Chapter 21
Twenty-One
C hrist, he’d slept terribly.
Not that he wasn’t used to bad sleep. It seemed like ever since his heart stopped, his body couldn’t let him rest. There was restlessness almost every night. Sam had tossed and turned wanting to go to Evie. To make sure that she was okay.
Standing outside her door, he’d almost decided to sleep in the hallway. In the end, he left to let her rest. It wouldn’t be good for him to spend the night wanting to bang down her door. He slept off the haze from his time wallowing in whiskey and tried to focus on the fact that he would see her in the office, but something churned in his gut. Worry that she wouldn’t hear him out? Was he already grieving what they had because he knew she shouldn’t forgive him?
No. He would find a way to fix it. There was no other option.
He might have walked away from her closed door the night before, but there was no way he was letting Evie walk away without setting the record straight now that the light of day was upon them .
Sam marched from the house to the barn, filled with resolve.
“Hey, Boss.”
“Zeke. You got the horses out already?” It had been less than an hour since the sun hit the horizon, but Derrick and Zeke were always on top of things around the ranch. They didn’t need to wait for him to micromanage everything. And for that, he was grateful.
“Yeah. I was a little surprised Evie wasn’t down to watch this morning. I don’t think there’s been a single day since she got here that she missed it. Derrick told me he brought her home from town and she was pretty upset. You think she’s okay?”
Dread pooled in Sam’s stomach. Had she been so upset that something happened to Jellybean?
“I’m going to go up to the apartment to check in.”
“Let me know, yeah?”
Sam’s eyebrow quirked.
“What? She’s a sweet lady. I… I care about her.”
“I didn’t even know that was an emotion you could feel.”
“I’m a big fucking teddy bear. Piss off.” Zeke turned back to his work.
Sam whistled at Shep. The goofy dog was busy sniffing at the edge of the barn like a lunatic.
“Come on, pup. Let’s go see Evie.”
Sam wasn’t dumb, he knew he had a better chance of seeing Evie with his dog tagging along. He was pretty sure that the dopey guy was Evie’s favorite animal on the ranch, although Jasper would probably try to trample Shep to get the title.
“Evie?” Sam called out her name as he knocked on the door. “I know you don’t want to talk to me after yesterday, but I’d really like to explain. Please answer the door.”
Silence. Shep pawed at the door, whining .
Shit.
The hair on the back of Sam’s neck stood up and his stomach bristled. She could just be sleeping. All of these little things that were setting his nerves on edge could just be him overreacting.
But Evie hadn’t missed a single day of work since she first started, and she’d always been up and around the ranch before the guys got the horses out. What if something was really wrong and she couldn’t call out for help?
“If you don’t open the door right now, I’m going to kick it down to make sure everything’s okay.”
He winced. Maybe more aggressive than he should have started out with, but he didn’t want to waste time. If she was sitting on the other side of the door just being stubborn, they’d cut to the chase. If she was hurt, he’d get into the apartment a few minutes faster, which could be the difference between something bad turning into something tragic.
Christ. He needed to get a grip. Sam wiped his sweaty palms on his denim-covered thighs.
“I’m serious, Evie. Open the door now. I’m coming in one way or another.”
“I’m fine. Please, Sam.” Hearing her voice did nothing to ease the worry in his stomach.
“If this is about what happened at the bar, I’m so sorry. I want the chance to explain better. Please, Bluebell.”
“It’s not. I understand. I’m just going to work from up here today. I don’t… I’m not feeling well.”
She was sick? “Please, open the door and talk to me. I’ll take you into town if you’re sick. Have you called your doctor?”
“No, Sam. I can’t.” He heard her inhale sharply from the other side of the door.
“Evie? Is it Jellybean? Are you dizzy? Open this damn door. ”
The lock clicked over and the door slowly opened. Sam waited only a few seconds before he pushed his way into the apartment, his attention immediately going to Evie. She was standing sideways in the window overlooking the back pasture. The morning sunlight cast a perfect golden halo around her and with her belly so pronounced now, she looked like a goddess. Shep ran to her, whimpering as he sat down and pawed at her leg which she ignored.
Fuck, he needed to fix what had happened the night before.
“Look, Evie, I get that I upset you last night. But if you aren’t feeling well, then you need to just take the day off.” His eyes fell to her coffee table, several of the ledgers she’d been working through were stacked near the edge. “No working up here. And if you’re just trying to avoid me, then at least tell me to my face.”
She turned so her entire back was now facing him. That wouldn’t do. Sam marched across the small living room and gently wrapped his hand around her arm. She flinched, turning towards him as she tried to step back and Sam’s vision darkened around the edges.
“Evie!” He took her face gently in his hands and cringed.
Her fucking cheek was sporting a black and blue bruise.
Someone hit Evie.
Her beautiful, soft lips were swollen, the bottom with a red split through it.
Someone had hit his Evie.
“What the fuck happened? Who did this to you?”
Her gaze hit the floor as her hand reached up to try and push his arm away.
“No one. I?—”
“Don’t you dare tell me that you walked into a wall or cabinet. I can practically see the fingerprints in the bruises on your cheek. Someone did this to you, sweetheart, and you need to tell me what happened right now. Sit down, please. I’m about to lose my shit.” He paced in front of her sofa, but she didn’t move. Everything clicked dangerously into place. “I’m calling Hank right now. They let that asshole out of custody and didn’t even warn us! He’s a known threat to you, Evie!”
“You can’t call Hank! I-It wasn’t Dr. Bowman. I swear.”
He stared at her, waiting for her to continue, but she just twisted her fingers together and bounced her eyes around the room. If it wasn’t her former boss, then who they hell else could it be?
Suddenly, he felt like throwing up.
“That mother fucker. Was it Derrick? I fucking trusted him to keep you safe and he turned around and did this? That’s why you aren’t saying anything? You’re protecting him?”
Her face paled and Sam itched to run out of the apartment and hunt the fucker down. “Please. Tell me it wasn’t him, Evie, because I’m about to shove the branding rod so far up his ass that he’ll taste nothing but red hot iron for the rest of his life.”
“It wasn’t Derrick. He was so kind to me last night. It wasn’t him.” That’s when he saw how badly she was shaking. Tears silently streamed down her cheeks. He forced himself to breathe. To calm the fuck down and take care of her before anything else.
“Sit down. You’re shaking. Are you in pain? Do you need something for your cheek? For your lip?”
“I’m fine.”
No, she fucking wasn’t, and it was pissing Sam off that she kept saying she was.
“Bluebell, if you fucking tell me you are okay one more time before you explain to me what the hell actually happened, I’m going to lose my mind.” He looked around her living room. “Where’s your purse?”
“Why?”
“I’m taking you into town. To the fucking hospital.”
“Sam, no.”
“You already went? Who took you?”
She slowly shook her head back and forth and he understood. She hadn’t gone to get checked out. His eyes immediately flicked down to her belly before searching her face again for any sign that she was hurt worse than she was letting on.
“No. I don’t need to go. I’m fine. It’s nothing a little ice and some sleep can’t fix. I just need to sleep. I’m so tired and I can’t…”
He sat down next to her, brushing her hair behind her ear before gently cupping her cheek with his hand. He needed to hear that she was okay. That the baby wasn’t hurt. He needed her to agree to get checked out because the sooner they left, the sooner he could get her back to the ranch and tucked into bed to rest.
“Evie. You look like you didn’t sleep at all last night, and your lip looks painful. I’m not asking. Let’s go.”
“I can’t.” Her head fell forward into her hands and the floodgates opened. Sam could barely make out anything she was saying. “I had no one to call for help.”
Well, fuck. Sam heard that part loud and clear.
“It’s okay. Just breathe, sweetheart. Just breathe.”
“Jake, I need you to come out to the ranch.”
Evie lifted her head off Sam’s chest. She couldn’t say how long she’d been there, safe in his arms, so it didn’t surprise her that she hadn’t even realized he’d pulled his cell phone out.
“No, Sam?— ”
He held up the hand that had been running soothing strokes up and down her back. “I understand, but I need you here. As soon as you can. It’s Evie.”
She was about to protest again when his hand slipped over her cheek and gently pressed her face back down to rest on his chest. He was bound and determined to have someone look at her. Fine. But she’d only allow herself the safety of his hold for a few more minutes.
“She’s okay. It’s not an emergency, but I’d appreciate you swinging by when you can.” He paused, running his fingers through her hair. “That will be fine. See you then.”
“You didn’t need to bother Jake. Haven’t you had a split lip before? It hurts, but it’s okay.”
“Have you had a split lip before?”
“Well, no.”
“I’m not taking any chances, Bluebell. You’re being stubborn as hell and I’m trying to honor your independence, but there’s only so much I can handle.”
“Thank you. For calling Jake.”
His arms tightened around her, and she let her eyes drift close. The restless night, filled with hours of cleaning up and setting everything back in its place as best she could, was catching up to her. Not to mention that Jellybean had been more active than usual. Probably energized by the adrenaline that pumped through her body during and after the attack.
A knock came at the apartment door and Evie flinched. She didn’t want to react like that. She hated it. But she was so exhausted, and her body just would not slip out of survival mode.
“Are you okay?”
“Mm.”
“I thought you fell asleep.”
“I did. For a little bit, I think.”
“I’m gonna get up and get that, sweetheart. You okay? ”
The concern in his eyes was going to make her cry. And she’d done enough of that for now. “Yeah, Cowboy. You don’t have to keep asking.”
Sam helped her sit up and then slipped out from behind her. She missed his warmth immediately. Part of her wished he wouldn’t have insisted on Jake stopping by, because she was finally feeling relaxed enough to drift off to sleep. The other half was thankful for the checkup.
“What’s going on with Evie? Where is she?” Jake’s concern made her stomach swim with nerves.
“I’m right here. And I’m okay. He shouldn’t have made you come out this way in the middle of your day.”
Jake apparently wasn’t even going to try and hide his shock. The look he gave Sam was downright murderous, and Evie’s mouth popped open with surprise.
“We need a minute alone.”
“What? I’m not leaving.”
Jake took a step closer to Sam and crossed his arms over his chest. “Go out in the hallway and wait for me to come get you. Now.”
Sam looked at Evie. Was he waiting for her permission to go?
“It’s fine,” she finally said. “I’ll be okay.”
Sam nodded and walked out of her apartment, closing the door behind him.
Evie closed her eyes as Jake sat down on the couch next to her, taking her wrist into his hand.
“Your pulse is good.” He nodded as if he was trying to think of what to say next. “Was it Sam? Are you safe here?”
Her stomach rolled as she blinked him into focus. “What? No! No, it was not Sam. I can’t believe you would even think that. He’s your friend!”
“Yes, he’s my friend. Has been for a really long time, so I’d like to think I know his character. But after what happened last night, I wasn’t sure if you two were in a good place. And in this moment, beyond any friendships, you are my patient. My priority is making sure you and your baby are physically well and safe.”
“I appreciate that so much, but I’m safe with Sam. In fact, he might be the only person I feel truly safe with right now, and I’d like for you to let him back in, please.”
He smiled. “No problem. Give me one second to get him and then I’d like to take a closer look at your injuries.”
A minute later, Sam was sitting next to her on the sofa. Jake prodded and poked at her cheek, and each time she winced, she felt Sam stiffen beside her.
“What happened, Evie?” Jake asked as he looked at the bruises.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t?” His eyebrow shot up. “Or won’t?”
She shook her head, hating the way the pain made her shudder.
“I’ve had a small headache and felt a bit nauseous since… well…” She gave herself a second to take a deep breath and then continued. “But I protected my belly and didn’t let him hurt the baby.”
She’d known the instant Sam registered what she’d said.
“Him? Him who?” he questioned. “Who the fuck else was here if it wasn’t Derrick who did that to you?”
“I already told you it wasn’t. I’m not lying.” She looked around her apartment, praying she thought to check everywhere for any device the guy might have left behind.
“If you aren’t comfortable talking about it right now, that’s okay.” Jake reassured her. “That bruise is going to get worse before it gets better. You can put ice on it for fifteen minutes at a time if it’s still bothering you once I leave.”
“Can I cover it with makeup?”
Jake nodded. “Just know it’ll be tender for the next few days. And I’d stay away from putting anything on your lip. It’s closed up nicely, but it’s in a spot that will be easy to reopen if you aren’t careful.”
“Okay.”
“Now, I brought my fetal Doppler with me. Would it be okay to listen to the baby’s heartbeat?”
She nodded. “I’d love that.”
“Good. And you said you didn’t hit your abdomen?”
“No. I fell on the sofa but I protected my belly. She’s been moving around like normal.”
“Alright. No cramping or bleeding?”
“Nothing. Honestly, it’s just my lip that’s bothering me.”
Jake nodded and she followed his line of sight to Sam, who was sitting with his back ramrod straight, his fists clenched tightly in his lap.
“Sam, will you help Evie lay down on the sofa? I’ll be able to find the baby’s heartbeat easier that way.”
He didn’t respond. Evie placed her hand over his, and smiled as he blinked her into focus.
“You okay there, Cowboy?”
“Evie…I…”
“It’s okay. Let’s just hear Jellybean’s heartbeat. I promise it’ll help you feel better.”
“Okay.”
Sam stood and grabbed Evie’s hand, helping her shuffle back on the cushion and then lowered her down to the pillow. She lifted her shirt and wrinkled her nose as Jake squirted the gel on her belly.
Sam swore. Her eyes darted to his and didn’t miss the pain reflecting back at her as he looked at her belly.
“There’s some bruising here on your hip, Evie.”
“That could be from Ryan, at the bar. He pushed his body against me hard.” She bit the inside of her cheek.
“Okay. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad. Let's listen to the baby’s heartbeat and then I’ll let you know what I’m thinking.”
The first heartbeat he found was slower than Evie was expecting, and she glanced at Jake, worry about to spill out of her mouth with a million questions. Sam squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“That’s your heartbeat, Evie. Nothing to worry about. I’m sure the baby’s heartbeat is right around here.” He moved the transducer around her belly, gathering more gel to spread across her skin. Right at her belly button, he stopped, and a fast galloping sound filled the room.
“Her heartbeat is perfect. Right where I’d expect to see it.”
“Evie still needs to go in and see her doctor, doesn’t she?” Sam asked.
“I think you should at least call into the office and let them know what happened. They’ll let you know if they think you need to go in or just rest until your next appointment.”
“I can’t. It was a risk having you even come over here, Jake. If he knows I told anyone…” Her whole book convulsed under the weight of what her attacker had said.
“What did he say to you, Evie?”
She started to shake her head, but two warm hands slipped up to her cheeks and turned her head.
“Tell me. Please.” The pain in Sam’s voice was the final straw. She’d spent hours looking all over the apartment for anything that looked like a listening device. But even now, she didn’t care. It was burning her alive, this threat that stayed looming over her head. She wanted Sam to know. She wanted him to keep her safe.
“He said he needed me alive as some part of his plan. But if I didn’t stop looking into the accounts that are taking money from the ranch, he’d come back and cut Jellybean out of my belly before he killed me. ”
“Christ, Bluebell.” Sam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body so that her back was resting against his chest.
“It’s not my place to say anything,” Jake sighed as he packed up his equipment. “But I think you need to report this. You have John right across the road, and Hank next door. Our friends’ group is a strong one, Evie. We’ve survived so much because we count on each other. It’s not just Sam who will keep you and your baby safe. We all will.”
“I’ll think about it. But honestly, I just want to sleep and forget what happened last night.”