonna hold you to that." He planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Sweet dreams, Princess. I'll see you in the morning." Chance stepped past Ernie and exited the room. The police chief nodded briefly, then clicked the lock.

A few minutes later, still trying to overcome the effect of Chance's lips planted in her hair, Dakota arranged the lumpy pillow so she could sit up in bed and type. She'd barely had time to boot the computer when another knock sounded at the door.

"Most popular prisoner we've had in a while," explained Ernie, a sheepish grin on his face.

Gracie hurried into the cell with a grocery bag. "Up for some girl talk?" She retrieved a carton of Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate ice cream and two spoons from the sack.

Dakota laughed. "Only if you bribe me with Blue Bell."

In a matter of seconds, Gracie sat on the opposite end of the bed, handed Dakota a spoon, then opened the carton between them and scooped out large dark chunks of chocolate ice cream. "I saw Chance on the way in. I take it things have improved between you two?" She sent a sideways glance and gorgeous smile.

Dakota gave her head a slight shake as she let a spoonful of ice cream melt in her mouth. Yes, but where was this leading except to certain heartbreak? And how could she backtrack with Chance so he didn't expect more than what she could give? "I don't see how it can work."

Gracie's pretty face darkened. "Why not? I think you make a good couple."

Yes, they were a good couple. They worked well together, able to anticipate the other's needs in advance. But was that enough to make a relationship work? Especially with so much excess baggage from the past? "There are some things I don't think he'll be able accept." Things she hadn't even been able to tell Matt.

"Such as?"

Gracie's abrupt question took her by surprise, and she floundered. "Uh..."

"It's okay, you don't have to tell me. But if it involves Chance, and you have such obvious feelings for him..."

Obvious? Her feelings for Chance were obvious? Not good. "I care about him as a friend, Gracie, but it doesn't go any deeper than that."

Her friend's chocolate-drop eyes rounded. "You sure could've fooled me." Her dark brows drew inward. "And I think Chance thinks there's more. That's not being fair to him."

Dakota took another bite of the rich ice cream. True. It wasn't fair to let Chance think there was more to their relationship than what she could offer. More than likely she'd gone a little overboard in her display of gratitude a few minutes ago and inadvertently sent the wrong message. "I'll explain it to him." Again.

Gracie's eyes turned to slits, one corner of her mouth twisted to one side. "I think you have feelings for him. But for whatever reason, you think he can't forgive you for something. So you hold him at arm's length and hide how you really feel."

The truthful words sunk in deep. Dakota lowered her head.

Across from her, Gracie's weight shifted, bouncing the mattress in the process. "I'm not trying to pry, but if you care about him, be honest about your feelings and the past. If he can't get past it, then you have your answer. But if he can, it just might make your life better than you could ever imagine. That's how it was for me and Matt."

Dakota considered the comment. Though the prospect of telling Chance everything still frightened her, there was wisdom in Gracie's words. The problem was finding the courage to follow through.

"Matt filled me in on a few details, but what can you tell me about your ex? He sounds..." Gracie's dark eyes glazed over momentarily. "...eerily familiar." Her lips flattened into a straight line.

"That depends. Are you here as my friend or Andy Tyler's law partner?"

Gracie giggled, then her amused look vanished. "Both actually. I'm your friend first and foremost, but I intend to help him on your case."

At first her words came haltingly, but soon spilled out, as though weary of their confinement. "Kane was so charming when I first met him, and he treated me so well. I was flattered, you know? That someone like him was interested in someone like me."

Gracie's eyes took on a moist sheen, but she didn't speak.

"But once I moved in, he changed. Not all at once, but little by little. At first it was just little verbal jabs when we were out in public. Then the verbal attacks happened more often and got worse. He undermined my friendships so no one wanted to be around me. Told lies to my family." Her thoughts splintered as memories replayed in her mind.

"And he beat you?" Gracie's question yanked her from the past.

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry for what he did to you and can't even imagine how hard it must've been. My experience was similar, but never made it to the point of physical abuse."

"I'm just relieved it's over..." Her words trailed to a whisper. Or was it? What if it happened all over again?

"You don't have to worry, Dakota. We're all determined to take care of you and to keep you safe." Her friend's eyes held conviction.

But what if he got to them as well? A man with his power and influence could make it happen. Her heart raced at the though.

"So why'd you stay as long as you did?" The spoon disappeared in Gracie's mouth.

"First of all, he told me he'd kill me if I left. I guess I started to believe it. And there was a part of me that wanted to help him. I thought if I tried hard enough I could make him change. Thought if I could please him, he'd be happy."

Two vertical lines instantly appeared between Gracie's eyebrows. "Sometimes I think those kinds of guys must take a special class on manipulating women."

Though her heart agreed, Dakota didn't answer. Instead her mind returned to very real possibility that her friends' involvement had endangered all their lives. And the worst part? There was absolutely nothing she could do to protect any of them.

Chapter Twenty-Five

C
hance ran a palm down his neck as he left the police station and ambled across the street to his parked truck. Everything in him longed to run back inside and plead for permission to sleep on the floor outside the holding cell. So many things could go wrong. Possible scenarios raced through his mind. What if whoever was after Dakota shot the policeman on duty and took her hostage in the middle of the night? He gave his head a shake. Okay, time to bring his rampant thoughts under control.

He climbed in his pickup and inserted the key in the ignition, but stopped short of actually turning it. There was no way he could leave. Besides, even if he went home, he'd be up all night worried for her safety.

Frustration pushed air from his lungs. Spending the night in his pickup was the best option to ensure her safety. Then in the morning, he'd go home for a quick shower and shave before returning to the police station to accompany her to the bond hearing.

His thoughts turned to the panic on her face at the mention of bond money. Something told him she wouldn't have the resources to post bail, which meant digging deeper into the quickly-receding pockets of his inheritance. His dreams for the drugstore would just have to wait. Dakota took priority.

He popped in his ear buds and turned on the iPod, the comforting sounds of his favorite guitar instrumentals twanging away in his ears. A few minutes before ten, Gracie exited the building and made a bee-line for his pickup.

His face flashing hot red, Chance rolled down the pickup window. Good thing it was too dark for her to see his face. "Hi, Gracie."

"What are you still doing here? I've probably been in there a good hour. I figured you'd be home by now."

"Just wanna make sure she's okay."

She didn't respond for the longest time, and Chance could almost imagine the compassionate gleam in those big brown eyes of hers.

"Chance." She spoke his name softly and with a hint of pleading. "Ernie's there. Both the outside door and the holding cell door are locked. And this is Miller's Creek, remember? She'll be okay. Really, she will. Why don't you go home and get a good night's sleep?"

"Not tired right now, but I might head home later."

Silence again. "Mm-hmm. Yeah, right." She headed away from the car. "Don't catch cold."

He rolled up the window as Gracie climbed in her car and drove away, already preparing himself for Matt's impending phone call. His phone never rang, but a few minutes later a car pulled up behind him and shut off the headlights. A second later Matt crawled in the passenger side door and threw a folded blanket across the cab.

A laugh fell from Chance's mouth as he caught the fuzzy warm blanket and covered himself. "What are you doing back up here?"

"Well, when my beautiful wife told me my best friend had lost his mind and was spending the night in his pickup outside the police station, I felt it was my professional and personal responsibility to come administer a psychological evaluation."

The pickup cab filled with both their laughter. Chance finally brought his laughter under control. "So, have I completely lost my mind?"

"Naah." Matt reached in his jacket pocket and procured a napkin, which he unrolled to reveal four home-made chocolate chip cookies. He handed two to Chance. "But I do have a diagnosis for your condition."