Page 3 of Ultimate Freedom

So, if she could manage to stay focused and operate, then Norrie could bloody-well get her shit together and do what she could to help. Struggling, she wiped her face, left the snot on her sleeve without caring whatsoever, and pulled herself to her feet. Like an old woman, she began to gather the kettle and fill it.

While leaning near the sink, she saw Whit’s speeding truck swerving in the snow as it came into view. Within seconds, itbraked to a stop, almost hitting Demi’s truck still parked in front of the cabin. She banged on the window to stop both men from hurling inside while Lexie still worked.

“Is that Whit and the sheriff?” Lexie must have heard the truck pull up.

“Yes. I’m trying to get their attention, so they don’t come in and disturb you.”

“It’s okay. Demi’s bandaged and covered now. I could use their help to move her to the bedroom.”

Whit’s scared expression questioned Norrie in the window. When she waved him in, he burst into the room alone, his face filled with anxiety, and his blue shockers wide with fear. “What happened? We saw the body. That’s Philip Crane who’s been shot, right?”

Suddenly he saw Demi’s unconscious body on the table. He stopped dead, his face whitening. Totally shocked, words died on his lips as he faced Norrie and then swerved to look at the doctor. “Wha… wha… Oh, my God. Please tell me she’s alive,” he beseeched.

Lexie smiled comfortingly. “She’s alive, Whit. And she’ll be fine. But I need you to help us get her into her bed before the drugs wear off. I’ve given her morphine and a sedative, but both will fade soon, and she’ll wake up.”

Ripping his outer clothes off, Whit nodded. Then as if dealing with a precious treasure, he tenderly lifted Demi into his shaking arms, hugged her close for an infinitesimal second so he could place a kiss on her forehead, and then turned toward the bedroom.

Norrie watched the large man carry the woman like a cherished treasure, her long red waves draped over his arm, flowing almost to his knees.

Getting there before him, Lexie helped Norrie lay a clean pad on the bed, readying it for Demi. “Wait, can you hold her fora few seconds?” She looked at the dresser then at the man. “Does she have a nightie that’s warm and easy to get into?”

Whit looked bewildered as if his mind couldn’t cope with anything so mundane. Understanding his shock, Norrie went to the drawers and soon came back with a recently purchased fuzzy Christmas nightie that would work. Between them, they dressed Demi and then laid her under the covers.

The doctor took her pulse and nodded, satisfaction sliding over her pale face. “She’s doing fine. We just need to watch for shock and any kind of rise in temperature. I’ll have to stay with her all night.”

Before Whit could answer, the sheriff stood at the open door, beckoning for her and Norrie to come with him. Lexie nodded and patted Whit’s shoulder. “You watch her and call me if she wakes up. We’ll deal with the sheriff.”

Chapter Three

Norrie added more wood to the fire and then bustled around clearing the table while Lexie put on the kettle. “Dawson, you want a coffee? Lexie and I need it bad. Just wish I had a bottle of whiskey to add some to it.”

The sheriff reached into his parka pocket and brought out a flask before he removed the coat and threw it over the sofa. “Your wish is my command,” he said gallantly, making her laugh. Soon, they were seated around the table and nibbling on the biscuits Norrie found in Glen’s cookie jar.

Dawson watched both her and Lexie, his frank gaze finally getting to her. “Ask us what you want, man. We have nothing to hide.”

“I know that Norrie girl. I’ve known you since you were a small poppet making your Mama’s eyes roll. You always were one for mischief.” He sipped at his coffee before taking out his notebook and a pen. “Okay. How about you tell me what happened… from the beginning. But first, I want to know why Norrie is calling you Lexie and not Lorraine?”

“And I want to know why she’s calling you by your last name Sheriff Dawson instead of your given name?”

“You first. I’m the one with the badge.” He chuckled, thinking himself funny, and both women smiled along with him.

Lexie started. “Remember when I first came here, and how I had explained that I had taken a different identity to protect myself? Well, I finally came clean to Norrie, and she’s decided to call me Lexie rather than Alexandra.”

“Okay. Makes sense.”

“Now you.”

“Hate my first name and prefer to be called Dawson. It’s as simple as that.”

“Are you going to tell us your first name?”

He scratched his day-old whiskers and grinned. “Nope. Now, let’s get on with the story.”

Norrie, knowing that Dawson wouldn’t be changing his mind, looked at Lexie and sent her a confident smile, her way of backing off so the doctor could begin. After wiping the cookie crumbs from her hands, Lexie wrapped her fingers around the hot mug and cleared her throat. After a few seconds, where one imagined she got her thoughts straight, she began her story.

“Well, I saw Philip at the clinic last night. He didn’t see me. While he walked around the front of the building, the motion lights flashed on, and I recognized his face. I snuck out the back and got into my car. At first, I didn’t know what to do. But once I calmed down, I drove to the Glacier Inn to find you.”

“Yep. I was there all right. Why didn’t you come in and get me?”

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