Page 47 of Reckoning

Amy shrugged, but she was already on the phone to her boss.

* * *

Roger Lowe had no knowledge of the film crew that had been there earlier, but when he opened the door to Tate’s room, his heart sank as he took in the scene before him.

Tate was awake and waved him in. “She’s okay. We’ve already endured a TV interview. She’s just exhausted. You need to know that if it wasn’t for her, I would have probably bled to death.”

Briar heard what Tate said before she opened her eyes, then saw her dad standing at the foot of Tate’s bed. She bolted out of bed and went straight to Tate, her hand on his arm. “You also need to know that I would have likely been killed last night, had it not been for Tate. This happened to him because of a locked door.”

Roger just shook his head and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry, daughter. So very, very, sorry.” And then he turned to Tate and held out his hand. “Tate Bandy, I would be honored to shake your hand. Whatever differences we have pale in comparison to the devotion you hold for my girl. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I am so very sorry you were injured in the process. Once again, you were there for her, when her mother and I were not.”

Tate shook it without hesitation. “As long as you understand, all I do for her is out of a deep and abiding love.”

Roger sighed, then glanced at Briar. “The house is truly a mess, and I have a huge favor to ask of you.”

She sighed. “What do you need?”

“I understand the landlines still work. I need to check the office for damage and then—”

“The office is intact,” she said. “I ran past it yesterday on the way to the hospital. No broken windows. No debris on the roof. You have that green metal roof, so there’s no missing shingles. It should be dry inside.”

“Thank goodness for small favors,” he said. “Then can I ask you to answer phones for me while I begin filing insurance claims? I have a portable generator in the garage. It’s too small for the house, but it will run enough power in the office for lights and my computer.”

“Yes, of course I’ll help. I think Tate’s parents are coming to get him this morning. Doctor Joe said he’d likely release him today.”

Tate reached for her hand. “Briar, honey, you have gone the distance with me and then some. You also tied a knot in that reporter’s tail, so I feel vindicated.”

She rolled her eyes. “We can only imagine how that’s going to play out on TV.”

Roger blinked. “You two are going to be on TV?”

“KSDK, out of St. Louis,” Tate said, then reached for Briar’s hand. “You go on with your dad. When I get home, I’m going to do nothing but stretch out on my stomach and finally get some sleep. I can’t rest lying on what hurts.”

She leaned across the bed and hugged him gently, then kissed his cheek. “Hopefully cell service will soon return, but until it does, just count on seeing me at least once a day until those stitches come out.”

“I can always count on you,” he said, and then he glanced back at Roger. “When you begin the cleanup and remodeling, you should not replace the sliding doors. Get french doors instead. Less glass to go flying if it ever happens again. And change out that doorknob to the basement with one that does not lock.”

Roger was speechless, but Briar was the one to respond. “Thank you, Tate. I will make sure that happens. Love you. Take care of yourself and I’ll see you soon.” Then she tapped her father on the shoulder and pointed. “We should go before the halls get busy.”

Roger hesitated. “Where are your things?”

She frowned. “What things? I did not pack a bag. We ran for our lives.” She glanced back at Tate and shook her head, before walking out the door, with Roger right behind her.

Tate grinned. That tornado ripped away every last bit of hesitance or compliance within her. He knew his girl. She had just been given the responsibility of helping in that office, and it was about to spill over into being in charge of what needed to be done to their house.

Nobody had mentioned Mariah Lowe, but Tate knew she was on her way back unannounced. What Mariah had yet to realize was that through her actions, she was now on the bottom rung of the Lowe totem pole, and her daughter had become a force to be reckoned with.

* * *

Tate was home by ten a.m., dressed in nothing but a pair of baggy gym shorts, flat on his belly, asleep in his bed.

Abel and Lilith were so happy to have him home in one piece that the minor damage they had to their roof and property seemed unimportant.

* * *

Briar had gone home to shower and get into decent clothes for the office. She made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for their breakfast on the coffee table in the living room, and took snacks and cans of pop from the pantry for them to eat during the day. As they were loading up the car, she stopped to remind her father.. “If the power is still off in town, the fuel pumps won’t be working. Bring the gas can from the garage. I know it’s full,” she said.

Roger paused. “Good catch,” he said, and went into the garage. He came back carrying the can and put it in the trunk. He noticed that she was making a list as they were driving away. “What are you writing?” he asked.