Pepper, the Highlander & the Dead Guy

“No, but if we’re lucky we’ll get some prints off it,” my dad said.

“They didn’t need to use the sirens,” I said when I heard them.

“Yes, they did. I’m going to bring EMT people here. Don’t let her move, Ian,” my dad ordered and hurried out of the room.

“We don’t have much time before everyone descends on you.” Ian slipped his hand around mine. “I’m going to go change while you’re being looked at, then I’ll follow the ambulance to the hospital, though I’d rather ride with you, but I doubt they or your father would allow it.”

He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “You frightened me when I saw you lying on that floor, not moving, so lifeless. I don’t want to—”

“You all right, sis?” Josh asked, rushing into the room. “When the call came for an unconscious person, then your name mentioned I couldn’t get here fast enough.”

I wanted to be mad at Josh for interrupting what Ian was about to say and also for chasing him off the bed where he sat beside me, though not before he gave my hand a soft squeeze. But my brother looked so worried I couldn’t be mad.

“I’m all right,” I said.

“We’ll let the doctors at the hospital decide that,” Josh said, sounding just like our dad.

The next thing I knew the room was full of EMTs and a paramedic. I didn’t want to think of how many people would be at the hospital when I got there. But there was one thing I could count on. My mom would be there, and she’d make sure Ian got to see me.

Nothing had gone as I expected it to. Now here I was home with my mom babysitting me. How had it gone so wrong?

“Don’t you think you’re too old to sulk?” my mom asked and handed me a mug of chamomile tea, then sat beside me on the couch. “And too old not to realize your father is overly protective of you?”

“I’m twenty-eight years old,” I said an explanation in itself.

“And your dad is sheriff. Who do you think the people in the hospital are going to listen to when he orders them to restrict visitors to only family?”

“Amy got in to see me.”

“She’s family.”

“Technically she’s not,” I said.

“According to the sheriff she is.”

“I don’t understand. One minute he trusts Ian and the next he doesn’t. He’s sending the guy mixed messages,” I said, repeating what Ian had said to me.

“You got hit with a double whammy. Your dad is a great dad and on top of that he’s the sheriff,” my mom explained.

“And you? How do you feel about Ian?” I asked, mentally crossing my fingers.

My mom smiled and patted my leg I had tucked up close to my chin.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Ian is perfect for you. You’re going to make beautiful babies together.”

Her remark had me recalling Ian’s words. Our daughter.

Had I heard him correctly?

“It’s so wonderful to see that you’re in love.”

“Will you stop saying that?” I asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. My mom had been waiting since I was born for me to fall in love so she could plan a wedding.

She smiled that all-knowing-mom-smile that moms share throughout the world and patted my leg again. “Honey, when you’re more worried about a man not being able to visit you in the hospital instead of demanding your dad tell you what he found at the scene of the crime, then you’re in love.”

I gasped, and her smile burst wide.

“Finally realize it, do you?” she asked, and her cell phone dinged, and she reached for it on the coffee table.

I was glad for the distraction. I needed time to make sense of what she’d said. She’d been right. I was more concerned that Ian hadn’t been allowed in my cubicle in the ER, my dad insisting I had enough people around me, than asking a single question about what my dad may have found at the scene where I’d been assaulted.

My mom got up and went to the door. Someone was here. Someone familiar to Mo since he hadn’t alerted to the person’s approach. He was too busy stretched out on the rug in front of the fireplace watching his favorite animal show.

“Ian, come in,” my mom said, and I perked up.

“I just wanted to check to make sure Pep was okay,” he said.

He looked luscious. Once again, I sounded like one of Amy’s romances. It was becoming a habit, but he did look luscious. How the man made a simple pair of jeans and a black sweatshirt look so fantastic was beyond me.

“The doctor thinks she’s fine. The tests and examine hadn’t shown any signs of a concussion, but you never known. So it would be wise for Pepper to be watched throughout the night,” my mom explained. “And you’re just in time to help.”