Love’s Sweet Revenge(79)

“Yes. What is it, Jeff?”

“It’s…Jake.”

“Jesus, what’s happened?”

“Lloyd’s been shot…and Jake killed the shooter. I have a feeling he could be in a lot of trouble. I think we should go to Denver.”

“For God’s sake, yes! Is Randy all right?”

Jeff grinned through tears. He’d expected the question, coming from Peter. “I have no idea. I’m sure she’s a mess. A person can only take so much. Same for Jake.”

“Make the arrangements. I’ll meet you at the train station tomorrow morning.”

Jeff hung up the phone. As far as he was concerned, he couldn’t get to Denver fast enough.





Twenty


“The man won’t leave the room.” Dr. Cook had agreed to speak with reporters outside Lloyd’s room at the Brown Palace. “He isn’t talking, and he rarely lets go of Lloyd’s hand.”

“Is he still carrying that gun?” one of the reporters asked.

“He most certainly is, and I believe him when he says he’ll use it on anyone who tries to come in there after him. The man is devastated. His mental state isn’t good.”

Amid gasps and shaking heads, reporters rapidly scribbled on pads of paper.

“Wasn’t Jake wounded, too?” someone asked.

“Yes, but it’s just a flesh wound at the top of his left shoulder. I stitched it up. He refused pain medication when I stitched his wound because he was afraid the law would come in and take advantage if I put him to sleep. He just gritted his teeth and let me stitch him up. He’s one tough man.”

“How is Lloyd?” another asked. “Will he live?”

A very tired Dr. Cook rubbed at the back of his neck. “I honestly don’t know. I did the best I could—went in through his side and removed a bullet lodged near his spine. It missed vital pulmonary veins, and luckily, his heart, but that area of the spine controls a lot of body movement. It could affect his ability to walk or to use his arms or maybe even his ability to speak. He’s breathing on his own, so that’s a good sign. He had a collapsed lung, and it’s been extremely painful for him to bring it back up. He seems to still be in a lot of pain, but he hasn’t truly regained full consciousness yet, so it’s difficult to tell just how much damage has been done. Jake has had to hold him down a few times to keep him from thrashing around from the pain. Too much movement could make the injury worse.”

“Do you think Harkner would shoot one of us if we tried to go in there?”

Dr. Cook glanced at the young reporter who’d asked the foolish question. “You willing to try finding out?”

The reporter swallowed. “I guess not.”

“Smart decision.” Cook rubbed at his eyes. “I have to say that Jake Harkner practically worships that son of his. For all his ruthlessness, I can already see the kind of family man he is. The agony in his eyes is heartbreaking. Mrs. Harkner isn’t in any better shape. For the last two nights they have both just stayed right by their son’s bedside, along with Lloyd’s wife and his sister. All of you should leave or at least get away from this door, so the women can come and go without you harassing them with questions. Both Lloyd’s wife and his sister are carrying, and this has been dangerously traumatic for them. I finally convinced them to go lie down in another room, so that’s where they are now, but they will want to come back here at times to check on Lloyd, so all of you stay out of their way. Jake’s son-in-law is a doctor, and he’s in his own room now tending to the two women. I’m leaving for a while to go home and clean up and change, but I’ll be back. I’d suggest for your own health that all of you clear out of here. Jake Harkner is still in a dangerous mood, and he’s getting tired of all of you milling around out here. He could start shooting through that door at any time, believe me, so leave. If you don’t, I’ll get the police to make you leave.”

“Are they going to arrest Jake?” another asked.

“How would I know that? I haven’t been out there in the streets to find out. You’re the ones who would know something like that. Why don’t you go talk to the prosecutor and police chief?”

Brian came out of his and Evie’s room, where Katie was sleeping in an extra bed brought in for her so Brian could tend to her and Evie both. He shoved one of the reporters aside. “Get out of here! Go on! All of you get out of here! Nothing is going to happen any time soon, so if you don’t want to get shot, get the hell out of here!”

The reporters finally began to disperse, and Cook told Brian he was leaving for a while but would be back. “You need some rest, too,” he said.