Mountain Ambush

Lost. Exactly how Spence felt right now. Confused, fragile and powerless. Not a feeling he was used to.

“How’s the head pain?” she asked.

“About a two.”

“Uh-huh.” She narrowed her eyes. “I saw what happened, remember?”

“Wait, that sound... You were singing?”

“That sound? Wow, thanks.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine, I know I’m no Carrie Underwood. I figured singing would distract the guy long enough for you to get the upper hand. Well-done, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

“But then, how did he get the advantage?”

He struggled to remember. “Gwen was gasping for air. Guess I got distracted.” He sipped his water. “Why am I in a room?”

“They’re keeping you overnight for observation.” She tapped her forefinger to her own forehead. “Concerned about the brain trauma.”

“I’m fine.”

“So you’ve said. If the MRI comes back clean you’ll be good to go. I think it’s scheduled for tonight.”

He felt bad for keeping her from her life.

“You should go.” That didn’t come out right, and the thought of her leaving him alone twisted his gut into a knot. What was wrong with him? Maddie was nothing more than a paramedic he occasionally ran into at the hospital.

“Oh, so you’re dismissing me?” she said, in a strange tone.

Had he offended her? “I meant you don’t have to stay and babysit me.”

“I came with you in the helicopter so I’m waiting for a ride.” She redirected her attention to her phone.

Good to know that she wasn’t hovering at his bedside because she cared about him, that he’d have to worry about her developing feelings for a man who had no interest in love.

Love? He was surely suffering from brain trauma.

“Huh,” she said, eyeing something on her phone.

“What?”

“A text from my cop brother. They can’t find the assailant who attacked you.” She sighed. “Terrific, now there’s a psycho running around town. Makes me wish I woulda shot him.”

“You’re kidding,” he said, his voice flat.

“Yes, Doctor, I am kidding. Did you ever have a sense of humor or was it beaten out of you in the mountains?”

He was about to shoot back a smart remark when Dr. William Danner breezed into the room. “There he is, the superhero not looking so super.” He stopped short and glanced at Maddie. “What are you doing here?”

“I came in the helicopter with him.” She crossed her arms over her chest as if daring him to challenge her.

Danner, a few years older than Spence, had a razor-sharp tongue he used to intimidate much of the staff at Echo Mountain Hospital. But not Spence and apparently not Maddie, either. She narrowed her eyes at Danner as if challenging him to pick a fight.

Spence never could understand guys like Danner. Instead of leading with compassion, he ruled with intimidation. The guy was a bully.

“What’s my prognosis, Doctor?” Spence said, hoping to divert him from ripping into Maddie. The thought bothered Spence.

Danner redirected his attention to Spence, no doubt a bigger and more interesting target. For some reason Danner considered Spence his competition and would use any means necessary to come out the victor. Yet weren’t they after the same thing? Helping patients?

“Besides the head injury, where else were you injured? Ribs?”

“Minor bruising. I’d like to be discharged,” Spence said.

“Is that right?”

Spence realized by the slight curl to Danner’s lips that he was enjoying being in control of Spence’s life a little too much.

“I lost consciousness,” Spence said. “It happens after a head injury. I’m fine.”

Danner checked Spence’s pupils. “Be that as it may, Dr. Carver wants MRI results before you can be released.”

“I can always discharge myself.”

“You could, which would only prove that your head trauma is clouding your judgment. Is it clouding your judgment, Kyle?”

No one had called him Kyle since his relationship with Andrea had exploded into pieces. He preferred not to be called Kyle because it brought back too many memories. Danner obviously sensed this and used it as a weapon.

“He seems pretty sharp to me,” Maddie offered.

Without looking at her, Danner responded. “And who, pray tell, are you to offer a medical opinion?”

“Hey,” Spence snapped. “She saved my life out there.”

“I didn’t realize you two were...” Danner’s voice trailed off.

“We’re not,” Maddie said firmly.

Nurse Heather Warren came into the room. She was in her forties with a round face and warm smile. “I have the medication you ordered, Dr. Danner.”

“What medication?” Spence asked.

“Sedative for the MRI,” Nurse Heather said.

“I don’t need that.”

“And I don’t need you messing up the imaging department’s schedule because you have a claustrophobic meltdown,” Danner said.

“Who says I’m claustrophobic?” Spence snapped.

“Hey, what’s going on in here?” Dr. Ruth Carver said, entering the room.

Spence was glad to see his friend, the one person Danner wouldn’t challenge. Ruth was the hospital administrator who’d hired Spence over a year ago. They had served on medical committees and had become friends over the years, and when there was an opening at Echo Mountain Hospital, she contacted him about joining their team. The timing had been perfect, a few months after his ugly breakup.

Dr. Danner handed Ruth the clipboard. “He’s all yours. I have patients who need me.” Danner marched out of the room.

“Jerk,” Maddie let slip.

Nurse Heather bit back a smile.

“Leave the medication,” Ruth said to the nurse.

“Yes, Doctor.” Heather did as ordered and left the room.

Ruth looked at Spence. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner. The board president cornered me. How’s your pain?”

“About a two.”

“At least a six,” Maddie offered.

“I said a two,” Spence countered.

“But you meant a seven.”

“I can speak for myself. I don’t need medication and I want to be discharged.”

Ruth narrowed her eyes. “You’re not acting like yourself, Spence.”

Which they both knew was another symptom of brain trauma.

“I’m fine,” he said.

“Spence, you live alone out in the country,” Ruth said. “If I send you home without MRI results and it’s worse than a mild concussion and you lose consciousness, I’d never forgive myself. Please don’t fight me on this,” she said with pleading brown eyes.

Ruth and her husband, Cal, both in their fifties, had been gracious to Spence when he moved to town, having him over for dinner a number of times and treating him like family.

“Sorry,” he said. “I guess I’m proof that doctors make horrible patients.”

Relief eased across Ruth’s face. “Good, now that that’s settled, take the sedative so you can relax for the MRI. It’s very mild.”

If he was his own patient he’d be following Ruth’s protocol without question. He swallowed the pill and sipped water to wash it down.

“They’ll be up shortly to take you to imaging.” Ruth glanced at Maddie. “Are you staying?”

“Until my ride shows up.”

“You mean Rocky?”

“No, my cousin Bree.”

“Oh, I thought your boyfriend would pick you up.”

“My boyfriend?”

“I assumed you and Rocky were a couple, but kept it quiet because of work policy.”

Spence noted Maddie’s confused expression. Not guilty for putting her job at risk by dating a fellow employee, but she seemed confused by the question as if the thought of dating Rocky had never crossed her mind.

“Rocky and I are good friends, that’s all,” Maddie said.

Ruth nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “Well, it’s nice of you to stay with Spence. I didn’t realize you two were friends.”

“We’re not, but she saved me,” Spence said.

“Saved you?” Ruth said.

“Maddie showed up and distracted the guy from throwing me down the mountain.”

“Oh dear.” Ruth glanced at Maddie. “You are certainly a brave young woman.”

Maddie shrugged.

“That must have been terrifying,” Ruth said.

“It all happened pretty fast.”

Ruth turned to Spence. “Who attacked you?”

“I don’t know. He was wearing a mask.”

Ruth’s pager buzzed and she glanced at it. “I’ve gotta run. I’ll check in later.”

“Thanks,” Spence said.

Ruth left the room and Spence gazed out the window into the dark night.

It was clear that Maddie was hanging around because she felt sorry for him. After all, Spence had no family, no dutiful wife. Not that the women in town hadn’t auditioned for that role many times during the past year. He’d never step into that bottomless pit again.

Never trust a woman with his heart.

If he eventually considered marriage, it would be a partnership of familial obligation, not romantic love. Was there a woman out there who’d be open to such a life? It would be nice to share a home-cooked meal and conversation with someone, and he’d enjoy having a travel buddy, someone who liked to hike as much as he did. His guy friends were great, but they had other commitments—Nate with his job as police chief and new romance with Cassie McBride; and Aiden, who managed a resort and a relationship with his concierge, Nia Sharpe.

Deep down, Spence knew true love was an illusion. His parents had split only a few years after Bobby’s death, and his own fiancée’s betrayal had nearly destroyed him. Yet there were days when the thought of a solitary life spiked melancholy through his chest.

“Five bucks for your thoughts.”

He snapped his attention to Maddie. “What?”

“You were far, far away.” She frowned and raised three fingers. “How many fingers do I have up?”

“Knock it off. I’m fine.”

“So you keep saying.” She slid a long strand of copper-streaked auburn hair behind her ear. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not being totally honest with Dr. Carver?”

“You’re accusing me of what, exactly?”

“Wanting to get out of here sooner than later. I get it, I do. I was hospitalized for a migraine last year.” She shuddered. “The experience made me more compassionate with my patients, that’s for sure.”

More compassionate? She’d always seemed to have a gentle and consoling way with patients whenever she wheeled them into his ER.

“You need to be straight with Dr. Carver so she can help you. That’s what you always tell your patients, right?”

“Sure. Thanks for the advice,” Spence said, wanting to shut down this topic of discussion. “You really don’t need to hang around.”

A flash of hurt sparked in her green eyes. He hadn’t meant for that to happen. The concussion was obviously making him irritable. He opened his mouth to apologize, but she spoke first.

“My ride isn’t here and I’d rather not hang out in the lobby to be interrogated by fans wanting an update on Dr. Dreamboat.” She redirected her attention to her phone.

“Dr. Dreamboat?”

“You know they call you that,” she muttered.

“I didn’t—”

“Hi, Dr. Spencer.” Oscar Burke, a twentysomething orderly pushed a wheelchair into the room. “What are you doing here, Maddie?”

She didn’t look up from her phone. “Waiting.”

“For what?”

“The ski lift.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. My work is done here.” Without making eye contact, she turned and left the room.

He sat up, wanting to call her back and say something, express his thanks again.

Apologize for his rude behavior.

“She’s a weird duck,” Oscar said.

“Why do you say that?”

“Bossy one minute, friendly the next.”

Which actually sounded like Spence tonight thanks to the head injury.

“You ready for your MRI?” Oscar said.

“Yes.” Spence got out of bed and shifted his feet onto the floor. When Oscar reached out for the assist, Spence motioned him off. “I’m fine.”

Maddie was right. He kept repeating the words, but even Spence knew it wasn’t true. He sat in the wheelchair and Oscar adjusted the footrests.

The MRI was one more thing to check off the list. The radiologist wouldn’t see anything alarming and Spence would be released in the morning.

As Oscar wheeled him to the elevator, Spence closed his eyes, giving hospital staff the message that he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Unfortunately, Oscar couldn’t see Spence’s face.

“That was some fight you got into on the trail, huh?” Oscar said.

“It was.”

“Good thing you shot at the guy and scared him off.”

Spence was about to correct him, to say that Maddie had fired the weapon, but didn’t want to encourage further conversation. They successfully avoided hospital staff as Oscar wheeled him into the elevator.

Spence sighed with relief. Relief? He was usually outgoing, not the type of person to avoid social interaction.

The elevator doors closed. “Head hurts, huh?” Oscar asked.

“Yes.” Spence nodded and rubbed his temples.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why? It’s not your fault,” Spence snapped. “Sorry.”

Again, that was not like him. He chalked it up to the hammering in his skull that wouldn’t quit. It would make anyone cranky. Perhaps he should ask for a pain reliever to help him sleep tonight.

Then again, sleep would only bring more nightmares, and besides, they were careful not to overmedicate patients suffering from head trauma.

Spence focused on relaxing for the MRI. Being in that enclosed space wasn’t the most pleasant experience with the banging, knocking and buzzing sounds filling the tube.

When they got to imaging, Oscar handed Spence off to an MRI tech named Kurt. As Kurt helped him onto the table, Spence could tell the medication was taking effect. He felt relaxed, and even a little light-headed.

“Music choice?” Kurt asked, handing Spence headphones.

Spence stretched out on the table. “Classical.”

“Okay. I can hear you so if you have any concerns while the procedure—”

“I won’t,” Spence said. He wanted this done, over. He wanted to go home to his remote cabin.

As Spence lay still, arms by his sides, the tech slid the table into the tube. A moment later, classical music drifted through the headphones. He’d try to find a peaceful place in his mind, a calm place. He’d always found peace in Echo Mountain National Park surrounded by majestic evergreens, pine and cedar trees—a blanket of green spanning the mountain range.

Green like Maddie’s eyes.

That’s why she’d been able to calm him down, because her eyes reminded him of the one place he could find comfort.

The hammering sounds of the MRI scan started to interfere with the calming effect of the music. His thoughts drifted to this afternoon’s rescue, finding Gwen and the brutal attack. Should he have performed the complicated procedure on her considering his brain trauma? Of course. Gwen was okay now, breathing on her own, Maddie said as much.

Maddie, his defender. She’d saved his life.

The medication caused him to drift deeper...deeper.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when silence filled the tube. Were they done? Had Spence slept through the forty-five minute procedure?

Heavy metal music blasted through the headphones, sparking a migraine that clawed its way through his skull.

“Ah!” He ripped off the headphones and fought the nausea rolling through his stomach.

The table slid out of the tube.

He was surrounded by darkness.

“Kurt?” he said, his voice weak.

Spence rolled off the table and stumbled across the room. The door, he needed to find the door.

“Kurt!”

“He can’t help you,” a voice whispered.

Spence whipped around. “Who’s there?”

“It’s time to pay for your sins.”

THREE

Maddie motored down the hall, checking email on her phone. She didn’t want to be cornered by female staff members for an update on Dr. Perfect Spencer, nor did she want to perpetuate the story that he’d fired off the warning shot to save Maddie. That bit of untruth had been spreading like the flu ever since they’d arrived at the hospital, but Chief Walsh asked Maddie not to discuss details of the case. So rather than correct the chatterboxes and tell them she had saved Dr. Dreamboat, Maddie had to play the helpless waif.

Anyone who knew Maddie knew she was a determined woman who did not need protecting. But it was too easy for people to assume Dr. Spencer had been the protector since he was the confident and commanding type.

He didn’t seem very commanding just now. Fear dulled his normally bright blue eyes. His lost expression, combined with his messed-up hair and bruise on the side of his forehead, made him seem almost...fragile.

Kind of like Maddie after she’d been abandoned. Again.

She shook off the thought. Even a capable man like Dr. Spencer would be rattled after being assaulted by a lunatic in the mountains. Yet Dr. Spencer had been so worried about Gwen that he had managed to ignore his head injury long enough to successfully intubate her.

“Amazing,” she whispered to herself. Even if she didn’t particularly care for the doc’s overconfidence and bravado, she could definitely appreciate his skills. She hoped those skills wouldn’t be affected by his head injury.

She stepped outside into the misty rain and paced the hospital’s front walkway. Pulling her rain jacket closed in front, she struggled to forget the image of the doctor’s expression as he’d gripped her hand resting on his shoulder. As a paramedic, she recognized the expression—fear mixed with vulnerability—because she’d seen it on her patients’ faces.

Yet this was different. It was vulnerability, sure, but an edge of confusion dulled his eyes. She’d seen that look on Aunt Margaret’s face when Uncle Jack had suddenly died of a heart attack years ago. The same look had pinched Dr. Spencer’s forehead when he’d awakened from his nightmare calling out a name: Bobby. Maddie suspected Dr. Spencer had lost someone close to him and that emotional wound had yet to heal.

Aunt Margaret said the only thing that kept her going after her husband’s death was the support and love of family. Maddie glanced back at the hospital. Dr. Spencer had no family, at least none in Echo Mountain. Instead, he was surrounded by a hospital full of admirers, people who propped him up on a pedestal and adored him. They completely bought into the Dr. Charming act he performed every time he showed up for work.

Would they be able to see past their admiration and realize how scared he was? Would he let them see past his normally affable demeanor into the devastation brewing beneath the surface? Probably not, but Maddie had already been there, heard his cry for Bobby and saw the terrified look in his eyes.

She imagined that was how she looked when Dad had left, then Mom, and then Waylan.

Her cousin Bree pulled up in her SUV. Perfect timing. Maddie needed to snap out of her pensive mood.

Maddie started to reach for the SUV door, then let her hand drop to her side.

Bree rolled down the passenger side window. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Are you getting in?”

Something told her to go back inside and check on the doctor, even if he was snappy and asked her to leave again. Being there could help him feel safe, and she owed him that for what he did for Cassie. That’s all, there was nothing more to it.

“I’m sorry, but I think I’d better stay,” Maddie said.

“Are you sure? I mean, you’re here so much as it is,” Bree said.

“Yeah, I need to check on somebody.”

“You’ve really got to stop getting emotionally connected to your patients, sweetie. Boundaries, remember?”

“You’re right, but this one...” Maddie sighed. “It’s Dr. Spencer. I won’t be able to sleep unless I know he’s okay.”

“I heard some guy attacked him. But wait, you don’t even like Spence.”

“I know, but he helped Nate save Cassie last year and, well, he seems kind of broken.”

“Maddie,” her cousin said.

“What?”

“When are you gonna stop trying to fix people?”

“It’s my job, remember?” Maddie teased.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“This is different.”

“He’s got an entire hospital of people to take care of him.”

“They don’t know what’s really going on. Please don’t be upset with me. I’ll catch a ride with Rocky when he gets off his extra shift. I just—” She glanced at the hospital, and then back at her cousin. “You always say to follow your instincts.”

“It’s true.”

“Sorry I dragged you out here.”

“No need to apologize. Had to pick up something for Mom anyway.”

“Give her my love.”

“Will do.” Bree winked and pulled away.

Maddie felt a smile curl the corner of her lips. She had the best family in the world, even if her parents weren’t included on that list.

Maddie reentered the hospital and headed for imaging where they’d taken Dr. Spencer. For some reason she wanted to be there when he finished.

As she stepped into the elevator her phone vibrated and she glanced at a text from Rocky, fellow paramedic and rumored love interest. She was still a bit stunned about that assumption.

You okay? Heard rumors, Rocky wrote.

A-OK. No worries, she responded.

Heard the doc shot some guy.

“Really?” she muttered. Oh, how she wanted to share the truth with her friend, but she would not ignore a direct order from Chief Walsh. He must have his reasons for asking her to remain mute on the subject.

Grapevine’s been busy, she responded.

The elevator doors opened to the lower level and she glanced up.

Into a pitch-black hallway.

No lights, no emergency lights, nothing. Yet no alarms had gone off and everything was business as usual upstairs.

She stepped out of the elevator.

A crash echoed down the hall from the imaging room.

Maddie texted Rocky that there was trouble and to send security ASAP. Maybe she was overreacting—she hoped she was overreacting.

“Get away from me!” Dr. Spencer shouted.

Maddie snapped her penlight off her keychain and made her way down the hall. Maybe not such a good idea. She should wait for help to arrive. Surely it wouldn’t take security more than a few minutes to—

Another crash, then “Stop!”

She dropped to her knees and crawled toward the imaging area. The desperate tone of the doc’s voice drove her forward. As she edged closer, she took slow breaths to calm her racing pulse.

She turned the corner and aimed her penlight into the office.

The technician, Kurt, lay motionless on the floor. She scrambled to his side and felt for a pulse. Strong and steady. He was alive, but completely out. She pried open his eyes. Pupils were dilated. Had he been drugged?

“What do you want?” Dr. Spencer shouted.

A low mumble responded to the question. She glanced at the tech, then at the window into the MRI area. If the attacker was bold enough to drug Kurt, he might do much worse to Dr. Spencer.

She scanned the office for something to use as a weapon. Unfortunately hospitals were not rife with defensive tools. Fine, she’d rely on her self-defense training.

“Let go of me!” Another crash was followed by a slam against the window.

Adrenaline shot through Maddie’s body. She shouldered the door open and realized that by doing so, she’d made herself as vulnerable as the doc. She arced the beam of her flashlight across the room.

Suddenly someone shoved her face-first against the wall. She kicked the top of his foot, hard. He released her and took off down the hall, the squeak of his shoes echoing as he ran.

“Yeah, run, you jerk!” The outburst escaped her lips.

“Hey, you! Stop!” a voice called outside from the office.

Security must have arrived. Good, she could focus on the doctor. She took a few deep breaths and turned.

“Dr. Spencer?” she said.

No response.