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with the aftereffects of the terror. If he d missed& !
I m& okay, she whispered. She wasn t. But he looked shaken enough. She kissed his cheek. You
saved me, she managed to say weakly. Thank you.
His fingers in her hair were insistent as he pressed a quick, hard kiss against her lips. My sweet girl,
he said with breathless tenderness.
Two police cars roared down to the barn and stopped, along with an ambulance from Jacobsville
General. Copper Coltrain jumped out of the ambulance and ran to Grace s side, motioning furiously
for the paramedics.
It s just a nick, Garon said in a forcibly controlled tone. He pushed back her sweaty hair. Coltrain
will look after you, sweetheart, he said softly. You ll be fine. I have to give a statement about what
happened. I won t be long. He squeezed her hand warmly. Good girl, he added gently. You were
very brave.
She couldn t answer him. It didn t matter. He was walking away, assured that she wasn t badly injured.
But Copper Coltrain knew otherwise.
He threw out orders to the paramedics as they loaded Grace on a gurney and put her into the back of
the ambulance.
Cash Grier had just pulled up. He glanced toward the fallen man and the people standing over him,
and he started toward them. Coltrain stepped in front of him.
Get your brother and bring him to the hospital as fast as you can, he told Cash. I m going to call
the life-flight helicopter and have her transferred immediately to Houston. I have a friend in the
cardiology unit, the best surgeon they ve got. I ll have him meet her in the emergency room there.
Cash was reeling. But it s just a cut, he protested, looking at Grace.
No. Coltrain took a deep breath, and told him the truth.
Cash s face tautened. Good God! he whispered. I ll get him to the hospital, he promised and went
toward the crime scene.
Local police were on the scene, along with one of Cash s detectives, who was taking Garon s
statement about what happened.
Cash took Garon by the arm just as Miss Turner came rushing out to see what all the commotion was
about.
You have to come with me to the hospital, Cash told his brother grimly. Right now.
I know she s frightened. It was an ordeal for her. But I have to wrap this up and call my office
Coltrain s calling in a helicopter to fly her to Houston, Cash interrupted.
For a cut on her neck? Garon exclaimed, certain now that Coltrain had lost his mind.
Cash took a deep breath. He remembered another night of terror with Christabel Gaines, now married
to Judd Dunn. He remembered a rush to the hospital and endless hours in the waiting room while
doctors fought to save her life. Garon, he said gently, Grace has a bad heart valve. It s gone
critical. If they don t operate very soon, she won t make it.
Garon heard the words, but they didn t make sense. He stared at his brother blankly.
She has to have open heart surgery, Cash added.
That was when the terror hit. He remembered Grace s bad color and her lack of energy, Coltrain s
eternal cosseting, the townspeople protecting her. Now, when it was too late, it made sense.
He felt the blood drain out of his face. Houston, he said unsteadily. They re taking her to
Houston?
Yes.
I have to go with her, Garon said through his teeth. Can you call the ASAC and tell him where I ve
gone and why?
I ll have one of my men do that, came the reply. I m going with you to Houston.
Thanks.
Not necessary. Come on.
CASH RACED to the hospital with lights and sirens blaring. Garon sat quietly in his seat,
remembering another pregnant woman who d died. He might lose Grace. He closed his eyes on a
shudder. She d been in his house for months now, making him apple cakes, laughing with Miss
Turner, making pillows for the living room, smiling at him across the dinner table. She d never
complained about his absences, or started arguments or done anything to make him feel guilty. She
had to live. Nothing else mattered.
He told that to Coltrain. It was the first thing he said when he met the redheaded doctor in the
emergency room.
Coltrain didn t make sarcastic remarks. He just nodded. I m going to Houston with you, he added.
Just in case.
Garon couldn t manage a reply. He nodded.
Grace was white as a sheet. He could see the cover over her jerking with the odd, unstable rhythm of
her heartbeat as he and Coltrain shared the helicopter with the pilot and the EMT. Cash was driving to
Houston most likely with sirens and lights going full tilt, Garon thought.
He held Grace s hand while Coltrain monitored her progress, an IV drip going into her other arm, an
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