Man from Half Moon Bay (13 page)

“Talk to me.” Jordan’s voice was urgent, frantic, as his hands ran over her arms and legs. “Where does it hurt?”

“Only my head.” Her eyes closed. “I’m dizzy.”

“Don’t go to sleep. Do you hear me? You’ve got to stay awake.”

His tone was so commanding, she felt as if he were keeping her conscious by sheer willpower alone. Perhaps he was. She didn’t seem to have much will of her own at present.

“Say something. Recite poetry. Anything.”

How peculiarly he was behaving. Why would he want her to do anything so idiotic as recite poetry. “I can’t think of any poetry now.”

“Then recite the Pledge of Allegiance or the Bill of Rights. All of you Yanks memorize those things, right? Come on, open your eyes and talk to me.”

She slowly opened her eyes. His face was close to her own. Jordan had such a powerful, fascinating face, a face that filled her world. Why hadn’t she realized that before? Why was she fighting him, when the tie that bound them together was so much stronger than what was tearing them apart? She vaguely remembered it had something to do with what had happened in the past, but she was too tired to think now. Perhaps tomorrow …

“No! Stay with me. Say something to me.”

It was terribly hard to stay with him, and what could she say? She couldn’t remember that blasted Pledge of Allegiance either. All she could recall were the words Penny had quoted. Perhaps he’d be happy with that. “Oh why hast thou so beguiled me?”

He inhaled sharply. “God, love, I never meant …”

What was he talking about? She had hurt him in some way and she had to try to … The mists were closing in and she tried desperately to push them away. Jordan needed her.

His hands were gripping her shoulders as if to forcibly keep her with him. “No, don’t close your eyes! Please, Sara.”

She heard no more.

•   •   •

She opened her eyes to see Cam smiling down at her. “It’s about time you came back to us. Four more hours and I would have had another patient. Jordan is practically a basket case. He was afraid you’d gone into a coma.”

Sara lifted her hand to her throbbing temple. Running. She had been running. The stones had been so slick. “I fell.”

“You bet you did.” Cam dropped down into the easy chair beside the bed. “And gave yourself one hell of a whack. You’ve been unconscious for the last few hours.” He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. The doctor said you had only a slight concussion. You’re to stay in bed and take it easy for the next twenty-four hours, but after that you should be fine.”

“Doctor?” She sat up, flinching as a jagged pain ripped through her head. “What doctor?”

“Jordan had me radio for a doctor to be flown in from the mainland to examine you. Dr. Molsen just left. Jordan is walking down to the helicopter with him.” Cam made a face. “I don’t think Jordan believed him when he said you’d regain consciousness any minute and intends to cross-examine the poor bastard. How do you feel?”

“Like I have a king-size hangover.”

“How would you know how that feels?” Cam’s dark eyes were twinkling. “I’ve never even seen you tipsy.”

“I’ve sowed a few wild oats like everyone else. Once when I was in college I remember waking up and being in such pain even the sheet covering
me hurt and—” She broke off as another pain knifed through her head. She fell back against the pillows and closed her eyes. “That’s when I learned the value of moderation in all things.”

“You miss a lot of fun that way. Personally, I’m in favor of indulging myself with a little excess every now and then.” A cold cloth was laid on her forehead and Sara sighed with relief as Cam wiped her face with almost maternal gentleness. “Better?”

She didn’t dare risk nodding her head. “Yes.”

“The doctor gave you a shot for pain and left you some pills to take later tonight.” Cam continued to move the cloth over her face. “You’re going to be fine, luv. Just put up with all this bother a little longer and we’ll have you on your feet again in no time.” For a few moments there was a silence in the room as soothing as the stroking of Cam’s touch before a distant chugging of the rotors of a helicopter broke the tranquility. “There goes the doctor. That means Jordan should be back pretty soon.”

Jordan. Sara’s muscles suddenly stiffened and the soothing motion of Cam’s hand paused. “Relax. No one’s going to hassle you. Jordan’s probably in worse shape than you are.”

“I doubt it,” she said dryly. “I’m the one who feels like every sound is setting off an explosion in my head.”

“Then I’d better shut up.” He paused. “Just one more thing, Sara. Don’t blame Jordan too much for what happened, will you? I guarantee he’s blaming himself enough for the two of you.”

“I don’t blame Jordan for my fall,” she said wearily. “It was an accident and could have happened even if I hadn’t been running away from him. I have enough counts against him without blaming him for that too.” She turned her head away. “I don’t want to talk about Jordan. It gives me even more of a headache than that fall I took. I’m going to go back to sleep.”

“Good idea,” Cam said softly. “The great bard said that ‘sleep brings counsel.’ I think we could all use a little counseling. There has to be some solution to this mess.”

“Does there? I don’t know …”

The room was in almost total darkness when she opened her eyes again, and she could only vaguely discern the figure sitting in the chair by the bed. “Cam?” she asked drowsily.

“No.” Jordan leaned forward. “Are you all right? Do you need something?”

“Water. My throat is dry.” She sat up in bed and found to her relief that her headache had faded to a dull throb behind her eyes. “I can get it.”

“Sit still.” Jordan’s voice was hoarse. He switched on the lamp on the bedside table and poured a half glass of water from the thermos carafe on the table. “Do you need a pain pill?”

“No, I don’t think so.” She took the glass of water and drank it thirstily. “I don’t like to take strong sedatives unless—” She broke off as her
gaze lifted to his face. “You’re the one who looks as though he should take something.”

Jordan looked ravaged … empty. She experienced a swift rush of sympathy and hurriedly lowered her gaze so that he wouldn’t be aware of that brief moment of weakness. “Why don’t you go to bed? I don’t need you.”

His smile was a mere stretching of lips as he took the empty glass and set it on the bedside table. “I know you don’t. But I need to be here. I promise you that I won’t bother you. I’ll just sit here and watch over you. Okay?”

She frowned. “No, it’s not okay. I’m fine and I certainly don’t need or want anyone holding a watch over me. Go to bed.”

He stood there, looking at her for a long moment. Then to her surprise he turned away. “All right, I’ll leave you alone. God knows, I can’t blame you for wanting to see the last of me.” He switched off the lamp. “Call if you need anything.”

She watched him move toward the door, a solid silhouette in the darkness. It wasn’t like Jordan to give up so easily and it gave her a twinge of uneasiness. “Jordan.”

“Yes.”

“Cam said you were blaming yourself for my injury,” she said haltingly. “I just wanted you to know that I realize you never intended to hurt me.”

“That’s very kind of you.” His words were oddly muffled. “But it was entirely my fault that it happened.”

For some reason she wanted desperately to comfort him. Where had her anger and bitterness gone?

He opened the door, and for an instant he was framed against the dimly lighted hallway. He was standing very straight, the line of his spine taut as if to withstand the force of a blow. The door closed behind him.

So much pain. Even though he had left the room she could feel the waves of agony that had radiated from him encompass her. She could feel them as if it were her own pain, as if in some mysterious fashion they were joined.

She had a vague memory of thinking something like that after she had been hurt. There had been a warmth, a certainty, a bonding.

And a realization.

Sara slowly lay back down but not to sleep. She was too alert, too electrified by the stunning knowledge that had come to her. She would have to think, to come to terms with that discovery.

And then she must come to a decision.

Cam rose from the couch and came forward as soon as he heard Jordan’s footsteps on the stairs. His gaze searched his brother’s face. “She’s awake?”

Jordan nodded jerkily. “She seems okay.” He smiled bitterly. “As well as could be expected after a blow on the head like that.”

“It was an accident,” Cam said gently. “You speak as if you struck her with a blackjack.”

“The result was the same. I could have killed her. God, I hoped this time it would be different. I hoped I could keep her safe.”

“It is different.” Cam took an impulsive step forward. “Forget Bandora. If there was any guilt there, it was your father’s and not yours.”

“No, I was to blame then too. Just as I am now.”

“Jordan, dammit, you can’t—” Cam broke off. He had fought this battle before and had never been able to convince Jordan. He should have known he’d be even more bullheaded on the subject after Sara’s injury. “You’re wrong and someday I’m going to make you see it.”

Jordan shook his head. “Thanks for trying, Cam.” He descended the last three steps and started across the hall toward the front door. “I’m going for a walk.”

Cam looked at him in surprise. “In the middle of the night?”

“I need to
do
something.” Jordan jerked the door open. “Anything. Stay awake in case Sara needs something, will you?” He smiled mirthlessly. “She’d probably have a relapse if I went back into her room. She made it clear she didn’t want me there. Who the hell can blame her?”

“I’ll watch her. Be careful if you go down to the shore. We don’t want another casualty.”

“It would be no great loss.” He glanced over his shoulder and smiled bitterly. “But don’t worry,
I’m one of the destroyers of the world, not one of the victims.”

“That’s a bunch of bull.”

“Is it? Look at the record.”

“You must be feeling better.” Cam smiled with pleasure as he watched Sara coming down the stairs. “That’s terrific. No more headache?”

Sara shook her head. “I feel fine. Where’s Jordan?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Cam’s face. “Now, that’s a question I didn’t expect. Do you want to know because you want to see him or because you want to avoid him?”

“I want to see him,” Sara said crisply. “Right now. Where is he?”

“Down at the launch. He’s arranging a phone patch up to Penny Lassiter’s apartment in San Francisco.” Cam frowned. “Look, Jordan’s feeling pretty rough this morning. If you’re planning on mounting a full-scale attack, can’t it wait until—”

“Why is he feeling rough?” Sara interrupted. “His reaction to this accident has definitely been on the extreme side.”

Cam hesitated. “Jordan is complicated.”

“So he told me. He thinks that was why I was attracted to him.”

“Was it?”

A sudden smile lit her face. “Perhaps. In the beginning.”

“But not now?”

“Oh, no,” she said softly. “Not now.”

Cam’s face narrowed on her face, noting the faint flush coloring her cheeks and the brilliant sparkling of her eyes. “You’re not angry any longer. Maybe sleep did bring counsel after all?”

“I did some thinking.” She turned toward the door. “And made a few decisions.”

“Sara.”

She glanced back at him and was surprised to see his expression was troubled. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re going to try to work out your problems with Jordan, aren’t you?”

“Why the long face? I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“I do.” He hesitated. “It’s just that it may be too late.”

She felt a swift thrust of fear. “What do you mean?”

“There’s a hell of a lot you don’t know about Jordan,” he said quietly. “And this accident triggered something pretty traumatic in him.”

“The reason I don’t know as much as I should about Jordan is because no one will tell me,” Sara said with exasperation. “He’s always been a bloody mystery man and I’m getting pretty tired of running
into walls wherever I go. Will you please spit out what you mean instead of giving me these blasted hints.”

“I can’t do that. I wasn’t at Bandora when it happened and what Jordan told me later was in strict confidence.”

“For heaven’s sake, I’m his wife, Cam.”

Cam shook his head stubbornly. “I promised. You’ll have to ask him.”

“You’re just as obstinate as he is.” She strode toward the door and flung it open. “I will ask him and I’ll get a few answers too.”

“I hope so,” Cam murmured as the door swung shut behind her. “Lord, I hope so, luv.”

“Jordan.” Sara moistened her dry lips with her tongue. Damn, she was nervous. She had been filled with such optimism and joy when she had opened her eyes this morning and now Cam’s words had robbed her of both. She took a step closer to the launch and called again, “Jordan. It’s Sara.”

Jordan stepped out of the cabin and stood looking at her. “What are you doing out of bed? Dammit, you’re not even wearing a coat. Are you trying to catch pneumonia?” He tore off his blue-jean jacket as he strode across the deck and down the gangplank. He draped the jacket over her shoulders, thrusting her right arm in the sleeve. “If you wanted to see me, why couldn’t you have sent Cam down?” He thrust her left arm in the other
sleeve and began to button the jacket. “Or maybe you wanted to make a try for the launch again? I won’t let you leave, Sara. There’s no way—”

“Will you please be quiet,” she asked crossly. “In the first place, I don’t need this damn jacket. The sweater I’m wearing is thick enough to keep an Eskimo warm.” She was more than warm, she realized breathlessly. He was only a half step away and the scent of soap and his aftershave was enveloping her. The top button of his blue chambray shirt was undone and she could glimpse the dark hair that thatched his chest. She had a sudden urge to touch him, to wind her fingers in the soft springiness of his hair. She jerked her gaze back to his face and tried to remember what she’d been saying. “Cam said the doctor told you I’d be back to normal in twenty-four hours, and he was right. I feel fine.” He started to speak, but she put her fingers over his lips to silence him. “And I didn’t come down to hijack the launch either. Now that we’ve disposed of all that foolishness, may I tell you why I did come?”