Hearts on the Line Read online

  His father came to his side and grasped his shoulder. “Put your trust in the Lord, Quinn. Someone has to do her job. What will this world become if no one will? We need people like her.”

  “I’m not asking her to give up her job for me. I couldn’t do that. No one is happy if they are forced to make a choice like that. But I can’t love someone whose life is on the line every day.”

  “Everyone’s life is on the line every day. When it’s our time, it’s our time, son. Besides, we don’t always have control over who we fall in love with.”

  “Well, I do.” Yeah, right, an inner voice countered. Who are you fooling?

  Quinn set his jaw, refusing to get into a debate with his father over this issue. He was just too tired to make any sense. The pressure of his dad’s hold on his shoulder increased for a few seconds before he released it and sat on the small couch along the wall.

  “There’s no reason for you to lose sleep, too, Dad.”

  “In other words, go home.”

  Quinn nodded, wanting to be alone to grapple with his conflicting emotions that were colliding with each other. He wanted to hold her, to take her suffering away, and yet that would only prolong the inevitable—him backing off.

  His father headed for the door. “I’m only a phone call away.”

  When the door swished closed, Quinn took a deep, fortifying breath. Part of him couldn’t forget that Becca was lying in this hospital bed because of him. If Escalante hadn’t wanted to hurt him, hadn’t taunted them this morning, she wouldn’t have been shot.

  Quinn bowed his head and began a series of prayers, alternating between asking God to protect Becca and to help him walk away from her when the time came. He wouldn’t when she needed him. She was hurt because of him, and he would be there for her through her recovery. He owed her that. But after that—

  “Quinn?”

  Her weak, raspy voice pulled his attention to her face, pale with dark circles accentuating her pain-filled eyes. His heart slowed to a throb. If he could bear her pain, he would in a heartbeat.

  He scooted forward. “I’m right here. How are you doing?”

  She moved so she could see him better and winced. “Lousy. Is Escalante dead?”

  “Yep. They found a charred body in the rubble of the burned-out cabin. They’re checking DNA to see if it’s Escalante, but it fits the description of height. Besides, where could he have gone? There was only one door in and you all had him surrounded.”

  She sighed. “It’s over. Then it was worth it.” Her eyes slid close for a few seconds. When she peered at him again, she licked her lips and asked, “Can I have a drink of water?”

  Her weak voice and pale features tore at his heart. He turned toward the bedside table and poured a glass, his hold on the pitcher shaky. When he finally got control of his nerves, he helped her drink by holding her up, careful of her bandaged shoulder. When he touched her, his throat closed. He had almost lost her.

  She rested her head back on the pillow, again her eyes shutting. “How’d they get Escalante’s DNA?”

  “Peter’s son, Manuel.”

  “You know?”

  “I do now. Manuel is Escalante’s son. But it will take some time to verify that the body is Escalante.”

  “Good. I don’t want there to be any doubts this time. It’ll put closure on this own thing. I’m glad….” Her voice faded into silence as sleep overcame her.

  Quinn observed her for a few minutes, then rose to work the kinks out. After stretching and rolling his head, he strode to the door. He needed a strong cup of coffee. It would be a long night.

  Stepping off the elevator, Quinn made his way to the cafeteria and purchased a large coffee. As he started to leave, Jake Montgomery came into the room.

  “What are you doing here?” Quinn asked.

  “I could ask you the same thing, but I heard about Becca and what happened at the cabin with Escalante. I’m here because Holly went into premature labor. The doctor has stopped it, but wants to keep her overnight. Run some tests.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I know she had a scare a while back.”

  “Yeah, but I think everything will be all right.” Jake walked to the counter and filled himself a large cup of coffee, then rejoined Quinn by the door. “We only have a few more months to go.”

  “I’ll stop by and give Holly my support. She’s family and if she needs anything, just let me know.”

  On the elevator ride, Jake asked, “How’s Becca doing?”

  “Okay. She should go home tomorrow or the next day.”

  “That’s great. Are you bringing her to Colleen’s wedding?”

  “Yes.”

  “We’ll be able to celebrate more than my sister’s wedding. Escalante’s dead. Holly should be all right with bed rest. Life is good.”

  Quinn wished he felt that way, but right now he was faced with a lonely life. Becca had given him a glimpse of what he was missing. He wanted to be married. He wanted a family. He had grown up around a large, loving family and knew the importance of having one.

  When Quinn walked by the nursery with Jake and glanced inside at all the bassinets with babies in them, emotions he’d tried to bury swelled. He wanted a child, a wife, a family of his own.

  Becca stared out the window at the bright June day, the Rockies in the background. She was finally alone after a steady stream of visitors this morning. When she had opened her eyes earlier, she’d found Quinn slumped in the chair next to her hospital bed, sound asleep. The sight of him had made her realize she would have done the day before all over again if it meant the threat to his life was gone. For a few seconds she didn’t disguise the love she felt for him. She felt it pouring from her heart and her expression.

  Lord, if You’re listening, thank You for protecting Quinn and keeping him safe from Escalante.

  He’d left an hour ago to get some rest, telling her he would be back to bring her home from the hospital.

  Dr. Adam Montgomery came into the room, his blue eyes gleaming with a smile. “I hear you’re demanding to go home this afternoon.”

  “Too many visitors. It seems everyone came to make sure Holly was all right and decided to stop by and thank me for helping to end Escalante’s reign of terror.”

  “And like you, Holly’s screaming to go home.” Adam checked his handiwork on her shoulder. “This shouldn’t affect your range of motion. Give it a few weeks before playing on the police department’s softball team.”

  “I’ll keep your advice in mind.”

  “No work for at least a week.”

  “Can I at least work the desk at the station?” She couldn’t imagine sitting around and resting for a whole week. She’d never done that.

  “I want to see you in a week and I’ll let you know if you can.”

  “You doctors are such tyrants,” Becca said with a laugh.

  “That’s what they pay us the big bucks for.” Adam headed for the door, paused and glanced back. “I want to add my thanks to all the rest of the Montgomerys’.”

  Quinn was so lucky to have such a large family that knew what the word “family” truly meant. She only had her brother and sister. Although both had wanted to come home to make sure she was all right, she had insisted they stay where they were. She had known it wouldn’t have been easy for either one to leave their jobs and school when she’d only suffered a minor wound. Well, maybe not minor but she was determined not to let it get her down for long.

  Her door opened again and in walked Sam. She grinned. “I was just thinking about you. What brings you by? Holly?”

  He sent her an exasperated glance. “You’re the reason I’m here. I just finished all the paperwork on the incident yesterday. I tell you, some officers will go to great lengths not to fill out paperwork, even getting shot.”

  The teasing in his voice made her smile grow. “You’re just jealous I thought of it before you.”

  Sam sat in the same chair Quinn had vacated earlier. “Seriously, are you
all right?”

  “Almost as good as new.”

  “After you came out of surgery, and I had to go to the station, Quinn kept me informed.”

  “So you were with Quinn while I was in the O.R.?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How did he seem to you?” Although Quinn had said all the right things when she had awakened, a shadow had clouded his eyes and there had been a certain reservation about him.

  “What do you think? He was worried. He spent a good part of the time in the chapel praying for you or pacing around the waiting room until I wanted to scream.”

  “Did he say anything about Maggie?”

  “Why would he?” Sam’s expression brightened. “You’re worried that Quinn will think your shooting was like what happened to Maggie?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s not the same. Being on the bomb squad puts you in danger every time you’re called out to defuse a bomb. There was nothing in Escalante’s dossier that indicated the man knew how to shoot like a sniper. You had on body armor and should have been a safe enough distance from the cabin.”

  She knew all that. But still, would that make a difference to Quinn when he began to think about it? If he hadn’t already, he would.

  “You worry too much, Becca. I’m glad you’re dating Quinn. He’s a good man.” Sam rose. “I’d better go see Holly before I leave here. I’ll talk to you later. Enjoy your time off.”

  Time off? Becca hadn’t taken much, and now she would be stuck at home for at least a week. The bright spot of the whole situation was that Quinn would be working there and finishing up her kitchen. That realization brought a smile to her lips. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

  Not fifteen minutes later another member of the Montgomery and Vance families entered her room. An orderly wheeled Holly inside and parked her by the bed, then left.

  “I’m hiding out,” Holly said with a wink. “I’m gonna have to go home to get the rest the doctor has prescribed for me. I’ve seen relatives I haven’t seen in—” she fluttered her hand in the air “—in at least a week.”

  The light laughter that accompanied Holly’s words produced Becca’s own. “Well, this isn’t the place to be. Frankly I didn’t know there were so many family members.”

  “I’ve come to add my thanks to all the others’.” Holly moved her wheelchair closer and shifted to get more comfortable. Then her eyes grew round and she splayed her hand over her round stomach. “This sucker is an active one. Here, you want to feel? Either he’s doing a victory dance or she’s doing some kind of gymnastics routine.”

  Becca laid her palm where Holly indicated and felt the jab. She smiled. What a wondrous sensation! To feel your baby growing inside you. Emotion swelled up inside Becca. That was one part of motherhood she hadn’t experienced.

  Okay, now Becca knew something was wrong. She’d been holed up in the house for three days and hadn’t seen Quinn much at all—unless she counted the times he was surrounded by several men furiously working to complete the kitchen. The hole in the attic was patched, and when she walked into the third bedroom, she couldn’t even tell that she’d fallen through the ceiling.

  Quinn left with the rest of the men. He never lingered to talk. When they did exchange words, they were polite but held a certain distance. She wasn’t sure what to do about the situation. She wasn’t good at dating, not having done a lot in the past, with all her family and work demands.

  Becca dragged herself out of her bed and slipped on her slippers. Napping in the middle of the day was so uncharacteristic of her, but she was so tired after being up for a few hours that if she didn’t lie down she would never make it to five o’clock. And she definitely wasn’t going to bed at five in the afternoon!

  Sounds from the kitchen had died as she padded down the hall toward it. It wouldn’t be long before Quinn refurbished its hardwood floor, the last item to be done. Then would he be gone for good?

  She pushed open the door and entered the room to find Quinn measuring the space where the countertop had been. There was no one else in the kitchen. She’d been silent, but he whirled around, as though he felt her look drill into his back, and locked gazes with her.

  “You didn’t sleep long,” he said, turning back to his work.

  “Is that why you’re alone? You didn’t expect me to be up so soon?” she asked, deciding not to skirt the issue that had been plaguing her for days.

  He stiffened. “My men are taking a late lunch.”

  She walked toward him. “Haven’t you eaten?”

  “Not yet. Mom insisted on bringing by something for me to eat—and you.” His head bowed, he marked off some spaces on a piece of wood.

  “She did? How sweet.”

  “Sweet.” He chuckled. “You know what she’s up to?”

  “Yeah, she’s not too hard to figure out.” Becca relaxed next to him, leaning against the cabinets with a gaping hole where the counter should be. Quinn, on the other hand, wasn’t as easy to read.

  “I put her off for the past several days. I know how wiped out you’ve been. I ran out of excuses this morning. Be prepared for a banquet.”

  How sweet, Becca thought again. Maybe he was only being considerate of her sleeping all the time and not wanting to disturb her rest. “When should she be here?”

  “Probably not for another hour. I thought you would sleep longer.” He slanted a look toward her as he moved down the counter away from her.

  Something she wasn’t quite sure of filled his gaze before he masked it. Pain? Regret? Becca rubbed her hands down her face, exhaustion still clinging to her mind. She couldn’t even read a person clearly, which was one of her assets as a police officer.

  “I told her to come around to the back door. I’ll let you know when the food is here.”

  She was being dismissed.

  Her expression must have reflected her thoughts because he added, “I need to finish this before the men get back so we can complete the counters today.”

  “So in other words, get lost,” she said in a teasing tone, but deep down she hurt, because he’d already pulled away emotionally.

  TEN

  “Jessica, what are you doing here?” Becca said later that afternoon after Quinn and his crew had left.

  “Can’t a friend come over and see if you’re all right?” She came into the foyer, her arms laden with a casserole dish and a bowl of salad. “Quinn said to let you rest for a few days before we started visiting you.”

  “That’s what he told me earlier.” Becca closed the front door and followed her friend into the living room.

  “He even had us stagger our visits so you wouldn’t get so tired.”

  Stunned, Becca blinked. “So his mother came earlier and you now. Who’s next?”

  “Let me put this in the kitchen. Be right back.” Jessica disappeared for a few minutes and when she reentered the living room, she took a seat on the couch. “I think Sam’s parents are next. They didn’t have a chance to thank you yet.” She tossed her head toward the kitchen. “Quinn’s work is beautiful. I didn’t even recognize it as the same room.”

  “All that’s left is the wallpapering and the floors. Then he’s done.”

  “Did you know he pulled some men from other projects to help get it done?”

  “No, although I thought more people were here. Why?”

  “He didn’t want you to be without your kitchen any longer. I think it’s one of his ways of telling you thank you.”

  With her arm in a sling, Becca shifted on the couch, trying to get more comfortable. Her wound continued to be a nagging throb. “I was doing my job. That’s all. Sam and others were there.”

  “And they’re getting swamped with thanks, too. I don’t think you realize the toll Escalante has had on our two families over the past few years. His reign has finally ended. Praise the Lord!”

  “Jessica—” Becca hesitated, not sure how to say what she was feeling. “I’ve noticed lately that I’m talking to God again. I use
d to as a child. My father taught me how. He always felt it was like having a conversation with your best friend. But I still have doubts. I—” Her throat jammed; she couldn’t finish her sentence, her emotions of late so close to the surface.

  “I know. I went through the same thing when I met and fell in love with Sam.” She spread her arms wide. “And look where I am today. You’ll come to terms with these new feelings.” She leaned forward. “I heard you’re going with Quinn to Colleen’s rehearsal dinner at the end of the week. Do you want some help shopping?”

  “Shopping? I hadn’t planned on going shopping.”

  Jessica wrinkled her forehead. “I could bring some outfits here if you’re too tired to go out. I thought we could go Thursday afternoon. That gives you a few more days to rest. Knowing you, you’ll be chomping at the bit to get out of this house by then.”

  “You know me well. I would have already been doing that if I hadn’t been sleeping so much. But today I didn’t take too many naps so I know I’m getting my energy back.”

  “Good. Then we’ll have lunch and go to a few stores.” Jessica stood. “This is gonna be so much fun! We certainly deserve a celebration. We’ve got so much to be thankful for and it looks like the completion of your kitchen will be another thing to add to the list.”

  “Do you like it?” Quinn asked in the middle of her newly renovated kitchen on Friday afternoon.

  Becca made a full circle, taking in the cherrywood cabinets, light granite countertops, polished hardwood floor, tumbled-marble backsplash and large walk-in pantry concealed behind cabinet doors. “I can’t believe it’s finished. Just in time for me to go back to work next Monday.”

  The mention of work brought a frown to Quinn’s face. “Are you sure you’re all right to go in?”

  She slowly moved her left arm, being careful not to do it too quickly. “Good as new, or it will be soon. I’ll be on desk duty until my shoulder and arm are one hundred percent, but the nice thing is I don’t have to stare at these four walls all day long.” Especially since you won’t be here, she added silently. His presence had been the only bearable part of the past week on house rest—even if she had to make it a point to go into the kitchen to see Quinn.