Jenny realized there was a growing discomfort on her shoulder and her neck. “Huh. I must have burned myself.”
The bedlam of noise and movement ceased. It felt like everyone turned to look at her. Into the quiet, Angela stepped forward.
“Bring Jenny into my office, boys.”
“I don’t get it. Where the hell’s Marissa Jayne Featherstone?”
That was a voice Jenny had never heard before, and the question resonated within her.
“That’s the woman that man wanted, but I’ve never even heard that name before. Is she his girlfriend or something? Maybe she ran away from him.” She looked down at the man who’d grabbed her. “Can’t say as I blame her one bit. That guy’s a flaming asshole.” And I wonder what made him think she was here in the first place?
The man who’d just spoken was one of the diners who’d come into the restaurant just before Connor and Mel. He pushed his way through the crowd until he was nearly crowding her. Jenny didn’t look up at him, but it was all she could do not to burrow deeper into Parker’s arms. She didn’t know who he was, but she wanted nothing to do with him. He’s a dangerous creep. Feminine intuition delivered that nugget.
Everyone’s attention turned to that man. As Jenny watched, she understood he hadn’t expected silence to be the answer to his question.
Adam Kendall’s hands were on his hips, and his attention focused on the creep. “And you would be?”
“Hey, I’m just one of the victims of that mad man’s actions. An innocent bystander, just stopped in to eat. The next thing I know, there’s a gun. I just might sue.”
“My roadhouse is closed.” Angela wore an expression Jenny had never seen before as she stared at the loud-mouthed creep. She sincerely hoped her boss never looked at her that way. “As soon as the sheriff takes your statement, I expect you to take yourself elsewhere.”
“That’s not very friendly.” The creep skewered Angela with a nasty stare. Ricoh stepped closer to her, laid his hand on her shoulder, and sent that guy a truly fearsome glare.
“Good.” Angela punctuated that with a nod. “We understand each other perfectly, then.”
“Come, sweet girl. We’ll go to Angela’s office and see how badly you’ve been hurt by that horrible madman.”
Jenny held on to Parker’s hand, and Dale’s, as they followed Kate and Angela into Angela’s office. There was more commotion happening in the dining room, but in this smaller room, with the door closed, those sounds practically disappeared.
“I have another tee shirt here you can put on,” Angela said. She walked over to the closet and took out a brand-new shirt from a batch she’d purchased for the staff to wear in the fall, during a promotional event she had planned. Angela nodded to Dale, who was still standing. “Be careful when you take her shirt off her. Try not to scrape her skin.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jenny of course was sitting down, once more in Parker’s lap. She guessed he wasn’t going to let go of her anytime soon.
Dale was infinitely gentle as he lifted her shirt from her. She was wearing a plain white bra beneath it and felt perfectly comfortable appearing this way, except for the stinging on her shoulder and her neck. The more she focused on it, the worse it felt. Dale gently eased her bra strap off her shoulder, and that helped.
Grandma Kate stepped forward. “It doesn’t appear too serious, but it could use some tending.”
A knock sounded, and the door opened slightly. “Warren and Ed are here, Grandma Kate,” Adam said. “Should I send one of them in?”
“Yes, please, Adam.” Kate turned her attention to Jenny. “I don’t think it will blister, but it should be treated.”
Less than two minutes later, Edward Jessop, carrying something that reminded Jenny of a tackle box in his right hand, came into the office. In his left hand he carried two bottles of water. The condensation told her he must have gotten them from the kitchen.
“You got here fast,” Dale said. “I’m impressed.”
“We were actually on standby, parked in the driveway for Angela’s house.” Edward handed the bottles to Dale then set his case on a corner of Angela’s desk. He opened the case and pulled out a small stack of gauze pads, each one wrapped. These he handed to Parker. Then Edward donned a pair of latex gloves and turned his attention to Jenny’s injury.
His touch was very light as he used a single finger to outline the affected area. “First degree burn, not too bad. Does it hurt?”
“It stings but not horribly. I’ve burned myself worse, cooking.”
“Me too,” Ed shot her a grin. He opened one of the pads then held it out to Dale. Her love was quick because he opened one of the bottles and poured some of the water onto the pad.
Ed used the saturated gauze to gently soothe Jenny’s shoulder. He repeated the process several times, each time using a fresh piece of gauze, freshly wetted.
Finally, he used a dry gauze pad to pat the area and then applied a fresh larger gauze as a bandage.
“Have Robbie look at that tomorrow, Jenny. I don’t think it’ll blister. ”
“Thanks. It feels better.” Jenny sighed.
“Thank you, Edward.” Kate grinned at him.
“You’re welcome. I was also to tell you that it’s all clear out there.”
“All clear?” That confused Jenny. “What’s all clear?”
Kate nodded. “Yes. That means the man who attacked you, and the creepy one who spoke to you, have left the building.”
Jenny looked at Parker, and then she turned to Dale. Neither of them seemed to have a clue what was going on. And the paramedics had been on standby next to the parking lot! “I think it’s time for some answers.”
“Yes, sweet girl,” Kate said. “I do believe it is.”
* * * *
They were greeted by applause when they stepped back into the dining room. Parker brought Jenny’s hand to his lips and kissed it. One look in his woman’s eyes and he knew she really was
