Unlikely Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series: Book 1 (The Carlisle Sisters) (5 page)

“I wonder who he is?”  she thought.

Tracy shrugged and dismissed it.  Realistically, it could be anyone.  She certainly didn’t know all of the employees.  And, though she did think it a bit odd that he should be sneaking around, maybe that was just her imagination.

She turned her attention back to her painting.  After a while she became bothered by a smell.  She took a deep breath and was alarmed.  It was smoke.  She instinctively looked toward the Ferris Wheel control room and saw smoke gushing from under the door.

Tracy ran to the control room and flung the door open.  Smoke was everywhere and furious flames were jumping around the room at an alarming pace.  Coughing, she ran toward the barely visible control panel and tried to lower the lever that would bring the ride to a halt.  But it was jammed.  No matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn’t budge.  She knew she needed to get help.

As she turned to run out of the shack she felt an excruciating blow to the back of her head.  She collapsed to the floor, dazed.  As she tried to get back up, she thought she heard heavy footsteps running away.  Then blackness enveloped her.

*****

Beth was in the resort operations room when one of the attendants noticed a red light had come on.

“We’ve got trouble,” Eric said.  “There’s a fire in the Ferris Wheel control room.”

“My God!  People are riding the Wheel.  Shut it down!”  Beth ordered.

“I’m trying but the rheostats are not responding,” he said.

“Call Grey and tell him what’s happened,” she said.

“Already on it,” another technician said, picking up the phone.

“I’m going over there,” Beth said anxiously.

She quickly left the room and started running to the park.  She had just sped through the park gate when she heard her name.

“Beth!”

She stopped at the sound of Grey’s voice.

“Grey!  There’s a fire in the Ferris Wheel control room,” she cried.

“I’m on my way there.  Go to the hub and wait for me there,” he ordered.

Beth looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

“I’m going to the Ferris Wheel,” she retorted.

“It’s too dangerous, Beth.  Go to the hub,” he shouted.

“No!”  she shouted and took off running.

“Damn it, Beth!”  he yelled then took off after her.

They arrived at the Ferris Wheel and Beth immediately saw Tracy’s painting paraphernalia.

“Tracy has been here painting.  But where is she?”  Beth said worriedly.

They both looked toward the smoking shack.

“No! Oh no!”  Beth exclaimed.

She took a step toward the shack but Grey caught her arm to detain her.

“I’ll check the shack for her.  Stay here.  I mean it, Beth,” Grey insisted.

Beth nodded and Grey released her arm and ran to the shack.  Beth paced as the minutes passed and Grey had not returned.  She saw men running into the shack with fire extinguishers and hoses.

Fear gripped her as she thought of the possibility that Tracy could be in there.  Impatience had nearly gotten the better of her and she was about to go to the shack when Grey came out.  He was carrying Tracy.

“Tracy!”  Beth yelled as she ran to Grey’s side.  “My God, she’s unconscious.”

Beth put her hand to Tracy’s head and gasped.  She pulled her hand away and saw blood.

“She needs a doctor, Grey,” Beth said urgently.

He nodded.

“I’m taking her to the infirmary,” he stated.

Grey walked quickly and Beth had to nearly trot to keep up with him.  They arrived at the infirmary and Grey shouted for a doctor and a gurney.  Both appeared instantly.

“What happened,” the doctor asked as he took Tracy’s pulse.

“She was unconscious in a burning control room.  She has sustained a head injury.  I brought her here as soon as I found her,” Grey said.

A nurse and two orderlies appeared at the gurney.

“Take her into examination room two,” the doctor said.

“Will she be alright, doctor?”  Beth asked apprehensively.

“I need to examine her before I can answer questions,” he said curtly.

He then followed Tracy into the exam room.  Beth would have entered the room as well but the nurse closed the curtain preventing her entry.  Grey moved to her side.

“They will tell us as soon as they know something.  Let’s wait over here,” Grey said.

Beth walked to the waiting room with him and sat on the edge of her chair.  Grey sat beside her.

“I need to call Jen,” Beth said woodenly.

“Alright,” he responded.

Beth pulled out her cell phone and pressed the speed dial button for Jen.  When Jen answered Beth stood and moved to the window to speak.  Grey allowed her some privacy but could tell from Beth remarks that Jen was nearly hysterical from fright.  Finally Beth hung up and returned to her seat.  She seemed weary.

“How did Jen take the news?”  he asked, despite already knowing the answer based on Beth’s posture.  He put his arm around her and she laid her head on his chest.  He looked down at her and saw tears falling from her eyes.

“Don’t cry, Beth.  It’s going to be alright.  Tracy will be fine.”

“Will she?  How can you be so sure?”  she whispered.

“Because I’ve discovered the Carlisle girls are made of tough stuff.  They didn’t succumb to me and no hit on the head is going to take Tracy out,” he said.  “You guys are way too stubborn.”

Beth looked at him and produced a watery smile.

“We are rather obstinate,” she whispered.

“Obstinate isn’t the word I had in mind.  Bull-headed is a better description,” he grinned.

She punched his arm.

“I take exception to that,” she retorted.

“Good. I’m glad.  That means your grit is coming back.  And we will need it to discover who set that fire,” he said.

“You think it was set deliberately?”  she questioned.

“I don’t know for sure.  But I suspect so,” he replied grimly.

“But why?  And who would do such a thing?”  she asked in perplexity.

“Those are questions we will have to find the answers to,” he returned.  “But for now, I’m more concerned about Tracy.”

Beth glanced at him and he smiled his encouragement.  She hadn’t expected him to express any anxiety for Tracy.  It pleased Beth that he had.  It was also comforting to have him with her at this time.  He was solid, clear-headed and reliable; three things that she could count on right now. 

There was a commotion at the nurse’s station and Beth looked to see what was going on.  She saw Jen standing at the counter in an obvious agitated state.  There was a man standing beside her and he put his hand on her shoulder.  Beth wasn’t sure who he could be when looking at him from behind.  She and Grey stood and moved quickly toward them.  Beth could hear the nurse patiently telling Jen that there was no news yet.

“Jen.”

Jennifer and the man beside her turned around.  Beth saw that it was Jarod.  She thought it was a bit odd but said nothing.

“Beth!  How is Tracy?  This nurse refuses to tell me anything,” Jen exclaimed.

“She’s not refusing to tell you, Jen.  She just doesn’t know anything yet,” Beth said patiently.

“I’m sorry to hear of Tracy’s accident,” Jarod said kindly.  “But I’m sure that she will be well.”

“Thank you, Jarod.  I hope you’re right,” Beth sighed.  “I’m glad to see you here with Jen.”

“And I’m glad to help in any way that I can,” Jarod said.

Beth thought that she had seen a connection between he and Jen the last time they had been in his company.  Apparently she’d been right.  And she
was
glad.  He could certainly be a help with Jen.  Jennifer would need a strong shoulder to lean on and Beth didn’t know if she were up to comforting her.

“Why don’t we all go into the waiting room,” Grey suggested.

They went back into the waiting room.  Beth went to stand at the window.

“I’ll get us some coffee,” Grey said.

He left the room and Jen moved to stand with Beth at the window.

“The doctor hasn’t told you anything?  I can’t believe they don’t have a clue as to what’s wrong with Tracy.  They have to know
something
,” Jen insisted.

“They took Tracy into the examination room as soon as we arrived.  Doctor Burris said that he would notify us when he knew something,” Beth said.

“Yeah right!”  Jen said.  “I don’t trust doctors.  They never give you a straight answer.”

“He’s not hiding anything from us, Jen.  We just have to wait.  We have no other choice.” 

“You may be able to sit idly by and do nothing but I can’t.  I’m going out there and demanding some answers,” Jen declared.

“Sit down and shut up!”  Beth snapped.  “This isn’t about you, Jen.  I’m not going to let you fight for attention at our sister’s expense.  Think of someone other than yourself for a change.  Is that possible?  Can you put someone else’s needs before your own?  Tracy needs the doctors and nurse’s attention way more than you do.  Can’t you take a back seat just this one time?”

“How dare you infer that I don’t want Tracy to get the care that she needs.  Of course I do.  I love Tracy and care very much what happens to her,” Jen retorted.  “Unlike you, I can’t be stoic and unfeeling.  I express my emotions whereas you don’t have any.”

“That’s enough!”  Grey declared.  He moved to put the tray of coffees on the table.  “We’re all upset and on edge but arguing will not help.”

Grey moved to stand beside Beth while Jen went to stand with Jarod.  Beth was so blistering mad that she’d been two seconds away from slapping Jen.  Grey had intervened at just the right moment.

Jen always had a way of pushing her buttons, even as a child.  She knew how to rile Beth up with her biting tongue.  Beth knew that she shouldn’t allow Jen’s words to get to her; after all, she knew they weren’t true. 

But the anger and resentment that Beth harbored toward Jen needed very little to bring them to the surface.  More than ever, settling their differences seemed like a lost cause.  And trying seemed futile.

“Are you alright?”  Grey asked.  “That argument was intense.”

“I’m fine.  Jen has a way of getting under my skin,” Beth muttered.

“Don’t let it bother you.  They were only words and words can only hurt you if you let them,” he whispered.

She nodded and Grey lightly kissed her temple.  A moment later Doctor Burris entered the waiting room.  Beth saw him and rushed to stand before him.  Everyone gathered round.

“Doctor, how is Tracy?”  Beth asked worriedly.

“She has a mild concussion but she’s going to be fine.  She sustained a nasty hit on the head but, luckily, the blow was not hard enough to do any serious damage,” Doctor Burris said.

“Oh thank God!”  Beth said.  “When can she go home?”

“As soon as I sign her release forms.  I want her to take it easy and stay in bed for at least three days.  Here’s a prescription for her pain.  She can take up to two tablets a day,” Doctor Burris stated.  He gave the prescription to Beth.

“I’ll have it filled right away,” Beth said.  “Thank you, Doctor Burris, for taking such good care of my sister.”

He nodded.

“You’re very welcome.  She’s a strong young lady and should have no lingering effects from this accident,” he said.  “She’s to come back to see me in four days to have her wound checked.”

“Can we see her, Doctor?”  Jen asked.

“Yes. She is awake,” he answered, then walked away.

They all went in to see Tracy who was sitting up in bed with a white bandage wrapped around her head.  Hugs and well wishes were exchanged.

“We’re so glad you’re alright,” Jen said genuinely.

“So am I,” Tracy said wanly.

“Can you remember anything, Tracy?”  Grey asked.

“Only that I was painting and I noticed an unfamiliar man go into the Ferris Wheel control shack.  A little while later I saw smoke escaping from under the door,” Tracy explained.  “I went inside to investigate and tried to shut down the ride.  Then I was hit over the head and blacked out.”

“You didn’t see anyone?”  Grey asked.

“No. I’m sorry,” Tracy replied.

“It’s alright.  The most important thing is that you are alright,” Grey said.

“But I do remember hearing heavy footsteps running away,” Tracy said.  “But that probably doesn’t help much.”

“It may help more than you think,” Grey replied.

“Good.  Now can I get out of here?”  Tracy grinned weakly.

“Absolutely,” Beth smiled.

The nurse came in with the release papers and a wheel chair.  Grey helped Tracy into the chair and Jen stood ready to push it.

“Let’s go,” Tracy said as cheerfully as her concussion and pain medication would allow.

They all left the infirmary in a happy mood but Beth and Grey were still very worried.

*****

Beth entered Tracy’s bedroom carrying a breakfast tray.  Tracy saw her come into the room and sat up in bed.

“I’m so tired of this bed I could scream,” Tracy grumbled.

Beth placed the tray across Tracy’s lap.

“You’ve only been in it for two days, Tracy.  I swear you are the world’s worst patient,” Beth grinned.

“Like you would be the model patient if you were stuck in bed, day in and day out,” Tracy asserted.

Beth chuckled.

“You’re probably right.  It would drive me bonkers.  But that doesn’t mean you can get up,” Beth said as she sat on the side of the bed.  “You only have one more day of bedrest. You can do it.”

“Hmm!  Easy for you to say,” Tracy muttered.

Beth snagged a piece of bacon from Tracy’s plate and took a bite.

“Yes it is,” Beth grinned.

Tracy slapped at Beth’s hand.

“Stay off of my plate,” Tracy retorted.  She took a bite of her scrambled eggs.  “Hey, did I hear you and Jen arguing this morning?  You guys woke me up.”

Beth grimaced.

“Sorry to wake you.  Jen and I can’t seem to be in the same room without a shouting match erupting,” Beth muttered.

“You are supposed to be making peace.  Why are you fighting?”  Tracy asked in concern.

“She drives me crazy, Trace.  She wants to be worldly and sophisticated.  She puts on airs and acts like she is entitled,” Beth began.  “She’s the only one that hasn’t found a working niche for herself here at the resort.  She acts like she shouldn’t have to work when we both know that she barely had a pot to piss in when she was in California.”