Chapter 28
Nash kept his sights locked on the patrol car headed their way.
"Do you see them coming?" Ellie asked.
Nash shifted his gaze from the back window to Ellie, who was hooked up to an IV receiving fluids.
"Yep." His anxiety ratcheted up a notch. He could hardly wait to have visual proof that Wyatt and Wade were okay.
The fact was, when he'd asked the officer who'd come to their rescue about his brothers, Wyatt and Wade, Nash was met with short and incomplete answers. He’d first asked if they were okay.
"Of course, son,” the man said, “just fine."
He hadn't said they were just fine, so Nash pressed on. "Both of them all right?"
The officer only nodded and looked away. "Got a squad car headed this way as we speak,” he said. “You can ask all the questions you'd like then."
Not the most promising feedback. Perhaps it was classified information, something that particular officer couldn’t divulge.
Nash took in the lovely sight of Ellie, his love for her having multiplied to an impossible degree. He was grateful the two of them had gotten out of this alive, and he’d remain grateful for that despite what else they might discover in the hours and days ahead.
At some point, though he had no idea when, they’d hopefully get word about Ellie’s dad and the trafficking ring he’d gotten mixed up with. But most pressing for now was news about Wyatt and Wade. He was still waiting for that final exhale, and until he knew how his brothers were, it wouldn’t come.
"I'll be right back,” Nash said, turning to the first responder. "Tell me if she gives you any trouble."
The woman gave him a soft smile. Was that sympathy he saw there? Did she know something Nash didn't?
"Will do,” she said.
Nash pressed a kiss to Ellie's forehead, then stepped out of the ambulance and onto the pavement. The car was even closer now, just pulling alongside the curb a few yards ahead.
Nash spotted Wade in the backseat, cowboy hat in place, and…no one else. The front seat held just one officer behind the wheel, and the backseat held only Wade.
Chills erupted over his skin. Please, God, don't let this mean what I think it does.
Nash clenched his eyes shut and prayed that the good Lord above would give them strength. Already, tears welled in his eyes as he imagined the news he might hear because Wyatt should definitely be there too. He would be there, too, if he were still alive.
The car came to a stop, and Wade cracked open the door and climbed out.
Nash's gaze went straight to the sling Wade wore around one arm, a visual indication that Wade was lucky to be alive. And Nash would be danged if it wasn’t great to see him in the flesh. Still, he had to know. He couldn't wait any longer.
Wade stopped short a few feet away.
"Is Wyatt…" Nash didn't finish that sentence because Wade was already giving him a somber nod in reply.
"I'm afraid so, brother.”
Nash clenched his eyes closed as the pain pushed through him.
“Wyatt is stuck at the Regional Hospital getting a bullet removed from his butt."
Nash's eyes flicked open wide. He was on the verge of celebrating, but he couldn’t be sure he’d heard him right. "What did you say? He's alive? Wyatt’s alive?"
Wade shuffled closer as he nodded. "Yes, that stubborn old mule is alive. And he was spittin’ nails when they told him he couldn't go searching for you on account of they had to operate. And would you believe it—he had to go outdo me again, taking two bullets to my one."
Nash rushed in and threw his arms around Wade, not caring that the tears were flowing good. Wyatt and Wade had lived. They all had, and soon they’d be bound for home, Ellie at their side. Also soon, the group would have a sit-down and talk about how everything went down.
But for now, he and Wade had to go tell Ellie the good news.
"Why do hospitals always have squeaky floors?"
Nash heard his brother Wade's question, but he assumed he was talking to Ellie since she stood closest to Wade. Besides, it seemed they both understood that Nash was too in his head to entertain a conversation.
"You are so right," Ellie said. "I've never really thought about that."
Nash eyed the numbers beside each door, counting down as they neared room 213.
Room 219…218…
"If I see a janitor, I’m going to ask them what kind of floor cleaners they use,” Wade said. “I think it’d be cool if my floors squeaked like this."
Room 215…214
And there it was—room 213.
"He's not going to be very happy if you go in there before he wakes up," Wade warned.
Nash smiled. "I know."
Ellie gave his hand a squeeze. “You go ahead. Wade and I will be out here talking about floor cleaners." She reached up and pressed a kiss to his lips before giving his hand another squeeze.
Nash twisted the doorknob and stepped inside.
The sight of his big brother, Wyatt, lying motionless on a hospital bed, tubes coming from his arms, the hideous gown he was probably ticked about wearing…all of it filled Nash with an overwhelming mixture of emotions.
Gratitude, though, was at the top of the list. Gratitude that Wyatt had survived, gratitude that he’d welcomed Nash and Ellie with open arms. And gratitude that he was soon moving back home.
Nash still wasn’t sure what possessed Wyatt to extend the olive branch and crush the animosity between them, but once Nash sensed that he had, it’d been easy to let his own hurt slip by the wayside.
He and his brother could finally experience the kind of relationship they were meant to have all along.
"Excuse me while I switch out a few of his IVs," a nurse said as she came up from behind. “It will probably be a little while before he’s conscious, so if there's anything you want to confess, I suggest you do it now." She chuckled and tapped one of the empty bags before sliding it off the hook.
Nash remained quiet as she worked, then nodded his thanks as she finished up.
"I hear this one's a hero,” she said as she wheeled her supply cart toward the door. “Took a couple of bullets and all."
Nash had to smile. "Since he's still out, I’ll give you the affirmative. But I wouldn’t let him hear me say that. Can't have his head growing any bigger…”
“Does that mean I should send the press away? And the mayor, who’s ready to hand over a key to the city?” The nurse chuckled as she exited the room, and Nash turned his attention back to Wyatt and stepped closer to the bed.
"You always say that you’re not much for words, that you’re more of an action guy, but I believe some things need to be said. And since this is probably my only chance to speak what’s on my mind without you stopping me, I’m going to put it all out there.
“I’ve accused you of being the problem in our relationship for years, and I want to apologize for that.
Yeah, we’ve been crappy to each other, but I can admit that it probably started with me.
” He cleared his throat as he recalled the weeks following Mom and Dad’s funeral.
The uncertainty, the fear, the sick, haunting feeling that chased him no matter how bright the sun.
“I know I pulled away from you after Mom and Dad died. I’m sorry for that.
The truth is, you were too big of a reminder of what happened.
When I spent time with Thatcher, I could tell myself that we were just staying with our cousins for a while and that the police were wrong; it hadn't been Mom and Dad in the accident; they were coming back for us.
“Thatcher made it easy because he didn’t want to talk about it either. I found out later that denial is often one of the first stages of grief. I think I stayed in that stage for a very long time. And the only way I could do that was by pushing you away.
“And I guess I can assume you’re still out since you probably would’ve interrupted me by now.
” He glanced down and sniffed. “Thanks for being the one to squash things first and for welcoming me back into your life.
That meant a lot to me. I hate to say that it took something like this to make me appreciate what I had, but when I didn't know where you were…I felt like my whole world was falling apart.”
Nash clenched his eyes shut for a moment as the truth of that sunk in. “I'm so glad you’re okay, man. And I’m glad you’re moving back home.”
Just then, Nash sensed movement in Wyatt’s expression. Was he waking up? Had he been awake longer than he let on?
“You should probably move back soon, though, because you don't want to miss the wedding."
Nash watched Wyatt closely as the statement lingered in the air.
Wyatt flicked open an eye. “Married?” he rasped. “Take ‘er easy, why don’t ya? Ellie wants a cowboy, does she? She may as well get to know me first so she can take her pick.”
Nash grinned, so happy to see Wyatt awake that he rushed in and threw his arms around him.
Wyatt chuckled under his breath. “I know how you feel,” he said. “Trust me. You weren’t the only one suffering. I thought I’d lost you too.”
“Knock, knock,” Wade said from the doorway. “I figured I better come in before I lost my place as Wyatt’s favorite.”
“Yeah, come on in, guys. Get a load of the man in a gown while you can.” Wyatt secured Nash’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I know why you did what you did back then. We were both just doing our best to get by.”
Nash fought back tears as he nodded.
“And I guess it’s lucky that we had a few guardian angels watching out for us today.” Wyatt glanced around. “Or was that yesterday? What day is it? And when in tarnation can I get some food? I’m starving.”
Wade and Ellie came up behind Nash. And though Wade knew better than to pour over him with sympathy or praise, Ellie did that very thing enough for all three of them, and Wyatt didn’t interrupt a word of it.