Part 29 (1/2)
”Are you all right?” Teri asked urgently.
I nodded but couldn't say anything. I looked over at Maggie. She started coughing. Breathing a sigh of relief, I knelt next to her.
”Maggie,” I exclaimed as I put my hand under her head, lifted her and held her close. She opened her eyes, and coughed again.
”Why did you push me?” she demanded in a raspy voice. Why the little...
”Push you? You little idiot, I saved your ungrateful hide,” I said staring down at her.
My arms were around her and I never thought I'd be this content to argue with her once again.
Chapter Twenty-Six.
Hey, Maggie, you okay?” Steve called out. He looked awful, coughing and wheezing as he ran up to us.
”Yes, thanks,” she said coughing as we stood.
I looked around to see the Fire Department soaking Allison's building. They moved us back to a safer distance as we stood watching the flames.
Then Allison ran over to Maggie and hugged her. ”Maggie, are you all right, sweetie? Please tell me you're fine.”
”I'm fine, how about you?” Maggie asked as her hands roamed over Alison's body looking for signs of injury.
I looked at them then walked away. Looking back at the burning building, I saw a fireman come out with Sarah's lifeless body. Mac and Teri were talking to Steve as I turned away once more. I heard Teri calling me and saw another ambulance with its lights flas.h.i.+ng. A paramedic came over to me and guided me toward the ambulance.
”What the h.e.l.l are you doing?” I asked pulling myself free.
”Ma'am, you're bleeding,” he said and put his gloved hand on my ribs.
I looked down at the blood on my side.
Mac and Teri came running over. ”What in the h.e.l.l?” Teri said looking at me.
”I don't know. I feel fine,” I said.
As I sat down on the back of the ambulance, the paramedic looked under my s.h.i.+rt.
”Well, it looks like you got nicked,” he said.
”I don't feel like I've been nicked,” I said. ”Nicked by what?”
He gave me a worried look. ”Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say by a bullet.”
Mac was shocked. ”Kate, get in the ambulance!”
I got in and then I felt something. Funny how you don't feel sick until someone tells you-you look sick.
Teri got in and looked at Mac, ”Go tell Steve and Maggie.” He kissed her and was gone.
”You two are so corny.”
”Shut up,” my wonderful sister said as the door of the ambulance closed and we took off.
I smiled ruefully at Teri. She smiled and patted my hand. ”When we get back you have to tell me what the h.e.l.l happened,” she said.
”You'll never believe it.”
The paramedic had opened my s.h.i.+rt and put a huge gauze pad on my side. ”I've never been shot before.” I'm sure he cares.
”First time for everything,” he smiled and patted my shoulder.
The clinic-my favorite place next to the kitchen table.
Once again, the small emergency room greeted me. Doc was standing there smiling sadly. ”Okay, I think I've seen about enough of you,” he said and put his hand on my forehead. ”Had a full day?”
I explained the ordeal as he worked on me. Several times, he stopped and stared at me in amazement. When he was done, he sat back.
”Well, either you live right, or you're the luckiest SOB I've ever met,” he said, shaking his head. ”It was definitely-” he started as Maggie burst into the room.
She stood there breathing heavily for a moment, then rushed over to the bedside. ”You can't be left alone for a minute,” she said, and grabbed my hand.
”I've been nicked,” I said stupidly, enjoying the concerned look in her blue eyes.
Maggie looked at Doc, who nodded and said, ”Well, she's right. I was about to say, it was definitely a bullet. It grazed your side, doesn't even need a st.i.tch. Just keep it clean.”
He smiled sadly. ”I'll stop by and we can get this sorted out.” He kissed Maggie and patted my shoulder. ”And you, I think you're accident p.r.o.ne,” he said and left the room.
”How do you feel?” she asked softly and put her hand on my brow.
”I'm fine. Let's get out of here.” I stood and b.u.t.toned my s.h.i.+rt.
She tried to help but I waved her off as my wall formed brick by brick. She gave me a bewildered look and stepped back as I walked out ahead of her looking for that safe, detached loop I had misplaced a few days ago.
Amazingly, we all sat in the living room. I retold the story from beginning to frightening end as they all sat in stunned silence.
”Sarah wanted to see the new antiques I got in. We went back to my shop and that's when she started,” Allison said and put her hand to her forehead. Maggie put her hand on her shoulder. ”She told me that I was useless. She ranted and raved. I was petrified and didn't know what to do. Then she pulled the gun and told me to call Maggie; if I didn't, she'd kill Maggie and me. I didn't know what to do.” She looked sick and I felt bad for her.
”I don't blame you, Allison; she scared the life out of me as well,” I said.
”Then Sarah slapped me across the face and I blacked out. When I came to, I was in a chair and so was Maggie,” Allison said and looked right at me. ”Maggie said you would come, and you did. Thank you,” she said, looking at her hands.
”Well, it's over. Have you gotten in touch with Nathan or Charlie?” I asked Hannah and Maggie.
”Nathan is on his away back as we speak,” Hannah said. ”This is going to devastate him. I can't believe Sarah did all this.” She sighed. ”And Charlie, I have no idea how he's going to react. He's in New York. I've already called him. I'm sure he'll be calling soon.”
Maggie shook her head. ”I can't believe it. Uncle Nathan is my real father. Do you think he knows?”