Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

“Any internal injuries?”


“I don’t think so.”

“Kids?”

Tears filled Helen’s eyes. “I was pregnant once. He beat me so bad I miscarried.”

“Why don’t you leave?”

Patience winced. She knew Charlie’s question was born from frustration, but from the little she knew about abused women, this probably wasn’t the time.

But Helen surprised her by raising her head and squaring her shoulders. “I did. Twice. Then he threatened my mama. She passed nearly four months ago and I packed my bag. He put me in the hospital. I told my doctor and he said for me to be a good wife and go back home.”

She turned back toward the store. “Sam has a way of convincing people he’s not the problem. I am.”

“Not in this town,” Charlie told her.

Two police cars pulled up, with an ambulance right behind it. Mayor Marsha hurried toward them.

“I heard,” the mayor said, smiling at Helen. “Hello, child. If you want to get away from this man, we can help. I know a safe house in another town. He’ll never find you. But you have to want it.”

Helen looked at the mayor. “I want to leave him. I want to break the cycle. I swear, I won’t go back. I swear.”

In a matter of minutes Helen was whisked away in a police car. Police Chief Barns drove up and got out.

“I heard,” she said by way of greeting. “Did Felicia really dislocate his shoulder, then put it back?”

Patience bit her lower lip, knowing she had to tell the truth but not wanting to get her friend in trouble. “I, uh...”

Police Chief Barns smiled. “Impressive. I’m going to need to write a report. I wonder if a man can slip and dislocate his shoulder. Then Felicia was being neighborly by putting it back in place. I’ll have to think on that.”

She walked into the store.

In less than a half hour, nearly everyone was gone. Sam had been taken to the hospital. The police chief had her statement from Felicia, who had insisted on telling the truth. Although Patience had a feeling that the actual report would say something slightly different.

“He’ll be arrested,” Charlie said as they stood by her truck. “More important, if Helen wants to stay gone, she can. Mayor Marsha knows people who can make an abused woman disappear into a new life. She’ll get counseling and help finding a job and an apartment. It’s a chance for her to escape. Let’s hope she takes it.”

“Thanks for your help,” Patience said.

“Happy to.” Charlie looked at Felicia. “You’re my kind of girl. Glad you decided to settle here.”

She got in her truck and drove away.

Patience looked at Felicia. “Where’d you learn to do that?”

“I had a lot of the same physical training as the guys. I just didn’t get to use it much. Until now.”

Patience impulsively hugged her. “You were terrific. I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I shouldn’t get involved, but you got right in that guy’s face.”

“I hate bullies. He was a jerk.” She brightened. “I wonder if he’s going to sue me.”

“That would mean admitting he was beaten by a girl.” Patience linked arms with her and led her back inside. “Just for the record, you are good with people. I’m just saying.”

* * *

“CAN WE put flowers on the ribbons?” Lillie asked.

Justice glanced at Steve, who held up both hands.

“I’m hardly an expert,” the older man said.

Justice wasn’t, either, but he was good at solving problems. He stepped back and studied the bike. Tomorrow was the Spring Festival—yet another Fool’s Gold tradition. Kids rode bikes and were pulled in wagons all decorated with flowers and ribbons and bows. The festival took place over Mother’s Day so dads were supposed to do the work and the mothers were to watch and marvel. As Lillie didn’t have a father, he and Steve had volunteered to help her decorate her bike.

With the help of a glue gun and fasteners, there were pastel-colored ribbons flowing from the handlebars. A big bouquet of silk flowers sat in the basket. Now the question was how to make a garland they could weave through the spokes.

Lillie sat cross-legged on the grass by the driveway. Steve wove thin strips of plastic through the spokes.

“We could glue the flowers onto this once it’s secure,” he said.

Lillie nodded. “That would be nice.”

Justice studied her. She wasn’t her usual happy self.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, hoping she felt okay.

She looked at Steve. “You’re my daddy’s dad.”

Steve froze, then nodded.

“Did you like him when he was little?”

Justice sank next to her on the grass. That wasn’t the question she wanted to ask, he thought. She wanted to know why her father hadn’t loved her enough to stay.

Steve turned toward her. “I wasn’t there for him, Lillie. I left when your dad was small.”