Unveiled Treasures (21 page)

Thirty-six stitches later, Rachel was resting as comfortably as she possibly could. She’d refused the pain pills the doctor had tried to give her. She became increasingly difficult when they ignored her requests to be released. She called Jessica to check on Brutus.

“He’s doing fine, Rachel. He’s curled up sleeping on the couch at the moment. I took him outside but his legs were still a little shaky. I really think he just needs to sleep it off. How are you doing? And what happened out here?”

“First of all, I’m alright. Are you sitting down? I’ll tell you everything I know about it,” Rachel said exhaustedly. “My ex-boyfriend Jake was the mastermind behind this whole ordeal. He hired Ed Templeton to steal the necklace from Mrs. Riley. Apparently, Jake showed up to collect the necklace only to find out Ed didn’t have it. Jake was at the cabin this morning when Brutus and I came back from our walk. We all went inside, I started to make coffee and Jake asked to use the restroom. I think that must have been when he drugged Brutus, because the next thing I know is he’s grabbing me from behind. I struggled and tried to get away from him. That’s when he cut off my hair and sliced my back open. Everything happened so fast after that. He dragged me down the hall. Jessica, he was going to rape me.”

“It’s okay, Rachel. Just stop. I don’t want you to talk about it anymore. No one was seriously hurt. You’re safe and Brutus is safe, that’s all that matters,” Jessica said. “Now I want you to lean back and try to get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’m hoping they’ll let me come home tonight.”

“Well, if that’s the case. Then I’ll see you when you get here, because I plan to stay with Brutus until you get home. Goodbye, Rachel.”

Rachel took a deep breath and let out a long sigh as she hung up the phone. She was mentally and physically drained. She didn’t try to stop the tears, she just let them flow.

Todd found her there. She looked so small and frail, like a child curled up in the middle of a big bed waiting for the bad dreams to go away. The stark white of the hospital sheets was a sharp contrast against her dark hair. His heart lurched in his chest as he watched her body shudder with quiet tears. “Rachel,” his voice was thick with emotion as he walked over to the bed. He picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. “It’s over, baby. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Todd, please get me out of here. I just want to go home,” she begged.

“I spoke with Dr. Reynolds. He’s releasing you as long as someone stays with you tonight. I told him that wouldn’t be a problem.”

“I don’t need… Fine, I won’t argue. Just get me out of here.”

Todd drove Rachel home in estranged silence, each of them preoccupied by their own thoughts. With each passing minute, the little green-eyed monster perched on Todd’s shoulder kept niggling at him. His fury began to grow.
She was engaged to that snake! How could she be with me when she is involved with another man?
He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles went white and bit his tongue. She’d already been through enough for one day. He didn’t want to hear the truth from her anyway. For the moment, he could still think of her as his.

Jessica came running out of the cabin with Brutus when she heard them pull up in the drive. “I’m so glad you’re going to be alright,” she said to Rachel as she opened the door of the truck. “And look who got his sea legs back underneath him?” She pointed to Brutus, who was trying to push his way past her to get to Rachel.

Todd came around the truck and helped Rachel climb out. He slid his arm around her waist as he walked her to the door. The smell of exotic night flowers wafted up to him. He briefly closed his eyes, capturing and memorizing everything about her. His mixed emotions were going to tear him apart. Once he got her situated comfortably on the couch, he went in to the kitchen for a glass of water. He returned to Rachel in the living room and handed her the glass of water and two small white pills. “Don’t argue with me, Rachel. I know you are in a lot of pain. Take these, you’ll sleep better.”

“I told Dr. Reynolds that I didn’t want any pain pills! He gave them to you anyway?”

“Rachel, it’s late and I’m in no mood to argue with you. Trust me on this, if you don’t want to take any more after tonight, then fine. But for now,
swallow
!”

Rachel jumped when he yelled at her. She was ready to be obstinate and argue, but that was before she looked into his eyes. Swirling gray storm clouds could not match the vehemence and determination she read there. “Fine, I’ll take them.”

Jessica knew when to stay out of Todd’s line of fire and when to step in. She chose now to step in. “Todd, can I talk to you outside for a moment please?”

“Sure, as soon as I watch her take the pills,” he said, glaring at Rachel again.

Rachel swallowed the pills and drank half the glass of water. Setting the glass down on the table beside her, she refused to look at him. Crossing her arms across her chest, she stared forward in to the fireplace.

Todd followed Jessica out onto the patio. “What in the world is wrong with you, Todd? After what she’s already been through, she doesn’t need a dictator like you jumping down her throat!”

“Stay out of it, Jessica, you have no idea what it was like for me to watch her endure all this. She’s being an obstinate, spoiled little brat, and I’m sick and tired of it! I don’t want to talk about this with you. Rachel and I have things we need to discuss, but I’ll wait for a more appropriate time. I’m going to see if I can patch up her door and then I’m leaving. I would really appreciate it if you would stay here with her tonight.”

Jessica went back inside the house to find Rachel sleeping on the couch. She walked back out onto the patio where Todd paced. “She’s already out. Should we leave her there or move her to her room?”

“I hate to sound cold and insensitive but, good. Sleep is probably the best thing for her right now. I’ll take her to her room.” Todd carried Rachel’s sleeping body to bed. She didn’t stir or make a sound as he laid her down on the bed. Tucking the blankets under her chin, he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead before retreating from the room. He turned to look at her sleeping form one last time before closing the door. “I love you, Rachel,” he whispered.

Returning to the living room, he made a temporary repair on her door so she could lock it. Unable to sort out his thoughts in such close proximity to Rachel, he left her in Jessica’s capable care.

The next morning, Rachel woke up in her bed. Confused as to how she got there, she sat up quickly. The pain in her back was an instant reminder it was not all a bad dream. Walking down the hall, she flipped on the bathroom light and saw her reflection in the mirror. Pale complexion, black circles under her eyes and jaggedly chopped hair stared back at her. Horrified by her appearance, she turned the hot water on full; hoping a hot, hot shower would scour her clean again.

Rachel returned to her bedroom to get dressed in faded jeans and a loose-fitting burgundy sweater. Brushing what was left of her hair back off of her face, she made her way to the kitchen.

Jessica and Brutus were enjoying each other’s company over breakfast. When he saw Rachel enter, he bounded over to her, with his tail wagging and his eyes bright and shining.

“I’m so glad to see you’re alright,” she said, nuzzling him. “Thanks for staying. Do you know how I ended up in bed?” she asked Jessica.

“Todd carried you in after you passed out on the couch.”

“I’m so sorry. I’m embarrassed.”

“Don’t be, you kicked some major butt yesterday. You’re entitled to drop, well okay maybe not literally like you did, but you know what I mean,” she said, smiling.

“Where is Todd?”

“He left last night. He’s probably at the station filling out forms in triplicate. I hear your ex shot Ed up with a syringe of coke. Almost did him in. If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand. I just want to let you know that I’m here if and when you do.”

“He’s insane, Jess. I mean one minute, he was the Jake I knew, the next, he was attacking me and screaming at me like a lunatic. Then he gets this regal, or I guess you could call it a royal, haughtiness in his voice, it was really freaky.”

“I don’t mean to change the subject but… Can I ask you a really personal question?”

“Sure,” Rachel said, sitting down at the table across from her.

“How do you feel about my brother? I want you to tell me the truth,” she said her gray eyes intently watching Rachel’s face.

Sighing deeply, Rachel stood up, walked to the coffee maker and poured a cup of coffee. Turning around, she looked at Jessica. “I’m in love with him.” Shrugging her shoulders, she paced the kitchen. “It happened so fast, it totally caught me off-guard.”

“Have you told him how you feel? Do you think he knows?”

“No, I haven’t and I don’t know. I tried to tell him last night but before I could, the doctor came in to stitch up my back. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him since. Now he’s furious with me, and now that I think about it, he has every right to be. There was no missing that fury in his eyes last night. I know he cares for me, but what if he isn’t in love with me? Maybe I should stay quiet and let our relationship develop. I’m not going to stop loving him; I’ll just grow to love him more.”

“I won’t say anything to him. This is for you two to work out on your own. I’m really beat, Brutus is a couch hog.” She yawned. “Do you need anything before I go? I can make you a great breakfast. Oh, by the way, you really need to get to the grocery store. You’re low or out of everything I brought you the other day.”

Rachel walked over and hugged Jessica tightly. “You’ve done more than enough already. Go home and get some sleep. Brutus and I are going to take it easy. Maybe we’ll go for a short walk.”

“That sounds like a great idea. You two need to take it easy. You’ve both had a rough few days,” Jessica said as she got up from her chair, hugged Rachel again and left.

Chapter 14

Rachel and Brutus were out walking when she heard the sound of heavy machinery working close by. They hurried back to the cabin to see what the noise was. Jeff from JG Grading waved to her from atop his tractor.

“I forgot all about the contractors! I’ve got to get going. I have a ton of errands to run if I want to make it back in time to meet with Tony and Sam. Come on, Brutus. In the house with you,” she said as she headed in the house for her purse and keys. After setting a bowl of kibble and a fresh bowl of water out for him, she patted him on the head, closed up the house and headed into town.

Her first stop was to get a haircut. She found a small shop aptly named, ‘
A Cut Above The Rest’
and walked in. Jingling bells announced her entrance. There were three women in the shop, one was getting a perm, one was giving the perm, and the other was on the telephone. The young lady on the phone gestured for Rachel to wait a moment and smiled. “Yes, Mrs. Riley, I can fit you in this afternoon no problem… Yes, ma’am, I understand you need to have your hair fixed before the reporters get there… Yes, ma’am… yes, ma’am, I’ll see you at one o’clock sharp. Bye-bye.” The young woman let out a heavy sigh as she hung up the phone. “Sorry about that. Mrs. Riley is in a tizzy because she’s being interviewed this afternoon for the evening news. Hey…it’s you. Aren’t you the writer who found all the stuff that Ed stole?”

“Yes, I’m afraid it’s me. I was hoping to get my hair cut…right away,” Rachel said as she spun around to reveal her hacked up hairdo. Hearing two gasps and a horrified shriek, she turned back around to find all three women staring at her.

“So it’s true then. That crazy man really did have a knife on you? Oh, where are my manners? I’m Peggy, this is Jamie and the lady in rollers is Mrs. Johannesberg. You found some of her art collection in your house.”

Rachel smiled politely and said hello. “Um, Peggy, what about the haircut?” Trying to return the conversation to the reason she came in, she asked, “Do I need to set an appointment, or can you take care of this now? I’m kind of in a rush. I have construction workers arriving this afternoon to work on my house and still have other errands to take care of.”

Peggy smiled. “Come on back here. I’ll get you fixed up in no time. Mrs. Peterson is my standing ten o’clock appointment, but she always runs a little late.”

Rachel left the hair salon thirty minutes later, after telling her brief and much edited story to three avid listeners. She really liked her new layered hairstyle. It floated and swished around her face. Her next stop was Potter’s Hardware to order a new front door to replace the one Todd had kicked in. His temporary repair was holding for now, but was not going to be permanent. She made it in and out of Potter’s in less than twenty minutes and was on her way to Canyon Grocery.

Josie was behind her counter crocheting as usual and smiled as Rachel came in. “The whole town is talking about you, missy. I’m surprised the reporters haven’t been camped on your doorstep.”

“I turned off my phone ringer and put the machine on auto answer, just in case. So far my doorstep has been empty,” she said, smiling timidly.

Josie noticed the circles under her eyes and the usual creamy skin looked tired and wan. The urge to get up and hug the girl was fierce, but she restrained herself and offered kind words instead. “I like the new hairstyle. It brings more attention to your eyes.”