Free Anytime Darlin' by Julia Rachel Barrett Page B

for a shower and a good night’s sleep. Jake had to agree with her. After crashing for twelve straight hours, he felt back in control.
    The first thing he did when he woke up was contact his supervisor and request a leave of absence. He had some time coming anyway. The plan was always to head back to Montana in the spring, help with calving, and then return to Missoula and the Bob Marshall Range and his new job.
    He didn’t exactly know how things would play out with Devlin, but over the past few days, he’d come up with a plan. If nothing else, he figured she’d need a place to heal, and he couldn’t think of any place better or safer or more beautiful than his family’s ranch. He could keep a close eye on her, his mom and dad would care for her as if she were their own, and in a place as isolated as the Crazies, a stranger like William Franz would stick out like a sore thumb. Let him come. That was Jake’s territory, and he’d be goddamned if Franz would get anywhere near the ranch or Devlin. He just had to get Devlin through the next few weeks. Jake had no illusions. The next few weeks would be hell.
    Mike had asked,
“What’s the deal? Why are you taking this so personally?”
    Jake had no answer for him. He didn’t know himself. That was the only answer her could give Mike. He wasn’t obsessed with Devlin, at least not in the way it seemed. Jake didn’t want anyone getting the wrong impression, but he felt something for her. Something he couldn’t quite put into words. Maybe it was the haunted look he’d seen in her eyes when he leaned over her gurney. Maybe it was that her life had nearly been stolen from her, not once but twice. Maybe it was the fact that she seemed to trust him. He doubted she’d trusted anyone in over a year. Jake sensed that, after this, she was going to need a reason to live. He intended to make sure she found one. In any case, Jake figured the least he could do was offer Devlin a safe haven for as long as she needed one. He’d stay with her these next few weeks, help her get things settled, get her up to the ranch, and get on with his life.

Jake threw on a pair of faded jeans and pulled a black tee shirt over his still-damp hair. It was snowing, so he added a wool sweater, stepped into his worn hiking boots. Grabbing his leather jacket, he headed out to his pickup. Mary said that Shauna and Scott were coming by to talk to Devlin in about an hour. Jake intended to get there first. He’d already called Mike to give him the heads-up. Mike said if he could get away, he’d stop by too. Jake didn’t ask what Mike was getting away from. His shift didn’t start until 7 p.m. Jake figured it was none of his business, but he couldn’t suppress a grin. He knew whatever Mike was getting away from had big brown eyes. Mike had Devlin to thank for that fortunate turn of events.
* * * *
    Jake entered the ICU and found Mary at the desk, chatting with Ray Walters. Though Ray Walters wore a gruff exterior, in reality, he was a kind, old-fashioned sort of country doctor. Jake knew he’d grown quite protective of Devlin over the past week. He’d dropped by at odd hours, popping his head into the room, asking Jake if he’d noticed any change in her condition, checking with the nurses frequently. Jake guessed he wanted to be present in case Devlin crashed again. News of her aunt’s murder would very likely be devastating, and they all knew it.
    “Mind if I go in?” asked Jake.
    “Since when do you ask?” teased Mary.
    “Since I don’t know how much she knows.”
    Mary and Dr. Walters both sighed.
    “She suspects,” commented Dr. Walters. “She doesn’t know anything for sure.”
    Mary leaned her elbows on the desk and looked down for a moment. “My mom and I have talked about it. We don’t know who should be the one to tell her, but neither of us wants it to be the police.”
    “How would your mom feel if you and I were right there with her?” Jake asked. “I’ve been with Devlin