Free Wyatt by Michelle Horst

sorry,” I whisper and I turn to run, again, but he takes hold of my arm holding me back. Sparks shoot up my arm and my heart clenches painfully at his touch.
    “No, you’re not, Scarlett. I spent every day worryin’ my ass off whether you were dead somewhere and here you are, just fine ,” he spits the words out. Then he smiles a sardonic smile that stabs deeper than any of his words can. “But I guess you showed me. I hope it was worth it.”
    He lets go of me and stalks away without so much as a second glance.
    I have to go in and face my first day of work.
    I’m trembling. I want to run after him and tell him he’s wrong.
    I want to drop to the floor and cry, because my heart is hurting so much for what I did to us.
    I head in to the station and over to the information desk to hear where I should go. Better get this day back on track.
    ~*~

Chapter Nine
     
    Wyatt~
    I’ve been going insane worrying my ass off about her! I checked the hospital. I checked in with the local police station. The things that went through my mind!
    But she’s fine.
    She’s more than fine. She looks as hot as ever. Dressed all up for work, I almost didn’t recognize her.
    Work … it means I’ll see her every damn day. I’ll be working with her.
    Can this day get any worse? It feels like my insides are being put through a grinder.
    Dammit! That was the last thing I expected as I’m heading out on a call. The call is for the Ryan’s at the trailer park. I’m not even back in the saddle properly and that family is going at each other again.
    I always take the call for the Ryan’s. I’m hoping Jessie will get it in her head to leave Dan before he ends up killing her.
    Dan is a small man. He’s one of those that suffer from what I like to call SMS, short man syndrome. Back in junior high a lot of the kids used to tease him. It might be one of the reasons he feels he has to beat on Jessie to feel like a man.
    Minutes later I pull up to the trailer. Mrs. Russell is standing out front. She must’ve called it in. Again. The poor woman cares about Jessie.
    I get out and walk up to her. I plaster a smile on my face. “You called it in, Mrs. R?”
    “Yeah, Son, they’re at it again. Sounds like he’s tearin’ her up good in there.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. R. Why don’t you go on in,” I say to get her out of the way. I start toward the Ryan’s trailer. I knock twice on the door. “Dan. It’s Wyatt.”
    Cursing sounds up from the other side of the door. I start counting down from three. When I reach zero I knock again to rush him along.
    “Dan, open up or I’m comin’ in,” I warn him. We come a long way. I’ve known them since kindergarten. Everybody in this town knows everybody. It’s really sad when people you know turn out this way.
    The door opens and Dan rubs repeatedly over his face. He’s nervous as hell.
    “You wanna step on out, Dan?” I ask nicely. We’re back to doing things nice and easy. I step back so he can move.
    “You know how it is,” he starts. “I’m gonna be late for work. All I want is the damn shirt pressed but she won’t get her lazy ass up. I work hard. All I ask is that she does her part.”
    “Dan, I’m gonna ask you to keep quiet.” I let him walk by me and then call out, “Jessie.” There’s no answer so I call again, “Jessie.” Still no answer. I look at Dan. “Turn around, you know the drill.” He does and I cuff him so he won’t be a problem while I check on Jessie.
    I move in slowly. The place is a dump. Seriously, it looks like a bomb went off inside. Jessie groans behind the couch and I walk over to her.
    “Ahh … Jessie,” I groan. She’s a mess. He’s really done one over on her.
    She’s not the smallest of women I’ve seen, maybe a head taller than Scarlett. I frown. I really don’t want to be thinking about Scarlett right now. Jessie’s face is a mess and when she tries to move her arm gives way and she goes back down.
    “He didn’t mean it,” she