White Trash Witch (8 page)

Staring into his blue eyes, Wiley finally nodded.

When he moved to put his arms around her, she held up
her hand to stop him. "No! No touching. I need some time."

"Take what time you need, but know that I'm here for
you, Wiley. I meant everything I said to you and your family."

"Th…thank you. I need to go and get dressed," she
said and walked to the bathroom, closing the door tight behind
her.

After dropping Wiley at the hospital, and taking her
mother to his home, Ryder made some phone calls. Within an hour
there was a knock at the door.

He had the parcels piled up on the dining room table.
There were so many of them that there was barely room for the
gifts, even though the table sat ten people.

"Hi," Lacy said, staring at the purchases.

"Hi. Are you hungry?"

"What's all that junk?" she asked.

"I bought stuff for you, your aunt, and your
grandmother. Did you grandmother tell you how your mom is doing?"
he asked.

"Yeah. I want to go see her," she said. Her face was
devoid of makeup, and she looked her age.

"Well, let's get some food into you, and then you can
dig through this stuff and find something to wear."

"Okay."

Lacy followed Ryder to the kitchen where he opened a
few cupboards, and dug for the cereal.

"Cocoa Puffs, or Captain Crunch?"

"You eat that stuff?" she asked, sitting at the
table.

"Sure, doesn't everyone?"

"But you're rich. Don't you have a chef who feeds you
stuff like omelets, and bacon and eggs?"

"I have a part time chef. I like to cook for myself,
just like I did before I got rich. Do you want toast?"

"No thanks. Do you have a thing for my Aunt?"

"Oh, yeah. She's amazing."

"She hates gorgeous, rich men. How'd you rate?"

"I'm a wizard and put a spell on myself to be less
than attractive. She likes the real me. Not my money, not my
face."

"Not many people can pull the wool over her eyes.
Since my Unc…since her ex screwed around on her, she's been really
careful about people."

"I'm glad she likes me."

"You live here, and she lives nearly two hours away.
How are you going to have a relationship?"

"Whoa! You are so quick! We just found out that we
like each other. We haven't had time to go further. Eat up and I'll
take you to the hospital. We have to go through the mountain of
stuff on the table first though."

"Sure. I think you're nice. Don't hurt her."

Ryder gauged the serious look in her eyes and
realized she feared he'd harm Wiley. He shook his head and
promised, "I won't."

Wiley stood staring down at her bruised and battered
sister, tears filling her eyes. Telling Ryder to wait downstairs,
while she sent her mother home with him, was a mistake. She wanted
him to hold her, and tell her it was going to be all right like he
had whenever she'd thought about her sister through the night.

Her legs refused to support her, so she sat on the
chair beside the bed, and gingerly took Dara's hand.

Her sister had remained unconscious since the
surgery. Her head was bandaged, and her right arm and leg were in a
body cast. She had a catheter, and tubes and wires were
strategically placed on her body. Her face was black and blue,
mostly on the right side. What looked to be a fist sized bruise on
her left cheek was the only damage on her left side.

"Everything will be okay, Dara. I'm going to make
sure of it," she murmured, stifling a sob.

"Wiley," Dara said, her voice low and husky with
sleep.

"Oh! You're awake!" Wiley pressed the button to
summon the nurse. "Are you hurting bad?" she said.

"Feel like a truck hit me. Oh, I guess it did!" Dara
tried to be funny, but Wiley didn't laugh.

The nurse came in and Wiley stood up, moving back out
of her way.

"She's awake and tried to crack a joke. I'm afraid my
sense of humor is a bit off right now."

"The doctor will be in shortly to check on her," the
nurse said. She put on her stethoscope and listened to Dara's
lungs. Then she took her blood pressure, writing everything down
neatly on the metal clipboard. Finally, she checked the IV drip,
and then smiled at Wiley and left the room.

"Lacy?"

"She's with Mom and my friend, Ryder."

"Who?"

"I met him a few days ago. He's letting us stay in
his home. Mom and Dad can't afford a hotel room, and there is no
way they'll stay at your house with him nearby."

"We were fighting. He was drunk and refused to let me
drive…he..." Dara sighed, her breath quivery and uneven.

"He hit you, didn't he?"

"I'm so ashamed," she said, tears filling her
eyes.

"He's in jail for manslaughter. He killed two people
from the other car."

"Oh, God!"

"He'll pay for what he did, Dara. We'll make sure of
it."

"I want a divorce," she cried, getting more and more
upset.

Alarmed that Dara might hurt herself as she became
more agitated, Wiley pressed the nurse's button again.

"Please, lie still, you'll hurt yourself, Dara.
Everything's going to be fine. You must lie still," she said as
Dara's eyes widened as the pain washed over her.

The nurse rushed in, and then called out to another
nurse to get the doctor. Moving to Dara's side, she said firmly.
"If you don't calm down right now, Dara, we will have to sedate
you. Your body needs to rest."

Struggling for control, she slowly relaxed, tears
flowing like rain down her cheeks.

"Lacy. I need Lacy," she said, sobbing.

"I'm here, Mom," Lacy said from the doorway as she
moved toward the bed.

Wiley looked at the doorway, and saw Ryder standing
there, his disguise gone. She launched herself at him, trembling.
He smelled fresh and clean, his cologne a gentle spice. She felt so
safe in his arms.

Running a soothing hand over her hair, he murmured,
"It's okay, honey. It'll take time. Don't cry, baby. I'm here, and
I'm not leaving you."

She looked up at him, shaking her head. "I still see
you as Ryder when I close my eyes. It's so confusing."

"Sorry, Wiley," he said, hugging her close.

The doctor brushed past them, and went straight to
her patient. Penlight in hand she checked Dara's pupils, and picked
up the chart.

"I'm Dr. Watts. Tell me your name," she ordered.

"Dara Danson."

"Do you know where you are?"

"Hospital," Dara whispered, appearing ready to cry
more.

"Very good. You've had severe trauma to your right
side. The femur and fibula in your right leg are fractured, as well
as the humorous in your upper arm. We were concerned about brain
damage, but you seem to be doing quite well. The swelling in your
brain was minimal. You're lucky to be alive. You'll have to stay
here for the next few weeks, and then we'll see from there how
you're doing."

"But, Lacy. Who will take care of her?"

"I'm not a child, Mom," Lacy said with a disgusted
tone, her voice filled with threatening tears.

"She can stay at my place for as long as necessary. I
have a chef, a housekeeper, and a driver. She can come to see you
every day," Ryder said, stepping forward.

"Dara, this is Duncan Ryder. We call him Ryder. He's
a friend of mine. Mom is at his place now, though once I call her
to tell her you're awake, I'll bet she'll head right back
here."

"Good. Now, the most important thing for you, Mrs.
Danson, is for you to rest. That means no getting worked up like
you did a few minutes ago. Understood?" the doctor asked.

"Please don't call me that. My name is Dara. Yes. I
understand," she said quietly.

The doctor nodded and left them.

"Maybe I'll go wait out in the hallway," Ryder
murmured in Wiley's ear.

"No. Please, don't go. If my family is staying with
you, I'd like to get to know you," Dara said, cringing at a wave of
pain.

"Can I get you anything?" Wiley said, not sure what
to do for her sister.

"A good divorce lawyer. I don't know how I'll afford
it, but somehow I'll do it. He's gone too far this time. I'll not
stay married to him a minute longer. I'm sorry, baby, I know he's
your Dad, but I've had enough."

"Mom, don't worry about it. He hasn't really been my
dad in years since he started drinking heavily. I just want you to
get better," Lacy said, holding her mother's hand.

"You are such a good kid." Dara kissed her daughter,
gasping when she moved too far.

"Dara, if you'll permit me, I have an excellent
lawyer who specializes in divorces. Would you let me arrange to
have him come see you? When you are ready, of course."

"I'll be ready in five minutes!" she said, then
moaned.

"Honey, you have to relax. Please," Wiley said.

"Call Mom. I…I need her," Dara said, crying
softly.

Wiley picked up the phone. "Ah, what's your number?"
she asked, looking up at Ryder.

"Here, I'll dial it for you." Moving in close he
dialed, then handed her the phone.

Wiley caught his spicy scent and breathed in deeply
before she caught herself. She spoke quickly to her mother, and
then held the phone to Dara's ear.

"Momma? I need you. Oh, Momma, it hurts," Dara said,
breaking down. Groaning, she pushed the phone away.

"Get the nurse, tell her Dara's in pain," Wiley
whispered to Ryder, taking the phone back. He left the room, and
came right back. Wiley spoke to her mother for a moment or two
more, and then hung up the phone.

"Oh, honey, I'd hug you, but I don't know where you
aren't hurt!" Wiley teased, fighting the tears.

"Everything hurts. Take Lacy home with you. She
doesn't need to see this."

"Lacy is right here, and I don't want to leave you,
Mom. I love you," Lacy said, tears flowing.

"Mom will be here in ten minutes. Just hang in
there," Wiley said.

"I'll go make that call. I'll be at the nurse's
station if you need me." Ryder kissed Wiley on her forehead, and
winking at Lacy before leaving the room.

"He's a nice man," Dara said, hissing.

"Yes, he is. Stay still, Dara. Please try not to
move."

The nurse came in and gave Dara a pain killer, and
then fiddled with the equipment, taking her blood pressure and
pulse again. By the time she was done, their mother was there.

"I'll make sure she behaves herself, nurse," she
said, her lip quivering as though she was trying not to cry.

"Mom, do you want us to stay?" Wiley asked.

"No. I already ate and had a long nap. I'll be good
for a while. The nurses promised me a cot tonight. You take Lacy
and go with Ryder.

Ryder waited just beyond the door. When he smiled,
Wiley felt her heart flip, and frowned. After a few quick goodbyes,
Ryder took Wiley and Lacy home to his house. Wiley was afraid of
her feelings for him. After such a short time, they were so strong
that it scared her.

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"I bought you some things because you didn't have
time to pack. They're on the table in the dining room," Ryder
murmured in her ear as he hugged her.

Lifting her chin, she said, "I don't want anything
from you. I can buy my own things."

He let her go and stepped back, surprised that he
felt hurt by her words.

"There is a toothbrush, hairbrush, some underwear,
whatever you'll need. Just accept it as a loan then. Please,
Wiley."

"A toothbrush?" she said, running her tongue over her
teeth and grimacing. "Okay, a toothbrush. Maybe a hairbrush, but
that's it," she said firmly.

Biting back a grin, he led her to the dining room.
She stood at the doorway, her mouth opened wide in shock.

"You must have spent a fortune on us. I can't accept
all this," she whispered.

"Since this is an emergency situation, I think you
can be forgiven for accepting help. There are a few things to get
you through the next week or so. Please let me take care of you and
your family," he said quietly.

"Oh, all right, Ryder, but I'm paying you back in
full."

"If you wish. You can take your time." He left her
side and went out the kitchen door.

For the next two weeks, Wiley, Lacy, and her mother,
ran back and forth to the hospital in turns. Ryder spent much of
his time taking care of his business, but he always had time for
them.

In the evenings, Wiley skirted around him, making
sure she didn't fall under his charms and end up in his bed again.
He was alluring, handsome, sexy, rich…all the things she avoided
like the plague. The few times Ryder came close to kissing her, she
made some excuse and raced to the room she shared with Lacy.

"Aunt Wiley?" Lacy asked in a sleepy voice late one
night.

They'd been in bed more than an hour, but Wiley was
unable to sleep. Each time she closed her eyes, images of making
wild, passionate love to Ryder flashed through her mind. Her mind
was playing tricks on her, his image switching from the Ryder she'd
first met and the real one.

"Sorry, sweetie, am I keeping you awake?"

"Yes, but that's not what I wanted to know. I really
like Ryder. Why don't you give in and give him a second
chance?"

Shocked that Lacy was aware of the relationship
between Ryder and herself, Wiley avoided answering.

"I'm going to get myself a drink of milk. Want
something?"

"No thanks," Lacy said, yawning. She settled down to
sleep before Wiley left the room in her oversized t-shirt. On the
front was a picture of Wylie Coyote falling off a cliff. It was one
of the few things she'd accepted from Ryder. She loved it.

On bare feet, Wiley padded down the hall and
descended the steps, noting how utterly quiet it was. At two in the
morning it seemed that everyone, except Wiley, was asleep.