Delivering Justice Read Free Page B

reported the accident. That had not been the news he was expecting and it made him worry that some other outsider was on his property, hurt, lost or just a damned fool who was hunting illegally and ditched the redhead when her ATV overturned. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on had his radar on full alert and it was more than just finding her in the condition he had.
    Tyler pushed open the door at Bluff General and walked inside Red’s room. Her eyes were closed. The bed had been raised so that she was halfway sitting and she had an IV attached to her left arm. He’d seen enough of the inside of hospital rooms to know the IV most likely contained fluids and possibly antibiotics to stem infection. All good things that her body needed to recover.
    In fact, the fluids seemed to be working magic already because there was a rosy hue in the creamy complexion on her cheeks now. Her forehead had a proper bandage on it and his makeshift head wrap had been replaced with clean, white gauze.
    Since she looked to be resting peacefully and he didn’t want to disturb her, he figured this would be a good time to visit with her doctor and find Tommy to see if he’d managed to get a statement or put a name to Sleeping Beauty here.
    Her eyes fluttered open and he felt like a fool for staring at her.
    “How are you?” he asked, for lack of anything better to say. Even through the gauze and tape she was stunning.
    “Better,” she managed to squeak out. Her throat sounded scratchy. It was the dry air.
    He set his cowboy hat down on the chair and moved next to her bed. Now that she seemed able to speak, maybe he could find out if there were others on his land or if he should call off the search.
    “What’s your name?” he asked.
    She made a move to speak but coughed instead. Her gaze locked onto a large white mug situated on the wheeled table next to her bed just out of reach.
    “You thirsty?” he asked as he moved to the mug.
    “Yes, please” came out on a croak.
    At least she was talking and making sense. Those were good signs.
    “Were you alone earlier?” he asked as he held the oversize mug filled with ice water toward her. She eagerly accepted but didn’t answer.
    After a few small sips, she leaned her head against the pillow, but her eyes never left Tyler’s face. Those sea-green eyes stayed fixed on him, panic and fear still there.
    “Do you know who you are?” he asked, setting the mug down on the tray and then repositioning it so that she could reach water whenever she wanted.
    “Jennifer,” she said, throat still scratchy but sounding much better. Her voice had a nice pitch to it. “Who are you?”
    “Tyler O’Brien. My brothers and I own the land you were on earlier.”
    Her gaze darted toward the door and then her eyes widened in fear, so Tyler turned to follow her line of sight.
    A decent-looking man in his early thirties walked in. His gaze ricocheted between Jennifer and Tyler. He was several inches shorter, so Tyler guessed he was around five foot eleven. He was on the thin side, built like a runner, and had sandy-blond hair. A fresh-looking pink sunburn dotted his tanned nose and cheeks.
    Tyler didn’t recognize him.
    “Honey,” the man said with a sigh and he seemed to pour on the drama if anyone asked Tyler. “I’ve been so worried about you.”
    Tyler glanced at Jennifer in time to see a moment of sheer panic, so he stepped in between them, blocking Tan Face’s path.
    “Name’s Tyler.” He stuck out his hand.
    “What happened to you, honey? Are you all right?” Tan Face said, sidestepping Tyler and his hand.
    “Hold on there, pal,” Tyler said, placing his hand on Tan Face’s shoulder, ensuring he couldn’t get to Jennifer’s bedside. “I didn’t catch your name.”
    “James Milton,” he said, puffing out his chest like a cobra, looking none too thrilled that Tyler had put a hand on him.
    “Do you mind?” he asked. “My fiancée is lying in a hospital bed and she’s