Three Year Rule (The Rule Series Book 1) (13 page)

Elizabeth rose from her chair and asked, “Is he out of danger?”

Dr. Jones offered softly, “We will know in about twenty four hours. As I said, he’s young and strong. You’ll have to be patient.”

Randy rose and offered his hand to the doctor saying, “When can we see him?”

“He’s in intensive care. A nurse can take you to the waiting area. If he remains stable you can see him, one at a time, but for only a few minutes.” Dr. Jones said, “A nurse will be with you soon.” He disappeared through the doorway.

“This is my fault,” Randy announced, “It was my job to push the wolves back. Not Josh. I never should have asked him to come with me.”

Elizabeth turned to Randy and took hold of his arm saying, “You know Josh would never have let you go into woods alone after those wolves.”

Randy shook his head and added, “It was my idea to check out the maintenance road. I just had to have one more look before we headed home. I just couldn’t let it go.”

“Maintenance road?” Elizabeth stared at him confused.

“That’s where it happened.” Randy explained, “We found a deer stand the stalker was using to view the cabin, and the next thing I knew Josh had an arrow sticking out of his chest.”

“The stalker?” Elizabeth gasped, glancing at Amy, “Are you saying the stalker tried to kill him?  I thought this was a hunting accident! I thought some idiot mistook Josh for a deer and shot him!”

“No,” Randy met Elizabeth’s gaze, “It was the stalker. I returned fire, and I’m sure I hit him but there was no time to search. I had to get Josh …” Randy’s voice broke as he spoke. His eyes filled with tears, and he glanced down at the floor trying to gain control. “I don’t think that arrow was meant for Josh.”

Amy rose from her seat, wrapped her arms around Randy’s waist, and asked. “Randy, what are you saying?”

“I think that shot was meant for me.” Randy locked eyes with Elizabeth. “I’m sorry; Josh was moving past me when he was hit.”

Elizabeth shook her head and said, “Randy, it’s not your fault.” Her head was swimming; she didn’t know what else to say. Why was this happening? Who was this person stalking her? Why? When would it all end?

Elizabeth sat by Josh’s bed gazing at his pale face. He looked so peaceful and quiet, but she was sure his soul was full of torment. Josh would be furious when he discovered what happened and who was responsible. Randy didn’t want to discuss how he managed the horror filled ATV ride to the truck, but Elizabeth knew he saved Josh’s life. Elizabeth knew Randy was a true hero in every sense of the word, and if Amy didn’t marry that man, she was a fool!

Elizabeth was jolted from her thoughts. What did she just decide? Amy should marry a man she’s only known for a few months? What about the three year rule? No, Elizabeth knew Amy was incapable of a pseudo persona. She had struggled too hard and too long to overcome her past and define herself. Amy was the most solid person Elizabeth had ever known until she met Josh and now Randy.

Was she so completely wrong about the three-year rule? Was she a raving lunatic that spilled her insanity over to millions of unsuspecting women? No! Elizabeth sat up straight in her seat.   The three year rule was solid, but perhaps there were exceptions. There were always exceptions, weren’t there? Was she fooling herself into believing something her heart was desperate to know?

The nurse appeared and motioned for Elizabeth to leave. Her time was up. Elizabeth rose slowly and kissed Josh’s forehead. She whispered, “I’m here with you, Josh. I’m not leaving you. Randy and Amy are here. You are not alone. Be strong and come back to me… I love you.”

Randy waited for her out in the hall. Tears welled in her eyes as she gazed up at him.

“Is he okay?” Randy asked, quietly moving to her side.

“There’s been no change,” Elizabeth said.

“That’s good,” Randy, reasoned, “No change is better than getting worse.”

“I suppose,” Elizabeth tried to smile.

“Beth,” Randy began, “I have to go. The State Police found fingerprints on the deer stand and blood in the woods that I’m pretty sure belongs to the stalker.”

“I understand,” Elizabeth began, “Josh would want you to go.”

“There’s something else.” Randy added, glancing behind him.

Elizabeth followed his gaze to two young children. Before her stood a boy around twelve years old and a little girl age six.  Elizabeth’s heart raced as she recognized the deep blue eyes and blonde hair.  They were Josh’s children.

“Jake and Molly,” Randy called to them. They were both dressed just as Elizabeth would expect in jeans and t-shirts. Molly’s jeans were purple, and her t-shirt had a picture of a kitty cat on it.  Jake was all boy in his torn jeans and ratty t-shirt. He looked so much like his father Elizabeth’s stomach tied into knots. Randy knelt down next to Molly and said, “This is Elizabeth; she’s a friend of your dads.” Randy glanced up at Elizabeth and smiled.

Elizabeth smiled at the two beautiful children and stepped forward. “Hello, you can call me Beth.”

“Is my daddy in that room?” Molly asked as she leaned against Randy, her tiny fingers grasping his hand.

“Yes, he’s sleeping.” Elizabeth answered.

“Can we see him?” Jake asked, glancing at the door.

Randy rose and said, “They don’t allow children in intensive care, but there’s a window right there you can look through.” Randy pointed to the large glass window in the wall that overlooked the intensive care unit. He scooped up Molly and put his arm around Jake’s shoulders and walked slowly to the window adding, “He’s asleep like Beth said, and he’s got some tubes attached to him giving him medicine. So he might look a little funny, but he’s okay.”

Elizabeth followed them to the window. She watched the children stare through the window at their father. Her heart melted as their young eyes filled with tears. Molly sank her face into Randy’s chest and cried in tiny little sniffles. Jake brushed the tears away roughly with the back of his hand and turned to face away from them.

Elizabeth said, “There’s a waiting room down the hall with a TV and a table. We can wait down there for your dad to wake up.”

Randy kissed Molly’s head and added, “Beth is an author.  Do you know what that is?”

Jake turned slowly around and said, “She writes books.”

Elizabeth smiled and said, “That’s right.”

Molly raised her head, looked at her, and asked, “Like Dr. Seuss?”

Elizabeth touched her golden hair and said, “Not exactly. I’m afraid you would find the books I write pretty boring. They are for grown-ups.”

“Oh,” Molly said, glancing at Jake. “That means no pictures.”

“You are absolutely right,” Elizabeth laughed and added, “but I do have a laptop and an iPad Amy brought me this morning. We can download some games.”

Molly smiled and reached out to Elizabeth. Randy handed her to Elizabeth with a huge grin on his face. Jake stared at her, his eyes narrowed, and he asked, “How will we know when dad wakes up.”

Elizabeth met his gaze and said softly, “They have my cell phone number, and there is a phone in the waiting room. They will call us.”

“Okay, then,” Jake looked at Randy, who gave him a pat on the back.

Molly fell asleep on Elizabeth’s shoulder after lunch while Jake watched a movie. Amy arrived around dinnertime with fried chicken and all the trimmings. After they had eaten, Amy sat with the children while Elizabeth sought out the doctors for an update, before they left for the night.

Randy was in the waiting room with Amy and the children when Elizabeth returned. Elizabeth glanced at Randy from the doorway, and he rose to walk down the hall with her. She sighed and said, “The doctors say he is stable, but they are keeping him in a drug induced coma for a few days because of his lung.” Elizabeth hugged Randy and said, “He’s out of danger. They will move him to a regular room in the morning.”

Randy’s breath came in deep gasps. He tried to control his intense joy at the news.  His voice was deep and throaty when he answered, “That’s good; I’ll take the kids home. I think you should come too.”

“I’d like that, but I don’t want to leave Josh alone,” Elizabeth answered.

Randy nodded toward the intern that stood at the far end of the hallway near the entrance to ICU and said, “Some state troopers have volunteered to spend their off time keeping an eye on Josh. He won’t be alone, and you need some sleep. Amy has Kilo and Charlie already at the house.  I think it’s best if everyone stays with me until we get some answers.”

Elizabeth searched his face then asked, “What did you find out?”

Randy sighed and said, “No fingerprint match in the system. Now we have to wait on the DNA.”

                                                                      ************                                                                     

Josh heard a buzzing in his ears.  It was sporadic but kept returning. He tried to open his eyes, but it was hard and he was so tired. Muffled voices rang in the distance as the buzzing returned.  Josh took a deep breath and the buzzing grew louder; it pounded away at his head.  Then there were lights, bright lights. He shut his eyes and turned away from the light. Pain shot through his chest as he drew another breath. What is going on?

Josh forced his eyes open. He blinked at the bright light coming through the windows and forced his eyes to focus on the source of the buzzing sound.  When his vision cleared he saw Molly sitting on Elizabeth’s lap as she and Jake leaned over the small table next to the window.

“Got it!” Jake announced triumphantly as he removed another organ from the surgical game as the buzzing alarm filled the room once more.

“Cheater!” Molly laughed, smacking his arm, “You are so bad at this game! Beth can get every single one, and you can’t even pull out the funny bone without setting off the alarm.”

Josh tried to raise his head as he opened his mouth to speak. A wave of pain washed across his chest and all he could manage was a weak moan. All three heads snapped to face him. Molly squealed when she saw his eyes were open and rushed to his side. Elizabeth reached out and slowed her pace saying, “Easy, Molly. Remember, he’s been hurt. Be gentle.”

Elizabeth rushed off to find a nurse as Jake came up beside Molly. They stood staring at Josh not knowing what to do or say. Josh managed a weak smile and whispered as loud as his voice would allow, “I’m okay kids. It’s just a scratch.”

Jake grinned at his dad and said, “That’s what you said when I broke my arm.”

Molly climbed gingerly up onto the bed, avoiding the IV tube. She managed to squeeze up along the bed rail next to him and place her head on his shoulder. “Does it hurt daddy?”

Josh glanced at the door and saw Elizabeth standing there watching them. He said, “Only a little sweetie, only a little.”

Josh rose slowly from his seat to face Randy; his face contorted in anger. “You’re acting like a Sheriff.”

“I sure as hell am.” Randy countered, “It was no accident this time, no bad decisions, no error in judgment. This man shot an arrow with intent to kill. So you’re going to listen to me.”

Josh’s face grew dark red as his eyes narrowed on Randy, “You should fire that old, lazy ass Deputy Ed Walker. Then you can hire some real help and find Beth’s stalker instead of wasting your time lecturing me about how I should live my life!”

Elizabeth stepped in between them. She wasn’t about to allow a fistfight to break out in her living room. She placed her hands on Josh’s shoulders and said, “Why don’t we all sit down and cool off for a minute. The last thing we need is the two of you at each other’s throats. Amy will be back from picking up the kids from school in 15 minutes. So you two need to come to an agreement and fast.” She spun to face Randy and added, “Josh is fully recovered, and we haven’t had any sign at all in the last two months that would indicate the stalker is even still around.”

Randy forced his eyes away from Josh’s hostile glare. He could see the concern in Elizabeth’s eyes. Randy took a deep breath and moved to sit in the high backed leather chair across from the sofa. Elizabeth smiled and added, “Good, now I’ll get you both an Iced Tea and we can all discuss this calmly.”

Elizabeth went to the kitchen to prepare their drinks. Hopefully the argument would resolve itself once they calmed down.

Randy glanced at Josh’s angry grimace, and said calmly, “I’m not backing down on this.”

Josh pushed his hair back from his face and met Randy’s gaze. He said, “I’m not going to let Jake down. He’s been planning on this for over a year. I won’t let the thought that the stalker might still be prowling those woods stop me from taking my son on his first hunting trip. I refuse to live my life in fear.”

Randy nodded and said, “I don’t want to disappoint Jake either.” They stared at each other in silence. Elizabeth returned with their drinks.

She sighed and said, “Okay, so what about a compromise? Is there somewhere else you can take Jake to hunt? Somewhere you haven’t been in a long time which is far enough away from here to be a feasible substitute?”

Randy looked at Josh and said, “Wolf Creek is 3 hours from here, and I’ve heard it’s crawling with Elk.”

“We’d have to leave the night before.” Josh said, “It would add another night to our trip.”

Elizabeth sat down beside Josh and said, “Amy and I were planning on taking Molly into the city on a shopping trip for school clothes. I’m planning a girl’s weekend, and I’m having them both over here for a slumber party. You can leave Kilo with me. I think the combination of the dogs and my security system is plenty of protection; we’ll be fine.”

Randy added, “Amy’s become quite a shot with her Cobra 380.”

Josh looked from one to the other and added, “Mike said he’s not going hunting this year. He can run by and check on them. They can call him if anything happens; he’s only a few minutes away.”

“It’s settled then. I’ll find a hotel, and we will head out tomorrow as soon as Jake is out of school.” Randy announced and rose to give Josh his hand.

Josh grinned and rose to shake his hand. “Let’s get the grill going, Elizabeth has steaks marinating.”

The front door opened, and Molly rushed in followed by Charlie and Kilo. Jake and Amy entered after them. Molly ran straight to Elizabeth and asked, “Can I ride Mazie today?  Please?”

Elizabeth glanced at Josh, who nodded his assent before disappearing through the backdoor with Randy.

“I get Flo!” Jake chimed in.

Amy took over the meal prep while Elizabeth took the kids out and helped them saddle the horses. She watched as they galloped across the pasture. It was surprising how quickly she’d become attached to Josh’s kids. Molly took to Elizabeth instantly. Elizabeth considered her lack of a consistent mother figure a significant factor in their instant connection. In fact, Elizabeth enjoyed helping Molly choose an outfit and fixing her hair.

It wasn’t easy finding time alone with Josh, but Elizabeth didn’t mind. Josh’s rule of no overnights when the children were home did put a cramp in their sexual relationship. If it weren’t for Randy and Amy taking the kids every other Friday night, she and Josh would never have an entire night alone.

Elizabeth did understand and agree with Josh’s reasoning. He was their father and wanted to set a good example. He’d done a great job raising both of them. They were confident, polite, and good-natured. She’d even taken Amy’s suggestion and was researching step parenting to add to her Blended Families book series, although she was more interested in making sure she had a good relationship with Josh’s kids than writing a book.

When it was time to eat, Elizabeth called the kids back to the stables and watched as they gave the horses both a handful of oats

Amy had set the table on the deck, and Josh announced their plans during dinner.

“Randy and I have decided to hunt at Wolf Creek this weekend.” Josh began. “Are you ready to hunt some elk Jake?”

Jake’s eyes widened, and his face broke into a huge smile. He answered, “I sure am! This is so awesome!”

Elizabeth turned to Molly and added, “You and Amy are going to stay with me this weekend. We are going shopping on Saturday and have a slumber party Saturday night.”

“Goodie!” Molly jumped from her seat and hugged Elizabeth then rushed around the table to hug Amy. “We should all get matching PJ’s on Saturday for the party!”

Josh smiled across the table at Elizabeth and added, “You’ll have to show Beth how to make s’mores, Molly.”

“I sure will!” Molly giggled and climbed onto her father’s lap.

The next day Amy and Elizabeth met Josh and Randy at the school. They said a quick goodbye to the guys and took Molly out to dinner at Sadie’s, and then ran by the local market and bought snacks and soda, and Molly picked out a movie.

“Beth, can I sleep with you tonight?” Molly asked as the movie ended. She was already dressed for bed in her princess nightgown and fuzzy slippers. “Then we can all sleep down here tomorrow night for the slumber party.”

“Sure,” Elizabeth smiled.

Elizabeth let the dogs out for one last time while Amy locked the back door and headed upstairs with Molly. Once the dogs were in, Elizabeth turned on the alarm and turned out the lights.

Josh woke Jake up for the second time as they sat on the deer stand overlooking a small clearing not too far from Wolf Creek. Josh whispered to his sleepy son, “You’ve got to stay awake, the sun’s coming up. This is when the action begins.”

Jake took the granola bar his father offered and ate it quickly, scanning the clearing for any sign of activity. Randy’s voice came over the two-way radio, “Josh, are you two still awake?”

“Roger that,” Josh answered with a wink at Jake.

“I’m going to move up on the ridge. I can see several bulls just out of range for a good shot. They should be heading your way soon unless I get them first.” Randy whispered across the radio.

Josh handed the radio to Jake and let him answer, “Roger that.”

“Let’s meet up at the river at noon if we don’t get a kill.” Randy added, “We can head back after dinner for another try at nightfall.”

“We plan on getting a big one soon, so unless you plan on sleeping, we will see you way earlier than noon.”  Jake boasted into the radio.

Josh grinned and patted Jake on the back. Randy smiled and climbed out of the deer blind that consisted of a few tree limbs with camouflage netting stretched across the front.  He headed slowly through the trees as quietly as he could toward the ridge. Just as they reached the top, he heard a gunshot. Randy reached for his radio just as Jake’s excited voice announced, “I got one! An elk, an elk! I got one!”

Randy laughed and responded, “Great work! I’ll go get the ATV and head your way!”

Once they quartered the elk, loaded it on the ATV, and carried it back to the truck to debone and pack it in the coolers, it was late morning.  They stopped at a local gas station and filled the coolers with more ice, then headed for the one local diner in the nearest town for lunch.

Randy’s cell phone rang when they headed for the small motor inn on the edge of town to shower and take a nap before returning to the woods.  Randy answered, “Sheriff Connor,”

Josh pulled into the motor inn that looked like a string of mobile homes, linked together end to end. They parked in the open spot in front of their door and Randy quickly climbed out of the truck.  His face had a sour expression. He listened to the voice on the other end continue to speak without interruption.

Finally, Randy said, “Okay, let me know what you find. If I don’t answer the phone leave a message, and I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

Randy glanced up to find Josh staring at him with the intensity of a puma stalking a deer. Randy’s flashed him an innocent smile and said, “Work, sorry.”

“The stalker?” Josh asked quietly, glancing at Jake who was pulling the coolers from the truck.

“I'm following a hunch.”  Randy said quietly, “I’ve broadened my search a bit. My deputy has been doing some research for me, and he has a lead. I’ll let you know if anything pans out.”

“Are you getting close?” Josh asked nothing more.  He knew Randy would tell him if he had anything more than a suspicion.

“I hope so.” Randy glanced at Jake and added loudly, “What are we going to do with this boy?  That was a ten point elk. I can’t compete with that, and I’m an expert marksman.”

Jake’s head poked out from the back of the truck, and he said, “It was an incredible shot! Right through the heart, just like dad taught me.”

“And this afternoon or tomorrow you get to watch me shoot a 12 point,” Josh teased, messing up Jake’s hair.

The girls spent the morning shopping in downtown Salt Lake City at the new mall. They ate lunch at a trendy Argentinian restaurant. Then stopped by a hobby shop on the way home to purchase a jewelry making kit and paint to decorate the plain t-shirts they bought that morning.

When they got home and began to discuss dinner, Molly said, “Pizza!” She jumped up from the couch and added, “Slumber Parties always have pizza for dinner.”

Amy laughed and turned to Elizabeth saying, “She’s right you know. We
must
have pizza for dinner.”

Elizabeth held a serious expression as she gazed from Amy to Molly, and back. She took a deep breath and announced, “Let it be done!”

They all broke out in giggles and finished laying out their clothing purchases on the kitchen island for everyone to examine.

“Can we have a fashion show after dinner?”  Molly asked, dancing with excitement.

“Of course!” Elizabeth smiled.

“Well then, it’s all settled.” Amy added, “We can pick up a movie when we get pizza, and we have our craft projects. I’d say we have a full evening ahead of us.”

“I’d like to check on the horses and give them some oats, so why don’t you two go get a pizza, and I’ll make some cheesy garlic bread and a salad,” Elizabeth offered.

Amy spun and headed for the door. “Off we go Molly. Would you like to drive?”

Molly giggled and chased after her.

Elizabeth gathered up their new clothes and laid them out on her bed for later. As she headed downstairs to care for the horses, she heard Amy’s cell phone ringing. Thinking it might be Randy, she snatched it off the island where Amy left it and answered.

“Hello?”  She said into the phone.

A muffled voice replied, “Hello, this is John Weller. My father gave me your number. I am at the cabin this week on a hunting trip, and we found a black oriental jewelry box. Dad thinks it’s yours.”

“Oh, my gosh," Elizabeth gasped, “Yes, it sounds just like it!”

“Great!” The voice answered, “I’ll be home for the next 30 minutes if you can head over now.”

“Absolutely!” Elizabeth said. “I’ll be right there!”

She left Amy’s cell phone on the island, grabbed her purse, and rushed out the door. What a fantastic surprise it would be to give Amy her grandmother’s jewelry box when she came back tonight. Kilo and Charlie bounced around her as she raced out the door, caught up in her excitement.

“Okay, okay,” Elizabeth laughed at their antics. “Get in the truck.”

                                                                      ************                                                                     

Randy’s phone woke him from a sound sleep. They were all trying to catch up on lost sleep. Randy grabbed the phone from the nightstand and answered it quickly, not wanting to wake up Jake and Josh.

“Sheriff Connor,” He said into the phone. Ed’s raspy voice responded.

“Randy, I called the Denver Police about that female author, Bonnie Jones, who was killed last spring. You were right; it was a stalker case. They tortured and raped her over a period of several days, and then strangled her. They found her body in a creek. They have no suspects, no leads. I requested a copy of the file. Bonnie used a literary agency based in New York City. I was able to get a hold of the receptionist who was working late to meet a deadline.  She looked up Bonnie’s information and gave me the name of her agent, a Franklin Mallory.”