Breaking Free: A Colorado High Country Crossover Novel, Pamela Clare [i can read book club .TXT] 📗

“You can’t blame yourself for that. That’s on the bastard who put it there.”

“Yeah.”

They sat side by side, Jason looking every few minutes at the board, watching Winona’s patient number, following her progress. She was in surgery now.

He closed his eyes, sent up a silent prayer.

Creator, save her life and her leg. She did nothing but try to help one of your creatures. Please be with her through the surgery. Save her leg. Amen.

It was more fearful gibbering than a prayer.

Then Chaska came out with it. “What does my sister mean to you?”

How could Jason answer that? “I care about her—more than I’ve ever cared about any woman.”

Jason’s answer made Chaska frown. “I heard you’re about to get married.”

Shit.

After everything that had happened today, Jason couldn’t help but laugh, understanding now why Chaska had seemed so angry at the apartment. “I broke up with my fiancée when the DEA busted her for drug trafficking six months ago. She’s in prison and out of my life.”

“Oh. Shit.” Chaska let out a breath. “I’m sorry—but I’m relieved to hear that.”

All things considered, Jason was impressed with the man’s restraint. He’d thought Jason was attached—and shagging his sister.

Chaska took a sip of coffee and seemed to consider his next words. “If you care about her so much, what’s your plan?”

“I’ll stay here and help her however I can until I have to go back to Sells.” He could see Chaska wasn’t going to be satisfied with anything less than the whole truth. “I’m on unpaid administrative leave. I have a disciplinary hearing next month.”

He gave Chaska the short version of the story, telling him more than he probably should about the shooting.

“I’d have shot the son of a bitch, too. Does Winona know?”

“She does. She also knows that I won’t leave the reservation—and why.”

For a moment, a heavy silence stretched between them.

Then Chaska’s gaze locked with Jason’s. “My sister is a true human being. She has a pure heart. She’s generous to everyone—two-legged, four-legged, winged. She doesn’t know how to do anything but love. I cherish her more than my own life. I’m asking you as her brother, as someone who loves her—please don’t hurt her.”

One hour went by. Then two.

Winona’s status on the board still hadn’t changed.

In surgery.

Then Deputy Marcs walked up to them, distress on her face. “Chaska. Jason. I am so sorry about this. Winona is the last person… Damn.”

She blinked tears from her eyes.

Chaska acknowledged her concern with a nod. “Thanks.”

“I hate to bother you, Jason, but I need a statement. I’ve already spoken to Ranger Henriksen. We can go to the cafeteria so that we don’t trouble Chaska or—”

“No.” Chaska shook his head. “I want to hear it.”

Jason recounted the entire story for Deputy Marcs from their decision to pursue the wolf to the moment the helicopter arrived. The terrible irony of what had happened wasn’t lost on him. “Winona wanted to find the wolf before it was caught in a leg trap. She was afraid it might be injured. And because of that…”

“It’s a damned tragedy.” Deputy Marcs put her pen and notepad away. “Winona is one of the kindest people I know. Any word?”

Chaska looked up at the board again. “Not yet.”

“I’m supposed to tell you, Chaska, that Joe and Rain are taking dinner to your place tonight so that you don’t have to worry about your family. I think Megs and Ahearn are bringing your vehicle down so you can drive back to Scarlet when you’re ready.”

Chaska didn’t seem surprised by any of this. “Thanks for letting me know.”

But Jason was impressed. The people of Scarlet really did take care of their own.

“Also, the Forest Service is closing the area around the camp until they’ve had time to take down any traplines. I’ve asked the US Marshal Service to speak with the prisoner to get the locations of his traps. Hopefully, the bastard will cooperate. I’ve got to go and get this report filed. Please know I’m keeping Winona in my prayers.”

Chaska shook her hand. “I appreciate all you’ve done. I know Winona does, too.”

Jason held out his hand as well. “Thank you.”

Five minutes after Deputy Marcs had left, a group of deputy US marshals—DUSMs—walked down the hallway, McBride among them.

He saw them, stopped, told the others to go on ahead. “Oh, God. Don’t tell me it was Winona.”

Jason and Chaska nodded.

“Son of a bitch.” McBride sat, rubbed his face with his hands. “What happened? I got a call from the Forest County sheriff saying a woman stepped in a trap set by our prisoner and asking me to find out how many more traps he’s got out there.”

Once again, Jason told the story. Somehow, the weight of it got heavier each time. Seeing the chain. Shouting to warn her. The snap of steel jaws. Her screams.

McBride looked like he wanted to punch someone by the time Jason had finished. “I’m going to get the information from Graham about the rest of the traps. I’m also going to ask for an additional charge of assault. He needs to be held accountable.”

Jason stared at him. “That’s why you’re here. He’s here—in this hospital.”

Both he and Chaska stood.

McBride got to his feet as well. “Oh, no. I can’t let the two of you into his room.”

Jason pushed—hard. “I won’t touch him. I just want to give him a piece of my mind before you send him back to Alabama.”

But Chaska was more to the point. “I want to look the bastard who almost killed my sister in the eyes.”

McBride’s gaze dropped to the floor for a moment, and Jason knew he was thinking it through. When he looked up, his jaw was set. “If I take you with me, I need your word you won’t lay hands on him. If you do, it’s my ass. Understand?”

Jason didn’t need the explanation. He knew how things worked. “Got it.”

“I understand.”

They walked with McBride to the prisoner’s room, McBride sharing some of what he