Page 4 of Two Hearts' Accidental Heroes

Shanna was safe with a guy like him. Noah was probably looking out for her too.

Since she definitely didn’t want to talk, Rick decided to forego his swim, sitting there with Shanna for the next thirty minutes, listening until the concert was finished.

Whatever was going on with Shanna wasn’t just kid stuff. He sensed that something tragic could be happening and she appeared to have no one to turn to.

He was going to make sure she got home safely. That way, he would have a chance to see what might be going on at home. There had to be something he could do. Anya was just so different from Shanna, and Rick couldn’t help thinking that there had to be a reason why.

With all the turmoil going on with his parents, why was Rick so concerned about someone he’d barely just met?

Because there was something seriously wrong with Shanna’s life, and he knew that she needed help. And even though there wasn’t a whole lot he could do, he had to do something, he decided.

When Noah’s band quit playing, she sat while they waited until the crowd thinned out. Another band would be performing in about thirty minutes. If she was curious as to why Rick was waiting along with her, she sure didn’t show it. After slipping on her skirt and pulling on the cover up over her bikini top, she wrapped the beach towel back around her waist. Standing with her high heels in hand, she started strolling toward the trail, acting like she expected him to follow.

“Hopefully, you’re on your way home,” he said.

“I was going to try and hitch a ride with Noah, but I think that he’s dating someone now,” she admitted. “I’ll just walk. It’s not far.”

Rick nodded. “I’ve got my bike, but I’ll walk along with you to make sure you get home safely.”

“I can take care of myself,” she muttered.

“But you shouldn’t have to,” he answered softly. “Come on. I’ll buy you some ice cream down at the concessions after I pick up my bike. It’s still pretty early. I just need to be home by ten.”

Noticing that she still seemed to be having some trouble walking, he frowned. “Are you sure you’re alright to walk home, Shanna?”

When she hesitated, Rick started walking ahead. “Just take your time and follow me to my bike. Okay?”

Now he was starting to wonder about what other places on her body had been injured, along with how it had happened. Half turning as they finally approached the park, Rick tried not to stare as his eyes traveled along her legs, half covered by the towel she kept wrapped around her tightly, even though she was wearing her skirt. Her upper thighs also appeared to be bruised.

He swallowed. Surely, she hadn’t been…?

“Shanna.” He halted when they reached his bike. “Maybe you need to see a doctor.”

“I’m fine,” she growled. “The last thing I need is for anyone else to see me like this.”

“Who did this to you? You wouldn’t have that many bruises if you fell. More than likely, you would have sprained your ankle, or something like that, whether you were wearing those high heels or no shoes at all.”

She turned away, hobbling along the path toward the road.

“Stop,” he called out. “If I promise not to ask any more questions, will you let me walk you home? First, I’ll go get us some ice cream, if you’d like to just wait here.”

She paused, glancing back at him. He could see the tears on her face, even though she was several feet away. “I’d like that. If you promise not to ask me anything else.”

“I won’t,” he said reassuringly. “Why don’t you sit here on the park bench? There’s not much of a line over there at the concessions. I’ll only be gone a few minutes. What kind of an ice cream cone do you want? Cones would be a lot easier to eat if we want to start walking. It’s going to be getting dark soon.”

She gave him a wan smile. “Chocolate would be good.”

“Alright,” he answered gruffly, heading along the path, glancing back momentarily to make sure she was actually sitting on the bench.

“Hey, Rick,” Ben Atkinson called out from inside the concessions when he got in line.

There was only one person ahead of him, so he was able to order two cones fairly quickly, grabbing a bunch of napkins while Ben was getting them ready.

“Thanks, Ben,” Rick said as Ben handed them over.

“You’re welcome. I see you’ve got a date,” Ben observed.

“She’s someone who just needs a friend,” Rick admitted.

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