Hope White - Mountain Rescue

“I did,” Bree said.

“Why did you let her go alone?”

“She’s an experienced hiker,” Bree offered. “She knew what she was doing.”

“That’s not the point,” Quinn said.

“Billie is a grown woman. She’s not your little sister,” Bree said. “She’s extremely capable. She’s joined the SAR team and last month helped locate an Alzheimer’s patient who went missing.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“She said you two hadn’t spoken in months. Anyway, she needed to go into the mountains for—”

“Closure, I get it,” he said, a little impatient.

“Really, Quinn? Because I doubt you’ve ever sought closure for any of your brief relationships.”

“Bree,” Aiden warned.

Her sharp words stung, but were not untrue.

“I’m going to see Billie.” Bree brushed past the men and went into the E.R. examining area.

“Sorry, man, she can be snappy when she’s worried about a friend,” Aiden said.

“It’s okay, I probably deserved it.”

“A few SAR members have been texting me about Billie, wanting to know if they can visit, bring flowers or something.”

“Maybe when we get her home. Right now she needs peace and quiet.”

“So, what happened? She’s a solid hiker.”

Quinn looked at Aiden. “She was assaulted.”

“What?”

Quinn led Aiden to a visitor waiting area where they could speak privately. “Some guy on the trail threatened her. In an effort to get away it seems she fell off the trail.”

“She must have been terrified,” Aiden said.

Quinn’s gut clenched at the thought. “She’s not safe, not until we find out what her husband was into.”

“My cousin Tyler is a sheriff’s deputy. Want me to call him?”

“No, Officer Vanguard already took her statement, but thanks.”

“Are you staying with her?”

Quinn glanced down the hall toward the examining area. “Yes, even if I have to camp outside her hospital room.”

“You should ask to stay in her room tonight,” Aiden suggested.

“She’d never allow it.” Quinn glanced at his friend. “I think it’s a pride thing.”

“Well, someone’s got to stay with her. Maybe Bree can stay.”

“No. I don’t want to put your sister in danger.”

“You think it’s that bad?”

“I won’t know what to think until I have more information. I need to get my clothes and laptop from the car. Can you hang out here for a few minutes and keep watch?”

“Sure. Go ahead, I’ll check in on Billie.”

Aiden walked away. Quinn didn’t move for a few seconds. Even in a hospital full of doctors and nurses Quinn worried about Billie’s safety.

Now he was overreacting. Her attacker wouldn’t wander into a hospital to do her harm. She could identify him since she’d seen his face.

Which only put her in more danger.

Quinn headed to his car, focusing on the next three steps to achieve his goal. His organized mind had served him well, both in business and the military. He’d created the term the next three to help his staff stay focused on the prioritized projects of the day.

In staff meetings he’d remind everyone about the importance of focus, yet today his focus had been blown to bits the second he saw Billie’s still body lying on the plateau below the trail.

Jogging to his car, he reminded himself that Aiden was a capable man and between him and hospital security, no harm would come to Billie in the next ten minutes, the time it would take Quinn to change clothes.

Quinn had been very appreciative when Aiden offered Billie a job at Echo Mountain Resort months ago. Aiden said the favor was the least he could do considering Quinn designated the barn on the resort property as Search and Rescue headquarters for folks in their part of the county.

Even though Quinn owned the resort, he rarely meddled in Aiden’s management of the business. Sure he’d hoped Aiden would hire Billie. She needed to get away from Quinn and their dysfunctional relationship to start a new life, which she had as a hostess for the resort’s four-star restaurant. Quinn knew firsthand what a gracious hostess Billie could be since she’d planned plenty of dinners for Quinn and his business associates.

But those weren’t the only people he’d entertained at his lake house, and whenever he’d bring a woman to his place, Billie would serve a four-course, delicious meal. She’d smile and explain what ingredients were in the dishes she was about to serve, a smile that never seemed to reach her eyes.

Every time he brought home a date he sensed he was breaking Billie’s heart, even though he’d been clear that he and Billie could never be more than friends.

Quinn got his duffel out of the trunk and slammed it shut. He’d never meant to hurt her. Subconsciously he’d brought dates to the lake house so Billie would see what a jerk he was and keep her emotional distance.

Instead she’d always looked at him with those compassionate eyes that saw straight through to his soul.

“The next three things,” he reminded himself.

He’d change clothes, contact his P.I. friend, Cody, about digging into Rick Bronson’s accounts and find a quiet spot to do some work close to Billie’s room.

Because there was no way he’d let anyone hurt her again.

* * *

Spending the night in a hospital was dreary to say the least. It was nearly midnight and Billie lay wide awake, alone and disappointed: in Rick for making bad choices, in herself for not admitting the truth sooner about their failed marriage and...

She was disappointed in Quinn.

There, she admitted that she’d secretly hoped he would have stayed close to keep an eye on her even though she’d demanded he leave.

“Talk about mixed messages,” she whispered to herself.

A young, blond nurse breezed into her room. “Hi, Billie, I’m nurse Beth. Sorry I’m running late for the eleven-o’clock vitals check.”

“No problem. My dance class doesn’t start for another hour,” she joked.

Nurse Beth smiled. “How’s the pain on a scale of one to ten?” She took Billie’s pulse.

“About a four. I’m basically sore all over.”

“Are your ribs worse than they were this afternoon?”

“Not really.”

“Good.” Nurse Beth took Billie’s temperature. “A-okay.”

A male orderly in his mid-twenties with coal-black hair brought a wheelchair into the room. “Doctor wants another CT scan.”

“I didn’t see that order,” Nurse Beth said.

The orderly handed her a piece of paper.

“Huh, okay.” She looked at Billie. “Let me help you.”

Nurse Beth helped Billie slide out of bed. A little light-headed, Billie plopped quickly down into the wheelchair.

“Take good care of her,” Nurse Beth said, hooking the IV bag to the wheelchair.

“Will do.”

The orderly pushed her out of the room and down the hall to the elevator. Although she’d been unable to sleep in her hospital bed, she felt drowsy from the meds they’d given her to manage the pain.

“So, head injury, huh?” the orderly said, pressing the down button on the elevator.

“And ribs and wrist. I decided to tumble down a mountainside for fun.”

“Whoa.”

“So, what’s your name?” she asked.

“Dylan.”

“I’m Billie.”

“Nice name.”

“Thanks.”

He wheeled her into the elevator and the doors closed.

“Needless to say, I won’t be hiking for a while,” she said.

“I used to love to hike.”

“Used to?”

“No time. I work at the hospital, plus go to community college and help out with the family business.”

“Which is...?”

“Restaurant.”

“What kind?”

The elevator doors opened to the imaging department.