The Chase (13 page)

W
hen Anne was allowed back in Doug’s room, he was off the ventilator and had a small oxygen tube running to his nose. He smiled when he saw her, and Anne leaned over and kissed him, then buried her face in his neck. Doug raised his arm and held her close.

They embraced for several minutes, amid the tangle of IV lines, and then Anne pulled back so she could look into his eyes. “I was so worried about you.”

Doug frowned. “I drove off the road,” he said in a raspy voice.

“Try not to talk, Mr. Cummings,” the nurse said. “You need to let your voice box relax.”

Doug shot the nurse an annoyed look. “The trailer flipped off the hitch with Chancellor in it.”

“Chancellor’s okay, Doug. He’s at the EMC and he’s going to be fine. There’s nothing to worry about. You’re both going to be just fine.”

Doug nodded, but his eyes still darted worriedly as he looked at her. “My brakes went out, Anne. The emergency brake, too. And the trailer brakes.”

She nodded and put her fingers on his mouth. “Shhh. Don’t strain to talk. I know; something was wrong with your brakes. It wasn’t your fault.”

“But why would they all go out at once?”

The nurse put her hand on Anne’s arm. “Mrs. Cummings, your husband needs to rest now. I must insist that he stop talking, or I’ll have to ask you to leave the room.”

Anne gave her a quick nod. She knew the nurse was right. Doug was becoming agitated, and it concerned her. “Doug, please don’t worry about it now. There are a lot of questions that we’ll get the answers to. But right now, you just need to concentrate on getting better. Please, just calm down and try to rest.”

Doug glared at the nurse, but he didn’t try to speak again, and Anne could see that he was exhausted. “Just sleep now. I’ll be right here when you wake up,” she said, holding his hand.

Doug’s eyes drifted closed and Anne sat down in the chair next to him, her thoughts jumbled with questions about his accident.
Who had tampered with Doug’s brakes? And, for God’s sake, why? Could it really have anything to do with Zeb McGraw?
A shiver ran down Anne’s spine and she gripped Doug’s hand tighter. McGraw’s trial date was coming up. Was the timing coincidental, or could this somehow be connected to that?

Z
elda entered the front door of the nursing home, hoping it would be the last time she’d have to suffer through the ordeal.

“How’s my mama today?” she asked the woman at the desk when she signed in.

“About the same,” the woman replied. “She’s sitting out on the veranda.”

“Veranda my ass,” Zelda muttered. It was nothing more than a rickety old porch. She crossed the lobby, avoiding eye contact with the old people who lounged there.
I ain’t never going to end up like this
, she thought.
Sitting in my own shit; not even knowing who I am. I’ll kill myself before I let that happen
.

She found her mama in her wheelchair, parked by the railing, staring vacantly off into the parking lot.

“Hey, Mama,” Zelda said, squatting down next to her. “How you feeling today?”

The old woman slowly turned her head towards Zelda. “Who are you?”

“It’s me, Mama. Zelda.”

“I don’t know you,” her mama said, turning her head back towards the parking lot.

Zelda reached for her mama’s hand, shuddering at how bony and wrinkled it was. “Zeb sends his love, Mama. He’s doing real good and he wishes he could come and see you.”

The old woman didn’t respond.

“I’ve got good news, Mama. I’m back together with Earl Davis. You remember him, don’t you, Mama?”

Her mama just stared vacantly at the parking lot.

“You really liked Earl, Mama. You wanted us to get married.”

“It’s too dang hot out here,” her mama said, pulling her hand out of Zelda’s grasp. “They just bring me out here and leave me in this heat for hours. I could die of heatstroke sitting out here, and no one would even know about it.”

Zelda sighed and looked around the porch to make sure no one was within hearing distance. “I’m going to be going away for a while, Mama. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to see you again. But I’ll be thinking about you, and I know they’ll take real good care of you here. I’ll keep paying the bills; don’t you worry none.”

“I have a boy named Zeke,” her mama said, turning her watery blue eyes in Zelda’s direction. “But he don’t never come see me.”

Zelda closed her eyes and sighed. “Zeke’s dead, Mama. He died in prison because of that shitty lawyer he had. That’s why he don’t come see you.”

“His name is Zeke,” her mama said again, as if Zelda hadn’t spoken. “He’s a nice boy. Used to take good care of his mama, except he don’t come see me no more.”

“He’s dead, Mama. But you still have Zeb and me. Remember your son Zeb?”

Her mama seemed to perk up at the sound of Zeb’s name. “You remember Zeb, don’t you, Mama?” Zelda asked. “Your oldest boy, Zeb?”

“Zeb’s in jail. My boy Zeb is in jail.”

“That’s right, Mama.” Zelda smiled. “Zeb’s in jail. But not for much longer. Zeb is going to be getting out of jail real soon.”

Zelda kissed her mama on the cheek and turned towards the door to the lobby.

“Zelda.”

She spun around. “Yes, Mama?”

“It’s your own fault Earl Davis never married you. You went and let that other boy get you pregnant.”

K
endall flipped her cell phone shut as she opened the door to the observation lounge. Margaret stood by the minibar at the far end of the room and Stephen Lloyd was seated on a couch in front of the cavernous stone fireplace.

“I have great news,” Kendall said. “Doug came out of the coma, and it looks like he’s going to be fine.”

“Oh, thank God,” Margaret said.

Stephen Lloyd winced as he eased his leg with the cast onto the coffee table in front of him. “Hey, that’s great. I don’t even know the man, but the way everyone’s been talking about him, he must be some guy. I’m very happy for him and his family.”

Margaret held up an ice-filled glass. “I was just getting some iced tea for Stephen and myself. Would you like a glass, Kendall?”

“I’d love one. Thanks.”

Margaret poured tea into three mason-jar glasses and placed them on a tray. “Doug will be in the hospital for some time, I suppose. Do you think Samantha will still be coming to riding camp this week?”

“Yes. In fact, I just discussed that with Anne. She thinks it would be best to keep Samantha busy. If Anne stays at the hospital again tonight, I’m going to pick Samantha up and have her spend the night at my house. And even if Anne goes home tonight, I’ll bring Samantha to camp tomorrow. I told Anne I’d be happy to bring Samantha to camp all week.”

Margaret eyed Stephen’s leg as she set the tray on the coffee table and handed a glass to Kendall. “Kendall, that was very kind of you to offer to take Samantha. Let me see if I can’t find someone to help you out with the camp. You have the young group this week, and I’m sure they’ll be a handful.”

“Wait a minute, I’m confused. I thought you were a boarder,” Stephen said, accepting the glass Margaret offered him. “You teach camp here?”

Kendall placed her glass on the counter in front of the observation window and perched on a tall stool. “Yes—”

“I was in a bind and Kendall agreed to help me out,” Margaret said, taking a seat on the couch next to Stephen. “She is a boarder here, but my camp counselor quit on me, and since Kendall’s an excellent rider and the kids love her, I begged her to fill in. And you’ve been having fun, haven’t you, Kendall?”

Kendall shifted uncomfortably.
Why was Margaret trying to pretend that she wasn’t teaching camp in exchange for board?
“Yes, I’ve really enjoyed teaching the kids.”

The door opened and Elizabeth burst into the lounge. “You guys, you would not believe what a different horse I have now! Oh my gosh. Were you watching? After Jake rode Cloudy, I got back on, and he did everything I asked him to. Just like when I bought him, only even better. I’m so excited.” She beamed at Jake, who had followed her into the room.

“Whoa, slow down there,” he said, grinning broadly and shaking his head. “You’re making my head spin.”

“I saw you working with him, Jake, and I was quite impressed,” Margaret said. “You’re firm but patient. I like that.”

Jake shrugged off the compliment. “He’s a nice horse. He just needed a tune-up, that’s all.”

Margaret smiled. “Don’t be so modest. You’re a talented rider. Have you worked much with hunters?”

“No, ma’am.”

“What’s your background?”

Jake hesitated. “Western. Quarter horses mostly.”

“Well, you certainly did a nice job schooling Elizabeth’s Thoroughbred.”

“I wish you could ride him every day for a week, Jake,” Elizabeth said. “Then I’d be sure Cloudy wasn’t going to forget. I’m so afraid that I’ll get on him at home tomorrow and he’ll be back to his old tricks.”

“He’ll be fine,” Jake said. “You underestimate your ability.”

Margaret studied Jake thoughtfully. “Are you going to be staying around town for a while?”

“I’m not sure, ma’am. I don’t really have any definite plans.”

Margaret smiled. “I might just have a solution that helps everyone out.”

“What scheme are you cooking up, Margaret?” Kendall asked.

“You know me too well. Kendall, what if Elizabeth helped you out with summer camp this week, in exchange for keeping Cloudy here?”

“Sure, I’d love to have Elizabeth’s help.”

Margaret looked at Elizabeth. “Elizabeth, what do you think about that arrangement?”

“I’d be happy to help Miss Waters,” Elizabeth said. “And I’d love to have Cloudy here for a week. I just have to ask my dad and make sure it’s all right. But I’m sure he’ll say yes.”

“Good,” Margaret said. “Now, Jake, how would you feel about staying here for a while and riding some horses for me? I have a few young horses I think you’d be well suited for. You could school my horses and ride Cloudy for Elizabeth. I’ll pay your going rate, of course, and I have a cottage you’re welcome to stay in while you’re here.”

Jake’s expression was hard to read. He looked serious, as if he were weighing the possibilities, but his mouth also held a faint hint of a smile.

Finally, he tipped his hat and nodded at Margaret. “Mrs. Southwell, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

“Wonderful,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Stephen, remember what I was saying earlier about how everyone in this community is so willing to help out when others are in need? This is a perfect example of that.”

“Yes, I see what you mean,” Stephen said. “It’s quite touching. And I love your stable. I hope that when my polo ponies arrive, you’ll have room for me to board them here.”

Kendall thought she detected a note of sarcasm in Stephen’s voice, but she couldn’t be certain.

“I’ll be happy to put you on the waiting list,” Margaret said. “Do you have any idea when they’ll ship up here?”

“No, I don’t have a firm date yet. I thought I’d leave them in Aiken until I get this cast off and can start riding again. That way, my stable help can keep them exercised.”

“Just give me as much notice as possible. We’re full up now, but if I have some notice, I might be able to move some of the lesson horses around to make room for you.”

“I appreciate that.” Stephen glanced at his watch and picked up his crutches. “I need to be heading back to the Red Fox. I have a conference call I need to make.”

“I should go, too,” Jake said. “I stayed at a motel in Leesburg last night, and checkout time is noon.”

“Can I use the phone to call my dad?” Elizabeth asked.

“Of course, dear. Use the one in the office.”

“Do you need help getting to your car?” Jake asked, opening the door for Stephen.

“No, thanks. My truck’s parked right outside.”

Jake turned to Margaret. “I’ll be back in a little while, Mrs. Southwell, and I’ll be happy to ride whatever you have for me.”

“Thank you, Jake. By the time you return, I’ll make sure the air conditioning is on in the cottage and there are clean sheets on the bed.”

Jake looked at Kendall. “See you later.”