Page 36 of Risk of a Lifetime
He grinned and stepped aside. This was one for the record books.
The driver headed to the front cab while the paramedic hopped in the rear with Betsy.
Marcy stepped on the fender to get inside, too.
JB braced the door open. “I thought you were okay.”
“I am. I’m going with Betsy.”
“No.” He reached up and lowered her to stand on the ground.
“What do you mean no? You’re not going to tell me what to do.” She sidestepped him, trying to maneuver her way inside the ambulance.
JB grabbed hold of her arm. “I can’t protect you if you’re not where I am. That means you stay here until I finish looking this scene over.”
She pushed him in the chest. “Get out of my way. I’m going with my sister to the hospital.”
“Afraid I have to agree with JB on this one.” The deep, gravelly voice of Sheriff Davis, her uncle, entered the conversation.
“You’re back.” Marcy hugged the older man who’d put his life on the line for the past thirty-five years to get the riff-raff off the streets of Crayton. The same man who gave hugs and horseback rides to his sons and daughters, nieces and nephew, and now grandchildren through those same years. She bit her lip to control the quiver of pent-up tension. “Sorry you had to come home early from your vacation.”
“Saw enough sights. Need to work.” He hugged her back, then climbed into the ambulance and did the same with Betsy. Hopping back outside, he turned to JB and offered his hand. “Glad you got to town when you did.”
Sounded like her uncle had been expecting JB. She glanced back and forth between the two men. Seemed like what she didn’t know could fill a bucket.
“Good to be here, sir.” As he looked the sheriff in the eye, JB’s expression reflected the respect he felt for his mentor.
“What do you know about this FBI guy? Landon, I think it is.” Sheriff Davis pointed in the other agent’s direction where he’d taken up residence by his car for the moment. “Evans says he’s been getting in his way.”
Her husband looked at his one-time partner standing at the perimeter of the scene and narrowed his eyes. “The only case we ever worked together went bad. Funny thing though, he made sure he wasn’t there the day it came down. You watch out for him. I don’t know what he’s up to, but he doesn’t need to see the evidence.”
The sheriff nodded.
Evans waved to get the group’s attention. “We’re gonna load these vehicles up. Get ‘em back to the impound lot where we can get a better look.”
“I’m not finished with the car yet.” JB seemed torn between staying within arm’s length of her or finishing his inspection. He chose the car. “Marcy, don’t you dare get in that ambulance.”
Who did he think he was? She’d go where she wanted, and right now she wanted to be there for Betsy. Surely riding in an ambulance to the hospital couldn’t be dangerous.
Smiling, she nodded to JB as he waited for her acknowledgment. Once he raised the hood on the car and leaned across the fender to get a better look, she inched backward toward the open, rear door to the medic’s van. As she turned, she was met by the sheriff as he slammed the doors closed before she could jump inside. He pounded the side of the ambulance twice with a fist before they pulled away.
“I need to go with Betsy.” Marcy reached into the air as if trying to catch the accelerating ambulance.
Her uncle ignored the statement as he walked across the roadway. “Call Sadie. Tell her to get to the hospital.”
“I’m a grown woman who doesn’t have to listen to you. Sure as heck won’t listen to JB.” She tromped behind the shoulders she’d been hoisted on to get a better view of the Labor Day parade when she was nine. “I can take care of myself without you two.”
Whipping around, her uncle gave her one of his serious-as-heck sheriff looks. She stopped wide-eyed and edged back a step.
“You are a woman who came mighty close to meeting your Maker today, young lady.” He pointed at JB. “From what I gather, if it weren’t for that man right there, I suspect you would have. So until we get this all figured out, you do what he says.”
He didn’t wait for her answer, just stalked toward the entangled truck and car.
Marcy sighed. “You and JB are stubborn, bullheaded males.”
Without breaking stride, the sheriff glanced back at her. “Call Sadie.”
Everything her uncle said was true. Everything JB told her to do was for her protection. Everything about the past few days had ripped control of her life right out of her hands. She hated depending on others. Especially JB. If she wasn’t careful, he’d get the idea she needed him.
