Mallory Rush - [Outlawsand Heroes 02] by Dead or Alive Page B

hospital.
    She had to find him before someone else found him first. The more help she could get, the better. Ryan, she'd call Ryan at work, then Warren, Jacob, and Jennifer, and tell them to beg off from their jobs, too, on account of an emergency.
    Grabbing the phone, she fleetingly wondered where in the world Noble had called. No time to worry about it now, she'd worry after she got her phone bill.
    Just as a ring sounded on the other end, the doorbell buzzed.
    Maybe it was Noble. Maybe he'd locked himself out and was back, safe and sound. If he was, she'd cover him with kisses and hug him like she'd never let him go. And then... then she'd kill him.
    "Emergency room. Hello... hello?"
    Lori slammed down the phone and rushed to the front door.
    She threw it open and sighed her relief.
    Relief that lasted all of two seconds. Next to Noble stood a man in uniform.
    "Uh... hi. Hi, Jack! Long time no see."
    "Good to see you, too, Lori. Sorry to wake you up, but..." He turned his attention from her—disheveled and bed-rumpled, she realized, and quickly pulled together her gaping robe—to Noble, who bowed slightly in her direction.
    "This man says he's a friend of yours, Lori. Is that true?" Jack gave her an apologetic smile, letting her know he didn't believe it for a minute. "I picked him up walking down the middle of your street—got a call on him from the local pawnshop. Seems your 'friend' here tried to buy a television with a pouch of gold,"
    Lori summoned what she hoped passed for a burst of laughter.
    "Noble," she said with a roll of her eyes while she latched on to his arm and all but yanked him inside. "I know you have this crazy thing about getting into your characters, but actually pretending this is the gold rush..." She sighed dramatically. "Really, Noble, this is too much."
    "You mean, you actually know this guy?"
    "Of course I do," she said, hooking her arm around Noble's shoulders— stay away from his neck or you'll strangle him —giving the appearance that they were the best of buds. "Noble's an old friend from college. Just visiting, taking a break from Hollywood while he gets into his part. It—it's one of those shoot-'em-up frontier-adventure flicks."
    "Hey, no kidding?" Jack got a star-struck look in his eyes as he regarded Noble. "A real live Hollywood actor right here in Juneau! Have I seen you in anything before?"
    "Probably," Lori interjected. "He's done a lot of bit parts, but this is his first major role. Noble takes his work very seriously. In fact, I'm almost surprised he didn't rent a horse and take to the streets on it. Fortunately, he stopped with the wardrobe and a pouch of fake gold."
    "Might I have my gold back, please?" Noble drew himself up and extended his hand.
    Jack gripped it. "Well, I'll be damned. A real, live Hollywood actor with a lead role and I'm shaking his hand! Sorry about making you sit in the back of the squad car. I thought you were maybe a loony tune from the psych ward who'd met Lori and got some crazy ideas," Jack said while pumping Noble's hand.
    "My gold, please," Noble repeated, unsmiling.
    With a lopsided grin, Jack handed it over. Withdrawing a pinch of it, Noble offered it to him. "I'd like to pay you for taking me in your... car. I very much enjoyed the ride."
    Jack shook his head and flipped out his citation pad.
    "Think I could have your autograph? If you're half as good on screen as you are off, you're gonna hit it big. Especially with the ladies. Anyone ever tell you that you kinda look like Clint Eastwood?"
    "All the time," Lori said. Noble shot her a narrow glance as he signed his name with a flourish.
    "There you are, my good man."
    "Wow, sounds like you've got stage experience too. Were you ever on Broadway?"
    "I performed in England. Shakespeare."
    "Man, wait till the wife hears about this. Great to meet you, Noble."
    "A pleasure, to be sure."
    "Thanks, Jack," Lori said, feeling ignored.
    "Nooo problem. Take 'er easy, Lori." Jack turned to leave and she