Beth looked around the small room. Hoping no one had called Lily; she did not want to worry her. The door opened and a tall man with bright red hair came in.
His friendly eyes soothed Beth’s frayed nerves. “I am glad to see that you have regained consciousness. How are you feeling?”
“Confused.”
“That’s normal. Do you remember what happened?”
Beth started to nod, but the sharp pain rushing through her skull stopped the motion.
“I remember Sam kidnapped me and her father threatened to kill me.”
“They almost succeeded, you have a severe concussion. You have been unconscious for 12 hours.”
“Did anyone notify my sister?”
“No, the Sheriff accepted responsibility. If you had stayed unconscious much longer, then he would have. The Sheriff said you wouldn’t want to worry her.”
Beth gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you, my sister would have been terrified, I am glad you took the Sheriff’s advice.”
The Doctor gave her reassurances that she would heal quickly and he would release her in forty-eight hours.
“We want to keep a strict eye on you to make sure you are all clear before we release you.”
“Thank you.” The doctor left, giving her instructions to let the nurse know if she experienced any changes in pain. Sleep beckoned, Beth dozed on and off throughout the day, only waking intermittedly with the arrival of the dinner tray.
Beth managed to eat a small amount. hoping it would help the sick feeling in her stomach. She was already back asleep when the nurse returned to retrieve the tray.
The next day Beth felt much clearer, she was stronger, getting out of bed with an aide’s help, even taking a shower and shampooing her hair. She had a clean gown on and was drying her hair with a towel while sitting in the chair by the window overlooking the parking lot. She had hoped Razer or Evie would have come to visit her, at least letting her know what had happened after she had passed out. But no one came and it was late afternoon before the Sheriff finally came to her room.
“Hello Sheriff,” Beth greeted him when he didn’t see her sitting in the bed.
His concerned frown disappeared and a relieved smile replaced it.
“So you’re up and about already?”
“At least as far as this chair, I am still a little dizzy if I move too fast, but it’s getting better.”
“Good.” The sheriff came to stand beside her looking out the window.
“Want to tell me what happened yesterday?” Beth told him about looking through the boxes and ended with where she had hidden the incriminating papers.
“Did Razer find the papers?”
“Yes. He found them when he went back to his room. Sam told him what you had found and what they were. She told everything she knew trying to cut a deal for herself. Bedford kept telling her to shut up.”
“He was going to kill me. Is he in jail?”
“No, he’s in the hospital also. Pretty bad shape, but he’ll live and stand trial for murder and your kidnapping.”
“So it’s true he took Sam’s baby?”
“Looks like it. We have to wait for the evidence to come back to know without a doubt.”
“Poor Samantha.”
The Sheriff looked at her in amazement. “Poor Samantha, she kidnapped you, pistol whipped you, and was going to let her father kill you and you feel sorry for her?”
“Yes, you protect family. Always.”
The sheriff shook his head at the woman sitting before him. He had never met another person like her. Her soul was filled with the concern for others more than herself. She had always been like that, even as a younger girl. There was no one, male or female, that he respected more than her.
“At least I don’t have to worry about someone trying to kill me now that mystery is solved.”
The sheriff hesitated, “Yes, it’s over. You can go back to your normal life.”
A thought struck her, which would explain why Razer hadn’t been to visit her. “Did Razer get in trouble for hurting Mr. Bedford? He was only trying to protect me… it was actually Loker James who beat him so badly.”
The Sheriff held up his hand, stopping her explanation. “I didn’t arrest him or James either. The way I wrote it down was self-defense. Cash backed his story up.”
“Oh… well that’s a relief.” Beth bit her lip.
“The doctor said you will be released tomorrow. My wife plans to come by and help you out until you feel better.”
“No, I will be fine…”
“You know Rachel won’t take no for an answer, so no use in arguing. I brought your car to you, it’s in the lot.” Taking the keys out of his pocket, he handed them to her. “Rachel said to tell you she’d give you a few hours peace before she came.”