Independence: #4 Hayley (38 page)

“Yeah…Rafe said it’s normal, but…I don’t like it,” Eden wore boots with thick chunky heels and kicked at a stone. “He’s got the house pretty prepared for stuff like that, though.”

“I thought I’d miss things…but for a few hours, it’s not so bad,” Hayley admitted, breathing a long sigh when they entered the barn. “Not totally warm, but definitely warmer than out there. C’mon…I’ll show you the new babies.”

“I’m not keen on the idea of making friends with something that’ll be someone’s dinner,” Eden said carefully, still feeling her way around her new family.

“These are for the kids…not food,” Hayley laughed. “Those generally roam a pasture and nature takes it course with them. These are teaching aids…in the kid farm and for teaching shearing to the new staff. We have a couple people who make things from the wool that we sell in the gift shop.”

“Have you ever seen the wool made into yarn?”

“I have…and I’ll stick to being a vet,” Hayley told her, both of them laughing. The noises they made had carried and two little lambs had looked up from the hay they were sleeping. “They’re two weeks old…”

“They’re so cute,” Eden dropped to her heels and reached through the metal bars to scrape her nails over one white curly wool head.

“We try and get them socialized as soon as possible in case we have kids visiting,” Hayley explained, leaning cautious on the rail at the top. “Rafe isn’t…angry…is he?”

“About what?” Eden’s voice betrayed her confusion until she looked up at Hayley. “About the guys? No. He said you’re happy and that’s all he needed to know. Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be in line if they did you wrong.”

“Thanks,” Hayley said through her laughter. Laughter that came to an abrupt stop. She swallowed hard. “Tessa…”

“Who…?” Eden rose to her feet slightly behind Hayley. She followed her friend’s stare and recognized the woman. “Your missing friend.”

“Tessa, what’s wrong?” Hayley positioned herself more in front of Eden. And she knew Eden would catch on.

Chapter Forty-One

Eden was never so glad she hadn’t traded up on her little phone. Deft fingers manipulated the small rectangle in the pocket of her skirt, the buttons memorized. She hit the center button and then the one speed dialed for Rafe and then the mute button. She didn’t want their visitor hearing Rafe when he realized what was happening.

“I thought you were in Florida visiting your parents?” Eden said loudly, searching deep for her acting skills. “It must be gorgeous down there this time of year. Much warmer…”

“Shut up!” Tessa screamed, her voice echoing through the barn and sending the little lambs running for their mother in the far corner.

“You scared them,” Eden said clearly. “Hmm…I bet that long rifle is really scary. I never learned how to use one…I guess if I’m gonna be a farm girl, I should learn, huh?”

“I said shut up.”

“She’s my friend, Tessa. Her name is Eden. Why did you leave your parents? They’re searching all over for you,” Hayley said in a level, calm voice. “We were very worried about you.”

“You’re a liar. You lied to those guys…you lied to me.”

“I’ve never lied to you about anything.”

“You made Derrick angry. So angry, he wouldn’t speak to me when I came back.”

“Raymond Derrick was abusive to you,” Hayley said loudly, wincing at the appearance of the long barreled rifle. “He…there is a protection order out to keep you safe,” her voice trailed as pieces she’d refused to believe fell into place. “You shot at me.”

“I shouldn’t have missed,” she returned flatly. “I had everything going for me…”

“I…I reached for something on the seat…” She recalled sadly. “Why, Tessa? We’ve been friends for years…we’ve known each other…”

“I wanted Derrick and you…you made that impossible.”

“He was hurting you,” Hayley said, pleading for the other woman to grasp what was being said. “He used you to bring other girls into his range.”

“That’s part of the life…and he wanted you to be part of us. Don’t you see how important that was? He trusted me to bring you to him…” Tessa lifted the rifle, her head shaking. “Then he only wanted you…and he hurt me because you wouldn’t cooperate. When I came back…he wouldn’t even talk to me…that was all your fault.”

“No. You’re confused,” Eden said from behind Hayley, frowning at her friend when she tried stepping around her. “Hayley tried to make things right.”

“No. She wanted him all for herself,” Tessa came forward, wearing heavy jeans and a thick Shepard jacket, she held the rifle confidently. The point never wavered from Hayley.

“I…oh, hell no…” Hayley answered without much thought. “I have more than I can handle…”

“You should have been with us,” Tessa insisted. “But we can be together now. I’ll make it all right.”

“Umm…Derrick is dead, Tessa. The lieutenant…”

“She found him…I know…but that doesn’t matter. That’s just his outer shell. We’ll join him and be together…I have it all planned out.” Tessa motioned with the rifle. “Step away from her. My truck is parked out behind here…we need to go…”

“I can’t go with you, Tessa. I think you should come with me…we’ll go to the hospital…” Hayley held out her hand but lowered it quickly when the rifle was cocked.

“Or not,” Eden murmured.

“Let Eden leave. She should go back to the party so people believe everything is normal,” Hayley suggested, calmly taking a step forward. She ignored the stunned denial on Eden’s face. “And you and I can go for a drive, Tessa.”

“I told Derrick we belonged together,” Tessa said, nodding slowly. “I told him. He shouted at me…he was so angry…he lost his job and…and it was all your fault. I tried telling him I’d bring you to him. Just give me a little time…please…” her voice slipped to nothing. “But he wouldn’t listen. He hit me and said to get out of his house. He wanted nothing to do with me or…or the other bitch.”

“Tessa…he wasn’t a good person. I’m sorry if he hurt you. You don’t deserve to be hurt that way,” Hayley took another cautious step forward. Her hands hung at her sides, palms toward Eden and waving lightly, urging her to go. “I’ll come with you. Eden has to go back to the party, all right?”

“We don’t need her. Derrick just wants you and me,” Tessa said firmly, stepping back a pace and watching Hayley. “She can’t go. Put her in the room…” she gestured to the tack room off to the right. “Close the door and lock it.”

“I don’t have the keys…” Hayley looked helplessly at Eden. “There’s a heater in there…you won’t be cold.”

“Block the door. Let’s go…”

“I can’t go with you,” Hayley said once the door closed and she knew Eden was safe. She stood in front of the door. “I’m sorry it didn’t work, Tessa. What happened to you? Can we talk? Maybe get some coffee…remember how we used to sit for hours drinking too much caffeine and laughing and talking about our patients? I miss that Tessa…”

“You were my friend…”

“I’m still your friend,” Hayley said softly. “Let me take you to the hospital. You can talk to them…”

Chapter Forty-Two

Jack was leaning on the large polished bar, one boot caught on the slim rail that rounded the bottom. He wasn’t thinking of much. He was scanning the room, watching Dane on the floor with the girls, but no sign of Hayley. Her brother had avoided them since Marshall Russell became involved.

His body went into instant alert when Rafe came striding toward him, weaving around people and not pausing until he was at the bar with Jack.

“Where’s Hayley?” Rafe demanded, a phone in his hand that he tapped over.

“I heard her say she was going to visit the lambs again,” Jack said, his gaze sweeping from the concern on Rafe’s face to the phone he set on the bar top.

“Eden went with her…listen…”

For a few tense minutes, they listened to the unfamiliar voice and Hayley speaking.

Jack pulled his phone from the pocket of his vest, tapping in a text and hitting send to the Lieutenant. Then he put his fingers to his lips, a low long whistle spread across the room. A few seconds later, Dane was at his side, the three of them striding toward the exit.

Jack began talking, his voice low as they moved.

Marshall and Dell joined them, looking puzzled but not asking questions that would slow anyone down. They listened to the ending of the explanation, each man’s frown deepening. Until they reached the outside.

“How many exits in the building?” Dane asked flatly, his gaze skirting the area.

“Three,” Marshall answered without hesitation. “What’s the problem?”

“The woman who shot at Hayley has her and Eden in the barn,” Jack answered, all the while his gaze sweeping the area. “I’ll go around back. If there’s a vehicle, I’ll see about disabling it. I sent a note to the Lieutenant…but she’s easily ten minutes north of here.”

“I’ll come with you,” Dell said firmly. “I know this building like my own house. If nothing else, we can push the vehicle out of the way.”

“We had the gates open. We didn’t think about…” Marshall shook his head.

“She’ll be fine,” Dane told him, willing them all to believe it. “She’s smart and keeping the woman talking.”

The men froze when the side door slowly began to ease open, a dark head appearing in the slight opening. Rafe was across the frozen ground, his hands out and pulling Eden through.

“She locked me in the tack room,” she breathed in relief. “She’s a little on the crazy side. She’s taking Hayley to this guy Derrick…”

“Derrick’s dead,” Dane said flatly. “He was shot with the same weapon that fired on Hayley in her truck.”

“Yeah…I know…Hayley said the same thing…and she has the gun…long rifle…” Eden scowled at Rafe when he tried pushing her behind him. “Hey…easy there…I’m not going anywhere and I’m fine.”

“I know better than to send you anywhere,” Rafe replied, holding her close as they approached the front.

“Jack and Dell went to the back,” Dane moved to the door.

“If you go in there…she’ll shoot,” Eden told them, her head shaking. “She’s seriously in a different world. Hayley’s trying to reach her…but I’m not sure she can.”

No one spoke but Dane reached for the handle, stopping only when Marshall put a hand on his. They looked at one another.

“I won’t let her be hurt,” Dane said simply. “Wait here for the police.”

Dane slipped inside the darkened barn. Low lights were set up along the walls, the ability to turn them on full in the switches. He’d learned that from Hayley. But most of the time, they were kept low for the animals.

He held his breath, moving quietly through the door and easing it silently closed behind him. He stuck to the right. The direction he remembered from his only time in the large barn. The tack room, where Eden had been, was on this side.

He had no idea what to do. He wasn’t sure what he could do. A distraction might work. Jack would move the vehicle or disable it, but it wouldn’t stop her from hurting Hayley if she was close enough.

Or simply shooting randomly.

Merry fucking Christmas.

Somehow he knew their girl wasn’t seeing things that way. It wasn’t the fault of the day. He sighed, long and soft, his body coming to an abrupt stop at the corner of the tack room. He could just see past the edge, the slight sparkle in Hayley’s dress catching the dim light from around the barn.

The animals didn’t seem to notice him, and he really was grateful for that.

Outside, Jack and Dell had quickly found the small truck. The door was open and keys inside. She evidently didn’t expect problems. But to keep from making noise, Dell slipped inside. He released the brake and Jack pushed until it was around the far side of the large barn, out of sight.

Hopefully, out of sight enough to through her off balance.

Jack moved to the door, one hand up and rubbing the back of his neck. Busting in would make a disturbance, but not the kind he wanted to make when someone unstable held a gun in their hands.

“We need to get Hayley out of there,” Dell said through his teeth.

“No kidding…we have to wait for them to come out. We can’t see where she is…or where Hayley is…” Jack stared at him when he started to speak. “Handing a crazy person another hostage isn’t a bright idea…but if it was, it would be me. Anything happens to you, and she’ll never forgive me.”

Jack took in a long breath and reached for the door after motioning Dell to the side.

“Hayley?” Jack called out loudly. “We’re ready to go home. I think I’ve had enough food…”

He pulled the door wide, feigning surprise at the woman aiming a gun at him.

That’s when things got wild.

Hayley threw herself forward, her hands out and pushing the barrel of the rifle toward the ceiling.

Dane came from the side, grabbing her around the middle and pulling her to the ground, rolling with her out of the way.

The gun went off, but only the ceiling was hurt.

Jack grabbed the woman around the middle while Dell grabbed the gun, tossing it quickly outside and out of the way. Jack had her arms pinned to her sides while she screamed and kicked out at his shins. He was glad of his boots and gave her a sharp shake.