CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
For weeks Colette had prayed to get her memories back, now she wished she’d lose them once again. She was glad she had the memories to help put away Collier, although they were no longer as necessary as they had been.
Bob was dead and Dr. Wallace had been arrested and was singing enough songs to help put bars around Cameron Collier for the rest of his life.
The trial was set to begin the next day, then Colette would be free to return to Cheyenne. Free to go back to her life with only haunting memories of love and a fatherless child to show for the experiences she’d been through.
She walked over to the window of the lush tenth-floor hotel room. She peered outside, wishing the bright afternoon sunshine could warm the chill around her heart.
“Ma’am, would you move away from the window?” the baby-faced policeman said.
Colette flushed. “I’m sorry. I forgot.” She let the drapery fall back over the window. She’d been instructed to stay away from the windows, the officersfearing her making a target of herself for a sniper’s bullet. They were taking no further chances with her less than twenty-four hours to go before the trial.
“I think I’ll go lie down for a little while,” she said, more to herself than anyone in particular.
The officer nodded, then returned his attention to his paperback book. Colette went into the bedroom and sank down on the bed. Grabbing a magazine and stretching out on top of the bedspread, she tried to shove away thoughts of Hank.
The past eleven days were a blur of hotel rooms and strange faces. They’d moved her every day to a new location, another hotel room with a different set of officers each time.
She hadn’t seen Hank since he’d been taken away in the back of an ambulance, although she’d heard reports on his progress. He’d come through a surgery fine and as of yesterday was out of intensive care. He’d live without scars, without any lingering after-effects despite his ordeal.
Funny, he was the one who’d taken the bullet, but she felt the pain as if she’d been shot. Her heart would carry scars for a long time to come, the scars of loving a man who refused to love her back.
Tears burned in her eyes as she replayed the time she’d shared with Hank. From the very beginning something had connected between the two of them. Within two weeks of her being in his custody, they’d made love, unable to fight the intense attraction they shared. Their lovemaking had brought an intimacy to their relationship that Colette had apparently mistaken for love.
She’d been such a fool. She’d actually anticipatedhe’d be happy when she discovered herself pregnant. But he hadn’t been happy. He’d been angry, and it had been his anger that had caused her to run.
After stealing all the money he had in his wallet, she’d caught a flight to Las Vegas, certain she could stay hidden in the surreal world of glitter and gambling. And for several months she had stayed hidden…until Bob Sanderson had spotted her.
She’d managed to get away from him, but the horror of cutting his face, seeing his blood, had driven everything else out of her mind.
Brook cried, awakening from her nap, and Colette got up and approached the playpen. Brook immediately waved her hands and legs, as if happy to see her mom.
“Oh, sweet baby.” Colette bent and picked her up, the cuddly warmth of the child assuaging some of her heartache. She carried Brook back to her bed and placed her on her back.
Studying the little girl’s features, Colette was amazed she hadn’t seen Hank’s genetic stamp before. Now she couldn’t look at Brook without seeing Hank in the raven hair that covered her scalp and the dark eyes that peered at her so intently. Even the shape of Brook’s lips reflected her father’s genes…a father who didn’t intend to be a part of his daughter’s life.
Damn Hank Cooper. For the first time since she’d gotten her memories back, a flare of anger surged. He’d been so adamant, so self-righteous in reminding her that he hadn’t made any promises.
But he had…each time he took her in his arms he’d made a promise; each time he’d made love to her, she’d felt his promise.
Angrily, she wiped a tear off her cheek. Hank was the loser in all of this. He’d miss all the beautiful moments of raising a child. He’d miss all the love Colette could have given him, a lifetime of love and commitment.
“Ms. Connor?” The baby-faced officer stuck his head in her doorway. “We just got word that Cameron Collier killed himself.”
“What?” Colette scrambled off the bed and faced him. “When? How…”
“We don’t have all the details, but from what we heard his lawyer found him at his home. He hung himself, left a note that he’d rather die than spend a day behind bars.” The officer grinned widely. “Looks like you’re off the hook, Ms. Connor. You can go back home and forget you ever heard about Cameron Collier.”
Home. Back to the ranch with her sisters and no fear of retribution or revenge. Yes, at the ranch maybe she’d forget about Hank. Beneath the blue Wyoming skies maybe her heart would begin the healing process.
Within two hours the powers that be had arranged a ticket for a flight back to Cheyenne, and a secretary to take Colette and Brook to the airport.
“I’ll bet you’re glad this is all over.” The secretary, Amanda Rowen, smiled at Colette as they pulled out of the hotel parking lot.
“Yes.” But it wasn’t over…not really. Colette realized she couldn’t return home until she said goodbye to Hank. She needed closure. “Would you mind taking me by the hospital where Hank Cooper is? I’lljust be a minute, but I’d really like to tell him thank you.”
Amanda checked her watch. “Sure, we’ve got time and the hospital is right on the way.”
