my baby, I was so scared.” She took Hunter from Nadya and collapsed on a lounge chair.
“Where’s Billy?” Bill asked, stroking Hunter’s hair.
“I put him out the window and had him run to Mrs. Harrison’s house to call the police. My damn cell phone was dead.”
Nadya’s knees buckled and she sat right next to Mary Ellen. Her heart raced, and adrenaline made her light headed.
J.T. had Hornblower face down on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back. The wail of sirens in the background was music to her ears.
The next hour was a rush of confusion and noise. The police took Hornblower away. J.T., Bill, Mary Ellen and Nadya had to give statements. The EMTs looked Hunter over to make sure he hadn’t come to any harm, and Mrs. Harrison brought Billy back home.
Through it all, J.T. maintained his distance, the consummate professional. He walked the on-duty officers through the scene, showing them where Hornblower had burst through the door and where Mary Ellen had hit him with the flowerpot.
The night dragged on and Nadya was fading fast. She was sore, tired and really, really scared she’d blown things with J.T. He wouldn’t look at her. With so many people around, she was afraid to approach him, but as time passed she got more and more anxious. If he was going to get mad at her every time she thought for herself, he was in for a long, bumpy road.
She must have fallen asleep on the couch, because she woke in J.T.’s arms and he was carrying her out to the truck.
“You’re always carrying me,” she murmured sleepily.
“It’s the best way I know to get you where I want you to go.” He deposited her in the truck, then hurried around to the driver’s side. Lights were still on up and down the street as they made their way out of Mary Ellen’s neighborhood.
J.T. hadn’t said a word since he got in the vehicle. The longer he was quiet, the more nervous she got.
“Are you mad at me?” she asked finally when she couldn’t bear the silence any longer.
“I should be. You scared the hell out of me. I damn near shit myself when you walked over to him calm as you please. If I hadn’t seen Mary Ellen’s shadow on the patio, I don’t know what I would have done.” His hands clenched the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip. “Seeing him with that knife next to Hunter was one of the worst things I’ve seen. And I’ve seen some pretty bad things.”
“I’m sorry I scared you. I just couldn’t think of any other way to get Hunter away from him. I knew if I could hold Hunter you could do something. I wasn’t sure what, but I had faith you’d figure it out.”
“I’m glad you did. Short of shooting the bastard and hoping Bill could reach Hunter in time, I was out of options.”
“I’m just glad it’s over. Or at least the part where people attack me and smash my car is over. I hope.”
“I think it is. Just about everyone in town stopped by the station or stopped me on the street to tell me how sorry they were about what happened to you. I think you have more friends here than you realize.”
“Maybe I do.”
They bumped up the drive and the cabin had never looked so welcoming.
It felt like coming home.
Chapter Eighteen
J.T. sipped his coffee and watched Nadya sleep the sleep of the dead. She’d had a rough couple of days, and things were going to get rougher now that half the town had found out about her father and the land deal.
Part of him wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to go home and get away from the craziness of Dale. All of him hoped she wouldn’t.
Okay, McBride. Time to lay it on the line. If you don’t tell her how you feel, how can you expect her to do it? She’s been torn down and beat up half her life. The least you can do is spill your guts first.
He crossed the room to his dresser and pulled out the ring he’d bought in Canton when he’d gone down to talk to her brothers. He’d thought about giving her his mother’s ring but decided she deserved something that had only ever been hers. No more hand-me-downs.
A million different scenarios came and were rejected. Should he wait until she woke up and had a cup of coffee? What if she slept until noon?