At the last second, Trixie dove for the sidewalk closest to the park. She hit the ground hard as the car flew past. She looked at the car and could only make out the first three items on the license plate, AMR.

As the car turned out of sight, Trixie set her head on the ground and tried to calm her breathing. That was too close, she thought. I could’ve been killed. She focused on calming her nerves, unaware of the crowd gathering around her. She felt a strong hand touch her shoulder.

Trixie looked up. She could see Jim’s pale face. As Trixie pushed herself up, Jim wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Trixie put her arms around Jim’s neck. She heard someone say the police and an ambulance were on the way. She didn’t want to deal with the police right then.

“Are you all right?” Jim asked softly in her ear. He didn’t loosen his hold. Trixie nodded her head.

A few minutes later, she heard sirens coming closer. She lifted her head off Jim’s chest, but he kept his arm around her. A police car pulled up to the curb and two officers got out. The moved toward her and asked what occurred. She told them what happened after walking away from Jim and the part of the license plate she had seen.

When they finished questioning her, Jim helped her to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her waist and took her right hand in his. Trixie winced at his touch. She looked at her hands. They were raw and bleeding. She realized she had scraped the skin off when she dove for the sidewalk.

“Let us clean those out,” one paramedic said.

“Let them,” Jim said.

Trixie reluctantly allowed herself to be led to the ambulance. She sat down on the stretcher as her hands were cleaned out. She looked down at her legs and saw her knees were also scraped. She wondered why she didn’t feel it before. Trixie shuddered as the paramedic did his job. She looked at Jim as he pulled his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. She knew the adrenaline was wearing off.

“You’ll be all set,” the paramedic said as he finished wrapping the bandage around her hand. “Keep the wounds clean and dry.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She climbed out of the ambulance and Jim took her into his arms. He said, “Let’s go home.”

Trixie nodded her head. Jim led her to his jeep and helped her inside. After closing the door behind her, he moved around and got in the driver’s side. As he started the engine, he asked, “Are your parents out of town tonight?”

“Yeah,” Trixie said leaning her head back against the seat. “They took Bobby to go see Mart, Di and the twins.”

“Trix, after all that’s gone on, I don’t think you should be alone at Crabapple Farm tonight. If you want to stay at Manor House, you’re more than welcome to.”

Trixie looked at Jim. In the light from the passing street lights, she could see Jim’s face was pale. She pulled his suit jacket tightly around herself and realized she didn’t want to be alone.

“Would you mind?” she asked.

Jim looked at her. “I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“Thank you.”

Trixie closed her eyes as Jim drove along. She was thankful for Jim’s offer. She knew this would also give them an opportunity to talk. Jim means so much to me, she thought. I have loved him since I was thirteen. We need to talk.

“We’re here,” Jim said interrupting her thoughts a while later.

Trixie opened her eyes as Jim shut the engine off. By the time she had her seatbelt off, Jim was already making his way around to her side of the jeep. He opened the door, took her arm and helped her out of the car. He kept his arm around her waist as they made their way inside.

“I think there may be some clothes in Honey’s room that may fit you,” Jim said as they made their way upstairs. They stopped outside Honey’s bedroom. “After you change, let’s meet in the living room.”

“All right.” Trixie stepped into Honey’s room and closed the door.

A little while later, Trixie made her way to the living room. She looked in and saw Jim was sitting on the couch with a mug in his hand. Another mug was on the table. As she stepped into the room, the floor creaked and Jim looked up. He said, “I thought you could use some hot tea.”

“That does sound nice,” Trixie said moving over to the couch and sitting down beside him. She took a sip from the mug before settling back on the couch.

Trixie didn’t like the awkward silence that surrounded them. She knew Jim said what he did out of love for her and that she needed to apologize for getting so defensive.

“Jim, I...”

“Trixie, I...”

They both looked at each other and laughed. Trixie spoke first. “Jim, I’m sorry for storming away.”

“It’s all right. You had every right.” Jim draped his arm across the back of the couch. “It’s just that I get so worried about you each time you get involved in a case.”

“Jim, I am careful.”

“I know. But part of me will always worry about you. I don’t want to lose you.”

Trixie looked at Jim. “You’ll never lose me.”

“But there are times when I think I will.” Jim set his mug on the coffee table. “Trixie, when I heard those tires squealing, I thought, for a moment, that our time together was over. I don’t want to have to go through that. I love you so much.”

Trixie turned and wrapped her arms around Jim. “I love you, too.”

She felt Jim tighten his hold on her. She knew the anger they had felt earlier was gone. She settled her head on Jim’s chest, feeling safe. She wasn’t worried about anything going on in the future.

After a few minutes, Jim asked, “Is there any way for me to help you?”

“You are helping,” she said with a smile.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Trixie sat up slightly so she could put her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her. “I was talking about your investigation.” Jim continued quickly. “I know you won’t stop until you figure this out. The least I could do is help. That way I can keep an eye on you, even though you don’t need it.”

“I appreciate your offer.”

“I want to help. You and Honey work great together as a team. Right now, I don’t think you should be doing this on your own. That’s why I’m volunteering.”

Trixie sat quietly. She was glad Jim had offered his assistance. She knew with Honey still on her honeymoon, she needed to bounce her ideas and feelings off someone. She knew she could trust someone.

“Thank you for agreeing to help.”

“I’d do anything to help you.” Jim rubbed her arm. “What can I do?”

“Nothing right now,” Trixie said softly. “I need to figure out what my next step will be.”

“As soon as you do, let me know. I’ll help you anyway I can.”

“I know.” Trixie felt her eyes start to droop.

She was vaguely aware of Jim pulling the afghan off the back of the couch and draping it over her. She felt a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you, Trixie Belden.”

Continue to Chapter 12