She gave him the side-eye.
TJ shrugged and popped his earbud in.
She turned down another street. “What the—”
An object lay on the side of the road. The rain was pouring too hard for her to make it out clearly. She squinted as they drove closer, the figure coming into view. Belle screeched to a stop and gasped. “It’s a person.”
She opened her door and dashed into the freezing rain. It soaked through her jacket in seconds. Belle checked the woman’s pulse. Her skin was hot to the touch despite the cold temperature outside.
“Help me get her in the car.”
TJ just sat there, staring at the woman.
“TJ!”
He snapped out of it and raced from the car before bending to grab the woman’s feet. Belle directed him into the back seat of her car.
“Let’s get her to our place and I can check her over there,” she said, driving towards their destination.
When they got home, TJ helped her carry the unconscious woman across the wet grass and into the house where they laid her carefully on the couch.
TJ’s hands raced across his phone screen as she took the woman’s pulse. Too fast. “Stop messing on your phone and go get my kit.”
You’d think a kid who wanted to be a doctor would be more helpful in this situation. TJ disappeared upstairs. Minutes passed by. Belle huffed and followed him. “What’s the holdup?”
“I can’t find it,” TJ said, coming out of her bedroom.
“Because it’s in the bathroom, not my bedroom.” She grabbed the kit and ran down the stairs.
After pulling out the thermometer, she checked the woman’s temperature. One hundred and three. Next she used the stethoscope and listened to her lungs. Not good.
“I’m going to go upstairs and get out of these wet things and get her a change of clothes. Keep her covered for now and then we’ll take her to the hospital.” Belle didn’t wait for her brother’s reply as she ran back up the stairs.
Belle changed and grabbed another set of dry clothes. The woman was a lot taller than her, but they’d have to make do.
A knock sounded at the door. Who could that be? She grabbed a towel on her way down, freezing halfway.
Bently Evans was in her house, in uniform. Fear wound around her. How had he known to come here? Was he watching her? TJ’s earlier questions and the sheriff’s sudden presence made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
“Mia?” Bently gasped, rushing over to her now awake patient’s side.
“What is he doing here?” Belle snapped, focusing on her brother’s guilty look.
TJ shrugged.
“Don’t act like you’re not happy to see me,” Bently said frostily.
Had Bently used her brother to get to her? She rolled her eyes. “Has hell frozen over?”
“TJ called and let me in. Seems he rescued my friend.” Bently turned his attention back on the woman lying on Belle’s sofa. “What happened?”
“I just need to go home,” Mia rasped, before coughing.
Putting her distrust for this man aside because someone else needed her, Belle interjected, “No, she needs a hospital. Her lungs sound like they have some fluid and she’s running a high fever. She was passed out in the freezing cold, soaked to the bone. No idea how long she was exposed to the elements, but she could have pneumonia.”
“Let’s go, Mia. Doctor’s orders.” Bently took her hand as she stood up.
“I’m a nurse,” she deadpanned.
“Home. No hospital.” Mia coughed again, seemingly unable to stop before she went limp in Bently’s arms.
“She needs to go to the ER,” Belle commanded. “TJ, take my keys and meet me there.”
Bently hooked his arm under Mia’s knees and carried her out while Belle held the door open. She ran to his truck and climbed in the extended cab seats, opening her arms for Bently to hand Mia over. He obliged, shutting the doors before climbing in the driver’s side.
The rain had let up, only sprinkling now as he pulled onto the road and raced towards the hospital.
“She’s a friend of yours?” Belle asked, regretting the tinge of jealousy in her voice.
He glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting her eyes briefly. “She’s my best friend’s girl.”
“Oh.”
Bently handed her his phone. “Could you text him for me? It’s under Andre Stone.”
“Sure.” She took the phone from his hand, while balancing Mia’s unconscious body against her lap. She found his contact information and typed out the message before handing the phone back to Bently, her fingers grazing his. The skin tingled where he’d touched her.
He picked up the radio and alerted dispatch to notify the hospital that they were incoming.
“How did TJ tell you about Mia?”
Bently’s brow furrowed. “I gave him my number. Wanted to send him some information about Hope Facility that my friend Aaron runs. It’s for homeless teens and kids from troubled homes mainly, but it’s open to all kids in the community. They have basketball courts and a game room. It seemed like he might be having some trouble making friends, and I just thought it might be useful. Sorry if I overstepped.”
Her stomach knotted. When did this happen? And why didn’t TJ tell me? She wasn’t expecting Bently’s honesty, and it was just one more piece of the conflicting puzzle of Bently Evans.
“I’m sorry I called you a pig, Bently. It was uncalled for. I apologize for reacting so harshly.”
His gaze flashed to hers once more in the mirror.
“Thank you for that.” Switching his blinker on, Bently turned down the road leading to the hospital. “I’m sorry if I made you feel unsafe at any time. That was never my intention.” His voice was gruff.
Bently didn’t say another word or look at her again before they pulled in front of the emergency department doors.
A line of nurses, all of whom she recognized, were waiting with a gurney for Mia. The doors opened and they got Mia out and rushed into the hospital. Belle climbed over and then Bently shut the door.
