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But Abe caught up to her in a few strides, grabbed her arm, and spun her around. “That family is gonna pay for what that boy done.” His voice lowered to a growl as he jerked her close. “And you, missy, sure do owe me an apology.”
She warily raised her gaze to his face, then drew in a sharp breath as she focused on a wide scab that snaked across his forehead and disappeared under the brim of his hat.
“Yeah—that was your doing, all right. But maybe it wasn’t enough. Maybe you were hoping I’d die when you shoved me into those rocks.”
“Let me go!” She pulled away, taking advantage of the split-second when his grip loosened.
He frowned as she started backing away. “Where have you been?”
Remembering the scenes he’d caused at the drugstore, Mandy knew specifics were a dangerous thing. “I’ve been...a lot of places. With friends.”
“You get in my truck, hear? Who’s gonna keep a roof over your head? Give that baby a place to live?” he wheedled. “We’ll make sure them Maxwells treat us right.”
At the sound of another truck coming up the street, he stopped and looked over his shoulder.
A black Ford crew-cab pickup cruised slowly up Aspen Street and pulled to a stop behind Abe’s truck. The man who stepped out was huge, more important-looking for his height than the uniform he wore. Rafe Rafferty, Mandy remembered after a moment’s thought.
“Any trouble here?” he called out, tipping his Stetson back with a forefinger as he sauntered toward them.
The woman who’d been working out in her yard now stood watching from her front window, her arms folded.Thanks,Mandy mouthed silently, hoping she understood.
“Guess you have all sorts of protectors in this town,” her dad muttered in a voice so low that only Mandy could hear. “But I’m not finished with you.”
“I’m not going home!”
“That deputy may have married into the Maxwell family, but he sure can’t stop me from talking to my daughter.” Abe turned toward Rafferty. “My daughter got herself in trouble and ran off,” he said loudly. “She needs to come home so I can take care of her.”
Mandy edged away, shaking her head. Her father’s words sent a shaft of ice right down her spine.Don’t listen to him. Please.
Apparently Rafferty didn’t, for he barely spared Abe a glance. “Do you need a ride somewhere, Mandy?”
Relief flooded through her. “Yes.Thanks.” Mandy edged around her dad and started for the deputy’s pickup.
Abe made no motion to interfere, but the back of her neck tingled as she climbed into the front seat, and she knew her dad was watching.
Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to stay with Jolie after all. All Mandy would bring her new friend was trouble.
Rafe settled behind the wheel and gave her a comforting smile. “Where to, ma’am?”
To the end of the world, if you’ve got the time.
JOLIE STAYED ATthe clinic for the rest of the day after Rafe stopped by with Mandy and then offered to take her to Jolie’s cabin.
Unaccountably restless, Jolie paced the hallway. Sat down to study Annie’s hospital reports. Then she started once again on the billing statements she’d been working on the day before.
Irene would be starting Monday after next, she realized with a sigh of relief. The woman seemed to be a competent, take-charge sort of gal who could help with the bookwork and a variety of office duties until the practice grew busier.
She could help teach Mandy basic reception skills as well, if the girl was truly serious about wanting to work.
As Jolie stepped out of the clinic at five o’clock and locked the door behind her, the phone rang. She went back inside and hurried across the waiting area, catching it on the fourth ring. “Garrett Bluff Medical Clinic, Dr. Maxwell speaking.”
“We need an appointment.” The woman’s voice was brittle as ice.
Jolie grabbed the appointment book and a pencil. “The name?”
“My son, Danny. Danny Aiken.”
Bobby’s friend. The one who’d been seriously hurt in the accident last fall. Jolie’s heart twisted. “Oh yes, I remember the name, though I don’t believe we’ve met.”
