Protector - Laurel Dewey [160]
Emily rounded a corner near the edge of the park. Boom!
An explosion of fireworks burst into the night sky. Emily screamed and dropped to the ground.
Boom! Boom!
Another set of red fireworks painted the skyline, illuminating the park with an eerie scarlet glow.
Emily looked up as the crimson blossoms floated downward. She looked at her hands, reflected against the scarlet sky. In her mind, they were covered in blood. Buffered by the applause and roar of the crowd, Emily let out a terrified scream as she took refuge in the narrow hollow of a nearby tree.
Jane heard Emily’s scream. Pushing her way through the crowds, she made her way to the perimeter of the park, looking around helplessly for any sign of Emily.
Boom!
A riveting set of red and blue fireworks pounded into the air, eliciting another shriek of terror from Emily. Jane spun around and saw the kid crunched into the cavity of the tree. “It’s okay!” Jane yelled as she lunged forward, knelt down and attempted to wrap her arms around the kid.
“No!” Emily screamed, in mortal fear for her life. Everything was a blur to the child as she pushed and punched Jane’s body away from her.
Sheriff George arrived on the scene in time to see Emily’s frantic reaction to Jane’s presence. He held back, hiding in the shadows of an outlying game booth.
“Stop it! It’s me! You’re okay!” Jane pleaded. Emily stopped screaming at the sound of Jane’s voice. She blinked hard. Gradually, Jane’s face came into her view. One chaotic eruption of fireworks after another blasted into the air, sending Emily into Jane’s arms. The sheriff remained fixated on Jane, waiting for her to make a violent move toward Emily. Emily held on to Jane for dear life. The child was hysterical, almost to the point of hyperventilating. “It’s okay!” Jane said quietly, stroking Emily’s head. But Emily’s hysteria reached a fever pitch until she passed out in Jane’s arms.
Dan arrived on the scene, quickly assessing the situation. Sheriff George pulled away against the wooden backing of the booth. “Come on, Jane,” Dan said, out of breath. “We gotta get her outta here before somebody starts askin’ questions!” He knelt down and picked up Emily’s limp body.
Back at the house, Jane directed Dan to Emily’s front bedroom. “I’ll get her some water!” Jane said, rushing off to the bathroom down the hall. Dan knelt by Emily’s bed, gently stroking her moist brow. Jane quickly returned with a glass of water and took Dan’s place by Emily’s bedside. “Wake up,” Jane urged Emily.
“Patty, darlin’, it’s okay,” Dan added with an encouraging voice.
Jane considered her words before she spoke. “Her name is Emily.”
Dan brushed his hand against Emily’s forehead. “What triggered this?” Dan asked Jane in a half-whisper.
Jane didn’t think before she spoke. “She probably thought she saw him.”
“Her father? She fears him that much?”
Jane couldn’t believe she slipped up. “He’s a dangerous son-of-a-bitch.”
Emily stirred. She opened her eyes, not quite knowing where she was right away. “What happened?” she said in a weak voice.
“Here,” Jane said, tipping the glass of water to Emily’s lips.
Emily took a sip and looked at Dan. The realization of what occurred hit her, as did the consequence of Dan observing everything. “Oh, no.” She looked at Jane with apologetic eyes.
Jane patted Emily on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Dan understands that you thought you saw your dad.” She gave Emily a look of “Please play along.”
“Your dad’s not gonna hurt you again, Emily,” Dan said sympathetically.
Emily looked questioningly at Jane. “I told him your real name,” Jane assured her. “I also told him how we had to leave Denver because of Dad.”
Emily glanced at Dan then back to Jane. “Dad. Right.” “You rest, okay? I’m gonna walk Dan to the door.” Dan leaned down, cupping his hand across Emily’s forehead. “Don’t you worry, sweetheart. Ol’ Dan’s gonna make sure nothin’ bad ever