Heath studied her, almost as if gauging her value—was she worth the risk and his time? She had to be wrong. The Heath she knew wouldn’t think in those terms. He was the kind of person who figured out a way to assist someone in need, and that was one of the reasons she’d come to ask for his help. Harper could almost cower under the pensive stare of his intense blue eyes, but she couldn’t afford to back down.
She took in his rough appearance that was so different from when he’d shown up at the camper to give her a camera. With his scruffy jaw and shaggy hair, he could easily be the hero in an epic fantasy—brooding, dejected look and all. She hadn’t missed that his eyes had been haunted when he came out of Leroy’s room but had brightened slightly when he saw her.
Her breath had caught in her throat. Heath had been glad to see her, and now that she thought about it, being near him brought the reassurance she craved.
Harper focused back on the reason she had sought him out. She loathed sounding so needy. Perhaps even fragile. She definitely didn’t want this strong deputy/cowboy to think she was weak.
He crossed his arms and shifted his attention to the floor. Harper hoped she was reading him wrong, but his reaction deflated her, and her shoulders sagged. “Look, I would never ask this of you if it weren’t for the fact that Emily is in a coma, and I trust you. You appear to have earned a lot of respect in this town.” Her trust in him went far beyond that, but she kept that to herself. “You’re a deputy too. I know I’m asking a lot. I wouldn’t want to hurt your reputation.”
His arms still crossed, he pressed a hand over his mouth as if to suppress a grin, then dropped it. “Is that what you think?”
“I don’t know what to think. Maybe it was a mistake to ask.” The courage she’d worked up started slipping away, and if she didn’t snatch it back, it would be completely out of reach. Gone forever.
And . . . there, just like that, her courage fled.
She took a step back, then another. “I shouldn’t have bothered you.”
He gently caught her wrist. “Where are you going? I haven’t even given you my answer yet.”
“I can see what you’re thinking.”
“You can read my mind, can you?”
“Heath, please, tell me. Did I overstep to ask you for help? What are you thinking?”
“How strong and brave you are to face this head-on. I would think you would be looking at the fastest way out of town—taking Emily with you—or talking to the sheriff about protective custody.”
“Are we talking about the same sheriff? The one who thinks I drove the camper over a cliff?”
“We don’t know what Taggart thinks. We should talk to him. Gauge his reaction to you gathering evidence.”
“In my experience, it’s better to act and then ask forgiveness.”
His eyes smiled. “I’ll have to remember that about you. So that’s what you’re asking, then—for me to go with you and gather evidence, and then we’ll share the good news with Taggart.”
“Yes. Please go with me.”
“Heath?” A woman’s voice spoke softly from behind.
He whipped around. “Evelyn. Is everything okay?”
Tired eyes took Harper in. “I’m Evelyn Miller. You must be—”
“Harper Reynolds.” Exhaustion rolled through her. She only had so much energy left and needed that confirmation from Heath.
“How is your sister?” Sincere concern filled the woman’s eyes.
“She’s hanging in there. And your son?”
Doubt flitted across her face, then determination replaced it. “He’s a survivor. He’ll be fine. God is watching out for us.” Evelyn turned her aged gaze on Heath. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“Not at all.” Love and respect poured from Heath—he obviously adored this woman. “Are you ready for me to take you home?”
Despite her somber features, she smiled slightly. “Yes. I changed my mind. I need to be fresh for when Leroy wakes up.” Evelyn reached across the distance and grabbed Harper’s hand. “And you, dear. I heard about your camper. You’ll stay with us, then.”
It wasn’t a question. Harper didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t even thought about where she would stay.
Heath chuckled. “Evelyn sees a need, and she doesn’t bother asking. You’ll get used to it.”
Would Harper be around long enough to get used to it?
“I can see you hadn’t thought that far ahead.” Evelyn leaned against the wall for support.
Heath reacted quickly and placed his arm around her shoulder but looked at Harper. “I should get her back to the Emerald M Ranch. You’re welcome to come along. Welcome to stay at the main house. There’s plenty of law enforcement presence at the ranch right now. I can’t think of a safer place for you.”
Harper followed Evelyn and Heath down the hallway. Should she stay with them? They were strangers, really, and yet the thought of sleeping in a warm bed and a house filled with love on a ranch that would have law enforcement officers close by compelled her to consider it.
Evelyn stopped and turned to look at Harper. “For your sister’s sake, you need the rest. I thought I would stay here all night with Leroy, but if he wakes up and I’m haggard, that won’t help either of us.”
Evelyn had given her the small nudge she needed. “I have to check in on my sister before I leave. Is that all right?”
“Sure,” Heath said. “I’ll pull my truck around to the entrance and wait for you there.”
Heath and Evelyn started walking again, and Harper headed toward her sister’s room.
“I won’t be long. I promise,” she called over her shoulder.
“And Harper,” Heath said.
She paused and turned. Heath watched her.
“We’ll talk about your request later.” He dipped his chin, then continued ushering Evelyn away.
So Heath was actually considering helping her process the crime scene.
Maybe the bump on her head had messed with her thoughts. She’d agreed to an MRI but hadn’t taken care of that yet. Had she lost her mind to think she could or should process that scene, especially since she would do it after everyone else had finished with it? Maybe she should simply ask the sheriff if she could be present while it was processed. What could be the harm in that? Whatever his answer, she definitely wanted to find the person who’d tried to kill her and Emily.
Heath and Evelyn took the elevator, and Harper headed down the hallway to the other side of ICU to Emily’s room. She’d promised to come back, and now she would tell her unconscious sister that she would be staying at the Emerald M Ranch. She hadn’t had the heart to turn down Evelyn Miller, or Heath for that matter.
With the way he cared about people, he was definitely one of a kind. Harper knew that from experience, and she was taking advantage of his generosity and kindness. She needed to see this through, but was she wrong to invite Heath to stay in her life through this storm? Especially when he had troubles of his own?
At the end of the hallway, she took a left. Her heart contracted at the sight of a figure standing at the last door on the left. Her sister’s room. She pushed herself to move faster. A deputy stood like a sentinel outside Emily’s door.
Oh, thank God. Taggart was taking this seriously and had sent someone—albeit a Teton County deputy—to guard Emily. Why hadn’t Harper thought of that?
“I’m so glad you’re here.” She smiled up at him as she made to enter the room.
“Sorry, ma’am. Nobody’s allowed in.”
“I’m her sister. It’s okay.”
“Nobody’s allowed in her room except for medical staff.”