Merrie’s heart jumped. “Oh, dear.”
“Now, don’t worry,” Sari said firmly, noting Ren’s loss of color, as well. “We’ve got people watching him. Besides that, Mikey’s been very busy on your behalf.”
“What is he up to?” Merrie wanted to know.
“You’ll find out as soon as we get you home,” Sari said. “I’ve made sure that you have plenty of art supplies. Brand Taylor sends his regards and hopes that you’ll be well soon.”
“I bought him out,” Merrie told Ren, then felt guilty at his expression. He looked positively morose. “I’m going to hire a business manager,” she blurted out, and he brightened a little.
Then she recalled what Sari had said. “Why do I need lots of art supplies, Sari?” she asked her sister.
“Mikey’s on his way in,” Sari hedged. “He’ll tell you.”
Ren gave her a curious glance. She looked guilty.
He exchanged glances with Merrie and turned back to her sister.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JUST AS REN was about to speak, the door opened and Mikey walked in. He glanced at all of them, and smiled.
Merrie looked at him with a sheepish grin. “Hi, Cousin Mikey.”
“Hey, baby doll,” he teased. “You feeling better?”
“Lots, thanks. And thanks for sitting up with Mandy in the waiting room while I was in ICU, so she didn’t have to be alone, and everyone else could get some sleep.”
“You’re welcome.”
“If I can ever do anything for you,” she began.
He cleared his throat. “Well, actually, about that...”
“What?” she prompted.
He moved closer to the bed, eyeing Ren warily. “Somebody has to have told you that this guy, this cleaner, has a rep in the business for never missing, yeah?”
She grimaced. “Yes.”
“And that since he took the money, he feels obliged to do the hit.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I talked to some people I know, back home.” He hunched his shoulders. “In fact, I talked to the big boss.”
Her eyes widened. She and Ren looked at him expectantly.
“The big boss saw the painting you did of me. Remember, I told you how impressed he was with it?”
“I remember,” she said.
“The thing is, he really wants a painting done of himself. He says, that if you’ll paint him, he’ll take care of the cleaner for you.”
Meredith’s face brightened. “He’ll call off the hit?” she asked, excited.
“Something like that, yeah.”
“I would love to paint him,” she said sincerely.
Ren was less enthusiastic. “Meredith,” he cautioned her.
She stopped him midthought. “Ren, we can’t watch every door, every window, every street. If he could even get on your ranch, and I know what kind of security you have, he could get anywhere.”
“I know that,” Ren said heavily.
“It’s just a painting.” She looked up at Mikey. “He, uh, doesn’t have any outstanding warrants in Texas, does he?” Her voice trailed off.
Mikey chuckled. “No. Not in Texas.”
“Paul will have a stroke,” Ren remarked.
“He won’t. Not if it might save your life,” Mikey told Meredith. “There’s this nice client who wants his portrait painted. He saw your work in a gallery. He thinks you’re awesome. He wants you to paint him a picture to go over his mantel. How is that bad?”
“When you put it that way, it isn’t,” Ren replied.
“See? Nice. Paulie won’t mind.”
“Dr. Coltrain says I can go home Friday,” Merrie began.
“I’ll tell him,” he replied. “You’ll be much better by then. You can sit to paint, right?”
She laughed. She’d probably work from photographs, like she’d done when she painted the picture of Mikey for Paul years ago. “Sure. I’ll do it.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“Can he call the guy off before I do the painting?” Merrie wanted to know.
“We’ll find out today. I’ll be back.” He left them, with an enigmatic smile.
*
SARI WENT TO check in with her office, leaving only two people in the hospital room. “When Paul finds out,” Ren said softly, “we’re all going to be in the doghouse.”
“If he’s not wanted in Texas, it’s not Paul’s problem,” Merrie pointed out. “On the other hand, it really is my life. How much trouble can it cause, just one little painting?”
“I hope you’re right, honey.” He squeezed her hand. “I just want you to live. Whatever it takes. Anything!”
The look in his eyes made her heart jump. She was thinking ahead, not only to a painting that might save her life, but to a new beginning with the only man she’d ever wanted.
“I like Jacobsville,” Ren said unexpectedly. He brought Merrie’s palm to his lips and kissed it. “It’s very much like Catelow. Everybody knows everything.”
“Yes.” The effect his mouth was having on her pulse was exciting.
He nipped the fleshy part of her thumb with his teeth. “You have a lot of friends here.”
“I’ve lived here...all my life.” She sounded as breathless as she felt.