Sanctuary

gone to?”
    He grabbed for her hair, but his hand closed on nothing but rain as she twisted her body around and used her feet to knock him back. Shells bit into her hands as she crab-walked back, fought for purchase.
    She saw him lift the gun.
    “Kyle.”
    Kyle’s attention bolted to the right, and so did his aim. “Nathan.” His grin spread, the lip Jo Ellen had split leaked blood onto his chin. “Well, this is interesting. You won’t use that.” He nodded at the gun Nathan had leveled at him. “You don’t have the spine for killing. You never did.”
    “Put the gun down, Kyle. It’s over.”
    “Wrong again. Our father started it, but I’ll finish it.” He got slowly to his feet. “I’ll finish it, Nathan, in ways even he couldn’t have imagined. My decisive moment, my triumph. He only planted the seeds. I’m reaping them.”
    He took a careful step forward, the grin never wavering. “I’m reaping them, Nathan. I’m making them my own. Think of how proud he’d be of what I’ve accomplished, not just following in his footsteps. Enlarging them.”
    “Yeah.” Despite the cold on his skin, a hot sickness churned in Nathan’s gut. “You’ve outdone him, Kyle.”
    “It’s about time you admitted it.” Kyle cocked his head. “This is what we call a Mexican standoff. Do you shoot me, or do I shoot you?” He gave a quick, brittle laugh that raked along Nathan’s brain. “Since I know you’re gutless, I already know the answer to that. How about if I change the game, shift the rules like I used to do when we were kids. And shoot her first.”
    As he swung the gun toward Jo, Nathan squeezed the trigger. Kyle jerked back, his mouth dropping open as he pressed a hand to his chest and it came away wet with blood. “You killed me. You killed me for a woman.”
    Nathan lowered the gun as Kyle crumpled. “You were already dead,” he murmured. He walked toward Jo, watching as she got to her feet. Then his arms were around her. “He was already dead.”
    “We’re all right.” She pressed her face to his shoulder, hanging on. “We’re all right now.”
    Giff came skidding down the pitted road. His eyes hardened when he saw the figure crumpled on the ground. He lifted his gaze to Nathan. “Get her inside. You need to get her inside.”
    Nathan shifted Jo to his side and walked through the weakening storm toward Sanctuary.

EPILOGUE
    “ H ELICOPTERS are on their way. One’s bringing the police. They’ll medevac you to the mainland.”
    “I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
    Kirby walked to the bed, lifted Brian’s wrist to check his pulse yet again. “Too bad. You’re not in any position to argue with your doctor.”
    “What are they going to do there that you haven’t already done?”
    “A great deal more than my emergency patch job.” She checked his bandages, pleased that there was no fresh bleeding. “You’ll have a couple of pretty nurses, some dandy drugs, and in a few days you’ll be on your feet and back home.”
    He considered. “How pretty are the nurses?”
    “I’m sure they’re—” Her voice broke, and though she turned away quickly, he saw the tears spring to her eyes.
    “Hey, I was only kidding.” He fumbled for her hand. “I won’t even look at them.”
    “I’m sorry. I thought I had it under control.” She turned back, sliding to her knees to drop her head on the side of the bed. “I was so scared. So scared. You were bleeding so badly. Your pulse was just slipping away under my hands.”
    “But you didn’t let it.” He stroked her hair. “You brought me back, stayed with me. And look at you.” He nudged until she lifted her face. “You haven’t had any sleep.”
    “I’ll sleep later.” She pressed her lips to his hand over and over. “I’ll sleep for days.”
    “You could pull some strings, share my hospital room.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Then you could come back here, share my room while I’m recuperating.”
    “I suppose I could.”
    “Then when I’m recovered, you could just share the rest of my life.”
    She knuckled a tear away. “If that’s a proposal, you’re supposed to be the one on your knees.”
    “But you’re such an aggressive woman.”
    “You’re right.” She turned her cheek into his hand. “And since I feel at least somewhat responsible that you have a rest of your life, it seems only right that I share it with you.”
     
     
    “THE gardens are ruined.” Jo looked down at the sodden, beaten blooms