“She out?”
“Like a little kid.” He wished he had a hand free to touch Jolene’s arm, but he settled for kissing her cheek. “Thanks again for calling me.”
“Don’t make me regret it.” She jerked her thumb toward the stairs. “As my boys know, my bark might be greater than my bite, but when the bite part kicks in, it ain’t pretty. Now, go on with you.”
He shot her a tight smile before carrying Hannah to the passenger side of the truck. Buckling her in, he closed the door softly and jumped a mile as he turned around.
Hannah’s mother was standing in a white cotton nightgown next to his truck, looking like a ghost.
“My Sarah’s gone,” she said softly in the quiet night. “Don’t let anyone take my Hannah away too.”
He cursed softly under his breath. “No one’s taking Hannah anywhere, Mrs. Montgomery. Now, let’s get you back in the house.”
Her feet were bare, he realized as he led her across the lawn. Under his hand, her thin arm seemed frail. She might be sicker than he’d thought. He didn’t have time to speculate more as Dr. Montgomery was answering his quiet knock and opening the door.
His face bloomed into outrage. “Martha! What have I told you about leaving the house?”
“But, Silas, Ben was carrying Hannah like something was wrong. Maybe you should check to make sure she’s not sick. Isn’t it wonderful she’s back? I missed her so much. Now, I’ll go turn her bed down and make her some hot chocolate.”
Ben’s mouth gaped before he snapped it shut. She was talking like Hannah was a little girl again. Dr. Montgomery drilled him with an accusatory look before taking his wife in hand and closing the door on him.
He stood there staring at the simple doorknocker, remembering all the times he’d come calling at this house. Even he’d felt the change when Sarah had died. The entire place seemed shadowed, even the bright blue door.
The shadows were back and trying to cover all that was good and beautiful and honest.
As he walked back to the truck and let himself inside, he moved a lock of hair off Hannah’s cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she suddenly gazed at him with her whole heart in her eyes. “Ben, he threatened my parents. What am I going to do?”
Her tortured whisper made his throat ache, but before he could find an answer, she’d nodded off again. God help him. Would it be better for her to go in the long run?
“You proud of yourself for dragging my daughter into your mess? Do you want to get my only daughter killed?”
He wrestled with Dr. Montgomery’s words, chilled by the fact that he hadn’t truly been worried about his daughter’s life but the impact on his wife if something happened to her.
“Encourage her tothinkabout going. I don’t think any of us would be able to forgive ourselves if something happened.”
And then there were Jolene’s words, imploring him to let her go…and into the arms of another man.
Neil. Except that wasn’t what Hannah wanted.
“Never could love Neil like I did you, cowboy.”
What in the hell could he actually do that would give anyone a win here? The whole mess was like one of Grams’ tangled-up balls of yarn.
He looked over at her sleeping soundly in her seat.
I love you, Hannah. But does loving you mean I need to let you go?
He might not have the answers, but one thing was clear. He had to find them.
Hannah’s life might depend on it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Oh God!Her head?—
Hannah moaned as she tried to sit up, realizing two things. She was still dressed. She’d been threatened last night.
Ben.
