You are Mine

Nine

Jessica's nerves were jumping when she left her room at the boarding house. Wyatt was asleep, and she didn't dare wake him. Although she wanted to stay with him today, she didn't want Hugh to suspect her in last night's escape. As Jessica thought over what she'd heard between him and that other man, her vision blurred with tears. It was difficult not to feel betrayed by what he'd done, and for the life of her, she wanted to bawl like a baby. She wanted to mourn the loss of the man who could have been perfect for her. His kisses were undoubtedly very close to perfection.

However, when she had kissed Wyatt last night, she hadn't gotten the results that she'd hope to get. Perhaps it wasn't the right time to share a kiss because of the circumstances that were going on at that time, but Wyatt's kiss hadn't made her feel breathless. In fact, it hadn't even compared to Hugh's kiss.

She shouldn't compare. The timing was all wrong with Wyatt. She'd try again when life was back to normal, whenever that would be. Until that time, she must continue to keep a prayer in her heart and have faith that his memory would return quickly.

Before entering the hospital, she took a deep breath for courage and wiped the tears out of her eyes. She couldn't let Hugh know she suspected something. Last night when she'd asked if Wyatt was all right, Hugh didn't exactly lie – but then he didn't tell the truth, either. He was keeping something from her on purpose.

Jessica couldn't trust him any longer, and it physically hurt her that she felt this way.

The moment she walked into the long hallway, she could tell the atmosphere had changed. She heard more voices this morning than usual on most mornings. Cautiously, she stepped toward the sound.

Hugh stood with Doctor Larsen, Nurse Tweed, Sheriff Adamson, and Deputy Workman. As soon as the sheriff saw her, his eyes widened. He'd been talking, and suddenly, he stopped. He motioned her closer.

"Nurse Simone, I'm glad you're here. I have some questions for you."

She moved her gaze from one person to the next until stopping back on the sheriff. "Is something wrong?"

Hugh moved out of the group and approached her. "Jessica, remember the commotion I had told you about last night?"

She shrugged. "You had mentioned something had happened at the hospital, but you also said you would take care of it."

He sighed and nodded. "Indeed, I did, however, it's now gotten out of hand."

She returned his gaze to the sheriff. "What do you need to ask me?"

He folded his arms across his bulky chest and lifted his chin. "Where were you last night around midnight?"

"Asleep. Why?"

"You were asleep?"

Her heartbeat whacked strongly against her ribs. The sheriff didn't believe her. "I have an early shift, so I go to bed early." Hesitantly, she peeked at Hugh's expression. He looked genuinely worried. She wished she could believe that was really how he felt. "What's going on?"

Hugh stepped closer, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Wyatt escaped last night, but we think he had help."

She gasped loudly, slapping a hand to her mouth. She couldn't let them suspect her, even if she had to lay on the dramatics. "How?"

Hugh shrugged. "Last night there was a commotion in one of the other wards. By the time I arrived, the patients didn't know what was going on. They didn't see anything. Then, when I returned to the deserters' ward and saw that Wyatt was gone, I figured out what must have happened."