Ill Take Forever

loving family in the background to which he returned after each assignment. Would he tell her if she asked?
    On this, Jenny fell asleep.
    Kyle sat on the edge of the bed, gently rotating his arm as much as he could move it without the searing pain that let him know he was pushing it. During the day it ached, when he exercised, it throbbed. Still, according to the doctors, he’d gain full mobility as long as he didn’t do something stupid to further injure it.
    He continued to try to loosen the tightness as he walked to the window. The stars filled the sky. The dark silhouettes of the tall pines and firs blotted them out here and there. He studied the dark landscape. In a few more days, a week at the most, he’d be fit enough to start following the local hiking trails to see if he could find any evidence of illegal activity.
    It would be easier for the pot growers to move at night when the roads were fairly deserted, and most people were asleep. He’d participated in a bust in Mendocino County last summer. The haul had been extraordinary. Again he wondered why people would traffic in drugs. It always was a mystery to him given the end results. Too often men and women–and even children–had their lives ripped apart by addiction.
    The plan to stay at Jenny’s had been his. He hoped he hadn’t made a mistake. The barbecue next week sounded like the perfect opportunity for him to get to know some of the people in town. Hoping he could find some clue to explore, he turned back to the bed. His arm really ached now.
    As he lay awake in the dark, he though about dinner that evening. Was George Carlisle really someone Jenny could be interested in? He seemed too bland. She deserved someone who would cause her to light up within. As she probably had with her husband.
    He had no business kissing her. He hadn’t been able to resist. Nor stop at one. She was a beautiful woman inside and out and he yearned for some of the light that seemed to shine from within. He liked being around her. Teasing her more than she realized gave him a kick. She was as transparent as glass. Refreshing after the men he ordinarily had to deal with.
    He had to walk a careful line, however. He didn’t want to give rise to expectation he couldn’t make. For himself or Jenny. He had a job to do. When it was over, he’d walk away. The next assignment would wait.

    ***
    Jenny's emotions were under control by breakfast the next morning. She greeted Kyle with a sunny smile.
    'You don't have your sling on,' she noticed as she dished up his scrambled eggs.
    'I'm trying without it. This convalescing takes too long.'
    'Don't stop bullets any more.' She placed their plates on the table and sat down across from him, watching as he began to eat.
    He was still holding his left arm stiffly, not moving it even though it was free of the sling. Once, he reached for the salt with it, grimacing as he drew it back, his face paling.
    'Why do men have to be so macho?' she asked. 'Don't rush it. You could slow the healing, instead of hastening it.' She pushed the salt across the table.
    'Yes, Mama,' he replied.
    Jenny laughed aloud. 'When do you see your doctor again?'
    'Later this week. Still want to drive me to Sacramento?'
    'Instead of Brownley?'
    'It would save him a trip. I'll buy you lunch.'
    'Oh, boy, take the lady out for a treat to the big city!'
    'We can discuss the situation here more fully without having to worry about anyone hearing.'
    'Good grief, you've picked my brain clean. I don't think there is anything else to learn about the citizens of Palmer. And my house is not bugged, so there’s no one hear anyway. But I'll take you up on lunch.'

    ***
    Two days later they drove south on US 50 into the capital city. Jenny followed the directions Kyle gave, and soon parked in front of the large medical center near downtown.
    'Want to come with me and hold my hand?' he asked as he opened the door. He was wearing the sling for the trip, though he had not worn it much during the last few days. He had regained his color and looked more robust and fit.
    Jenny smiled and shook her head. 'I'll wait here. There are benches under the trees and the day is nice. Besides, anyone less in need of having their hand held, I'll never meet.'

CHAPTER SIX

    Jenny was sitting beneath one of the large oak trees shading the lawn of the medical center when Kyle came across the grass to her. The sling was gone. His left hand was tucked into the pocket of his tight jeans, held