Keeping Katie (A Mother's Heart #1) (27 page)

“We need to get him to a hospital,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “He’s going into shock.” Alan shifted his attention back to Tommy. The boy shivered despite the ninety-degree heat of the barn. And his face had a gray, clammy look to it.

“Where’s Joey?” he growled. He didn’t like being this helpless. “He’s taking too long.”

“He’ll be here.” Maureen brushed the hair from Tommy’s forehead. “Can you hear me, Tommy?” He didn’t respond.

“I should have gone.” Alan shot a furtive glance at the barn entrance. “Maybe—”

“How far’s the nearest hospital?” Maureen asked, once again pulling his attention away from Joey.

“Wenatchee. It’s a good hour and a half drive.”

Maureen shook her head. “It’s too far. We can’t risk it. What about a phone?”

“Jean Cellar’s place. Twenty minutes.”

“Can we get him airlifted out of here?”

He nodded. “The forest service has rescue helicopters. It’ll take them about thirty minutes to get here, though. Another thirty to get him to the hospital in Wenatchee.” He hesitated before asking the next question. “Is he going to make it?”

Maureen met his gaze. Despite her calm, he could see the worry, the fear. “I don’t know.”

“What about the bleeding?”

“The pulse in his foot is fairly strong, and the swelling isn’t too bad.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “I think we’ve got the bleeding under control.”

“I’ll go as soon as Joey gets back.”

She shook her head. “No. I need you here. Let Joey go.”

“Joey can’t drive, he’s—”

“Alan, Joey’s no good to me. He’s too upset. Get him out of here. Send him for help.”

Before Alan could answer, Joey returned carrying blankets and sheets. “Will these do?” he asked. At Maureen’s nod, he added, “Okay, I’ll be right back with the water.” Then he raced off again.

Alan felt Maureen’s gaze on him, but he refused to look at her. He held Tommy’s leg, keeping the pressure constant, and thought about Joey.

“You’ve got to let him take your Jeep,” she said, as if reading Alan’s thoughts.

She was right, and he knew it. He could do more good if he stayed here with her and Tommy. Still, he hesitated—more for fear of Joey’s being unable to get help rather than the fact he shouldn’t be driving. Maureen wouldn’t believe that, however, so he kept his mouth shut.

When Joey returned with two jugs of water, Alan threw a glance at Maureen and then turned to the boy. “Are you okay, Joe?”

“Yeah.” Joey dropped down next to Maureen. “How’s Tommy?”

“We need to get help.” Alan held Tommy’s leg steady while Maureen unfolded a blanket and prepared to shift it under Tommy. “Take my Jeep and go to Widow Cellar’s—”

“What if she ain’t home?”

Alan paused, then took a deep breath. “Break in if you have to.”

“Alan,” Maureen interrupted, “let me hold his leg. You lift him up and Joey, shove this blanket underneath him.”

Tommy groaned when Alan lifted him, but in a matter of seconds, he was back on the ground.

Alan turned his attention back to Joey. “Call the station. Ned’s working the switchboard. Tell him we need a helicopter and Doc Readon. Got it?”

Joey nodded, his eyes bright and scared but steady.

“Anything else?” Alan asked Maureen.

“Make sure they understand he’s lost a lot of blood.”

Alan nodded. “Go on, Joe. My keys are in the Jeep.”

Joe shot one more worried glance at his brother and then tore out of the barn.

They waited for help.

Alan watched silently as Maureen tended the boy. She kept a constant watch on his pulse, checking every few minutes to make sure blood flowed to his foot. Then she would check his leg, explaining to Alan that she was looking for excessive swelling, a sure sign that the bleeding had started again or was internal. Occasionally, Tommy’s eyelids fluttered open, and she whispered soothing words while trying to get him to take a few sips of water.

Alan couldn’t ignore the facts. Maureen knew something about medicine. The knowledge was like a clamp, squeezing his heart till he thought it would burst. Lies. Everything about her was a lie. She lived them. And he had believed them.

Once more, he’d let this woman get to him, and here was the proof. The day Bud came into town, he had known she was lying—about a lot of things. Lies that indicated she was running from someone or something. He’d planned on demanding the truth that night.

Then he’d pulled her into his arms, and it no longer seemed important. He’d forgotten everything but how much he needed her, how much he wanted her. The only question he had forced himself to ask was about her hair, something she could easily explain away. A lie he could easily ignore. And then he’d met Sam Cooper. Alan couldn’t shut his eyes anymore.

When the Jeep finally pulled up outside, he went out to meet it. Jean Cellar had been home and she’d called for help, then driven back with Joey.

Help arrived a few minutes later. Once again, Maureen took charge, giving directions to the paramedics as they loaded Tommy into the helicopter. There wasn’t room for anyone to go with the boy, so Alan drove Joey and Maureen to the hospital. Jean Cellar agreed to stay behind. She’d try to get hold of Bud and let Ned know that Alan was going on to the hospital in Wenatchee.

Maureen hated waiting. She’d never been a patient woman. But her impatience was nothing compared to how much she detested not knowing what was happening inside that operating room. She would have much preferred to be in there, assisting Doc Readon. Instead, she sat on a hard plastic chair in the waiting room, trying not to pace. She now understood what it was like to be on the other side of things. Never again would she take lightly a friend or loved one’s request for information.

At one point, Alan suggested she go home and get some rest. She’d looked up, surprised to see him there, and was shocked by the coldness in his eyes.

It hit her then. He knew.

Everything she had said and done since the moment she’d heard the shot had betrayed her. And he had seen. Her worst nightmare unfolded before her, and she had the strongest urge to take him up on his offer. Only she wouldn’t stop when she reached Wyattville. She’d pick up Katie and just keep on going.

She turned down his suggestion. Right now, Joey needed her and she would stay with him. Later, she would deal with Alan. And if she was lucky, she and Katie would still make that bus tomorrow morning.

After Joey’s initial rush of hysteria, he had shut down all emotions, following her orders without question. Now he sat like a dead man himself, stiff as a board, waiting to hear if his brother would survive. But when Maureen reached over and took his hand, he didn’t try to pull away.

“Do you want to talk?” she asked him after the three of them had sat there in silence for what seemed like hours.

Joey shook his head.

“It might help. Maybe if you told us what happened …”

He shot a distrustful look at Alan. “And have him arrest me? No thanks.”

“Joe.” She squeezed his hand, bringing his attention back to her. “Did you shoot your brother?”

Pain registered in his eyes. “No way! It was an accident.”

“Well then, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” She looked back at Alan. “Does he?”

“Look, Joe …” Alan crossed the room to sit on the chair next to him. “I know you didn’t shoot Tommy. And I’d like to be here for you as a friend. Honest.”

Joey looked at him for a moment, then shook his head again.

Maureen sighed and decided to let him be. The boy would explain when he was ready.

They’d been there three hours when Bud Simmons arrived. As always, his size filled the room, but this time he looked more like a lost soul than a grizzly bear. He pulled Joey into his arms for a rough hug, holding him for several minutes. It wasn’t until he released the boy that his expression turned angry.

“What happened?” he growled at his oldest son.

Joey yanked away from him. “It wasn’t my fault.”

“What happened?”

“He tried to pull my rifle away from me and he tripped. Somehow, it went off …”

“Tripped! You were supposed to be watching him. You’re the eldest.”

“Yeah, well, where were you? He tried to stop me. And you weren’t anywhere around.” He threw a quick glance at Alan, then turned back to face his father. “If you hadn’t chased that deer of his off, none of this would have happened.”

“What are you talking about, boy?”

“He was afraid I’d kill it.”

Silence fell, hard and accusing. Bud and his son faced each other, so much alike, yet separated by more than years.

“Bud …” Alan stepped up and laid a hand on Bud’s arm. “It wasn’t Joe’s fault.”

Angry eyes turned on Alan, and Maureen held her breath. Then she saw something else in Bud’s eyes. Fear. The man was afraid.

“It’s okay,” Alan added. “It was an accident. And Tommy’s going to be all right.”

It took a moment, but the last of Bud’s anger drained from his face until nothing was left but the fear. Closing his eyes, he nodded. Then he turned and dropped his massive frame onto one of the chairs. Joey returned to his own seat, and the four of them waited.

When Doc Readon finally entered the waiting room, he looked exhausted. But he nodded and smiled at Joey and Bud as they sprang to their feet.

“That boy’s one hell of a fighter,” Doc said. “Lost a lot of blood. But he’s going to make it.”

Joey sank back down into his chair. Bud crossed the room to claim the doctor’s hand, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, Doc, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” Doc said, nodding toward Maureen. “That young lady over there is who you should thank. Not only did she save his life, she saved his leg, as well.”

Maureen’s cheeks reddened as everyone turned to look at her. “Nice work, Ms. Adams,” Doc added. “If you ever want to go back into medicine, you let me know.”

Maureen’s gaze shifted to Alan. At the doctor’s words, he had gone rigid. Turning quickly to Doc Readon, she attempted a smile. “Thank you, Doctor, I will.”

“Can we see him?” asked Bud.

“He’s still unconscious, but you can go in for a few minutes.”

They started to leave the room, and then Bud stopped and turned toward Maureen. Taking a few hesitant steps, he stopped in front of her. “I guess I owe you—”

“It’s not necessary.”

“An apology.” He lowered his head, and she could see he fought to contain his tears. “Thank you for saving my boy’s life.”

He raised his eyes to hers, and she smiled. She knew then that no matter what waited ahead for her and Katie, she wouldn’t have done things differently. “You’re welcome.”

Bud followed Doc Readon and Joey out of the waiting room. When they were gone, the room seemed empty and eerily quiet.

“Well,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself to fight off the sudden chill. “We should probably get back to Rita’s.”

Alan stood and looked at her. She could see the internal battle raging across his features. “Yes,” he said. “There are a few things we need to talk about.”

Maureen took a deep breath and met his gaze. It was time to face up to what she’d done. “Yes. I guess there are.”

R
ita’s house was empty.

Maureen glanced at the clock standing against the wall, surprised to see that it was only four o’clock. Katie and Rita weren’t back from Tod’s birthday party. It was hard to believe that she and Alan had left the house only seven hours ago. It seemed more like seven years.

“Do you want coffee?” she asked.

“No.”

“I do.” She headed for the kitchen, needing something to do with her hands, something to forestall the inevitable confrontation. In the kitchen, she fussed with coffee, filters, and the drip coffeemaker, knowing that at any moment he would ask.

Still, when the first question came, it shook her.

“So,” he started, almost as if they were about to discuss what to watch on television that night, “where did you practice medicine?”

She froze, a sickness building in the pit of her stomach. For a brief moment, her mind raced, sorting through all the possible answers, all the possible fabrications. But in the end she couldn’t lie anymore. She was tired of lying. “I’m not a doctor.”