Read Online Blindside by Catherine Coulter - Free Book Online Page B

I’m sorry.”
    Savich closed his eyes and willed himself far away, back with Sherlock and Sean, his own little boy.
    “Miles?”
    “Yes, I’m right here, Savich.”
    “You sure Sam’s okay?”
    “I’m here, Uncle Dillon,” Sam said, and patted Savich’s shoulder. “Keely and I are both fine. Did you see the sheriff shoot Beau? Whap! She got him right in the neck, then shot him again when he turned that gun on Papa.”
    So much for protecting the children, Katie thought as she came back into the living room with a thick towel. She leaned down and pressed the towel hard against the wound.
    Savich didn’t know where the moan came from, didn’t know he had it in him. The woman was very strong.
    “Tell me what happened, Sheriff,” Savich said.
    Keely, her fingers still touching his cheek, said, “I heard that bad man talking to Mama in the living room, and I knew he wanted Sam.”
    Katie said, “And so you made a lump in your bed with a pillow, and went to wake up Sam.”
    The little girl nodded. She stuck her hand out to Sam, who took it. “He shoved up the window in my room and weclimbed out on my oak tree.” She frowned. “Sam wanted to help you but I told him that you’re really tough, Mama, and that you would fix Beau’s hash. Is that Beau out there?”
    “That’s his sorry self, yes,” Katie said. “Now, Dillon, how are you doing?”
    “Okay,” he said, and she heard the pain in his voice.
    “You don’t seem to be bleeding through the pressure. The paramedics should be here any minute. You’re going to be okay.”
    “Make sure you keep the kids with you.”
    “You can count on that,” Miles said, and he knew that all the adults wondered what could possibly motivate those two to come after Sam again. Money, there had to be lots of money in it for them.
    Katie looked from Keely to Sam. “Now we’ve got two heroes. Well done, kids.”
    They heard the sirens in the distance.
    Katie lightly patted his shoulder. “Just another minute. I guess Clancy is dead. I can’t get near the van, the flames are just too hot and the smoke’s too thick.”
    “He couldn’t have survived that blast,” Savich said. “Don’t worry about it.”
    She heard men’s voices outside, one she recognized. “It’s Wade, one of my deputies.”
    “Ho! What the hell happened here? You got a dead guy out here drinkin’ rain.”
    Katie walked to the front door. “Bring everyone inside, Wade. The paramedics will be here momentarily. Agent Savich’s back was cut by a piece of metal.”

9
    M ackey and Bueller helped Savich to the ambulance—it felt like a five-mile hike to Savich, who didn’t think he’d ever want to walk straight again—then eased him down on his stomach onto the gurney.
    “It’ll be all right, Special Agent, sir,” said Mackey, so impressed with having a federal officer as his patient that he nearly stuttered. “Sheriff, are you coming with us?”
    “Oh, yes. Give me a minute, Mackey.” She turned to Miles Kettering who was holding Keely in one arm and Sam in the other. “Could you bring the children to the hospital, Mr. Kettering? Oh goodness, they’re all wet. Could you change them into dry clothes? As you can see, Sam’s wearing my sweats. You’ll find another pair in my bedroom, folded in the second drawer of the dresser. They’re drawstring, so you can pull them tight enough for Sam. All of Keely’s clothes are in her dresser.”
    “Don’t worry, Sheriff, I’ll see to both of them. Just go with Savich. And thank you.”
    She kissed her daughter’s cheek, wishing she hadn’t witnessed all the violence, and knowing she’d have to dealwith it sooner rather than later. As for Sam, at least he was with his father now.
    As she walked quickly back to the ambulance, Katie said to Wade, “Glen Hodges, FBI Special Agent in Charge from Knoxville, will be here very soon with a couple of agents. Just secure the scene and if any idiots chance to come out here to stop and gawk,