Winter learned eventually to wake slowly with as little movement as possible until the pain medication could take effect. Lying still was a torture in itself to someone as active as she had been. Completely at the mercy of various nurses, they cared for all her basic needs, taking away what little pride she had left. Her mind would drift away when they would impersonally clean her, changing the pads and sheets underneath her broken body.

The worst was when the doctor considered her lucid enough to give her details of her condition. The medical terms were hard to understand with the pain medication clouding her mind. The nurse, understanding her confusion, waited until the doctor left to explain that she had a vertebral fracture, which they had to operate on in order to stabilize. The brace she was in would be on for several weeks and she was going to require therapy to return to normal. The concussion must have come from having her head slammed into the car window that had left a large gash across her forehead, requiring sutures that would undoubtedly leave a scar. Her jaw had been fractured, and two of her ribs were cracked. When she was finished answering Winter’s questions she reassured her that she would heal, given time.

The gossipmongers that came by to see her were never given admittance to her room. The first words Winter spoke was to keep visitors out. She had no family left and the few friends she wanted to see were put on a list. A security guard was placed outside her door when Viper tried repeatedly to gain admittance. She didn’t want his sympathy and she certainly didn’t want him to see her looking like a prizefighter after twelve rounds.

Viper would sit in the waiting area, which luckily for him, was a few feet away from her door. He became a master at reading the nurses’ and doctor’s expressions as they left her room-whether she was having a good day, or one in which even medication didn’t help. He knew what the doctors were going to tell her before she did. He had bribed the nurses on duty to see her doctors’ notes and to make sure she was taken care of the way he wanted.

He was watching her door when he saw the Sheriff coming down the hallway. Their eyes met before he entered Winter’s room. He also knew that she was about to find out who was responsible for putting her in the hospital; the man that Viper had every intention of killing.

Chapter 3

The door opening didn’t even draw Winter’s attention. She had become so use to the nurses coming and going, it wasn’t until the Sheriff moved to stand in front of her that she lifted her eyes. Even a man who had been through two tours in the military and cleaned up many fatalities flinched when he saw her face.

“Winter.”

“Sheriff.”

“I waited until the doctor said it would be okay to let you know what happened.” Will Hunter had been sheriff for several years and while she liked and respected him, she couldn’t help but hold a grudge that he hadn’t taken her more seriously when she called to report Viper’s trespassing.

“I already know what happened. What I want to know is who?”

“Jake, he blamed you for telling Carmen’s parents that he was mistreating her.”

Her eyes deadened even further if possible.

“He ran off into the mountains and we tracked him down. He’s in custody. What I need to know is, did you see his face?”

“No, he attacked me from behind. I was too disoriented to see who did it. How do you know it was Jake?”

He really did not want to tell her this part but knew if he didn’t that someone else would.

“He paid Carmen’s parents a visit before you. Luckily they weren’t home. Trashed everything in the house, then set it on fire. One of the neighbors saw him running out of the house.

“The doctor told me I almost didn’t make it.”

The sheriff nodded. “You’re going to recover Winter.”

He wanted to reach out and touch her hand but there wasn’t a place that wasn’t covered in bruises.

“That’s what they say,” Winter turned her head away not wanting the Sheriff to see how upset she was that one of her former students had hated her enough to almost kill her.

“You will heal, it will be a long journey but you will make it, Winter. You have a lot of people who care about you and want to see you.”

Winter turned her head back to face him, “Is he still outside?”

“They say he has been here since the day they brought you in.”

“Make him leave. I don’t want him here.”

“I’ll take care of it, anything else?”

“No.” Winter closed her eyes letting the medication put her to sleep with a click of a button. The sheriff stood by her bed until he was sure she was asleep before he left.

Viper watched closely as he came out the door and sat down silently next to him, his hat in his hand.

“She wants you to leave, I told her I would get you to.”

“I am not leaving.”

“I know, but I am telling you now it’s a wasted effort.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yes you do. You’re not going to earn her forgiveness sitting outside her closed door. Go home, get some rest, take care of business. Winter has a long road ahead of her. When she gets out of here, she’ll need you then. You won’t be any help if you’re burned out before she’s even released. Right now she has good care, you’ve seen to that. Reserve your strength for when you’ll need it the most.

“I can’t leave until I see her.”

“You’ll go home if I let you in for a minute?”

“Yes.” He couldn’t leave until he assured himself it was her living and breathing behind that door.

“Ok I shouldn’t be doing this so make sure you don’t wake her. She’s still pissed about the last time.”

The sheriff went to the door telling the security guard he would keep an eye on the door while he went and got a cup of coffee. He motioned to Viper as soon as the guard turned the corner; he opened the door for Viper to enter after checking to make sure she was still sleeping.

“One minute,” he warned.

Viper gave him a nod and entered the room. A few minutes later he quietly closed the door behind him with a grim nod, he kept his word.

***

“Do you understand these instructions?” The nurse waited patiently for Winter to sign the release papers.

“Yes.”

“I will send someone in to help you to your ride.”

“Wait, they aren’t here yet.” Winter tried to keep the worry out of her voice.

“Yes, I am.” Beth smiled brightly as she pushed opened the door.

Winter released a relieved breath. She had broken down a week ago and called Beth to work for her until she was back on her feet again. It was either hire Beth or a convalescence home. Beth had helped when her mother was ill and Winter, not knowing where else to turn called her. Beth had immediately accepted.

“I was outside talking to your doctor. I also found a physical therapist that is going to start tomorrow.” It always amazed Winter how Beth could be a little oblivious about what was happening around her but when it came to her job, the woman was completely OCD.

“Thanks Beth, I don’t know what I would do without you. The thought of having to stay even longer in this rehab center is getting to me.” The hospital in Treepoint had released her to a rehab center in Lexington where she was gradually learning to walk again after six weeks but Winter wanted to go home. While it would be a long time before she could return to work, she would be able to go home with certain conditions. Someone would have to stay with her until she was a little more mobile. The doctors had assured her she would fully recover but in the meantime she had to use a wheelchair as she regained her strength. She would also need physical therapy if she was going to continue to progress in her recovery.