Page 87 of Mistletoe and Malice
Walking back out into the hallway, he met Hilda coming out of Riley’s room with Irene. “How is she?”
Fresh tears fell down her face. “Scared to death, poor thing. I’m going to make her some hot chocolate.” She brushed a hand across her cheek. “The girls got here a few minutes ago. They’re with her now. Kade’s in the living room with the family.”
“I’m glad she has such good friends.”
“Many. The main line hasn’t stopped ringing since it hit the news.”
“I can imagine.” He glanced over at Riley’s door and back again. “If she or anyone needs me, I’ll be in the study up here. I need to call in.”
“I’ll bring some cocoa for you, Mr. Blankenship.”
“Thank you.”
Irene stepped toward him as Hilda walked away. “How is Mr. Paxton?”
“Paul took him to the hospital for X-rays and a work-up. We’ll know more after that, but hopefully he’ll just be sore for a few days.”
“I’m praying he’s well. A hero, he is.”
His stomach clenched. “That’s a fact.”
But Trevor shouldn’t have been the one to take that bullet. Colton was lead man, assigned to the principal, not to a position in a room full of people. He didn’t want to be a hero, but it rankled that one of his men was this minute being checked in an emergency room because his team lead had been distracted.
“I’ll take care of your clothes. Are they in your room?”
“Yes, but I can send my tux out for cleaning.”
She flipped her hand at him. “Nonsense. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you, Irene. I left it on the bed.”
“Thankyou, young man. For taking such good care of our girl.”
His gut twisted as Irene strode down the hall to his room. He didn’t deserve gratitude. Not after tonight’s fiasco.
In the upstairs study, he sat behind the desk, took a deep breath, and released it for a count of ten. Shaking his head, he reached for the phone. The line picked up after one ring.
“Mack. I guess you’ve heard.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
“And, Father, we give all of this into Your hands,” Frances prayed. “Grateful Riley is safe and unhurt but pleading for the quick apprehension of this man who wishes to cause her harm. Please be with Trevor and help him make a quick recovery from his injury. We pray all these things in the name of Your precious Son, Amen.”
Riley stood in a circle with these three ladies she loved like sisters, tears running down their faces, wrapped in each other’s arms. “We’ve been through a lot of stuff together over the past twenty years, but never anything quite like this. Have we?”
Barbara sniffled and pulled a tissue from the box on the end table, then passed it to Avery. “This is definitely a new one. But nothing we can’t handle, with the Lord’s help.”
“That’s right.” Avery took a tissue and passed the box to Fran. “We’re here for anything you need. Through thick and thin.”
Fresh tears started down Riley’s face as Fran handed her a couple of tissues. “Y’all’s lives were at risk because of me. Everyone in that room tonight was at risk because of me. If something had happened to any one of them, toyou,I couldn’tlive with it. I can hardly stand Trevor being injured, and he’spaidto protect me.”
Frances gave her a squeeze. “It wasn’t your fault, Ri. It was that guy. The one who’s doing all of this. You did nothing wrong.”
Barbara nodded. “That’s right.”
Avery dabbed at her eyes while Riley swiped at her cheeks in an effort to stem her flow of tears. It seemed as if she was making up for years of not crying in this one night.
“Thanks, you guys. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you being here.”
