It bothered him to say that. Kendall was a free spirit. And delicate. Maybe too delicate to survive on this ranch now.
“How can you tell all that just from looking at her leg?” Jonas demanded.
Sloan shrugged. “It’s in between what she said and what she didn’t say happened. What she remembers and what her subconscious recalls. Put your hands here,” he told Jonas, “and you can feel more. Notice the smooth cut in the skin, which indicates a sharp edge of some kind. Very likely a knife. But here, where her skin is torn, you’ll note a slashing and tearing effect. Jagged. As you probably know, that has the markings of a military weapon. Something a commando might carry.”
Jonas looked at him. “And the rest of the oogie-
boogie?”
Sloan smiled. “Close your eyes. See what you see.”
Though he appeared doubtful, Jonas placed his hands where Sloan had, and closed his eyes.
He opened them after a moment, shaking his head. “I don’t see anything. I feel warmth in her skin, like infection might be threatening.”
Sloan nodded. “That, too. You’ll need to ascertain when she had her last tetanus shot. Galen can handle the stitch-up and bandaging.”
He stood, not wanting any part of stitching up Kendall. A woman like her who wore figure-hugging suits and sky-high, parrot-colored heels probably wouldn’t be pleased with the cosmetic results, though Galen was very good with a needle.
Galen wrapped Kendall’s leg efficiently. “I don’t want to do it,” he said. “She’s not going to thank whoever does the surgery.”
Sloan nodded. “Wise decision.” He looked at Jonas. “You should take her to your local hospital, but be prepared to answer questions, based on the severity of the injury.”
Jonas nodded. “I can take her.”
“Oh, my,” Fiona said. “I don’t think anyone knew that the danger was this close. Poor Kendall!”
Sloan looked at the sleeping woman and her now-bandaged leg. Blood would soak through fast enough. Kendall would likely be annoyed when she awakened; it didn’t take someone skilled in touch therapy to sense the general impatience and suffer-no-fools sentiment in her personality. And she was brave as hell for going through what had happened without panicking.
“I’ll come with you,” Sloan told his cousin. “Just in case.”
“Just in case what?” Jonas said. “This is Kendall. She’s gentle as a summer day.”
Sloan smiled. “You want to be the only one around when she wakes up at a hospital with stitches in her pretty leg?”
Jonas looked a bit unhappy. “I guess not.”
“Neither would I.” Sloan picked Kendall up gently, placing her against his chest and carrying her outside. He settled her carefully in the seat of the sedan Jonas had brought around. They got in and shut the doors.
“So you’re really riding along to make sure nothing else happens to her,” Jonas said. “You’re certain of your kidnapping theory, aren’t you?”
He was surprised his cousin had picked up more than he said. “I think she’s an easy target.”
“You don’t know Kendall very well.”
This was true. “Her size, her general innocence, lends your employee a vulnerable air.”
Jonas sped onto the main road. “She’s not very vulnerable.”
But she wasn’t prepared for whatever was determined to get to the Callahans, either. “She’s vulnerable,” Sloan said, “and she’s not as sweet as you’re painting her. I didn’t see you raising your hand to stitch her up.”
Jonas smiled. “True.”
“So don’t try to sell me on your employee,” Sloan said, “because I’m not buying.”
“Just checking,” Jonas said.
Sloan was glad to see that they were soon pulling into a community hospital parking lot. “I’ll stay outside.”
Jonas got out, indicating he needed a wheelchair and assistance from the emergency staff. “You sure?”
“Yeah.” Sloan looked at Kendall as she was gently placed into the wheelchair. “Good luck.”
Jonas grimaced and went off. Sloan glanced around the hospital grounds, looking for shadows. He figured one would be there somewhere. Whoever attacked Kendall knew they’d gotten in a good hit; they’d be expecting her to show up at the E.R. It was another reason he hadn’t pressed Galen to do the stitch-up. Sloan wanted to get a look at whoever was planted at the ranch, before they realized the Diablo Callahans had reinforcements. He hoped to get the jump on them.
He pulled his hat down low and tugged his bandanna up a little more around his neck, and waited.
Chapter Four
Kendall woke up, not happy with Callahans in general, whether Rancho Diablo Callahans or the Callahan cousins. Jonas and Sloan were both on her bad list. “Ouch.”
“Only nine stitches,” Jonas told her.
“Nine?” She lifted her knee to peer at her calf. “Guess I’m lucky.” Fear seeped back into her as she remembered the rush of something dark and sinister coming at her...
“You’re lucky.” Jonas sat next to her on the hospital gurney. “No more hanging out alone for you.”
“What do you mean?” Kendall was outraged. “You sound like Sloan. Where is he?” She glanced around. “I have something to discuss with him. Specifically, that hypnotism thing he pulled on me. Like I’m a baby that needs a nap to calm down.”
Jonas grinned. “He’s in the parking lot.”
“Doing what?” She glared at Jonas.
“Waiting on you. Let’s go.” He helped Kendall off the gurney and walked her slowly outside.
Sloan was near the E.R. doors, just as Jonas had said. He looked as if he was on security detail, alert, watchful and dangerous—and Kendall realized Sloan was looking for something. Someone.
“You don’t think it was an accident, do you?” She got in the car, and Sloan slid in next to her.
“No. How’s the leg?”
It hurt. “Never mind. I’ll live.” She moved to get a bit more comfortable on the seat, and Sloan pulled her leg across his lap.
“Keep it up to help the swelling,” Sloan said.
She wanted to argue, but it did feel better to have her leg elevated. His fingers on her ankle, keeping her leg steady, were warm and comforting. Kendall sighed as a wave of tiredness swept over her. “Look, Callahan, you and I are going to have words in the very near future.”
He smiled, and she closed her eyes. He didn’t seem as worried as he should be about her temper. It was a strange thing. She was in charge of a global company that made and shipped large construction equipment. Her phone rang constantly with business deals. But Sloan seemed to think she was a helpless woman.
I’ve got a lot to discuss with that handsome rebel. Male chauvinists are not an attractive species.
But right now, he seemed pretty nice. His hand felt good on her ankle, and she knew she should chew his butt, but for some reason, her leg seemed to hurt less now that he was touching her.
I’ll seriously bawl him out tomorrow.