The pain made it hard to breathe. She loved Gil Addison and his son. But she had lost them both. Shaking and cold, she punched the button to summon the nurse.
Moments later, the woman entered the room, her expression concerned. “Are you hurting? It’s not time for medicine yet.”
Bailey was hurting. Her dreams had shattered into a million pieces. Now was a heck of a time to learn that a heart truly could break.
She gripped a handful of the sheet, her breathing choppy. “Is it okay if I limit my visitors?”
The woman frowned. “Of course. Is there a problem?”
“I’m willing to see the sheriff. But no one else. Please.”
The woman’s eyes were kind. “Would you like me to ask the chaplain to come by?”
“No.” Bailey’s throat was so tight she could barely speak. “Thank you.” She couldn’t bear to look into Gil’s eyes and see his anger and disappointment and fear. It was better to make a clean break.
“I’ll make sure your wishes are noted at the nurse’s station and on your door.”
“Thank you.”
The woman left. Bailey turned her head to stare out the window. The sun was shining brightly, in direct opposition to her bleak mood. How soon would she be able to travel? Her boss needed her back in Dallas, and Bailey wanted to go home. If there was more work to be done in Royal, she would ask to be reassigned. She couldn’t come back here.
In her heart, though, she knew she would not be able to leave until she had the assurance that Cade was back in his father’s arms...safe and happy. Thinking about the alternative was unbearable. Surely a ransom note would arrive soon. One victim with no memory, one child too young to plan an escape, and Bailey—who had been unconscious when the child was taken. It was an impossible situation.
Her brief burst of energy faded, leaving her drowsy and deeply sad. Cade had trusted her. Gil had trusted her. And she had failed them both. The knowledge haunted her.
She drifted into sleep, her dreams dark and threatening. Suddenly, she was back on the road between Chance’s place and Gil’s ranch...
She felt the cold slither of fear. The rapid beat of her heart. She stared at the man. He was tall. Maybe older. But the ski cap obscured everything important. Think, Bailey. Think. She focused on the car. It was ordinary. A figure sat in the passenger seat. Again, she saw Cade, sweet innocent Cade in the backseat. Then, something brutally hard hit her head. She crumpled, the ground coming up to meet her.
Bailey woke with a start even as the recollection of panic pushed adrenaline through her veins. The bland sterility of the hospital room was recognizable and reassuring. With shaking hands, she pushed the button to call the nurse.
* * *
Gil sat beside Nate in the squad car as they sped through town. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t she call me?” he asked
“Don’t know.” Nate slowed down for a stop sign, noted the empty side streets, and kept going. He had his lights flashing, but the sirens were off. At the hospital, they parked in a restricted zone. Both of them jogged toward the front of the hospital.
On Bailey’s floor, a nurse with salt-and-pepper hair stopped them. “Hello, Sheriff. Mr. Addison.”
Gil shifted from one foot to the other, impatient to hear what Bailey had to say. And to see for himself if she was improving. “We’re here to see Bailey,” he said, wanting to add, Get out of my way, woman.
“I’m sorry, sir. Ms. Collins has restricted her visitors.”
Gil looked at her blankly. “What the hell does that mean?”
The nurse frowned at his language.
Nate touched his arm. “Take it easy.” He addressed the woman calmly. “I had a message that Ms. Collins wanted to see me.”
“She does. But Mr. Addison, I’m sorry. You can sit in the waiting room down the hall.”
Gil felt his temper rise. He was on a short fuse from worry and lack of sleep. “I think there’s been some kind of mistake,” he said, injecting ice into his voice.
The woman didn’t budge. “She was very clear. Only the sheriff.”
Gil’s eyebrows shot upward, incredulity in his exclamation. “I was here a few hours ago. What’s this about?”
Nate gave him a glance. “Keep your mind on the goal, buddy. Let me go in and see what she has to say.”
* * *
Relief washed over Bailey when she saw Nate’s head poke around her door.
“You ready to see me?” he asked.
She nodded. “Pull up a chair.”
When Nate made himself comfortable, Bailey managed a smile, though she hoped it didn’t look as false at it felt to her. “I think I remembered something. It may amount to nothing. So don’t get your hopes up. But then again, it might be a lead.”