Free Beautifully Wounded (The Beaumont Brothers) by Susan Griscom Page B

into the bar until Uncle Joe stepped in to defend her. Joe was a big man, and had no problem beating the guy until he was out cold. Broke his nose, too. The cops came, and the woman took her boyfriend’s side, accusing Uncle Joe of starting the fight. It was their word against his since there were no other witnesses, and Uncle Joe spent the next six months in jail for battery and assault. I didn’t want a repeat of that.
    “I know you’re right , but don’t let it go to your head.”
    He laughed. “Don’t worry, big brother, you’ll always be the one I look up to.”
     

     
    It was past midnight, and I’d left Lena alone for too long. If she fell asleep, and I didn’t wake her, and if she did have a concussion, she could lapse into a coma; though I honestly didn’t think that would happen. She seemed too alert for one thing. Secondly, she didn’t have any other symptoms like vomiting, which usually accompanied a concussion. I liked the idea of checking on her every couple of hours anyway.
    The lights were off inside the rental so I figured she was asleep. I didn’t want to scare her awake by knocking on the door, so I used my key and let myself inside. I felt as if I were trespassing or invading her privacy, but I figured she knew I’d be coming up again to check on her. She lay on the daybed on her side; her bruised eye hidden against the pillow. Her other eye was closed, and she looked very much like an angel. She was beautiful. As I approached her side, she stirred a little, then sprang up and screamed. Pulling a hammer out from under her pillow, she raised it in the air ready to strike at me. I thought she was going to kill me.
    “It’s just me! Don’t hit me,” I said, grabbing her arm , holding it steady as I coaxed the hammer out of her hand and into mine.
    “Oh, Jackson, I’m sorry. I thought you were … I didn’t realize it was you.”
    “I guess I don’t have to worry about you defending yourself.”
    “I found the hammer on the floor over by the window. I felt more secure with it under my pillow.”
    “I must have left the hammer there after I fixed some loose floorboards last week. I should have known I’d frighten the living daylights out of you, coming into a dark room to wake you up that way. I’m sorry.”
    “No, please. No need to apologize.”
    I set the hammer down on the table in front of her, in case she wanted to put it back under her pillow after I left. If that’s what made her feel secure, then it was fine by me, as long as she didn’t use it on my head.
     

     
    The next day went a bit smoother since I didn’t need to wake Lena up every couple of hours. I didn’t have many excuses to visit her up there, other than bringing her food, though. I decided not to go back up during that first night when she almost bashed my head in. I knew she didn’t have a concussion, and I’d only been using it as an excuse to spend time with her.
    I brought her breakfast again, the same as I had the past couple of days. I knocked on the door, and a couple of seconds later the latch clicked. She inched the door open holding the robe I gave her closed tightly in her fist.
    “Breakfast is served.” I smiled the best classy grin I could muster, and she smiled back, taking a step to the side as she opened the door wide enough for me to enter.
    “You didn’t mention that the room included room service every day. I might have to start figuring out some way to give you a tip.”
    I paused and shot her a quick glance, trying not to look so shocked at her statement, figuring she didn’t realize the implications of what she’d just said. I cleared my throat. “No tipping is necessary,” I said, but secretly wished I could take her up on her offer. Maybe someday, if she ever recovered from the horrible experience she’d been through.
    I sat with her as she ate , and she insisted on sharing it with me again. “I should have just brought up two plates,” I said. “Maybe if we can get