Part 30 (2/2)
Savanah marched toward the door, yanked it open, then stopped, slowly turned, her eyes filled with tears. ”You know if I do this and Foster is destroyed, she will still blame you.”
”Perhaps.”
”You love her that much?” She shook her head. ”d.a.m.n you, Johnny Whitehorse.”
Leah smiled into her son's drowsy eyes as the doctor in charge quietly relayed orders to the attending nurses. He then placed a comforting hand on Leah's shoulder. ”We're over the worst, I think.”
Shamika moved to the bed and took Val's hand. She held it to her cheek and did her best not to cry as Leah pressed a kiss to his brow. His lips curved into his familiar smile, and light flickered in his eyes.
”Johnny?” he whispered.
”Johnny was here to see you this morning. He brought you a gift.” She held up the amulet. ”He made it himself, just for you.”
”Johnny still love Val?”
”Oh, yes, my darling. He loves you very, very much.”
”Val, Mama, and Mika go home with Johnny?”
Leah looked up at Shamika before responding. ”We'll see. First you have to get well.”
His eyes drifted closed. Leah and Shamika continued to hold his hands as the doctor completed his chart, then set it aside.
”His condition has stabilized, Mrs. Starr. The best thing you could do right now is to go home and get some sleep. If there's any change we'll call you.”
Shamika nodded. ”I'll stay with him.”
Leah took a weary breath and nodded. ”Maybe for a while.”
Upon leaving the room, Leah found Richard in the waiting area, asleep on a sofa. She had been angry with Shamika at first over contacting Richard's parents about Val, then thankful. Richard had arrived in a few hours, had donated blood just in case Val needed it. Thank G.o.d, he hadn't.
”Leah?”
She turned.
Savanah Rainwater moved out of the shadows. ”I'm happy that your son has improved.”
”I thought you left Ruidoso days ago.”
”I did. But I had some unfinished business.”
Leah looked beyond her, scanned the hospital corridor.
”If it's Johnny you're looking for, he isn't here. I left him back at the ranch. I a.s.sume he's still there.”
”If you came here to defend Johnny-”
”I guess you haven't heard.”
Leah frowned, uncertain if she could handle any more bad news at the moment.
”Johnny has just cleared your father of my sister's death.”
Sinking back against the wall, Leah closed her eyes.
”That's where Johnny's been the last few days, gathering proof that Robert Anderson is the one who ran Johnny and Dolores off the road that night. You see, Robert is involved with Formation Media. Very much involved. Along with a number of senators and governors, all of whom are making it very easy for a great many very powerful men to control the gambling in this and other countries.”
Savanah reached into her purse and withdrew a package. She placed it in Leah's hands. ”Johnny gave these to me to do what I want with them. They're photos I and another photographer took at the Crystal Casino in Toronto and the Rama Rio Resort in Aruba.
”If I use those photographs...” She looked away. ”Let's just say I've always considered Johnny Whitehorse a gift to our people, one, I'm sorry to say, who isn't appreciated by the People as he should be. Sometimes we stand so close to a good thing we can't see it distinctly enough to recognize its worth. I've known Johnny to love only one thing greater than the People, and that was you. Until today I simply didn't realize just how much he loves you, that he would sacrifice all that he believes in and has worked for to protect your heart.
”At this very moment your father is preparing to go on television to make a statement regarding the fact that he has been cleared of Dolores's murder, and the fact that Johnny has publicly stated that he will no longer pursue the senator's affiliation with Formation Media, that as far as he knows no evidence exists that could link your father to Formation.
”I feel sick when I think of what this will do to Johnny. His reputation, his political future, his ... pride. When at last he has found a voice to speak to the world against injustice, who will listen to him now? And believe him?”
Savanah turned and walked down the corridor.
Leah opened the package and withdrew the photographs.
Senator Foster adjusted his tie as a young man blotted his nose with powder and another smoothed down a few gray hairs on the top of his head. His speechwriter shoved several papers into his hands as a KRXR producer barked orders into a headset and nodded to Foster.
”Whenever you're ready, Senator.”
Foster stepped through the door, waving at the mob of reporters who filled the room with the harsh glare of video-camera lights. He carefully moved over the tangle of electrical cords, gingerly mounted the dais, and stepped up to the mike.
The cameras whirred and clicked. Foster posed, smiling, both hands raised, thumbs up as the din of reporters began to shout for his attention. He waited for the noise to subside, smiling, laughing, shrugging and mugging for the dozen cameras zooming in for a close-up of his face.
”Senator, how are you feeling?” someone shouted.
”Relieved. The accusations hurled at me by Whitehorse the last few years took their toll, of course.”
”What about the Senate investigative committee? Do you think they'll be satisfied with Whitehorse's statement that he doesn't plan to further pursue this case?”
”I don't antic.i.p.ate there being any problem with that. My attorneys are with them now.”
”What about your plans regarding Whitehorse? You stated previously that you intended to bring a civil case against him for slander.”
”I fully intend to do just that. What that man has put me and my family through the last few years is unspeakable.”
”Senator, any truth to the rumor that you will now make a bid for the presidency?”
”Before the senator responds to that question,” Leah said as she stood up, ”perhaps he would like to explain what business would take him to the Crystal Casino in Toronto as well as the Rama Rio Casino in Aruba-both owned by Formation Media-both times corresponding with meetings of the very powerful and questionable Formation consortium.”
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