Chapter 8

Jake held Teddy’s hand tightly as they hurried into the hospital. They’d taken a cab straight from the airport. Mik and Jed were meeting them there. Jake wondered why Jed hadn’t mentioned Jesse.

Mik and Jed were standing just inside the entrance, waiting, as promised. The moment Teddy saw her sister she tore free from Jake and ran to Mik. Jed met Jake as the sisters hugged and cried.

“How is she?” Jake asked.

“She survived the surgery but is still listed in critical condition.”

“What happened, Jed? And where’s Jesse?”

Jed took Jake’s arm and led him outside. “It’s a real mess, little brother. I don’t know what happened and I haven’t been able to talk to Jesse except for a few minutes but here’s what I know. When Jesse and Mik got home he said he was going to ride up to Alex’s.

“Later on we got the call that Alex was taken into the hospital for a gunshot. Jesse was admitted as well. I don’t know how it happened, but he had a gash in his head and several cuts and a concussion.

“Robert Manning was also admitted, with a gunshot.”

“What the holy hell?”

“According to what little Jesse had time to tell me, he and Manning got into a fight. Alex got in the middle of it and got knocked out. He said he and Manning were going at it when something cold-cocked him in the back of the head. He woke up to police officers cuffing him.

“He said they found a gun in his hand. And with Alex and Manning both shot…”

“Christ on a crutch, they think Jesse did it?”

“That’s what I get from it. His room is being guarded by armed officers round the clock and we aren’t allowed in to see him.”

“Jed, you know Jesse wouldn’t…”

“Yeah, I do know that, but the police don’t. And right now, until he’s taken in and booked there’s nothing we can do but wait.”

Jake nodded, thinking about what he’d just heard. “Does Mik know? That the police think it was Jesse, I mean?”

“Yeah.”

“And?” Jake almost didn’t want to hear the answer. He didn’t think he could stand to hear that Mik thought Jesse was guilty.

“She doesn’t believe it.”

“Thank god. Have you seen Alex?”

“Not yet. Mik is hoping they’ll let her in this morning. How’s Teddy?”

“A wreck. She cried all night and was so upset it made her sick. I was hoping there would be better news when we got here.”

“There still might be.” Jed clamped his hand on Jake’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Come on, let’s head in.”

Mik had her arm around Teddy’s shoulder, holding her tight when they walked back into the hospital. “You want to see if they’ll let you in?” Jed asked Mik.

“Yeah. Let’s head up.”

She released Teddy and turned toward the bank of elevators to their right. Jake hurried to Teddy’s side and reached for her hand. “No!” She jerked away from him.

“What’s wrong?”

The look Teddy gave him nearly stopped his heart. The anger and hate in her eyes made her seem like a stranger. “What’s wrong?” she screamed. “What’s wrong? Are you stupid? Your brother tried to kill her!”

“Teddy, you know Jesse—” Jake tried again, this time to take her arm and at least lead her into a less public location. People were watching, obviously curious about her screaming.

“Don’t touch me!” She reared back and slapped him across the face. “Stay the hell away from me. You hear me?”

When she whirled and ran to throw her arms around Mik, Jake just stood there in shock. Mik mouthed, “I’m sorry” and turned Teddy toward the elevators. Jed didn’t move. He just watched as Mik led Teddy into one of the elevators and then he went back to Jake.

“Let’s give them a little time. Come on, I’ll buy you breakfast.”

“What—what the hell, Jed?”

“She’s upset. Give her some time and reason will return.”

“You think?”

“I sure as hell hope so,” Jed replied. “Just be patient.”

Jake nodded and fell in step with Jed. At the moment, he felt like he’d been blindsided, judged, and sentenced, and he didn’t have a clue what the heck he’d done.

*****

Mik led Teddy across the waiting room to an empty sofa and sat down beside her. Teddy dug around in her purse for tissue, wiped her eyes and blew her nose. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.

“Teddy, honey, you were pretty rough on Jake.”

“Don’t!” Teddy barked and when Mik raised one eyebrow added, “I mean it, Mikayla. I can’t believe you’d even let Jed Nash within fifty feet of you after what Jesse did.”

“Now hold on, Theodora.”

Teddy knew that tone and part of her cringed, but she was scared and needed to be mad to keep the fear at bay. So the target of that anger was the Nash family. They were the only ones she had to blame, and someone had to be blamed. “Don’t use that tone on me. He shot our sister.”

“We don’t know that he did.”

“Then why is he in a room that’s under guard. That’s what you told me, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but…”

“But nothing. He shot her, Mik and I don’t want a Nash within a hundred yards of me. Ever. And if you love me. If you love Alex, you’ll feel the same.”

“Teddy, you’re being completely unreasonable. I don’t believe for a second that Jesse did this, and even if he had, neither Jed nor Jake is responsible. You can’t take your anger out on them.”

“Watch me.”

Teddy turned her back on Mik, fixing her gaze on the door to the waiting room. All she cared about was seeing Alex. Nothing else mattered. She didn’t care if Mik thought she was being unreasonable, and she didn’t care if she had hurt Jake. If Mik hadn’t taken the job at Jed’s ranch, none of this would have happened. The Nash men were nothing but bad news and if her sister died, she’d see them all in prison.

The door to the waiting room opened. But it was not a doctor who entered. It was Jed and Jake. They crossed the room and Jed took a seat in a chair next to the couch beside Mik. Jake walked over and knelt down in front of Teddy.

“Teddy, I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be, but you know Jesse. He wouldn’t hurt Alex. This is a mistake and I know the truth will come out.”

“Oh right, defend the murderer.”

“Seriously? You can’t honestly sit there and tell me that you believe Jesse would shoot her.”

“I most certainly can.” She shoved aside reason, refusing to listen to the idea that Jesse might be innocent. Her sister was near death, and someone had to pay. If the police thought Jesse was guilty then she did as well.

“Teddy, honey, I know you don’t mean that. Once you’ve had a chance…”

Teddy couldn’t listen to any more. She didn’t want his comfort and she sure as hell didn’t want him trying to convince her to forgive Jesse. She didn’t have any forgiveness in her and if this was the way things were going to be, she didn’t have any room in her life for Jake.

“Leave me alone.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll just sit here and wait with you.”

“No. I want you out of here. Leave me alone, Jake. Forever. I don’t want to see you ever again.”

“You don’t mean that, Teddy. I love you and I know you love…”

“I hate you!” She jumped up and screamed at him. “I hate every one of you and never want to have to lay eyes on you again. Get out! Get out!”

Mik jumped up and got between them. “Teddy! Settle down. Now.” She looked over her shoulder at Jake. “I think it might be better if you left, Jake. Teddy and I will stay and wait until they let us see Alex.”

She directed her next words to Jed. “Would you mind taking Jake back home? I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”

“You sure that’s what you want?”

“I think it might be best. For now.”

Teddy knew Mik thought she could talk her into changing her mind, but Mik was wrong. She meant what she said. She didn’t want to have to look at Jake ever again because she’d never be able to look at him without knowing what his brother had done. She couldn’t be with him knowing he wanted her to excuse Jesse. They were done.

What was mystifying to her was why Mik didn’t feel the same way about Jed. She watched Mik walk with Jed and Jake to the door, saw her kiss Jed and caress his face lovingly. It made her sick.

She took a seat on the couch and watched Mik return to her. Mik sat down and reached for Teddy’s hand, but Teddy pulled it away. “Listen to me, Teddy,” Mik said calmly but firmly. “You need to get a grip. Alex needs us now. All of us. And your behavior isn’t helping anyone. You hear me?”

Teddy turned her head to look at Mik. “Oh yes, I hear you and now you listen to me, Mikayla. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a traitor. You’re choosing Jed over Alex. And mark my words, if Alex dies, I’ll never forgive any of you.”

Mik shook her head and leaned back to close her eyes. Teddy could feel the hurt her words had caused Mik, just like she’d felt the hurt she’d inflicted on Jake, but at the moment she didn’t care. All she cared about was Alex surviving and getting well. And once that happened, she’d convince Alex that they needed to get as far away from the Nash family as humanly possible.

*****

Jake tossed back the last swallow of beer in his bottle and threw the bottle in the general direction of the trashcan. He’d been sitting there sucking down beer for the last two hours and he was pretty sure if he tried to get up he’d either fall or throw up. Neither option was appealing so he stayed put. He kicked off his boots and propped his feet on the coffee table.

The way Teddy had acted at the hospital had thrown him for a loop. He couldn’t believe that she thought Jesse could be guilty. She’d known Jesse a good while and she had to know that he’d never deliberately hurt someone.

Jake pressed the heels of his hands against his closed eyes. What a freaking mess. All they knew at the moment was that Jesse was found unconscious on the floor with a gun in his left hand.

That thought had Jake springing to his feet and searching the coffee table for his phone. When he didn’t find it, he weaved his way to the kitchen. His phone was on the table. Jake snatched it up and dialed Jed’s number.

“The gun was in his left hand,” Jake spit the words as fast as he could when Jed answered.

“Say what?”

“The police said Jesse was unconscious, face down on the floor with a gun in his left hand.”

“And?”

“Well damn, Jed. He’s right-handed. If Jesse was going to fire a weapon he wouldn’t use his left hand.”

There was a long moment of silence. “Jed?”

“I’m hanging up now, Jake. First thing in the morning, we’ll go to the police department and find out who to talk to. But for now, you need to turn in and get some sleep. We’ll get this squared away.”

“I don’t think that’s gonna happen. You heard her, Jed. She hates me. Hates all of us and for no reason.”

“She needs to hate someone right now and we’re convenient. Let it go, Jake. This will all get squared away when Alex regains consciousness. She’ll tell them Jesse is innocent.”

“What about that Manning guy?”

“Who can say? But we can’t control what he says or does so let’s not waste time on things we can’t do anything about, okay?”

“Okay.”

“All right, get some sleep.”

“Okay. Night, Jed.”

“Good night, Jake.”