Page 39 of The Chase
His assistant ranchforeman had called him, in a panic. Garth, the man who had helped Kurt build the ranch into what it was today, was beside himself. But…what in the hell had happened to Marie?
She was one of the nicest women he had ever met. She tended tomothereveryone in her range. She’d fussed over the girls from almost the first moment he’d gotten them.
What in the hell had happened? Fear for Marie was strong, too. His arms tightened on the woman he held.
Greer was shaking in his arms now. Clinging, like he could protect her from the world now. Hell, that was all he wanted in the world. He cupped the back of her head, and just held her close. “Tell me, baby. What happened?”
“Hala and my brother…they were right in the middle of all of it. She stabbed him. Jessica. From the diner. She stabbed my brother and cut Hala. And…her own little girl. How could she do that?”
Kurt’s blood chilled as he tried to put it together. Jessica—the waitress at the diner, she was a few years older than Greer, he thought. Garth and Marie’s oldest daughter. The mother of theironly grandchildren. He knew Jessica had had problems before—Garth had shared some of their struggles with her, and Kurt knew Jessica’s ex-husband. Both of her ex-husbands, actually. “Honey, I need you to start at the beginning. I’m here to help Jessica’s father. Something happened. Tell me.”
She told him. The hurt in her words damned near destroyed him.
“I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere. I promise. I’m right here for as long as you need me.”
She was justaware of him in the waiting room. He stayed off to one side—far away from Gene and the rest of her brothers. She watched him when she could. With his foreman. She’d met Garth Glass and his wife Marie many times before. When she’d been at Kurt’s ranch. Garth and Marie attended her brother Gunn’s church, too. The nurse who’d stayed with her after Ronnie’s wreck was their younger daughter Janie.
But…now was the first time she’d ever really seenKurtinteract with them.
He’d always tried to keep her away from everyone on the ranch. He’d said it was so he couldenjoy her all by himself.
He was talking to Garth now, just keeping the man distracted. Garth’s daughter Janie was there. She was staying with the kids in a small waiting area Genny had taken them to. The kids…Greer would never forget today. Those little precious babies had not deserved this at all. And they’d never forget, especially little Wynnie.
Greer wiped her cheeks. Someone held out a tissue to her. She looked up. Into bright blue eyes. Jackson—Garth and Marie’s son. “I—thank you.”
“For what it’s worth. I’m sorry this happened to your family.” He was a nice man, who’d been two years behind Grady and Gunn and two years ahead of Gia in school. Janie had been a year older than Greer. They had all known each other forever, in some way.
ExceptJessica.She had been in school with Gia. And had been a cruel bully who had always done whatever she could to hurt people. She’d tried with Genny before—until Gia had slugged her. “Why did she do it?”
Jackson just shook his head. “Jessica has always been so…”
“Mean. She used to bully people so badly.” She’d said cruel things to Greer many times before. Greer had just ignored her. But Genny had taken things to heart more easily. Her older sister was so softhearted at times. Greer had always worried Genny was going to be taken advantage of.
“I know. And my parents knew—they tried to stop her, but she was always so angry with everyone. I just did my best not to let her hurt Janie. When I could be around. And Dad…kept watch. Mom…Mom just wanted everything to be okay with everybody. To be peaceful. She was…is…a bit too delusional where Jessica is concerned, and always has been. Mom wanted to help Brenton, and the kids. She adores him—and he…too good for Jessica, by far.”
Well, no love lost there between the Glasses. Unlike her and her own siblings. Greer knew exactly how blessed she was. “Sometimes, something is broken in people. For whatever reason.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s one way to put it.”
“Have they said…your mom?”
“She lost so much blood, and…Jessica stabbed her multiple times. I just…waiting. I really hate the waiting.”
Well, Greer did too. She had been through this too much the last few weeks. So many people she cared about, and nowthis.Her best friend and her brother could have been killed. She just nodded. She didn’t understand this, she just didn’t.
“Your brother? Anything yet? His…girlfriend? She’s Wynnie’s teacher, right?”
“Hala teaches kindergarten at the elementary school.” Hala was in the back with Genny now. Genny was helping Hala get cleaned up and changed. Hala was…trying not to panic. Greer understood why. She would never forget when Hala had lost her family. “She and my brother just started dating very recently. They…are so sweet together. They both love kids and animals and are just…so sweet and beautiful. He utterly adores her, too. They kept it a bit of a secret.”
“I’m sorry Jessica did this to them.”
“They said he should be fine in a couple of weeks. And Hala will be out shortly. Just stitches.” And mental trauma that would affect them all for a lifetime.
Why did people hurt each other so much?
“But Jessica could have killed them, or my mother, or my brother-in-law. Hell, even her own daughter. I never would have thought Jessica would physically hurt one of the kids. If I had suspected that for even a moment, I’d have sued for custody myself. Or done whatever I had to in order to help Brenton. If there is anything my family can do to help—please let us know. We want to make it right.”
“Just take care of the kids. That’s all any of us really want. Memories, traumas…they last a lifetime.” And they changed people. Her gaze landed on Kurt. As she remembered being nine years old and so terrified.
