Chapter Fifteen
Jack stole a glance at his rearview mirror and saw Nevada tailing him in Randi’s SUV. The sight sent a ripple of unease through him. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about her going back to work, though he understood her need to escape the confines of an idle day at home. After all, she had a spark in her that seemed to come alive whenever she was tending her shop.
Pulling into his driveway, Jack eased his cruiser to a stop beside the front porch, noticing Nevada park behind him. As both men stepped out of their vehicles, Jack’s eyes followed Nevada as he slowly ambled toward him.
“This is a nice place, Jack,” Nevada remarked.
“Thanks. I like it,” Jack replied, his voice edged with satisfaction. “I’ll go let her know her vehicle’s here. I’ll just be a minute, unless you want to come inside?”
“No, thanks. I’m good here,” Nevada answered.
“Alright. I’ll just be a minute.” Jack strolled along the sidewalk toward the front porch, the wooden boards creaking beneath his steps. He opened the door and stepped inside, and was immediately struck by a profound hush that filled the house. “Randi?” he called out, his voice echoing through the vacant rooms.
Receiving no reply, he wandered through the empty house with rising anxiety, the silence growing heavier with each passing moment. Perhaps she had taken another ride, he thought. Stepping back onto the porch, he saw Nevada leaning casually against the cruiser, arms folded, scanning the area before his eyes landed on Jack.
“Jack?”
“She’s not inside. Maybe she went for another ride. I’m going to check the barn to see if any of the horses are missing,” Jack explained, his voice tight with worry.
“Alright,” Nevada replied.
Striding across the yard, Jack entered the barn where the dim interior and lingering scent of hay and leather greeted him. He paused at the entrance, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the soft light filtering through the barn, then began down the long aisle lined with stalls. His heart pounded with every step until he stopped dead in his tracks upon spotting her. Breaking into a run, he rushed toward her.
“Randi!” he cried, dropping to his knees beside her crumpled form. The sight that greeted him was unbearable; a pool of blood spread beneath her as she lay motionless. “Nevada! Call an ambulance!”
Nevada bolted into the barn; phone already pressed to his ear. “Holy hell. What happened?” he murmured as he kneeled beside her and carefully placed his fingers against her throat, checking for a sign of life. “She has a faint pulse. Yes, this is Deputy Nevada Shelton with the Clifton County Sheriff’s office, I need an ambulance at…” his voice faltered only for a moment as he glanced at Jack. “What’s the address, Jack?” Nevada said, lightly touching Jack’s arm. “Come on, Jack, the address.”
Jack’s hands trembled as he whispered it to him, listening as Nevada relayed the information to the dispatcher. With a shaky hand, Jack tenderly touched Randi’s hair, his heart pleading silently, “Randi? Baby, please, open your eyes.”
“Do you have any idea who could do this?”
Jack’s eyes met Nevada’s with a mix of fury and sorrow. “Yes, it had to be Colin Phillips,” he said with grim certainty.
“The man stalking her? Are you absolutely sure?” Nevada pressed; brow creased in worry.
“Who else would it be? He found her,” Jack replied bitterly, sinking down to sit on the cool barn floor cradling her head in his lap. His voice trembled with both fury and despair. “He must have followed us here. That son of a bitch, I will kill him.”
“We’ll get him. I’m calling Sam,” Nevada assured him, his tone determined despite the chaos.
Jack’s heart ached as he gazed at Randi’s ashen face. His eyes then fell upon her phone lying abandoned on the floor, the screen still displaying his name as if in a final, desperate plea for help. She must have been trying to call him as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Minutes later, the distant wail of sirens reached his ears, a hopeful sound in the midst of despair as he prayed it was the ambulance. Nevada slowly lifted Randi’s shirt.
“He stabbed her,” he murmured.
“Bastard. He better hope I don’t find him before anyone else does,” Jack growled, his voice raw with grief and rage.
“Let’s hope he missed any vital organs. I’ll let the ambulance know exactly where to go,” Nevada stated, striding out of the barn.
Jack remained behind; his gaze fixed on Randi’s still form. Despite the briefness of their time together, he was deeply in love with her, and the thought of losing her was inconceivable. In that moment of heartbreak and burning vengeance, he silently vowed that he would stop at nothing; he’d gladly face prison if it meant ensuring that Colin Phillips paid for what he had done.
As Jack watched the ambulance back into the barn, he gripped Randi’s hand tightly, his eyes filled with silent desperation as he pleaded with her to awaken. The blood spilled on the floor testified to the terrible toll the attack had taken on her.
“Jack?”
He looked up to find Sam crouching beside him, his eyes intense with concern. “Sam,” Jack replied, his voice heavy with emotion.
Placing a firm hand on Jack’s shoulder, Sam continued, “I have an all-points-bulletin out on him. We’ll find him.” His tone was firm despite the chaos swirling around them.
Jack’s jaw tightened as he murmured, “As I told Nevada, someone better before I do.”
Sam’s expression hardened. “I understand, but you are not going out to look for him.” There was a firmness in his tone that brooked no argument.
“Sam—” Jack began but was quickly interrupted.
“No, and that’s an order. You are too emotionally involved. You follow the ambulance to the hospital, and I’ll be in touch.” Sam glanced over his shoulder as he called out, “Logan? Check around outside to see if there’s any evidence of where this prick went.”
“Yes, sir.” With long strides, Logan left the barn through its back doors.
“Sam? I have security cameras around the house, but not the barn yet,” Jack said.
“I need to see any footage, Jack.”
Jack removed his phone, went to the security camera app, and opened it. All he saw was a black SUV, then Maggie got out. He smiled as he watched Randi opened the door. After the two drove off, nothing showed up, until they returned and went horseback riding. After Maggie left, Randi went riding again. About an hour after returning, Randi entered the barn again and didn’t come back out.
“Nothing there to go on,” Sam said.
“I should have gotten those others hooked up,” Jack murmured.
“This, in no way, is your fault Jack. We don’t need cameras to know who did this.”
Inside, an EMT’s voice broke through the tension. “Sheriff? We need to check her.”
“Sure. Come on, Jack. Let them do their job,” Sam directed, his tone calm yet carrying the weight of authority.
Reluctantly, Jack stepped back and watched as the EMTs swarmed around Randi, their skilled hands working on her, then lifted her onto a stretcher. The sight was heart-wrenching: every movement filled with urgency, every touch a desperate bid to save her life. As they wheeled her swiftly toward the waiting ambulance, Jack dashed across the gravel driveway to his cruiser. He slid into the driver’s seat, turned the key in the ignition, and followed the ambulance.
Once the ambulance merged onto the road, its siren wailed, and Jack quickly activated his own siren, joining the frantic procession to the emergency room entrance. After parking his cruiser, he sprinted to the ambulance just as the EMTs were carefully wheeling Randi into the hospital. They rushed her inside and whisked her into a secluded treatment room where doctors began examining her.
“Jack?”
He saw Abbie standing beside him. “Abbie.”
“What happened?”
“She was stabbed,” Jack growled out.
“We’ll take care of her,” Abbie said as she walked to where Randi lay, still unconscious.
“Deputy? You need to step out,” a doctor commanded from within, his tone gentle but insistent.
“No,” Jack’s voice was firm, leaving no room for debate. Folding his arms and leaning against the wall, he remained a silent, steadfast guardian by her side, his gaze never leaving her pale face.
With a tired sigh, the doctor resumed his examination of the wound. “We need to get her up to surgery.”
Jack straightened, anxiety mingling with hope. “Surgery?”
“The wound is severe. We need to ensure there are no internal injuries and stitch her up immediately. Additionally, she will need a blood transfusion,” the doctor explained with clinical precision.
Jack’s eyes sparked with resolve. “I’m O-negative. If you need blood, I’ll give it.”
The doctor shook his head. “We have blood on hand, besides testing takes time. Please, have a seat in the waiting room and someone will come talk to you. Are you family?”
Jack hesitated, then replied, “Uh, no. Her grandparents live in Alabama.”
The doctor’s tone took on a note of practicality. “I’d call them if I were you.” With that, he followed the stretcher as Randi was gently rolled into an elevator.
Jack drifted into the waiting area, sinking onto a stiff chair. After a few moments, he rose again and began pacing the room with restless energy. He knew he had to call Randi’s grandparents, a call he dreaded more than anything. Removing her phone from his pocket, the sight of smeared blood fueled his anger, but he forced himself to scroll through the contacts until he located a number labeled “Nana.” Taking a deep, steadying breath, he stepped outside into the evening air and dialed.
“Randi, honey, what a surprise,” a warm, familiar voice answered.
“Ma’am, this is Deputy Jack Lawrence with the Clifton Sheriff’s office—” he began, his voice betraying concern.
“Jack? Are you the one dating my granddaughter?” the voice asked with equal parts curiosity and concern.
“Yes, ma’am. There’s been an accident and Randi was hurt.” Jack paused as he heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end, a sound he dreaded. “She’s in surgery right now. I wanted to call you and let you know.”
“What happened?” the voice quivered, laden with alarm.
“She, uh, was stabbed, ma’am.”
“Oh, my God!” The sound of the phone clattering to the floor was immediately followed by a stern man’s voice.
“Who is this?”
Jack calmly explained the situation once more. “I don’t have any information on her condition yet,” he admitted reluctantly.
“Is it serious?”
“She’s lost a lot of blood. She needs a transfusion and surgery to close the wound. They need to make sure there’s no internal injuries.”
“How did this happen?”
“I’ll explain when you get here.”
“Alright, son. We’ll get a flight out as soon as we can. What hospital?”
“Clifton Memorial, sir.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“If you need me to, I’ll pick you up at the airport. You’ll have to fly into Kalispell.”
“How far is that?”
“About a two-hour drive.”
“Damn it. I suppose we don’t have a choice.”
“Mr. Guthrie don’t get a flight yet. Let me make a phone call.”
“Alright.”
Jack ended the call, dialed Grant’s number, then made another to inform Randi’s grandparents that he had arranged for a private jet to pick them up first thing tomorrow morning. Exhausted, he sank back into a chair, resting his arms wearily on his thighs while clasping his hands, waiting for updates.
Two hours later, the sterile hum of the hospital was replaced by the soft beeping of monitors beside Randi’s bed. Jack sat there, holding her hand with a tenderness that belied the turmoil swirling within him. The doctor approached with measured words, “She’ll make a full recovery. The stab wound missed her vital organs, but she lost so much blood that she lingered on the brink between critical and stable.”
Jack forced a hopeful smile despite the heaviness in his heart. The doctor would provide further details to her grandparents, but the clear message was that she was going to recover.
“Jack?” a voice broke his reverie. Looking toward the doorway, he saw Sam standing there, his face sharp with concern.
“How is she?” Sam asked intently.
“She’ll be fine. No vital organs hit, but there was a lot of blood loss. The doctor explained that significant blood loss from the stabbing could quickly lead to hypovolemic shock and potentially death if left untreated. Thankfully, we got to her just in time.” Jack pushed himself up and moved to stand beside Sam. “Did you find him?”
Sam exhaled heavily; the weight of the situation evident in his breath. “Not yet. Everyone is out looking for him.”
“Bastard. I need to get out there,” Jack muttered, the anger coiling inside him.
“No, you will stay here,” Sam replied firmly. “I don’t need you doing something you’d regret.”
“Trust me, Sam, I wouldn’t regret it,” Jack insisted, his voice calm but unwavering.
“Nonetheless, you will stay. If he finds out she’s still alive, he could come here. Did you notify her family?”
“Yeah, her grandparents will be here tomorrow. I asked Grant to pick them up. He should be in Alabama tonight and they’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“Good. That will get them here sooner.”
“That’s what I thought. I hated asking him, but…” Jack trailed off, the admission hanging heavy in the air.
“You know Grant. He’s always willing to help out,” Sam assured him.
Jack nodded slowly as he returned to the chair beside Randi’s bedside. Sitting down once more, he clasped her hand, the quiet determination in his gaze, a silent promise that he would remain by her side no matter what came next.
****
Randi slowly opened her eyes, the sterile white ceiling of the hospital room coming into blurry focus. The rhythmic beep of a heart monitor punctuated the heavy silence of the room as her gaze settled on Jack, who sat in a chair beside her bed. His head was resting on his folded arms on the bed, his eyes closed as if in quiet prayer, and the soft lines of concern around his face betrayed a deep inner turmoil.
Attempting to sit up, Randi was met with a sharp, searing pain that radiated through her entire body, causing her to gasp deeply. Her trembling hand moved hesitantly along her abdomen and brushed against a neatly wrapped bandage, a tangible reminder that someone had intervened just in time to rescue her from the clutches of death.
“Jack—” she whispered weakly, her voice barely a breath. Clearing her throat, she summoned the strength to try again, “Jack.”
Jack’s eyes flew open, and he immediately sat up, his concern shifting into action as he reached out to clasp her hand.
“Randi, baby, I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice a blend of regret and tenderness.
“Sorry for what? It wasn’t your fault, Jack,” she managed to reply, her words shaped by both pain and reassurance.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone,” he insisted.
“You had no way of knowing he’d show up,” Randi countered softly. With a sudden spasm of discomfort when she attempted to sit up again, she caught herself, and in a strained whisper added, “Could I have some water?”
“Don’t move,” Jack instructed, rising from his seat. He reached for the water pitcher on the table at the end of the bed and carefully poured a cup, his hands steady despite the evident worry etched onto his face. He handed her the cup. As Randi sipped the cool water, she managed a small, grateful smile. “That’s good. Thank you.”
Relaxing back into his chair, Jack’s hand found its way back to hers, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Your grandparents will be here tomorrow,” he informed her, his eyes communicating volumes of care and concern.
“You called them?” she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of apprehension and relief.
“Yes. I’m having a friend fly them here,” Jack explained.
A subtle smile broke across her face. “You have a friend who has his own jet?”
“A couple of them, actually, but I called Grant first. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate in a time like this,” he added. The comfort of his words was palpable amid the sterile hospital surroundings.
“I appreciate it. I only hope the news didn’t worry them too much,” she murmured, her voice heavy with the weight of impending grief.
“I hated having to call them. They were understandably upset and insisted on getting here as soon as possible,” Jack admitted. “They should be here by tomorrow afternoon. It’s nearly an eight-hour flight. Grant left this afternoon, which would have him in Mobile around ten tonight. He said they’d leave there first thing in the morning. I’ll be picking them up at Grant’s place.”
“It was Phillips,” she stated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jack’s jaw tightened. “We suspected as much. Everyone in the department is searching for him,” he replied, his tone laced with tension.
“He told me he’d been watching us,” Randi continued, her grip on Jack’s hand tightening. Her next words came out in a whispered confession, “My mother was his stepmother. She died three months ago. How am I going to tell my grandparents that their daughter is gone?”
“We’ll deal with that once they get here. Did he say what he wanted?” he inquired quietly.
“Yes. Money,” she confirmed. “Apparently, my mother was married to an incredibly wealthy man, and Phillips was furious that she had left me a huge inheritance. He claimed that there was bitter hatred between them.” Randi shook her head slowly, the disbelief mingling with sorrow. “He told me he was bequeathed a million dollars, but I was left a lot more. His father died a year ago and left everything to my mother.”
Jack’s hand tightened reflexively around hers as he responded in a tone that mixed both resignation and understanding, “I know all about his wealth; he was born into it. That’s what I was going to tell you, but he managed to get to you first.” His clenched jaw spoke of deep-seated frustration that resonated in the dim light of the hospital room.
“I was so scared, Jack. I thought I was going to die,” she confessed, her voice trembling as a solitary tear traced a glistening path down her cheek. Jack gently wiped it away with his thumb, his touch tender and reassuring.
“I was scared too. I’m just grateful that Nevada and I showed up when we did.”
“Me too. Thank you for saving me,” she murmured, her fingers grazing his lightly whiskered cheek. “Have you slept at all?”
“A little,” he admitted, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. “I haven’t left here since you were brought in earlier. The doctor assured me you’re going to be fine. You’ll feel sore for a while, but you’ll make a full recovery.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her hand, his voice catching. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
“But you didn’t. I’m not going anywhere unless you want me to,” she replied softly.
“I never want you to go anywhere without me. I love you, Miranda,” he whispered, his words laden with emotion.
“Oh, Jack, I love you too,” she replied, her smile radiant despite the lingering pain.
“I sure hope so, baby because I want you with me for the long haul,” he said, his tone filled with heartfelt sincerity.
Randi’s smile widened, warmth spreading across her face. “No place else I’d rather be.”
“Hello,” a nurse greeted as she entered the room, her expression professional yet kind. “How’s your pain on a scale of one to ten? Ten being the worst.”
“As long as I don’t move, it’s about a seven,” Randi replied, her voice steady but tinged with discomfort.
“Alright. I’m going to give you something for the pain,” the nurse said as she prepared the medication, casting a knowing glance at Jack. “You should get some rest. She’ll be out of it for a while.”
“I—” Jack began, his reluctance clear.
“Jack, go home and rest. I’m not going anywhere,” Randi insisted gently.
Jack sighed, reluctantly conceding. “Alright, but I’ll be right back.”
“Get something to eat.”
“I will. Brody is outside the room, just in case.”
“Do you think Phillips would come here?” Randi asked, her voice edged with alarm.
“I can’t be sure, but Sam isn’t taking any chances. I promise I’ll be back later,” he assured her.
“Okay,” she replied, her voice slurring slightly as the pain medication began to weave its numbing magic.
Jack leaned over, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips, then to her forehead, before leaving the room. He stopped beside Brody, who was seated in a chair, his posture alert.
“I’ll be back later, but you call me if anything happens.”
“I will, Jack. You look dead on your feet. Get some rest. We’ll take care of her,” Brody promised.
“I know. Thanks, Brody.” Jack nodded, then strode down the hall toward the elevators. As he stepped inside, he leaned against the cool metal wall, his mind racing as he contemplated where he might find Phillips.
****
Randi slowly opened her eyes, the soft morning light filtering through the blinds, and saw her grandparents seated in chairs beside her bed. Her heart skipped a beat at the familiar sight of their worried faces.
“Nana? Pap?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
They both rose from their seats, their eyes filled with relief and concern, gently clasping her hands in theirs. Her grandmother’s voice trembled as tears spilled over her cheeks.
“You scared us to death, Miranda Jean,” she said, her words laced with a mixture of love and worry.
“I’m sorry. I would never do that on purpose,” Randi replied, her voice tinged with regret.
“We know that, honey,” her grandfather reassured her, his voice calm and soothing like a warm embrace. “How do you feel?”
Randi sighed, the weight of her ordeal settling over her like a heavy blanket. “Like someone beat me up and left me in a ditch,” she confessed, her body aching as if it had been through a storm. She cast her eyes around the room. “Where’s Jack?” she asked with a hint of curiosity.
Her grandmother sat back down in a well-worn armchair, replied, “He just left, honey. He was here throughout the night. We arrived late afternoon yesterday and have been here since. Jack was kind enough to let us stay at his lovely home, and we’re using your SUV to get around. This is such a charming little town. I completely understand why it holds your affection, and it’s clear why Jack has captured your heart. What a good-looking man he is.” Her grandmother’s face lit up with a playful grin.
“Nana, do you know...” Randi hesitated, watching her grandmother’s expression shift to one of knowing understanding.
“Yes,” her grandmother sighed, a gentle sorrow in her voice.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Randi said softly.
“It’s your loss too, Randi,” her grandmother reminded her, her voice tinged with wistfulness.
“I don’t feel that it is. I never knew her,” Randi confessed, an edge of detachment in her tone.
“Honestly, we didn’t know much about her either. It’s a shame,” her grandmother admitted, her eyes filled with a distant sadness.
“Do you know what she died from?” Randi inquired, seeking more understanding.
“Lung cancer,” her grandmother replied, a shadow passing over her expression. “She started smoking when she was just twelve. I can’t tell you how many times I tried to get her to quit, but she would always find a way to sneak cigarettes from others.”
“I’m sorry, though,” Randi said, her voice laced with genuine regret.
“We are too, honey, but it was how she wanted it,” her grandmother said, a resigned acceptance in her words.
“I don’t want anything from her,” Randi stated firmly.
“I understand that,” her grandmother nodded. “We managed to find out the attorney’s name. It seems he had the wrong information about us. Marla must have given him fake addresses.”
“She left letters for the attorney, us, and you. They were not to be opened until three months after her death. That’s another reason he couldn’t find us right away. She gave him our real address in the letter. I’m not sure about her way of thinking, but I’m sure she had her reasons,” Randi’s grandfather interjected, his voice steady and calm.
“Did she leave you anything?” Randi asked, curiosity piqued.
“Yes. We’re to receive a million dollars. I’m not sure I can bring myself to read that letter just yet,” her grandmother confessed, her voice heavy with emotion.
Randi closed her eyes. “I’m still so tired.”
“Honey, you get some rest. Your pap and I are going to go get something to eat. We’ll be back later.”
“Okay,” Randi murmured. “I love you both.”
“We love you too, honey. Rest.”
Randi nodded, closed her eyes and fell asleep, hoping Jack would be here when she woke up again.