Right now, his parents would direct his care. Dylan would want her there. He’d want her to take care of him.
This was the second time she’d been powerless to go up against Martha McBride. She wouldn’t let this happen again.
Chapter Thirty-Four
* * *
“SHERIFF DYLAN. YOU have to wake up, Sheriff.”
Dylan opened his eyes enough to see Lynn beside his bed. His parents had been there earlier. He heard them talking and ignored them. He wanted Jessie. He hadn’t heard her or seen her the few times he’d woken up in the night. Why wasn’t Jessie here with him? He needed to see her face. He hurt everywhere and knew if he could just see her, hold her hand, he’d feel better.
“Sheriff, you have to wake up. They arrested Jessie.”
That terrible news came through the haze loud and clear. He opened his eyes wide. He squinted at the light and pain shot through his head due to the concussion. “What?” he croaked out, sounding funny, even to his own ears.
“Oh, thank God, Sheriff Dylan, you’re awake.”
“What about Jessie? Why isn’t she here?”
“She came last night. No one called her when you got hurt. She called the office looking for you, and I told her what happened. She came down here with Will.”
“Slow down. Where is she? I haven’t seen her.”
“She’s in jail. They arrested her.”
Dylan had trouble following Lynn. His head hurt, but it got better the longer he stayed awake. “Why the hell did they arrest her?”
“For kidnapping Will.”
He sat up and grabbed her wrist with his good hand. The other was strapped into a brace that went nearly to his elbow. “What do you mean, kidnapped Will? Where is Will?”
“He’s with your parents. They had her arrested for kidnapping him. I tried to talk to the officers at the police station, but they won’t budge. Your father has a lot of clout with the people of this town. They said your parents filed charges and insist she took Will against your and their wishes.”
“That’s crazy. You know I left Will with her.”
“They won’t listen to me, and with you lying in this hospital unconscious, they aren’t likely to change their minds. Your parents have been here all night. I couldn’t get to you. Will looks devastated.”
“You saw him? He was here?”
“Your parents just took him away a few minutes ago. I understand Jessie had Will in her arms when they arrested her downstairs at gunpoint. It’s all the hospital staff is talking about.”
“They drew their guns on her and my son.” He threw the covers off his legs and peeled the wires off his chest, setting off squealing alarms. He wore nothing but a hospital gown. “Find my clothes,” he barked, taking a moment to settle his spinning head by pressing the heel of his hand to his left eye just under the stitched cut that ran across his forehead along his hairline.
This can’t be happening.
He remembered Jessie telling him she never wanted to have someone she loved sick or hurt and her unable to do anything about it.
“Does she know what happened to me?”
“I told her you were in a car accident and you’d been hurt. I don’t think she knows the details. I heard a nurse say your parents wouldn’t let her in the room to see you.” She handed him his clothes and turned her back so he could dress. “Are you sure you should leave? I mean, you could just make a call to the police department and get them to drop the charges against her. They’ll let her out, and she can come here to you.”
“She’s been arrested and spent the night in jail. Do you think she’s going to rush down here to see me when my parents are the ones who put her there? Hell, she’s been there all night not knowing if I’m okay. She knows I didn’t want my parents around Will, and she had to give him up to them last night. This is such a fucking mess.” He tried to button his bloodstained shirt, but his swollen fingers didn’t work. He gave up and decided to just leave it half-done.
A nurse came into the room to check on him and why the monitor wasn’t registering his heartbeat any longer. “Sheriff, you have to get back into bed. You can’t leave. You have a concussion.”
“I’m leaving. I have to do something.”
“No. You can’t. I’m getting the doctor,” she said and fled the room.
He stomped his feet into his boots and took his hat from Lynn. “Let’s go.”
Lynn took his arm and helped him to the elevator and her car. Unsteady on his feet, he leaned heavily on the older woman.
“This is too much,” she said for the tenth time during the short drive to the police station. “I should take you back to the hospital. You look terrible.”