Letters From Al (22 page)

After talking to Alec privately, the old farmer named Ezra tipped his hat and left. Alec led Maddy to his office and shut the door with a bang. The old venetian blinds swung wildly in the wake of his anger.

"Maddy, what in the world were you thinking of? Obviously, you weren't thinking. Going jogging by yourself after all that's been going on. You could have been hurt, or worse."

Maddy squirmed on the cold, hard chair and fumed inwardly. Of course he was right; that's what made it so hard to listen to.

"Oh, Alex, I don't think..."

"That's right! You hit the nail on the head. You didn't think!" Throwing a file on the desk, he sat down in his squeaky chair running a hand through his hair in frustration. Pointing a finger at her he was about to continue when she finally had enough.

"I understand I shouldn't have gone that way and gone alone, but I forgot. I was so wrapped up in thinking about the diary. Besides, I don't think those two guys were involved, just a couple of flirts, out for good time. Don't you think?" Alec didn't looked like he was convinced and she sat back, chewing on her fingernail. "You were busy and couldn't jog this morning," she finished weakly. "One of them did look familiar. I just can't recall from where."

Alec drew his lips in thoughtfully. "Are you sure?"

She nodded miserably. "I'm not sure where, though."

"I'll tell you one thing. Good old boys around here don't need two blasts from a shotgun to get their attention Maddy. Old Ezra said he'd never seen them before, that means they're outsiders and could be drug dealers and dangerous."

Alec came around the desk and knelt in front of her quickly, "Ezra said one had his hands on you. He didn't hurt you or anything, did he?" His thumb rubbed against her skin and gave her goose bumps. She shook her head and burrowed in his arms, loving the concern in his voice.

So full of rage only a moment ago, his voice now softened to a tender whisper and he touched her arms smudged with grime where she'd been grabbed.

Tears welled up in her eyes at his obvious concern and she cupped his face in her hands. The emotion in that one look they exchanged tore at her heart.

"No, darling deputy, they didn't hurt me, honest. Scared me pretty good, but that's all. I'm really sorry I acted so foolishly and made you worry. I won't do it again, I promise."

"Thank goodness Ezra was there. He's had a lot of trouble with drug dealers and thefts lately. If anything ever happened to you I don’t know what I’d do." Pulling Maddy up from the chair into his arms, Alec kissed her hard, burying his face in her copper hair. A tap on the door and Alec's secretary interrupted them with business. Reluctantly they parted.

"Sorry, Alec, State Patrol is on line one."

"Okay, thanks Brenda. Maddy, I'm having Ben drive you home. No argument." Alec kept holding her hand.

"No argument there, Alec." She sidled up to him and leaned her head on his shoulder for a moment before easing out of the office. “I am sorry.”

Ben, the tall officer who'd helped investigate the break-in at her house waited to drive her. She sighed and just wished she were at home. He smiled when he saw her come out of Alec's office, and reached for his hat.

"Come on. Alec said no stops along the way."

“
Oh, don’t worry about that. I just want to go home.”

"Miss Morris, Alec said to remind you to lock up after I leave." Ben had dutifully gone around the house and checked the doors and windows and everything was in its proper place.

"Thanks, Ben. Tell Alec to call me when he gets off."

"I think he'll be over, if I know him." Ben said with a knowing smile. The house seemed emptier than usual. Maddy had so much company lately it was hard to get used to the silence. Relaxing in a hot bath, she felt better after dressing in fresh clothes. Thinking she heard someone at the back door, she padded down the hallway hoping Alec got off early to be with her. Being physically threatened had given her a little more perspective on needing someone. It felt good to have Alec in her life.

The clock chimed loudly from the living room and Maddy felt strange, in fact, everything around her had a strange feel to it. Just as she reached the end of the hall a hand came out of the closet and dirty fingers clasped over her mouth and cheeks.

Automatically Maddy pulled back and struggled, there was something familiar about the smell. An arm encircled her waist and pulled her back into the darkness of the closet.
Oh no! The sweat and beer smell. That cowboy this morning had the same smell. How? How could he have gotten in? Ben and she both checked everything.
That was of little consequence now. A criminal stood here in her home and controlled her.

Think, girl, think! Try and talk to him, see what he wants.
But she couldn't, he wouldn't let her. His filthy hand pressed onto her mouth and chin so hard she couldn't breathe, much less talk.
Stay calm and you’ll stay alive. Maddy, don’t panic, think of Alec.
She did and it helped.

"You listen and you listen good. I want all the papers, those letters and the book, the diary. I know you have them and I want them
now."
The dirty cowboy jerked her hard and moved his hand slightly so she could reply.

"What letters and book?" She gasped. But her try at stalling only angered him. Viciously he jerked her arms and pulled her head back by the hair, his mouth next to her ear.

"Don't make me mad, Girl. You made me mad this morning. Now where are they?"

"In the kitchen," she croaked. He pushed her forward again giving her no time to think. Maddy pointed to the refrigerator and stepped back but he kept his hands on her.

Flinging the freezer door open, he found the plastic bag with the papers and diary in them. With a gleeful curse he grabbed the frosty bag and pulled her back down the hall towards the front door. Terrified, she knew he might hurt or even kill her now that he had what he wanted.

The hall rug balled up under their feet as he dragged her forward. The little table with the porcelain bird crashed behind them. One arm slipped loose and she flailed out, hoping to touch anything stable but he was too strong for her.

He pressed her up against the door as he peered through the sheer curtains, muttering under his breath looking for his partner. She nearly slipped away but he roughly slapped her across the face, leaving her dazed.

At that moment, her free hand found the umbrella stand and the big silk umbrella with a duck's head handle. Her groping fingers closed over it and she swung it around, hard, smacking him on his neck and back. Harder and harder she hit, as fast as she could. Suddenly her other arm was free and she regained her balance.

Using her feet she kicked and bashed away at the intruder until she realized he was backing away from her. In his haste he broke a pane of glass opening the front door trying to get away. He swung the door open just as Maddy bent forward and charged into it, hitting her soundly in the forehead. She sank down and in a cascade of stars. She screamed as she felt herself being lifted and slammed into something very hard. There was just blissful silence as she collapsed on the floor.

When she opened her eyes again, faces peered down at her in a circle. They looked familiar but pulsated in and out like some bad dream. It scared her and she tried to get away, but hands pushed her back down. Even if she had managed to get up, the pain in her head would have forced her right back down.

Alec's voice gently called her name from somewhere in the distance and then his steel blue eyes and crooked grin came into focus. She smiled and put a hand out. Groggy and shaky she tried to speak, but he kissed her gently and made the other 'faces' go away.

Alec was here, he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. Maddy could go to sleep. She was safe with Alec. A moment later a light shining in her eyes made her turn away, groaning in protest. The sharp pain from the movement aggravated her headache even more. Why didn't they leave her alone? She just wanted to sleep. She raised one arm to shield her eyes but someone pulled it back down and poked her arm. A wire or IV seemed to be attached to it.

Prying her lids open Maddy licked dry lips and saw another circle of faces. Not so many this time, and not directly above her. It took a moment to get it all in focus. Everything was white. White walls, sheets, the nurses and the doctor in front of her. There were tubes in her arm and someone said, "She's coming out of it."

"What's the other guy look like?" she quipped painfully.

"Well, I heard you broke an umbrella over his head, so probably worse. But he gave you a couple of good whacks with something hard before you went down, Miss Morris. Anything else hurt?"

The doctor looked at her intently, he was young and nice looking and very professional. Maddy shifted around, not sure what hurt and what didn't until a pain in her shoulder made her gasp.

"Ouch! Shoulder, hurts. Shoulder definitely hurts." It was hard for Maddy to talk.

"Yes, it was nearly dislocated, but with rest it will be fine. Now that you're awake and seem to be focusing, I'd say you’re going to be fine in no time. Slight concussion, sprained shoulder and lots of bumps and bruises, but we'll keep you overnight for observation. By the way, I'm Dr. Richards. If you need anything push the buzzer."

Maddy's lips were dry and she felt like she was in a fog.

"You others can stay a few minutes, but let her rest. She can probably go home in a day or two." Maddy heard Alec and the doctor talking quietly in the shadows and then the door close.

"Hey, how's my girl?" Alec leaned over and kissed her sweetly on the cheek, concern welling in his eyes.

"Alec, how did he get in? Ben and I both checked everything."

Tears of anger and pain filled her eyes, and she tried to rise up on her elbow as the memory flooded back.

"He broke in after you got home, Honey, we found a screen and broken window in the basement. It wasn't your fault, if anyone's it was mine. I should have known they'd try again." Alec dropped his hat and tried to calm her. An efficient looking nurse came in when she heard the commotion and frowned.

"Miss Morris, this will never do. You're not to upset yourself or I'll have to give you a sedative." She looked sternly at both of them, and they nodded.

Clutching Alec's hand, Maddy slid back down on the pillows and closed her eyes, her head throbbing.

"Alec, it was the same man who stopped me on the road, the dirty cowboy. He was waiting. He grabbed me. I tried to fight."

"Maddy, you did just fine. Try not to think about it anymore. It'll be okay. We'll talk tomorrow, just get some rest now. I'll be right here." Tucking the sheet around her, he settled in a chair beside the bed. Worriedly he kissed her hand that clutched his. "I'll be right here," he repeated softly and with a sigh she fell asleep.

* * *

"Alec, I'm perfectly capable of walking on my own two feet." Maddy protested as she leaned over and opened the front door of her house after being released from the hospital. "Honestly. I got a bump on my head, not my feet. Won't you put me down?" Alec's grip only tightened.

"No. Your doctor kept you an extra day because of the headaches. He said rest and no strain whatsoever."

"And between the two of us," Aunt Polly continued, sweeping down the hall from the kitchen, a dish rag in her hand, "We're going to make sure you follow orders. When Alec isn't here, I will be." She hefted her Louisville Slugger baseball bat to her shoulder, "This time I'm going to be prepared."

Maddy looked from one to the other, her heart full of love for them and their concern. "Well, it looks like there's no room for discussion then. Carry on."

Aunt Polly led the way into the bedroom where Alec carefully laid Maddy on the freshly made bed. The pillows were plumped up, the sun streamed in the windows and the room looked so inviting. She was home.

Gently Alec sat on the edge of her bed and gave her a little kiss. A large bandage covered the bump on her head and she winced at the slight jostling.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

Maddy shook her head which was a mistake and meekly answered, “No, I did.”

"I'm going to make sure no one ever hurts you again, Maddy. You've got my word." Alec promised. "You know, when I saw you lying on the floor, I thought you were dead. My heart almost stopped beating. I'm going to find this guy, Maddy and when I do..."

"...You'll arrest him and be the professional that you are, deputy. Whether it's for me or for someone else. I'll be proud that you did it that way, Alec. Your love has given me something to hold on to. Something I’ve never had before. I don’t want to lose it."

"I couldn't agree more. So you did a lot of thinking while you were recuperating?" His thumb stroked the hand he held in a simple gesture and with a slow, secret smile she nodded.

Chapter
14

Maddy didn't get to go to Buffy and Skip's wedding because she hadn't fully recovered from the results of her attack. So, she and Alec sent a wonderfully lavish present, crystal stemware they ordered online and had it delivered to try to make up for it.