Ransom At Christmas. Barb Han
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Five
“To be clear. Whatever’s going on legally with Kelly Morgan is none of my business,” Will said to his cousin.
“No argument there.” Zach nodded.
Will issued a loaded sigh. “I’ll look after her while she changes.”
Kelly turned so quickly, the hopeful look on her face shot a spear straight in the middle of Will’s chest.
“I’ll take it from here,” Will said to Deputy Deloren.
The deputy looked to his boss for confirmation.
Zach studied Will for a long moment. And then he gave a nod.
Deputy Deloren held out an evidence bag and a pair of gloves. “Don’t get your prints on the gown.”
“They’ll be on there already,” Will said. “I had to carry her in the woods to get her to safety. She was in and out of consciousness.”
He had the bloodstains on his shirt to prove it.
“Keep her in your sight at all times,” Zach shouted as they rounded the corner into the hallway.
His cousin was taking a risk by allowing Will to accompany Kelly. Will knew that if anything happened, the move could easily cost Zach his job. The only reason Will had insisted was because he would never allow it to come to that. Still woozy, she wasn’t going anywhere.
Will helped Kelly down the hall, ignoring the heat fizzing between them. He stopped at the door.
“Can you take it from here all right?” he asked.
She blinked up at him, those violet eyes wide and even more beautiful this close. His heart fisted when their gazes lingered. Inappropriate didn’t begin to define the reaction he was having to Kelly. He did good to remind himself that she wore a wedding dress. Details of her life were sketchy at best.
She took in a sharp breath as she tried to move on her own. She stopped and he tucked a curly loose tendril of hair behind her ear.
“Did the guy wearing the tux hurt you in any way?” he asked her in the serious tone he used when he was trying to keep from hitting someone. He wanted five minutes alone with the guy in the tux who’d put those marks on her back.
She cocked her head to the side and it was sexy as hell.
“Aside from what you already told us. Did he put a hand on you?” Will asked through clenched teeth. He had half a mind to hunt down the man himself and spend a couple of minutes outlining why a person shouldn’t pick on someone smaller. Although, she’d given the guy hell, and a feeling of pride Will had no right to own welled in his chest.
This close, he could see her pulse racing, thumping at the base of her throat.
Kelly didn’t speak. Instead, she bit her lip and slowly shook her head, maintaining eye contact.
“I’ll wait out here,” he finally said but didn’t move.
A few seconds later, Will took a step back and let go of her waist.
She gripped the doorjamb for support and then stepped inside the bathroom. Will followed but only to place her change of clothes on the counter.
“If you need anything, I’m right here.” He stepped out and, in a show of trust, closed the door behind him.
Memories of a younger Kelly struck him. Her freckle-cheeked smile. The way the sun bounced off her long hair. The easy way she’d laughed.
Even as kids he knew she came from the other side of town. Hell if he’d cared. The two got along and were fast friends. He remembered having a crush on her, his first real crush now that he thought back. The two had been inseparable at school. Her father would wait at the door some days. Will remembered the man had permanent worry lines creasing his face.
The difference in their economic status had never bothered Will. Looking back, it might’ve been a problem for Kelly and could explain why she’d always insisted on walking home by herself. He could walk her to the corner, but where the road forked and he turned left to go down the road to the ranch, she wouldn’t allow him to walk with her. She forked right and to a side of town Will had never seen at age ten.
There were times she missed school. At first, he’d figured she was sick. She’d been out often, he’d noticed. She never wanted to talk about it and the subject dropped as soon as it came up.
What did he know as s kid?
The Kents had never known what it was like to miss a meal.
Looking back, Kelly must’ve. He’d noticed how little there’d been in her lunches at the cafeteria. When he’d asked she’d make up an excuse about not liking to eat a big lunch. She’d said it made her stomach cramp to eat too much before recess. How stupid he’d been not to realize she was covering. She’d been too proud to take anything from his plate. His lunches were packed to the brim with more fresh food than he had time to eat. Never one to waste, and being from a family that looked at wastefulness with the same vigor some people went to church, he’d brought home his leftovers and then had them for a snack after school. That came especially in handy when he’d joined athletics. He’d had almost a second full meal to chew on before hours-long practices began.
Kelly opened the door and held out the evidence bag.
She’d kicked off her boots and had tucked them under her other arm.
“Clothes look like they fit okay.” He skimmed her body. Amber’s T-shirt was tighter on Kelly and revealed a figure of generous curves and ample breasts. She stood there in her stocking feet, looking more lost and alone than he’d ever seen her, and he had to suppress the urge to pull her against his chest and be her comfort. An annoying voice reminded him that she wasn’t his to comfort.
Dozens of questions flooded his mind. He didn’t see a wedding ring and wanted to believe her that she wasn’t the one who was supposed to get married.
“They’ll do all right,” she said and that honey-laced voice stirred other places he didn’t want to acknowledge.
“Thanks for letting me shut the door,” she said.
He tipped his chin before helping her down the hallway. She looked good in casual clothes with her hair tied away from her face.
“We’ll need to head over to the hospital before my office,” Zach said.
Will shot him a questioning look.
“Would you be more comfortable giving the rest of your statement to a female deputy?” Zach asked and the reason dawned on Will. Anger was an explosion in his chest.
“No. I’m fine. I already told you everything I can remember.” She glanced from Zach to Will.
“Then let’s go,” Zach said.
The muscles on her face pulled taut.
“Mind if I tag along?” Will asked his cousin.
Before Zach could answer, Kelly said, “That would be great.”
“Anyone I should call? Let them know that you’ll be late today?” Will asked.
“There’s no one special in my life right now and my cousin…” She wiped the moisture from her eyes.
The drive to the hospital took half an hour. Will had made a few calls using Bluetooth technology in his custom-made crossover vehicle so that everything would be expedited when she arrived.
He followed his cousin’s SUV, respecting the fact that Kelly had to ride with him instead of Will. Protocol needed to be followed and especially since she couldn’t be ruled out as a suspect. At this point, Zach was treating her like a witness, but that could change.
Zach pulled into the ER bay. Will parked nearby.
The look in Kelly’s eyes when he’d