Bonnie - Iris Johansen [112]
“I know,” she said quietly. “But it happened, and it will keep on happening. There’s no telling when he’ll decide that one of us is one of his demons. He’s not sane, Ben. He almost killed me two times before today. And Joe almost died just now.”
“Don’t kill … Ted. He has to know— Fresh start.”
“What?”
The boy’s eyes were closing. “Beginning. He has to know that it can begin…”
He was unconscious.
Joe was rising to his feet. “If I’m going to catch up with Danner, I have to go. You’re sure you want me to leave you?”
No, she desperately wanted to go with him, but she couldn’t leave this young boy who had saved him. She nodded. “Go.”
“Father Barnabas was just behind me. I’ll send him to—”
She stiffened. “The priest? No.”
“He’s okay, Eve. Trust him.” He was running toward the trail. “I’ll explain later.”
She stopped him as he started down the trail. “Bonnie’s death was an accident, Joe. Danner didn’t mean to do it.”
“And what does that mean? How do you feel? What am I supposed to do? Kill him? Have him thrown into prison?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how I feel. I’m still angry. I’m still cheated. I want revenge for her death. And it’s all mixed up with the horrible feeling that everything went terribly wrong, and anything I do will just make it more terrible.” She met his gaze. “It’s your call, Joe. I won’t tell you to hold your hand when it might put you in danger. I just had to tell you.”
He nodded curtly, then vanished down the path.
She moved the pad on Ben’s chest. The pad was soaked with blood. Was the flow easing? It was hard to tell.
“You … want to go with him.” Ben’s eyes were open again. “You’re afraid for him.”
“Yes, shouldn’t I be? Your friend, Danner, tried to kill him.”
“I … think he’ll be all right.”
“I don’t want to think. I want to know.”
“I can’t tell … you that.”
“Stop talking, it’s not good for you. Worry about yourself, not Joe.”
He was silent a moment. “You think I … may die.”
Yes, she did. He seemed very close. “You’ll be fine. Don’t be afraid. Just hold on.”
“I’m not afraid. I was once. But she showed me that it would only be a new start with nothing to hold me back … and beautiful.”
Her grasp tightened on his hand. “‘She’?”
His gaze was on her face. “She looks like you. Sometimes I can’t see her, only hear her. But when I see her, she looks like you.”
“Does she?” she asked unevenly. “Well, I think she would want you to hold on, just as I do.”
He nodded and closed his eyes. “I just wanted to tell you so that you wouldn’t feel bad. You looked so sad.…”
“Eve!”
Her gaze flew to the trail to see Father Barnabas coming up the path.
“How is he?” The priest was frowning as he came toward her. “Joe passed me on the trail and told me what had happened and asked me to come and help you.” He knelt beside Ben. “He said he’d called 911, and they’ll contact the ranger station.” He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Help’s on the way, Ben.”
Ben nodded but didn’t answer.
It’s a new start … and beautiful.
But she didn’t want any new starts happening for this boy who had saved Joe’s life. And she’d be damned if she’d let Joe wander off into the great beyond either.
“Hold the compress,” she told the priest as she got to her feet. “I’m going after Joe.” She looked down at Ben. “And you hold on and don’t go anywhere. She may think it’s okay, but I don’t. And I’m sure Bonnie didn’t mean it like that. We all have to stick together around here.” Her glance shifted to the priest. “You take care of him. Don’t you let him die. I want prayers and rosaries and anything else you may think will help.” She turned and strode toward the trail. “Do your job.”
CHAPTER
16
DANNER!
Catherine had only caught a brief glimpse of the man streaking down the twisting path toward the bottom of the canyon, but she’d recognized him. She had not seen that shock of silver hair at the bayou, but he moved with that same lithe alacrity that had so surprised her.
She tensed. It would take her five to ten minutes to intercept him,