Defending His Own

But he would wait. Wait until he knew for sure.

A tall, skinny nurse walked into the room. Covering her lips with her index finger, she signaled Deborah and Ashe to be quiet. Silently she went about her business, checking on Annie Laurie, then nodding goodbye as she left.

'Are you hungry?' Ashe asked. 'We could go down for breakfast soon.'

'Let's wait awhile, until Mama Mattie wakes up. She needs some rest.'

A soft knock sounded at the door. Ashe walked over and opened the door a fraction. Detective Morrow, from the Florence police, stood in the hallway.

'Could I speak to you, Mr. McLaughlin? The chief said to let you know what we've found out. He's talked to Chief Burton over in Sheffield and also to Sheriff Blaylock. They both said to fill you in.'

Ashe stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind him. 'Let's have it.'

'The wreck wasn't an accident. Ms. Vaughn's Cadillac had been tampered with. There was no brake fluid. It had all leaked out. Looks like somebody intended for Ms. Vaughn to wreck her car.'

Deborah stood with the door cracked enough to overhear what the detective said. Biting down on her bottom lip, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer. A prayer to end this madness, to keep those she loved safe.

Ashe thanked Detective Morrow. 'I'd like to see a copy of your mechanic's complete report as soon as possible.' He shook hands with the policeman, then glanced at Deborah.

She opened the door, walked over to Ashe and tilted her chin defiantly. 'So now we know for sure.'

'Yeah, we know Buck isn't through playing games, and the games are getting more and more deadly.' Ashe looked at her, his eyes hard, his face tense. 'I think it's time ol' Buck and I have a little talk. Face-to-face.'

'No, Ashe. Please.' Deborah grabbed him by the arm. 'You can't go off alone and confront a man like Buck Stansell. He could have you murdered on the spot.'

'Yeah, he could, but he won't.' Ashe put his arm around Deborah, hugging her to his side. 'You forget that I know Buck and his kind. He's had me checked out thoroughly and he isn't about to bring down any more investigations on him and his boys right now. Lon Sparks has kept his mouth shut, but there isn't any doubt who was behind Looney's murder.'

'But Ashe, you should let the police handle Buck Stansell. Talk to Charlie Blaylock. Let him talk to Buck.'

'Honey, you don't understand. There is nothing to link your car's brake failure to Buck Stansell. Sheriff Blaylock has no legal reason to question Buck.' He kissed Deborah quickly, then gave her a gentle shove away from him. 'I don't need a legal reason. Your safety is the only reason I need. If I don't hunt Buck down after what happened with your car last night, he'll be wondering why.'

Mama Mattie rushed out the door, waving her hands and laughing. 'She's awake. She's talking to Neil. Come see. Oh, thank you Lord, she's all right!'

Deborah and Ashe went inside, stopping at the foot of Annie Laurie's bed. Sitting on the side of the bed, Neil held Annie Laurie in his arms, tears streaming down his face.

'Guess what?' Annie Laurie smiled, her bruised face beaming. 'Neil just told me that he and I are going to get married.'

Everyone laughed. Mama Mattie fluffed Annie Laurie's pillow, then went around the room hugging everyone.

Neil glanced at Deborah and smiled. 'Funny how it takes something like this to make a man realize who he loves and how much he loves her.'

'I think this is wonderful,' Deborah said. 'As soon as Annie Laurie is out of this dreadful place, we'll start planning an engagement party.'

'Well, I think first we need to let the nurses know that Annie Laurie has regained consciousness,' Ashe said. 'The doctors will want to examine her.'

'I'll go with you.' Deborah gave Annie Laurie and Neil loving hugs, then put her arm around Mama Mattie's waist. 'Why don't we leave these two alone until the doctors storm in here? We could go have breakfast.'

'Sounds good to me.'

Mattie followed Ashe and Deborah out into the hallway. After stopping by the nurses' station to alert the staff that Annie Laurie was conscious, the three headed for the elevators. The elevator doors opened and Roarke stepped out, Carol and Allen at his side.

'Mother! Allen! What are y'all doing here?'

Ashe eyed Roarke, who nodded toward Allen, but didn't say anything.

'Allen has been frantic,' Carol said. 'None of us got any rest last night. He's convinced himself that someone tampered with your car, that you aren't safe.'

Deborah drew Allen into her arms, hugging him with fierce motherly protectiveness. 'Oh, darling, Ashe isn't going to let anybody hurt me.'

Pulling out of Deborah's arms, Allen turned to Ashe. 'They think I'm nothing but a baby. They won't tell me the truth. But you will, won't you, Ashe?'

Everyone moved away from the elevators and into the hallway.

Deborah held her breath. Ashe knelt on one knee and put his hand on Allen's shoulder.

'Somebody tampered with the brakes on Deborah's car. They wanted to hurt her. But she's okay. And so is Neil and Annie Laurie.'

'But what if Deborah had been driving the car, what if—' Allen beat his fists against Ashe's chest. 'I hate Buck Stansell. I'd like to tell him what I think of him. I'd tell him if he hurts Deborah, I'll kill him!'

Ashe drew Allen into his arms. Deborah's eyes glazed with tears, but she saw the look in her mother's eyes, the look that said He's his father's son. End this lie. Tell Ashe the truth.

'That's exactly what I'm going to do, go see Buck Stansell.' Ashe patted Allen on the back, then stood and looked at Roarke. 'You take care of things for me. I have to go talk to a man about revenge.'

'No, Ashe!' Deborah reached for Ashe, but Roarke grabbed her, physically restraining her while Ashe entered the elevator and punched the Down button.

* * *

Ashe caught Lee Roy and Johnny Joe just as they were leaving. He pulled his car up in the drive, blocking their departure. Both men stayed in their vehicle when Ashe got out and walked over to them. Lee Roy stepped out of his car and faced Ashe.

'You're out bright and early, cousin.' Lee Roy grinned, the look on his face as innocent as a newborn baby's.

'I've been up all night.' Ashe stood several feet away, his gaze focused on Lee Roy.

'I'm surprised you'd leave your woman alone, even to pay a visit on your relatives.'

'This isn't a social call.'

'Yeah, I figured as much.'

'I want to see Buck. I don't think sending him another message can get my point across like a personal visit.'

Johnny Joe opened the passenger side door, got out and placed his elbows on top of the car. 'We heard about that wreck last night. Sure was a shame. Guess Miss Deborah Vaughn was lucky she loaned her car out to somebody else.'

'Annie Laurie is family.' Ashe didn't move a muscle, didn't even glance Johnny Joe's way. 'Lucky for everyone involved, she's going to be all right.'

'We wouldn't want to see Annie Laurie come to no harm.' Lee Roy grunted. 'Hell, we've always been fond of that girl, even though she's no blood kin to us, her being on your mama's side of the family and all.'

'I want to see Buck,' Ashe repeated. 'Today.'

'Well, Buck's a busy man,' Lee Roy said. 'It'll take time to arrange things. You understand.'

'Then you get things arranged.'

'Buck'll be agreeable to seeing you. He ain't got nothing but the best to say about you, you know. He respects you. And he wouldn't have allowed nothing really bad to happen to your woman.'

'Bad things are happening. If he's seeking revenge against Deborah for testifying, then he'd better think again. Revenge works both ways.'

'Hellfire, Ashe, Buck ain't no fool. He might have given orders to throw a scare into Deborah Vaughn, just for the principle of it, you know. But Lou Sparks ain't nothing but a speck of dirt on Buck's shoe. Not worth the trouble.