Promises To Keep. Shirley Hailstock

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СКАЧАТЬ someone who was going to be talked out of what she wanted to do.

      “You are the owner of a billion-dollar business. You are female.”

      “Thank you for noticing. I might have missed those two points, especially as I come out of the shower each day. And I don’t care to hear any more from you.”

      McKenna moved to pass him. Again he blocked her path.

      “If you were only going on a driving trip, I’d say hail and farewell.”

      “But...” she prompted.

      “But you’re planning to work your way to the coast, doing only what you can afford.”

      “Parker, I’m taking enough money with me to get me there. It’s not like I’m planning to sleep in a field or cook over an open flame. And Jim Talbott is expecting me.”

      “That’s good to hear, but what about the safety factor? The world isn’t as safe as you might think.”

      Leave it to him to put everything on a nice neat little graph.

      “I’m well aware of the dangers and I’ll be careful to stay away from them.”

      “From kidnapping?”

      “You think someone wants to kidnap me?”

      “Why not? You’re a wealthy woman. You’ll only have Lydia as backup and she’ll panic the first time she sees a bug, let alone someone bent on harming the two of you.”

      “What are you talking about?” The bag on her arm was getting heavy. She wanted to be gone. She and Parker had never agreed on anything. Sara may have told him her opinion, but McKenna was leaving in two days and nothing he could say would keep her from going.

      “Even though this is a small town, your movements haven’t been lost on the population. Especially with everyone knowing now about this trip. And a red-and-white ’59 Corvette will be easy to spot. If some guy takes it into his head to subdue you and hold you for ransom, what could you do about it?”

      “I’m not sure. Maybe I could use some of my self-defense training and slam him to the ground with a kick to the groin and a chop to the larynx. Or maybe I should bring you along as my personal bodyguard. The only problem with that is the car only has two seats and they’re occupied.” Her voice virtually oozed with sugar. “The trunk is available but it isn’t big enough for someone with shoulders as wide as yours, or legs as long.” She stepped around him. “See you when I get back.” To herself, she added, but preferably won’t.

      * * *

      BY MORNING, THOUGHTS of Parker weren’t McKenna’s main concern. The call came half an hour ago. Lydia had fallen and was in Mercy Hospital.

      McKenna turned into the parking lot. The lights of an ambulance momentarily blinded her. The car skidded to a stop next to a white van. Slamming the car door, McKenna ran to the hospital entrance. The revolving door hampered her hurried efforts. Inside, she rushed straight to the room number Adrienne had given her.

      Parker Fordum came out of the door as she reached it. McKenna stopped, frowned. She did not want to physically run into him a second time. She remembered his arms around her, the feel of his hands as they steadied her.

      “McKenna,” he said by way of greeting, his head bowing in a curt nod.

      “How is she?” McKenna felt obliged to ask.

      “She’s waiting for you.” He nodded in the fashion of someone used to tipping a hat, but as long as McKenna had known Parker she’d never seen him wear one. He stepped around her and walked down the hall. McKenna watched him go, but he didn’t turn to glance at her. She’d been dismissed as if she was one of his needy students. Impulsively, she wanted to stick her tongue out at him, but someone might see her and it was a childish act.

      “Lydia, are you all right?” McKenna asked breathlessly when she entered her friend’s room. Lydia lay in bed looking pale and drawn, although she smiled. Her right leg had a cast on it up to her knee.

      “McKenna, I’m fine. I fell off the attic ladder. It was so stupid. I was getting down a case for the trip and my foot slipped. Both the case and I came crashing down.”

      “Are you going to be all right?”

      “I’m okay now. The doctor says my leg will heal just fine.” She smiled and McKenna thought Lydia was trying to put her at ease. By her expression, Lydia must have thought she looked panicky.

      “I’ll be up and dancing again before you know it.” Again Lydia smiled.

      “Why didn’t someone call me last night?”

      “You couldn’t have done anything. I was in surgery and then I was asleep from the anesthesia. I had Parker call you this morning.”

      “Adrienne called me.”

      “Maybe he got to her before you. And you know Adrienne. She’s probably called everyone by now.”

      “Can I get you anything? Are you in any pain?”

      “I could use another pillow.”

      McKenna pulled a pillow from an empty bed and lifted Lydia forward to put it behind her.

      “That’s much better.”

      McKenna settled into the chair next to the bed. Lydia’s face looked less pale than it had when McKenna had first seen her against the white sheet.

      “I’m not going to be able to go on the trip with you,” Lydia said.

      “Forget about the trip. You’re going to need help when you get home.”

      “I’ll have plenty of help at home. Other than Sara and Adrienne practicing their remedial nursing skills, Emory was here when I woke up.”

      Lydia had been on-again, off-again in love with Emory Woodson for as long as anyone could remember.

      “I’m just sorry you’re going to have to cancel.” Lydia adjusted her pillows.

      “Cancel,” McKenna said. “I’m not going to cancel.” The words had come out automatically, as if she were used to getting her way.

      Even hearing that Lydia had fallen didn’t make McKenna respond with talk of cancelling her trip. Lydia was going to be fine. And besides, McKenna had planned to go alone and only agreed to let Lydia come to satisfy their friends. She’d be alone again, but she was going.

      “You’ve waited this long—”

      “I’m not waiting any longer,” McKenna interrupted.

      “But I’ve gotten used to thinking of us both going. You know, Thelma and Louise.”

      “Sorry. I was going alone initially. I’ll just go back to the original plan.”

      Lydia pushed herself up a little farther. “I knew you’d feel this way. Even though you’d never think of doing СКАЧАТЬ