Bones Of Contention: The McKinnon Legends - The American Men Book 3 (11 page)

Tomorrow, he told himself. Tonight, she would be secure enough as long as she let him stay. If not, then he would move to Plan B.

Walking up on the porch she opened the door, turned on the porch light, but made no moves to invite him into the house.

“Good night, Sheriff.”

She tried to close the door.

He stopped it with the toe of his boot. She looked surprised.

“Jamie, don’t shut me out, please. If you won’t let me in, then is there someone you can call to stay with you tonight? You don't need to be alone, Doc, not after the close call you had this evening.”

She looked closely at his face. He was genuinely concerned for her, and it was a place she had not been for a very long time. She had people who liked her and her mother loved her, but what Josh was doing was different. He was showing her a side of herself she had never seen before. He was exposing that side desiring to be sheltered and protected. It was a side she could not afford to indulge.

“I’m fine, Josh. I can take care of myself.” She was thinking a call to her mother might be in order. Her mother lived in Fredericksburg, and at the very least it would take her mom ten hours to get there. She could call her girlfriend from aerobics, but at this hour she would never find a sitter for her little boy. She would just tough it out.

“Jamie, under normal circumstances, I would probably agree you can take care of yourself. This is different,” he said reaching out, touching her face. “Post traumatic stress can be tricky. You may feel fine now, but you have no idea how you may react later. Please, let me stay. If not me, then call someone, anyone, but please do not stay alone, Jamie, not if you don’t have to.”

Jamie wondered why she had the urge to ask him to stay. She knew he was following her around all evening and was very grateful he had, regardless of the fact it annoyed her. He had absolutely no right to interfere, wondering why he had taken her on as his latest pet project.

Regardless of how she might feel, if he had not been there to intercede, she would be a statistic in the record books. As nasty as Derek was earlier, she actually felt he might have killed her. The kid had some real anger management issues. It would now be for a judge and jury to decide his fate.

She supposed she owed Josh something for his foresight. She did not wish to appear ungrateful.

“I want to get one thing very clear. I do not condone you spying on me and following me around. If I need personal security, I will hire it.”

Josh thought that was fair enough and told her so. He also encouraged installing an alarm system.

“That being said, thank you for being there tonight, even though you were there for the wrong reasons.”

He softened, smiling tenderly almost patronizingly gentle. “That is where you are wrong, Doc.”

“I disagree,” she countered.

“Feel free to disagree, but it won’t change things. I was there for the right reasons, Jamie.” He leaned in cupping her face, rubbing the pad of his thumb across her swollen, broken lip. She saw him tighten his mouth as he witnessed Derek’s handiwork. “It is my job to protect and serve. I almost failed you, Doc. I’m sorry I wasn’t quicker. He never should have even gotten this close.”

Surprising them both, she threw her arms around his neck and cried. It felt good having someone who really cared and had the desire to be there for her. He held her as the dam broke and he gently rocked her for comfort.

Eventually, she stepped away.

“Oh, Josh. You cannot save us all, and I should have listened and been more careful.” She stood there arms crossed hugging herself, closing her feelings off. As long as she stayed distant then she was more in control, because right then she was battling the need to have him hold her again and tell her it was all a bad dream which would go away with the rising of the sun.

“Probably being more careful would have helped, but I still feel it necessary to guard your back anyway. Independence can be a double-edged sword.”

“You’re right,” she hated to admit it.

What had she been thinking to go to that building alone tonight? She never did anything like that under normal circumstances. She usually called Charlie or one of his officers to meet her, escort her through the building, and back to her car.

“Do I dare ask what you were thinking to go alone through a totally vacant building, at night, in the dark, and in high heels that are designed for activity that has nothing to do with walking much less running?”

“I wasn’t thinking,” she admitted, softening to him, "but you knew that, didn't you?"

“I could not let you go without back up. It is just not in me,” Josh felt the need to explain.

“So, you followed me.” In some ways it was gratifying. However, her sense of intrusion almost overrode any feelings of flattery. She was strong-willed and she had her father’s blood to thank for that.

“I am not going to say I’m sorry for it, Doc, not considering how this evening might have ended.”

She paused, looking at him standing there on her front porch. He was like some knight in shining armor hell-bent on saving the day. She had seen his kind in years past in a bygone era when chivalry was actually a practiced art form, in a time when men were men and women were objects to be revered and pined for from afar.

“You win. You are right and I was wrong.”

“It is not about winning or losing, Jamie. Trust me. I wish I was the one who was wrong here and you had not endured tonight.” He felt her vulnerability and strength. She was an amazing woman. “Let me stay,” he had to ask one more time.

“No, Josh. Really, I’m fine. I just need to get some rest. Thank you, again for the help.”

“Jamie?” He could not make himself leave.

“Good night, Josh.”

She smiled softly, gently closing the door.

He heard the dead bolt lock and watched the shade drop over the window just before the porch light went out.

He knocked softly leaning his forearm against the jam.

“Jamie?” He waited as she turned off the living room light. “I hate to leave you alone like this. I care about your safety. I care about you.”

She heard him through the Frank Lloyd Wright lead glass door of her bungalow style home as she sat completely in the dark in the single chair she owned. She had sold all her furniture to some college kids when she moved out of the small one bedroom apartment after buying her house. She was buying pieces she loved as she came across them. So far this chair was all she had besides the small dining room set and her bedroom suite.

“Come on, Doc. Open up,” he tried once more.

She went back to the door, her hand on the knob.

“Good night, Sheriff,” Jamie said softly while leaning her forehead on the glass. She knew if she opened that door she would probably ask him to stay. It was a feminine luxury she could not afford to give into. It would place his life in danger.

He stood there a few moments longer, then finally gave up. “Now, you win. I’ll call you in the morning.”

She heard his booted foot fall as he left her porch. Then she heard the truck start up and watched as his headlights illuminated the living room showing through the sheer curtains as he backed out of the driveway.

Once he pulled away, the house seemed very empty in spite of the fact her little dog was nestled in her lap.

Making the block and parking in front, Josh settled in for a long night. He made some calls figuring he needed to cover some bases. The last thing he needed was for Jamie’s neighbor, Mr. Owens, to call the city police. He didn't put it past the old geezer even if he did know he was a cop.

First, he called Lilly He let her know he was not coming home until sometime in the morning. He did not want her or his daughter Jesse to worry. He called his deputies to let them know to call him if they had an emergency.

They felt sure they could handle anything short of another dead body. He also asked if one of them could come get Saber even though he would probably like the company. It was not often he was apart from his canine friend, and he hated stakeouts alone. However, he decided it was better for the dog to guard Jesse and Lilly. He could take care of Jamie. He called the city police and identified himself letting them know he was on night watch at the doctor’s house. He told them to feel free to cruise by and check him out. He would be happy to provide identification. Last, he called the pizza delivery and settled in for a long, cold night.

It was half past four in the morning according to her bedside clock, and she had not slept a wink. She wished now she had taken the sleeping pill Josh had suggested. Every time she closed her eyes she could see her attacker’s face and feel his hands on her body. It made her want to scream in frustration at the helplessness she still felt in spite of the fact she was safely behind locked doors.

Tossing back the covers and slipping on her robe and slippers, she went into the kitchen. Making hot water for tea, she waited for the kettle to heat wondering why she still felt so unsettled. Sitting at the small dinette table thinking about Josh, she was still at odds with herself and the feeling that he had followed her. Yet, she could understand his position given the fact she was almost raped, at the very least.

There was no way the two boys were even remotely related to Debbie’s murder, but someone out there was responsible. She recognized it. Nevertheless, she did not wish to acknowledge it. If she did acknowledge the fact a killer was still out there, it gave him power over her life. That was terrorism at its grass roots. Her life and freedom was something she did not wish to relinquish, not to an unknown face for an unknown amount of time.

Maybe she had been pushing Josh’s buttons. Maybe, she did act irresponsibly out of some misguided notion to punish the messenger. Josh was delivering bad news she really did not want to hear. Yet, tonight brought it all home. She was not safe in her own little sheltered world of academia. She needed to pull her head out of the clouds and wake up and smell the coffee. She was vulnerable.

“Face it, Jamie,” she said to herself sipping the blend of chamomile and herbs her mother had sworn by as the cure for all ills. Jamie figured she had finally found the one thing Mamma’s tea could not fix.

“You could become just as much a victim as any one of those sets of bones waiting for your inspection,” she acknowledged taking another sip.

She needed a gun, and she needed to be able to defend herself. Her dog was no protection unless he could lick the intruder to death. He was three pounds of puny bark and absolutely no bite.

Unlocking the front door and walking across the yard, she sidestepped the puddle of water left from the latest bout of snow. It was cold, but at least it was above freezing. Looking at the early morning sky, she could see it was going to be a beautiful day without a cloud in sight.

Josh saw her coming with the thermos and unlocked the door for her to climb into his chilly lair.

Leaning over, he opened the door watching warily and wondering what he owed this early morning visit as she climbed into the passenger seat.

She handed him the lap throw.

Staring straight forward, she sat there for a moment collecting her feelings. Wondering what this was about, he could see she was jumble of thoughts. Not daring to break the silence, he prepared himself for the ignition of her anger, fully expecting her to argue his presence on her street.

Argue all she wanted he thought, he was going nowhere. Somewhere between ten o'clock that night and four o'clock this morning, he had come to the realization that not only was he going nowhere, he was going to win her over to his way of thinking. He would be there with her blessings, one way or the other.

She knew he was here. Mr. Owens had called her, voicing his disapproval before she went to bed. After she got off the phone with her neighbor, she looked out the window just in time to see the pizza delivery boy and then the city patrol arrive. By all accounts he had the blessing of the city authorities, and she was just too tired to argue. Besides, knowing he was here made her feel better. If he was going to follow her around then he should not have to freeze while doing it.

“I made coffee for you even if you are stalking me again.” She handed him the thermos and reaching into the pocket of her robe brought out packets of sweetener and creamer.

Josh smiled, hoped the coffee was a peace offering, and let the last comment about his stalking her roll right off. He had lots of hours to think about her and had several hours past come to the conclusion he wanted to get to know the Doc better on a personal level.

“Thanks,” he appreciated the drink. It was below thirty-five degrees, not freezing, but close enough, and he only turned on the heater when he absolutely needed it. He inhaled the hearty aroma after opening the lid. “Um, smells good.”

Finally, Jamie turned her body sideways in the seat to look at him, watching as he poured the coffee into the thermos lid. The steam fogged up the driver’s side window emphasizing the drop in temperatures through the night. For the first time, she felt guilty in not allowing him to come in last night. He had to be miserable, all because of me, she realized.

“I need to ask a favor,” she said, finally getting to the crux of this early morning visit.

“I am at your service,” he said gallantly before taking a sip of the warm brew.

“I would ask someone else, but you are the only person I know capable.”

I would believe that, he conceded in his mind, not daring to voice such a conclusion out loud. There was no need to antagonize her while she was bearing a white flag of truce.

“Will you teach me how to defend myself?” she asked. There, she thought, it is out in the open. She wondered if he would be so quick to offer now that he knew her desires.

She was surprised at how quickly he answered her.

“In a heartbeat. I can show you some basic maneuvers to help you get out of the kind of jam you found yourself in last night. We can start first thing in the morning if you feel up to it.”

Her request pleased him. It let him know she was not going to let this experience, regardless of how hair-raising, cower her into hiding.