Held by You (22 page)

John nodded toward Hollie. “Get her away while I take care of Victors.”

Garrett helped Hollie as John held his service weapon and jerked open the driver’s side door. Freddy didn’t move.

After he checked to make sure Freddy wasn’t holding a weapon, John dragged him out of the truck and laid him on the ground.

Freddy stirred and opened his glazed eyes. “Help me,” he croaked.

Fury made John clench his Glock more tightly. The bastard had hurt Hollie and probably had intended to kill her. The last thing John wanted to do was save Freddy.

His jaw set, John tore the bottom half of Freddy’s T-shirt off, made a compress with it, and pressed it to Freddy’s neck. It looked like the bullet had nicked an artery. “Hold this and apply pressure.”

John looked over his shoulder at Garrett and Hollie. She was pale in the light cast from Garrett’s headlights. She had a laceration and a bump on her forehead and dried blood from the laceration was along the side of her face.

“Is she all right?” John’s voice was hoarse as he asked Garrett the question.

“She’ll be fine,” Garrett said grimly.

Hollie nodded as she held her side and grimaced as if in pain. “I’m okay.”

“I need something to keep this sonofabitch from bleeding out,” John said. “I have a kit in my truck.”

“I’ve got a first aid kit, too. I know where it is.” Garrett got to his feet and headed to his car. In moments he returned with the kit. “Sure you want to save this scumbag?” Garrett’s voice was hard and without compassion or pity.

“We need him to help prove Hollie’s not guilty of murdering her stepbrother,” John said under his breath so that Freddy couldn’t hear.

“It’s too bad,” Garrett muttered as he took over. “The world would be a better place without this sonofabitch.”

John moved to Hollie and put one arm around her shoulders. At the same time, with his opposite hand, he made a call to report the situation, to tell his backup where they were, and requested two ambulances.

“Am I gonna die?” Freddy said, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he spoke.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think so,” Garrett said in a voice dark with anger and the promise of violence if provoked. “But that could change at any moment.”

John tucked his phone into its holster. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked Hollie as he held her in both of his arms.

“Yes.” She pushed the word out on a gasp and let out a harsh breath. “I think a couple of my ribs are broken.”

“Damn—” John had been about to let out something far worse, but he cut himself off as he relaxed his hold on her. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

She sagged against him. “Thank God it’s over.” He heard her teeth chatter as she spoke.

John kissed the top of her head. “Let’s get you into the truck where it’s warm. You’re freezing.”

“Okay.” She gasped as he helped her up.

Slowly they walked to the truck and she grimaced with every step. He helped her up and into the passenger seat while trying to keep from hurting her. He grabbed blankets from behind the front seat and tucked them around her.

He stood in front of her and placed his hand on her thigh, needing the contact with her. “I was so afraid I’d lost you.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I don’t know what I would have done if—”

“I’m here.” She put her hands over his. “Everything is going to be all right.”

He moved his mouth to hers, kissing her slowly, savoring her taste and her scent. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and hold her tight, but he couldn’t, thanks to her injuries.

When he drew back he held her gaze with his. “I meant it when I said I love you. I’ve never felt anything like this, an emotion so strong it takes my breath away. God, I love you, Hollie.”

“I love you too, John. More than words can say.” She smiled at him. “Thank you for saving me.”

He kissed her again before he asked, “Can you tell me what happened?”

She told him the story from the beginning, from the time she was kidnapped to escaping in the car and crashing into the tree. She went on to tell him about Freddy and Dickey taking her in the car and Freddy murdering Dickey. Her voice shook as she gave him the details of what had happened right before she shot Freddy.

“He had the gun to my head.” Her throat worked as she swallowed. “I figured I didn’t have anything to lose, so I pretended to pass out and slumped down. He dropped me and I grabbed the gun off the floorboard in the back.” She shuddered as she continued. “Before he had time to react, I shot him. I’m lucky my dad taught me to shoot when I was young.”

“You did great.” John stroked hair from her eyes. “Not many people could have done what you did.”

“Even though he was going to kill me, I don’t know if I would have been able to live with myself if I killed him.” She frowned. “That doesn’t make sense, does it? I did aim to kill but he moved before I shot him.”

“It makes perfect sense.” John’s throat was thick as he thought about how she had almost died. “You didn’t want to be a murderer like he is.”

“It feels like it would be a stain on my soul.” She shook her head. “It’s crazy.”

“Everything’s fine now.” He squeezed both her knees. “You’ll be proven innocent and Freddy’s going to jail for a long, long time. We’re pretty sure that Dickey isn’t his only murder.” John let out his breath. “You can bet he’ll never hurt you again.”

“Thank you.” Her body seemed to sag more fully against the truck seat. “For everything.”

“You don’t need to thank me.” John rubbed her upper arms. “You saved yourself. If you hadn’t been so brave—I don’t want to think of what could have happened.”

The sounds of sirens met John’s ears. Soon the cavalry would be here and he could get Hollie to a hospital.

Then he’d take her home with him, where she belonged.

* * * * *

In the days that followed, the police found evidence in Freddy’s camper, including the shotgun that tied him to the murders of three members of Jesus Perez’s gang. Freddy had killed Jesus’ brother, Juan, along with one of Jesus’ key men, Rudy Garcia, as well as Bobby Dominguez. He had, of course, also murdered Dickey Whitfield.

As part of a plea bargain to avoid the needle, Freddy admitted to killing Carl Whitfield, too, therefore vindicating Hollie. The night of the murder, Freddy had driven in the opposite direction Hollie had been going when she was headed to the ranch. He’d wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be seen heading to town after he killed Carl.

Despite being cleared of all chargers, life had changed forever for Hollie. She didn’t know that she could go back to her kindergarten class, much as she’d love to. Even though she was innocent, there was still a stain on her image from being dubbed the Killer Kindergarten Teacher. She knew that no one would look at her the same way again.

Her students were no doubt confused by what had happened, and maybe even a little afraid. Maybe they wouldn’t be afraid of her, but they might be afraid because she could remind them of murder. She didn’t want her students to have those worries or fears, or any other student in the future to deal with that ambiguity.

She spent the rest of the holidays before Christmas working through everything in her mind. What made the most sense? She loved working with children, loved teaching, and loved making the kids happy.

It was true that she had so much to think about, so much to consider. She just needed to make the right decision—right for her and right for her students.

For the time being she was staying with John, not wanting to go back to the ranch alone.

Floyd was in jail for attempted murder. Even though he was a horrible person, she couldn’t help feeling bad for him, no matter how cruel he and his brothers had been to her. Floyd had lost a part of himself when his brothers had died, just like she’d lost a part of herself when her parents had each passed on.

To make sure they were safe, she did bring her stash of money and her treasured photo album to John’s home. They’d gone through the pages of her photos together and she’d shared her memories with him. He’d dug out his own photo albums for older photos and shared newer digital photos on his iPad. She had few recent photos but treasured the ones she did have—a few with her students and several with her friends when they’d gone out together.

They talked like they had never talked before. She shared her concerns about going back into teaching, and he’d shared his longterm desire to retire from the police force and take up ranching.

Hollie had begun to heal from the injuries she’d sustained at Freddy’s and Dickey’s hands. The emotional injuries wouldn’t be as easy to heal.

Still, with John around, she couldn’t help but feel a deep happiness in her heart and unconditional love. She loved John wholly and completely and couldn’t imagine a day without him.

Christmas morning, Hollie woke in John’s bed to a soft kiss and the smells of pancakes, syrup, and coffee. She smiled up at John who gave her a sexy grin.

“Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas, honey.” He nodded toward the tray in his hands. “Breakfast in bed for my princess.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too.” Delighting in the fact that John had been so thoughtful, she smiled. “And thank you.”

She scooted up in bed, inwardly wincing a little from the remnants of pain in her ribs. John settled the breakfast tray over her lap. On one plate was a mound of pancakes with butter and syrup, and a smaller plate held several sausage links. Also on the tray were a tall glass of orange juice along with a hot mug of coffee with a small pitcher of creamer and a sugar jar.

He handed her a napkin that she placed on her lap. She insisted that he eat with her. He sat with her while he fed her the delicious pancakes and sausage links while taking a few bites himself.

When she was settled in to eat, John got up off the bed and drew back the curtains.

She caught her breath. “Snow!”

He grinned. “I ordered it to snow just for you.”

She smiled as she looked out at the beautiful winter scene. “It’s gorgeous. We’ll have to go and play in it later.”

With a nod he sat back on the bed, close to her. “Now eat up.”

“I’m happy to do just that.” Once she’d eaten all that she possibly could, John took the tray and set it aside on a trunk at the foot of the bed.

She started to get up but he said, “Stay right there.”

He stood, went to the bureau, and opened the top drawer. He brought out a square box that was about three inches by three inches, wrapped in gold paper. He returned to the bed, sat on the edge of the mattress, and handed it to her. “Your birthday present.”

She took the gold-wrapped gift and tore off the paper, revealing a chocolate brown velvet jeweler’s box. She raised the lid and caught her breath.

Inside was a beautiful heart-shaped gold locket with an intricate design on its face. She looked at John. “It’s gorgeous.”

He smiled and nodded at the locket. “Open it.”

From its velvet bed, she lifted the locket. She carefully opened the heart and her throat closed with emotion. On one side was a picture of her father, and on the other a picture of her mother.

“John!” She looked at him in amazement and tears stung the backs of her eyes. “It’s beautiful.” She closed the locket and held it to her chest. “I’ll always have them close to me.”

He brushed hair from her eyes. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I more than like it.” She flung her arms around his neck and held on. “I love it.” She drew back and smiled at him. “But most of all I love you, John.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.” He took the locket from her. “Hold up your hair.”

She obeyed and he clasped the locket around her neck. She looked down at the locket lying over her silky nightgown and resting between her breasts.

For a moment she wondered at how her life had changed. This Cinderella was finally free of her evil stepbrothers. Her Prince Charming had come to sweep her off her feet and had saved her in more than one way.

He took her by the hand. “Santa came, birthday girl. Let’s see what he brought.”

She laughed and climbed out of bed. She took a snuggly warm bathrobe off of a hook on the bathroom door and slipped into it before walking with John to the living room.

A small pile of presents wrapped in cheerful Christmas paper was under the tree. She sat beside the tree and John knelt next to her. He handed her a present wrapped in green paper with glittering red and white ornaments on it. The first gift was a pair of feather and turquoise earrings she’d admired at the Sedona arts festival.

He handed her a red-wrapped present. When she opened it, tears sprang to her eyes. It was a beautiful wooden music box inlaid with abalone and silver. “Thank you so much.” She hugged him tightly. “It’s gorgeous.” The music box was different than the one that had been her grandmother’s, which her stepbrother had broken, but just as beautiful. The fact that John gave it to her made it as special as her grandmother’s had been to her. “You are an amazing man.”

She opened the music box and smiled as it played a sweet tune, and she set the earrings he’d given her inside. She closed the lid and held the music box in her lap as she handed him a small oblong box wrapped in silver and gold paper.

He carefully tore off the paper, leaving him holding the simple brown box. He raised the lid and inside was the turquoise inlaid pocketknife she had picked out for him at the arts festival. He gave her a smile. “I love it.” He planted a kiss on her forehead and hugged her.

When they finished unwrapping presents, Hollie took John’s hand. “I want to talk with you about something.”

He gave a nod. “All right.”

“I’m not going back to the school when the next semester starts.” She shook her head. “After everything that’s happened, I think it’s for the best.” She felt a twinge of sadness, but she’d made up her mind.

He studied her. “I understand.”

“I want to go into counseling and work with kids, especially special needs children,” she said. “I double-majored in college, so I have a degree that makes me qualified to be a counselor.”

He smiled and rested his arm around her shoulders. “You’ll be great at it.”