her beloved son’s words could destroy them both.
CHAPTER TWO
SEATED AT THE SMALL DINING TABLE, Chase glanced up from the mug of coffee when he heard the sound of footsteps. Jess approached him slowly, and considering the way her shoulders sagged, the fatigue in her eyes, she looked liked she’d been ambushed.
He shoved the chair across from him with his boot. “Sit before you drop in your tracks.”
After she slid onto the seat, Jess crossed her arms around her middle like she was cold. He’d made a point to turn up the heat soon after they’d walked in the door even though he’d felt like his skin had caught fire.
Chase lifted his mug. “Want a cup?”
“No, thank you.” She eyed his gun resting on the table where he’d unloaded it a few moments before.
He hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the guest room. “How’s he doing?”
“As well as can be expected, I guess. He’s not saying much but I’m sure he’s still in shock. I know I am.”
Chase really wanted to ask Jess how Dalton’s injuries had come about. She could either clear things up, or incriminate herself. He wasn’t willing to take that chance because he’d be damned if he’d speak one word against her.
“You look like you could use some sleep,” he said when she yawned.
Jess folded her hands together and rested them on top of the pine table. “I’m not sure I could sleep if I wanted to. Every time I close my eyes, I see these awful images.”
Chase could seriously relate to that scenario. He couldn’t remember a time in the past few years when he drifted peacefully off to sleep. Couldn’t remember the last time he had any real peace.
“If you decide to try and rest, you can take my room. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
She brought her attention back to him. “I’m not going to put you out of your bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
No point in arguing with Jess. He’d learned that a long time ago. But he’d also learned how to skirt her objections. “You sure you don’t want some coffee? Maybe a beer? I’m fresh out of whiskey but I could sneak into the main house and see if Dad still has that seventy-year-old-bottle that belonged to my great-grandpa.”
Jess shuddered. “I can’t even stand the smell of whiskey, much less drink it. I have Dalton to thank for that.”
“He always did like his booze.” And women. Chase had heard from friends that the demon had been scouring the bars and cheating on Jess for years.
When Jess continued to stare blankly across the room, Chase scraped his mind for some way to lift her spirits as much as possible. “Do you want to call your folks?”
Her gaze snapped to his. “No. They just left two days ago on a cruise with Gary, Becca and the kids for the holidays. I don’t see any reason to bother them while they’re on their first real vacation in years.”
Chase could think of one reason—giving her family advance notice in case Jess wound up in jail. “Fine. Is there anyone else I can call for you?”
She drummed her fingertips on the table, a purely nervous gesture. “Yes. I need you to call the hospital and find out how Dalton’s doing.”
He’d like to think she wanted to know because of Danny, but he wondered if there might be more to it. Either she still cared for the jerk, or she felt responsible for his wounds. Maybe both. “I could call but I won’t get anywhere. The hospital won’t release any information unless you’re a family member or the family gives permission. I doubt that holds true for either of us.”
She rubbed her temples like she had one hell of a headache. “You’re right. I’d just hate to read about it in the paper if something happens to him.”
More than likely the event would be front page news no matter what the outcome. “I have Rachel’s cell number. I can try to reach her.”
Jess didn’t look too keen on that idea. “I wouldn’t want to disturb her.”
He fished the phone from his pocket and hit the speed dial. “She’s probably on her way to Jackson, if she’d not already there.”
After two rings, Rachel answered with a harried “Hello.”
“Hey, Rachel, it’s Chase. Are you at the hospital?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
At least she didn’t sound too distraught, a good thing. “I answered the call.”
“Of course you did. I keep forgetting you’re a deputy now.”
Sometimes Chase wished he wasn’t. Tonight happened to be one of those times. “How’s your brother doing?” He tried to sound concerned but his tone was noticeably dry.
“He’s undergoing tests right now and he’s still unconscious,” Rachel said. “Do you have any idea what happened?”
He had a few, but none he cared to share. “Jess says it was an accident, but that’s all I know.”
“Where is Jess now? I tried to call the home number and her cell but I didn’t get any answer.”
“She’s here with me. Do you want to speak with her?”
“I’d like that. I’m worried about her.”
Jess waved him away when he tried to hand her the phone. “Just talk to her for a minute,” he said. “She’s one of your best friends and she’s concerned.”
After a brief hesitation, Jess reluctantly took the cell and murmured a soft “Hello.”
Chase waited and watched while Jess spoke with Rachel. She sounded meek, very un-Jess-like, but he could understand why she might. While he put away his gun in the locked cabinet in the corner, he listened as Jess repeated the accident scenario without any details. And after a few brief questions about Dalton’s condition, she ended the conversation.
“At least he’s still alive,” she said as she handed him back the phone.
He could tell she found little relief in Dalton’s status. “If he makes it through the night, he’ll probably be okay.”
“And if that’s not the case?” she asked. “What happens then?”
Nothing good. He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. “Let’s just worry about that if and when the time comes. Right now you need some sleep.”
“I’ve already told you I can’t sleep.” Her irritable tone said otherwise.
“You can try.” He pushed away from the cabinet and returned to the table. “I’ll show you to my room.”
“I told you I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“You’ll
