Charity's Angel by Dallas Schulze Read Free Book Online Page A

voice? He sounded so calm.
    "We don't see any reason to expect that," Dr. Lang said cautiously. "To tell the truth, Ms. Williams has been very lucky."
    "Lucky?" Diane said incredulously.
    "Considering the seriousness of her wound, yes, I'd have to say your sister was lucky. The fragment near the spine is certainly a cause for concern but it's not pressing on any nerves."
    "Why didn't you remove the fragment?" Brian asked.
    "There's less potential for damage if we leave it alone. Once her body has had a chance to heal, I don't think she'll even notice the fragment's presence, unless she has to explain it to an X-ray technician." His half smile went unanswered.
    "But you can't guarantee that," Brian said, frowning.
    Dr. Lang gave him a weary smile. "Mr. Williams, medicine is not an exact science. I can tell you, based on the experiences of myself and my colleagues, it is our opinion that your sister will make a full recovery. But only time will tell for sure."
    "Can we see her?" Diane asked.
    "If you want to wait an hour, then perhaps for five minutes. She won't be awake, of course. But you can sit with her."
    "Thank you."
    "I certainly hope those thanks are deserved," Dr. Lang said, with a smile that said he was confident they were.
    The waiting room was completely still after he left. For a few moments it was all anyone could do to just breathe and feel some of the tension seep away. Of course, Charity wasn't out of the woods yet, but there was reason to hope, reason to believe everything was going to be all right.
    "Excuse me."
    Annie's hand dropped from his arm as Gabe turned toward Charity's brother. Now that he knew who they were, he could see their resemblance to their sister.
    "I don't mean to sound nosy," Brian continued with a half smile. "But who are you?"
    He heard Annie catch her breath as if to caution him. But Gabe was beyond trying to think, of a clever response. He said the only thing he could think of.
    "I'm the man who shot her."
    The stark answer wiped the cautious friendliness from Brian Williams's expression. He'd been prepared to share his relief with a friend of Charity's. He wasn't prepared to find himself face to face with the man whose bullet had put her in the hospital. His reaction was instinctive.
    Gabe didn't try to avoid the punch. In his own mind he deserved that and more. Brian's fist connected with his chin with jarring force. Gabe staggered back and would have fallen if Annie hadn't grabbed his arm.
    It was doubtful that Brian would have thrown another punch. The first had been more a result of tension and worry than anything else. But if he had been inclined to more violence, he didn't have a chance. With a shocked exclamation, Diane grabbed hold of his arm. Annie released Gabe, stepping in between the two men, her expression stern.
    "Maybe y'all don't realize that if it weren't for my partner here, your sister and a lot of other people would be dead." In the heat of emotion, her accent thickened, making her sound more like a southern belle than a police officer.
    "The police explained to us what happened," Diane said, her finger still clenched around her brother's arm. "We know it was an accident." But she avoided Gabe's eyes. Like her brother she was obviously having difficulty getting past the fact that he was the one who'd shot Charity.
    Without a word Gabe turned and left. Their accusing gazes were more than his bruised soul could take. Annie gave the pair a last glance that combined sympathy and annoyance before hurrying after her partner. Catching up with him at the elevators, she threw a quick glance at his face but said nothing.
    She grabbed his arm as they left the hospital, steering him in the direction of her car. Gabe followed without protest, though he'd just as soon have walked off into the night alone.
    Thank God Annie didn't regard conversation as a cure-all. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, wishing he could shut out the events of the past