Shield Of Refuge. Carol Steward

at least do something in the office, can’t I?”

      “The CT scan looks good, but you’ll need to take a few days off from full duty, make sure this concussion is fully gone before you’re back out on the streets. You’re going to be pretty sore for a while.”

      “Nothing a few over-the-counter painkillers won’t cure, right?”

      “Maybe. The symptoms of whiplash very often don’t show up for several days. You’re not to push it. And I mean it, Garrett.”

      It was just his luck that their family doctor happened to be in the ER with another patient when the ambulance arrived. There was no hope of fooling Dr. Call.

      “Can you arrange to have someone stay with you tonight?” the doctor asked as he wrote on Garrett’s chart.

      Garrett rolled his eyes and shifted on the too-short bed trying to find a comfortable position. “I’m sure you’ve already called Mom and Dad. And yes, they’d be happy to watch out for me.”

      “I couldn’t reach them. Maybe one of your brothers could stay with you. I suspect Kira and her new husband might even take you in for the night if we called them.”

      “I’m not calling the newlyweds. Nick is working tonight, and Mom and Dad will probably be home any time. They never leave their cell phone on. Kent and Renee have gone to Mexico on vacation.” Garrett felt the weight of his head smoosh the pillow.

      “You rest here then until we reach someone. Headache starting?”

      His eyes drifted closed. “No.”

      “You can’t go to sleep, Garrett. And it won’t do you any good to deny the headache. You’re not going back to work, in any case,” Dr. Call informed him. “I want to check you out in a week to clear you for full duty.”

      “A week?”

      “Not one foot in the car, Garrett Matthews….” Dr. Call demanded as much respect now as he had when Garrett was a kid.

      “But…”

      “Not one. I’ve fought with your father when he was still on duty, and won then, too. Just because I’m old, doesn’t mean you can pull a fast one over me. Your eyes are glazed over, one pupil is dilated. You have a concussion and in that condition, you’re more danger to the community than you are a help. I’m going to go find a nurse or hospital volunteer to sit with you and make sure you don’t fall asleep. We want to keep you awake for a while longer.”

      “I just want to help in the office,” he said lamely as the doctor left his room.

      Garrett heard a gentle knock and turned, surprised to see the woman who’d run into him walk meekly into the room.

      “I just had to make sure you’re okay.”

      He looked at her, reassured that she was just as pretty in the light. “I’m going to be fine,” he said, eyeing his uniform laying across the chair. “How’d you get in here?”

      She shrugged, though a pretty pink tinge colored her delicate skin. “I slipped in the exit as someone was leaving. Things get kind of hectic in an ER.” She smiled softly, and Garrett felt the pain in his head ease up considerably. “The police wouldn’t tell me anything. I’ll leave as soon as I know you’re okay, I promise. You didn’t look good when they took you in the ambulance. I’ve been worried.”

      Garrett laughed. “Sit down. The doctor says I have a concussion and has gone to pull someone off the streets to keep me from going to sleep. Care to volunteer?”

      “Really?” she asked, a smile brightening her face. “You’re not mad at me?”

      “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said, teasing her. “In my business, I’m well aware that accidents happen. I know you weren’t out to harm anyone.”

      She shook her head, a tired smile on her full lips.

      “Everyone is busy,” Dr. Call said as he walked through the door. His scowl disappeared immediately when he saw Amber. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had a…visitor. Good. That takes care of that. Should I keep calling your folks, or will your girlfriend be able to stay with you?”

      Garrett didn’t want to get Amber into more trouble. “Yes, please. Amber has had a long day.”

      The doctor gave her instructions on when to call the nurse and left the room. “You didn’t have to…” She bit her lip, and leaned her head to one side, as if trying to avoid the attraction.

      He reached out his hand, hoping she’d take it. “Maybe I’m the one who should be apologizing, for selfishly committing you to staying awhile longer to keep me from falling asleep.”

      “It’s me that owes you. You kept me from getting into more trouble more than once tonight, and don’t try to deny that.” She took a hesitant step closer and took hold of his hand momentarily. “I can’t tell you how much I regret the accident, Officer.”

      “If you’re going to sneak in here under the pretense of my girlfriend and make sure I don’t fall asleep, I think you’d better call me Garrett. Otherwise I’ll have to call security, and neither of us needs to fill out any more reports tonight, do we?” He smiled, though he really wanted to go to sleep, despite the beautiful woman God had sent tonight to interrupt his life.

      “I feel so foolish,” she said quietly. She blinked away tears, and he could see these weren’t her first of the evening. Her mascara was already smudged. “I should have done something to scare the guy away. Maybe the girl would be safe and sound in her dorm room now.”

      “No, you shouldn’t have done any more. You definitely shouldn’t. You could’ve been hurt. We don’t know what the suspect’s motive was. It might have been much worse. Don’t blame yourself, Amber.” He listened carefully for the next half hour as she talked through the incident, including the feeling that no one believed what she’d seen.

      When the doctor came back into the emergency exam room a while later, he had Garrett’s shift supervisor and his brother Nick with him.

      Nick spoke first. “You okay?”

      “Apparently not enough to get out of here.”

      The lieutenant looked at Amber and his smile faded. “How did you get in here?”

      That look of fear returned instantly to Amber’s face.

      “It’s okay, I approved her visit. In fact, I asked her to stay to keep me company until they could reach my folks to come take me home,” Garrett confessed, hoping it wasn’t going to cost him more than a little razzing from the guys. “It’s my fault.”

      His brother studied Amber. “You own the bakery in Old Town, don’t you? I think we met during the Harvest Festival, a few weeks ago.”

      “Yes, I own it, but it’s not just a bakery, it’s now Parties Galore, with party supplies and planning services, and costumes…” She studied his brother, then smiled as she apparently remembered meeting him. “Oh, yes,” she said, looking at Garrett, then back to Nick. “You and a female officer made sure I got into the shop safely, didn’t you? And then your partner came in and rented that chicken costume.”

      “That’s right.” He nodded, hiding a smile. “Things going okay?”

      “Yes, it’s been very quiet lately, since the festival anyway. Thanks for watching out for all of us downtown.” She looked sheepishly at him. “Garrett, since you have company, I’ll say good-night,” Amber said as she stood. “Stop in the shop sometime. Coffee and pastries are on me.”

      “Oh, wait,” Garrett said. “Nick, Amber’s a…party planner. He’s the one who might need help…with a party.”

      Nick looked at Garrett as if he’d lost his mind.

      “Sure….” She pulled a business card from her bag. “Give me a call. I guarantee I can give