And while Sully was turning around to head back down the road, the chief was giving everyone the good news.

* * *

The news was spreading around Blessings that Slade had taken Melissa Dean’s car, and her with it. It was Ruby’s kidnapping all over again, except that Ruby had been missing for hours. Before the people could work themselves up into organizing a prayer vigil for Melissa, Sully carried her into the ER.

Their arrival caused something of a stir because everyone knew what had happened. The nurses had her in an examining room within moments, and Dr. Quick was right behind them. They began questioning her regarding injuries and the locations of pain, and when they started to cut her clothes away, they asked Sully to leave.

Melissa stopped them.

“He stays. It’s nothing he hasn’t already seen, and this is the second time he’s saved my life. I need to see his face.” Then she choked on the words, looking at him with tears in her eyes. “I didn’t think I would see him again.”

Sully didn’t budge, nor did he break his gaze. He could tell by the changing expressions on her face when they touched something that hurt. When they wheeled in a portable X-ray unit and focused on her head, ribs, and shoulders, he held his breath.

Once the nurses had cleaned up all her scratches and treated them with antiseptic wash, they put her in a hospital gown, then covered her with blankets straight out of the warmer.

“As soon as we get pictures back from X-ray, Dr. Quick will be back in to talk to you.”

Melissa watched them leave, and the moment they were out of sight, Sully took off his T-shirt and turned it wrong-side out and then put it on backwards. At least the front of his shirt was presentable. His jeans, not so much.

He hurried to her side, leaned over and kissed her forehead, and then brushed a soft kiss across her lips.

“Giving you something better to think about,” he said.

Melissa took a shuddering breath as he started talking.

“Fred told me about the escapee when I went to the hardware store. I left immediately, trying to call you from the car, but there was no answer. I kept calling you all the way home. And then your car was gone, and the door was open. I’ve never been so scared. I walked in to broken glass and a trail of blood from the hall to the kitchen. I didn’t know what I would find. I knew he’d taken your car, and then the blood… Lord. Thank God you’re alive.”

“That was his blood,” Melissa said. “I was taking out the garbage when I caught him trying to break into my car. He saw me and started chasing me. I ran for the back door, but I wasn’t fast enough to lock him out. He tackled me in the kitchen. We fought. I broke the coffeepot on his elbow. I was aiming for his head. He caught me again in the foyer. I scratched my fingernails down the side of his face. That’s when he knocked me out.” Her chin quivered as she took a breath. “I thought I was going to die. I didn’t think I would ever see you again.”