Crashing Into Tess (22 page)

Tilda stood near the horse barn on the distant knoll, in
boots and a warm coat. Jake waved. “That’s right, Cassie.
Dr. Tess and I will be done in an hour or so, then maybe we
can all take a trail ride. You want to ride Sparky around the
pasture for now, so I can keep an eye on you?”

“Sure, Dad, Sparky needs a workout. Dr. Tess, Tilda
and I just checked on Rhiannon,” Cassie said importantly.
“She’s in her box by the stove in the mudroom. No signs of
puppies yet, Tilda said.”

“It’s going to be another week, Cass. Right around
Thanksgiving. But they’re getting ready. Every day those
puppies are growing bigger and stronger in their mama’s
belly, ready to make their appearance,” Tess answered.
“Soon you’ll be able to play with them and help them learn
what they need to know.”

“Daddy, will you hold Sparky? I want to give Dr. Tess a
hug.”
Jake took the reins, and Cassie swung off her pony. Tess
knelt down to be close to her, feeling a rush of love for the
little girl. Cassie wrapped her hands around Tess’s neck,
squeezing. “Ooo, I’ve missed you so much, Dr. Tess.”
“I’ve missed you too, Cassie. And your hugs. You give
the best hugs,” Tess said, wiping her eyes quickly,
wondering if Jake would ever get his act together.
“Tilda is making roast chicken for dinner, and Daddy
wants to take a trail ride. You’re staying, right?” Cassie
asked. Tess glanced at Jake, and he smiled at her anxiously,
his eyes troubled, a yearning look on his face, willing her to
say yes.
“Sure Cassie, I’ll stay.”
“Great, on our trail ride we’ll take you down to the
creek, and show you the dam. You’ll really like it, I
promise. I have my English saddle on Sparky today, Dr.
Tess! Watch me post.”

To:
[email protected]
From:
[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Wednesday November 14, 9:15 PM

Sinful Sammi: Took a trail ride on the ranch today and
stayed for chicken dinner. Rhiannon’s puppies will be along
soon~ Cassie is over the moon. Will stay here for
Thanksgiving. Thanks for everything and REALLY sorry to
miss your sure-to-be-terrific cranberry sauce and those low
fat mashed potatoes. Are you starching Archie’s shirts in
your spare time?

To:
[email protected]
From:
[email protected]
Date: Wednesday, November 17, 8:46 PM

Tortured Tess:
I’m doing my best to get Archie OUT of his shirts, and
when I do, I fully expect he’ll be stiff, and not the least bit
starchy ~ He’s a perfect gentleman, but his kisses knock me
sideways. We’re headed to a movie right now~ Sure hope
Jake figures out how to put the yahoo back in my favorite
cowgirl!

A
fierce November wind slapped Jake’s face
as he and
Larry hoisted the metal ramp back into the cattle carrier
Friday, just before noon. The air at the south ranch was
cold and grey, heavy with a coming snowstorm. Since
Wednesday, he’d been plagued by Tess’s words.

His thoughts had been spinning for days, weeks really,
always coming back to the memory of how right it felt to
have her in his arms, how he’d felt seeing her with Aaron,
Brett and Stuart at the Jackalope.
She deserves the best,
which I could give her, if I just knew she wasn’t going to
wind up frustrated here, resentful about her limited career
options.
He’d given himself a headache, trying to think it
through. He’d considered all angles, and just couldn’t get
the best of it
Maybe it’s the coming storm, but something
just doesn’t feel right.

The fat Hereford yearlings they’d unloaded were
already down at the creek, breaking through the ice to slurp
the water, pawing for hardy pasture grasses beneath a thin
cover of snow.

His leather gloves manure-stained, Larry slammed the
cattle carrier doors shut, eyeing the dense stratus cover that
was moving in from the west. “We can just about beat the
first big snowfall of the season if we leave now, Jake.
Looks like it’ll hit hard, wherever it hits.”

“Sure does. Let’s get out of here. It’ll be snowing hard
by the time we get back to town,” Jake answered. “Spike
can manage this herd all right.”

The engine on the big truck started with a chug and a
whine as Jake climbed into the passenger seat. As Larry
pulled out, he eyed the dim sky to the northwest. “Cassie
wasn’t feeling real well when I left her at school this
morning. Tilda said she’d grab her, but I’d like to get home
before school’s out, if we can make it.”

“It might be snowing already, up at the ranch,” Larry
answered, nodding towards the snowcapped mountains
already obscured by cloud cover.

Highway 17 was a straight shot due north. After forty
minutes on the road, they stopped for fuel and sandwiches.
As Jake handed the girl at the register two hundred dollar
bills, his cell buzzed. The dread and anxiety he’d felt all
day quickened when he saw the number on his display.

“Mr. McGreer, this is Principal Thompson at Green
Junction Elementary. Cassie came into the nurse’s office
with flu symptoms earlier, and Nurse Beatrice sent her
home. Is she there with you?”

A chill stabbed at Jake as the cashier handed him
change. “No, Ma’am. I think our housekeeper, Tilda, would
have called if Cassie had come home sick. You sent her
home, you said? Are you certain?”

Instincts on high alert, Jake grabbed the bag and shot
through the door, sprinting across the parking lot to the
eighteen wheeled cattle truck. “Mrs. Thompson, I left a
copy of the new court order with your office last week.
Cassie only spends supervised weekend time with her
mother now. You’re saying Vicki picked her up?” He
motioned for Larry to hurry as he slammed the door shut.
Shooting Jake a look of alarm, Larry accelerated onto the
highway.

Principal Thompson’s voice collapsed. “Oh, Mr.
McGreer. I’m so very, very sorry. We’ve had a spate of the
flu the past two days, and Nurse has had her hands full. I’m
afraid the records in the health office still show Cassie’s
mother’s number as a first contact. Vicki signed Cassie out
an hour and a half hour ago. This matter just came to my
attention. What shall I do?”

As the truck picked up speed, Jake felt his chest
collapse. He spoke urgently. “Please call Sergeant Fuller.
He’ll have to make certain Cassie is recuperating at her
mother’s. I’m on the road still a good two hours south of
Green Junction. To be quite honest, I’m worried sick.
Cassie’s mother is suffering from a drug addiction, Mrs.
Thompson.”

“I’ll the Sergeant right away, Mr. McGreer. And I am so
sorry,” Mrs. Thompson said, her subdued voice filled with
concern.

In high gear now, the truck accelerated north. Jake
pressed speed dial, cold fury pulsing his veins.
No answer
on Vicki’s cell.
As he dialed the vet clinic, panic squeezed
his chest
. With Vicki, anything is possible. Please let Cassie
be okay.

*****
The phone at the reception desk pealed as Tess
checked
her clients out. Bea and Doc were out to lunch, and Alice
was busy in the lab. “Green Junction Veterinary.”

“Tess?”
“Jake, what’s wrong?”
“Tess, the school nurse accidentally set Cassie home
with Vicki over an hour and a half ago. I’m two hours south
of town and I can’t reach Vicki on her cell. Can someone
go over to her apartment and make sure Cassie is okay?”

Tess felt her stomach lurch. “Oh my God, Jake. I’ll be
at Vicki’s apartment in five minutes. I’ll call you from
there, okay?” Slipping her arms into her down coat, Tess
grabbed her keys, calling for Alice, racing to her little
maroon truck.

Thin autumn sunshine cast bare tree-branch shadows
across Vicki’s yard as Tess rushed up the sidewalk. Once on
the porch, she pounded on the door, frantically calling.
Vicki’s car was gone. Increasingly panicked, Tess ran to the
side of the house.

Her breath clouded tall windows as she peered into the
empty apartment, desperate for a glimpse of Cassie.
Peeking into the bedrooms, it was obvious that Vicki had
left hastily. Her drawers and closet doors had been left
open, clothing strewn on the floor. Afraid to give up, Tess
returned to the door and continued to knock, calling loudly
for Cassie.

Sergeant Fuller’s cruiser pulled up to the curb. The
passenger window dropped and he raised a hand, motioning
Tess into the car.

“Nobody here, huh?” he asked. Washed in cold terror,
Tess slid onto the passenger seat, listening as the Sergeant
broadcast Vicki’s car description and license number across
the scanner. Clipping the mic back onto the dashboard, he
turned to Tess. “Cassie must have told her Ma where Jake
had gone, for her to try and pull a stunt like this. The
highway goes east, west, or south. Those are our options. I
don’t see Vicki heading to Kansas. It’s a rough trip south to
New Mexico, and likely she’d cross paths with Jake. I’d
say west to California or Arizona is a safe bet. What do you
think?”

“I’ve heard she likes California,” Tess said weakly,
trying not to let her voice quiver
.
“No kid wants to see a policeman chasing her Ma. You
are coming along?” Sergeant Fuller’s voice was taciturn
and even, his face emotionless, betraying none of the horror
Tess was feeling. She nodded yes, and slammed the door
shut. Sarge flipped the siren on and they tore across town
and up the on-ramp, entering the interstate at record speed.
“I called her Pa. He’s filed a missing persons report. He
might want to hear from you, though, just so he knows
we’re going after her.”
She dialed, and Jake picked up immediately. Her voice
wavering, Tess told him, “We’re on Route 50 Jake, heading
west.”
“That’s probably a good bet, Tess. Tell Sarge we’re
heading up 285 and across 114. I can’t make anywhere near
the time I need to in this big truck, though, and snow’s
coming. Vicki’s probably already past Gunnison, if she
went that way. Santa Fe would be the sneaky route, south
down 550 at Montrose. Let’s hope she hasn’t thought of
that, though.”
Tess didn’t know what to say, but Jake continued,
“Vicki’s father is calling the bank. She can’t have had too
much cash put aside. She’ll have to either make an ATM
withdrawal, or start using charge cards, Tess. Either way,
she won’t get too far.” Though his voice was panicked,
Jake spoke with assurance.
He’s trying to comfort both of
us.
Mountains and trees and creek beds sped past as they
raced west. Sergeant Fuller was a good driver, Tess gave
him that.
If I weren’t so freaked out, this might be fun
, she
thought, giddy with nerves. They made it to Gunnison in
twenty minutes. She tried not to think about the panic
Cassie must be feeling.
And she’s sick, poor little thing.
It began to snow. Icy freeze hit the cruiser’s windshield,
swirling across the highway. Fueled by fear, Tess thought
of Vicki, possibly drug-addled, speeding losing control of
her car on the slick snow and flying off the road.
The Curecanti National Recreation Area encompassed
Blue Mesa Reservoir. Tess had never seen the big, blue lake
before. Mostly frozen, it stretched for mile after mile under
both sides of the road. The skin on the back of her neck
crawled as she looked over the guardrail, searching the
water for the breaks in the ice, or the glacial hunk of Vicki’s
submerged white sedan.
As they passed through Montrose, Sergeant Fuller
called Jake. “We’ll head north, up to Delta, and then on to
Grand Junction and Clifton if we have to. After that, it’s the
Utah state line.” Tess heard Jake say something in reply.
Sarge nodded. “Well, she had a good hour and a half on us.
I’ve closed the gap some. I figure she’s between here and
Delta if she came this way, or south on 550 if she headed
for Santa Fe. All the APB’s are out and the state troopers
are combing the key intersections, Jake. We have to hope
this snow will slow her down some, and she doesn’t get out
of the state.”
It was past three o’clock when they turned northwest on
550, but Tess’s breakfast still churned in her stomach.
This
could take hours, yet. If we find them.
She heard a trooper
page Sergeant Fuller, then a dispatcher buzzed into the
Sergeant’s cell phone.
As he spoke on the phone, Sergeant Fuller accelerated.
Grainy ice particles snapped against the windshield and
hood of the cruiser and a pleased grin crossed his placid
face. “They’ve got Vicki pulled over, five miles south of
Delta,” he told Tess. “We’ll be there in a few minutes. I’ll
keep the lights on until we’re in range, but we’ll approach
slowly. The kid’s had enough excitement for the day.”
Her heart swooping with relief, Tess’s fingers wobbled
as she hit speed-dial. “They’ve found Cassie, Jake,” she
said, her panicked voice barely a whisper.
“Thank God,” Jake breathed. “You’ll stay with her,
Tess?”
Tess’s voice was shaky with emotion. Steadying it, she
said, “Once we have her, I won’t let her out of my sight,
Jake, I promise you that.”
“Larry and I are almost to Gunnison. We’ll wait for you
there.”
“I’ll give her a big hug from her daddy,” she promised,
feeling tears coming.
“Thanks, Tess,” Jake choked.
Fifteen minutes later, Tess saw three Colorado State
Police cars, all with lights flashing, surrounding the white
Acura, pulled to the shoulder. Just as he’d promised,
Sergeant Fuller switched his lights off, and slowed. Pulling
off the highway, he stepped out of the cruiser and walked
over to confer with the troopers surrounding Vicki’s car.
Tess saw the part of Cassie’s brown hair in the back seat,
her head bobbing as she strained to see what was
happening.
Oh that poor, poor kid!
The cop standing nearest the driver’s seat motioned for
Vicki to step from her car, and Sergeant Fuller returned for
Tess. “I told them you know Cassie real well. They asked if
you’d come get her, help her stay calm. It’s probably best.”
Jumping from the car, Tess hastened to the white Acura.
An officer opened the rear door, and Cassie launched into
her arms. “Doctor Tess, I was so worried! Where’s
Daddy?”
Tess bent, touching Cassie’s feverish red cheek, then
scooping the little girl up, turning her away from the scene
with Vicki. “He’s waiting for you, just back in Gunnison,
not far away. Sergeant Fuller will take us to him, okay?”
“Is Mommy in trouble?” Cassie asked anxiously,
looking over her shoulder to where the cops had clustered
around Vicki.
Tess swallowed hard.
Please don’t let her see them put
handcuffs on Vicki.
“I think she’s just talking to the
policemen, Cassie,” she said, as calmly as she could. “It’s
cold out, and you’re not feeling well. C’mon, we’re almost
at Sergeant Fuller’s cruiser. How ‘bout we sit inside, and
call your dad?” Clinging fiercely, Cassie clasped Tess’s
neck, wrapping her legs around her waist. Ice particles
pelted them as Tess hurried them to warmth and safety.
Once she’d gotten them tucked inside, Cassie laid her
blistering forehead against Tess’s cool throat. “I have to see
my Daddy. He’s probably worrying.”
Sergeant Fuller came up with Cassie’s bag, left it on
the seat beside them, and shut the rear door. The feverish
little girl snuggled against her as Tess dialed Jake, handing
the Cassie her phone.
“Mom surprised me at school, Daddy. I know it was
different from the schedule, but my tummy hurt, and I just
wanted to get out of there. I’m so sorry.” Cassie burst into
tears, and Tess stroked her hair. “I don’t know why she
wouldn’t just let me sleep at the apartment. I didn’t want to
go to California, I told her that. She said the beaches there
are warm and sunny, but I like it at the ranch now, with
you.”
After Jake calmed her, she handed the phone to Tess.
“How am I ever going to thank you?” he asked as Cassie
settled against her.
“Shh-hh, you don’t have to,” she whispered. “We’ll see
you in a few minutes.” They said goodbye.
As Tess tucked the phone back into her purse, Cassie
touched the fingers that poked from her cast. Her little
voice weak and tired, she said, “Daddy said he’s waiting for
us a little ways back, just like you told me. I don’t ever
want something like this to happen again, Doctor Tess. I’m
so glad you came for me. I knew I was safe when I saw
you.”
*****
Jake’s heart was still pounding when he watched the
cruiser pull into the rest stop in Gunnison. He climbed into
the backseat to find Cassie nestled against Tess, almost
asleep. “Hi, Daddy,” she murmured drowsily tucked her
fingers into his palm.
“Hi, Cass,” he breathed, taking her up in his arms,
burying his nose against her neck, inhaling the sweet, baby
shampoo goodness of her.
Cassie tucked her hands around his neck. “I’m so glad
I’m with you again, Daddy,” she said, cuddling against
him. “Thanks for sending Dr. Tess. I didn’t like all the fuss.
I really don’t feel very good at all.”
“There has been an awful lot of fuss, baby girl,” Jake
said, holding her close as he set her on the seat, clasping the
seatbelt around her waist.
Sergeant Fuller pulled onto the highway and Cassie
rested her head on his chest. He folded an arm over her
shoulders.“Your boots are dirty, Daddy,” she yawned.
“So they are, little girl,” Jake agreed. Recovering from
his panic, he shot Tess a look of gratitude.
What would I
have done without Tess?
Reaching over Cassie’s head, he
touched a finger to one of Tess’s curls. He felt his eyes
brim. Taking up his fingertips, Tess held them to her mouth,
kissing them gently. Tears of relief snuck down his cheek.
It was after dark when the cruiser swung into Tess’s
driveway.Larry pulled the big truck along the curb. Putting
a finger to her lips, Tess slid off the seat, through the open
door. The cold air woke Cassie. Starting, she fussed,
clutching at Tess. “Dr. Tess, please don’t go! Rhiannon’s
lonely at the ranch, she wants you there, and so do I! I
don’t want to be all by myself while Daddy does night
check.”
“Sh-hh, honey, you won’t be alone,” Jake soothed.
“Tilda is there, waiting for us. Larry’s going to do night
check tonight. C’mon, you’re just not feeling well.”
Nestling his daughter in his twill-clad arms, he grabbed for
her backpack. “Sergeant Fuller’s got some work to do, and
Tess does too.”
“Dr. Tess, please!” Cassie called beseechingly, eyes
suddenly wide.
“I can follow you up, Jake,” Tess offered quietly,
patting Cassie’s leg. “My truck is right around the corner.”
“Your sure it’s not asking too much?” he asked,waving
Sergeant Fuller off.
Tess quirked an eyebrow at him.
Haven’t we been
through this?
her eyes asked. Patiently, she said, “ It’s
Friday night, and it’s Doc’s turn in clinic tomorrow.
Cassie’s had a terrible scare, and I hate to see her any more
upset than she already is. I’m free if you need me.”
“Sounds like you and Cassie have it all figured out,
then,” Jake smiled, waving Larry on. Tess let them into her
warm apartment, and he laid Cassie on the sofa, which was
new the last time he’d been there. “Give me your keys, I’ll
go get the truck.” He turned to Cassie, “Stay with Tess,
darlin’, I’ll be back in a minute.”
Tess had an overnight bag packed by the time Jake
returned. She climbed into her truck next to Cassie,
whispering, “I brought my work clothes Cass. I can take
calls from your house tomorrow. I’m yours as long as you
need me.”
“That’s good, Dr. Tess. That makes me feel better,”
Cassie mumbled drowsily, patting Tess’s arm. Tess took her
hand, wishing she’d never have to let go.
*****
It was after midnight when Tess he
ard a tap on the guest
bedroom door. Jake’s voice came through it, tense and low.
“Tess, I hate to disturb you, but you’re the closest thing I
have to a doctor right now. I need some help with Cassie.”
In a flash, Tess was out of bed, grabbing the plush terry
robe from the back of the door. Jake stood in the hallway.
“She’s not keeping the Tylenol down, and her fever is
getting worse. I’m worried, Tess. She’s pretty out of it.”
“How much has she thrown up?” she asked, hurrying
down the hall.
“There’s nothing left in her stomach, I’m sure of that.
She’s had nothing but dry heaves for the past thirty
minutes.”
“Oh, the poor little bugger! I’ll grab water and some
washcloths, and go sit with her. Why don’t you run a warm
bath?”
When Tess got to her, Cassie was listless, flushed with
heat. Soothingly, she said, “Cass, we need to bring your
body temperature down, okay? This is just a washcloth
soaked with water, but it’s going to feel real cold. Your
daddy’s running a bath for you. That will help you cool
off.”
She laid a cool cloth on Cassie’s head, another on her
arms. Dazed and weak from vomiting and exhaustion,
Cassie shook her head, whimpering, her lips red and
swollen with fever. Jake came through the doorway. “I’ve
got a bath ready, Tess.” She nodded, and he scooped Cassie
up.
Following him to the master bath, she dropped her hand
into the tub. “It’s fine, Jake, the perfect temperature.”
He lowered Cassie into the tub, pajamas and all,
holding her armpits to help her stay afloat. The feverish
little girl squirmed, restless and uncomfortable.
“She’s so out if it, she might get lost in there,” Tess
murmured, dropping the robe, climbing into the tub in the
panties and chemise she’d worn to bed.
Keeping her casted arm above water, she scooted under
Cassie. Once in her lap, the little girl settled against her,
nestling to her chest. Kissing the top of her head, Tess
stroked her back, humming a little tune to calm her.
“Count on Dr. Tess to work miracles,” Jake exhaled,
Face exhausted, he put his chin on an arm, resting on the
tub, and stared at her in admiration. “What would I have
done without you today, Tess? Thank God you’re here with
us.”
“You’re finally talking sense, Jake,” she smiled. “This
kid will need somebody to hang onto for awhile, maybe a
long while, until she starts to feel safe again. I’ve got my
hands full, here. How about you turn the bubbler on?”
After twenty minutes in the tub, Tess handed Jake a
much cooler, calmer child. Gently, he toweled Cassie dry,
slipped her into fresh pajamas, and carried her to his bed.
Tess peeled her wet underwear off and wrapped herself
back into the robe, tying it at the waist. After squeezing the
wet ends of her hair in a towel, she twisted water from her
panties and chemise and hung them on a towel bar.
“Can I stay here, Daddy?” she heard Cassie murmur
from the broad master bed. “I feel better now.”
“Yup, I can keep an eye on you this way. What do you
think about more Tylenol, Dr. Tess?” Jake asked.
“Let’s take her temperature.”
Jake held the thermometer in Cassie’s mouth. “101. You
do work miracles, don’t you?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Tess gave him a smile and sat
next to Cassie on the bed she’d shared with Jake that one
night, weeks before. “It’s not me. Her fever broke. The
worst should be over. Let’s hold off on the Tylenol. Once
her tummy’s settled, I think she’ll be okay.”
Jake dimmed the lamp on his nightstand and took the
leather recliner across the room, near the window.
Humming a lullaby, Tess stroked Cassie’s back until the
little girl fell into a slumber. Jake had dozed off, too.
Exhausted, Tess returned to the guest room, crawling
between the cream flannel sheets and down comforter.