Chapter Eighteen #2
“Hey, Rue,” Cash said. He gently squeezed the younger man’s arm. Rue opened his eyes and turned to look at him. “I think you need to keep your eyes open until they can determine if you have a concussion.”
“Probably,” he agreed. “Shawna said I didn’t present the classic symptoms, but she also stated head trauma could be tricky.”
“Since your vision isn’t blurry, I’ll let you read all the warm wishes from the crew.” Cash handed over his phone and smiled every time Rue did.
When he finished, Rue snapped a selfie and added it to the chat. He told everyone he loved them and would see them soon. A new barrage of messages arrived, and Rue returned the phone to Cash after he read them.
“I’m really sorry about your truck, boss,” Rue said. “I wasn’t driving recklessly.”
Cash clasped Rue’s hand between his. “I know, Rue. Seth told us the brakes went out.”
Rueben nodded. “I worked in my uncle’s garage to earn extra cash in high school. He’d have me pump the brakes to help bleed the lines sometimes. And that’s what it felt like, but it didn’t click at the time because you’d just had the truck serviced.”
“The brakes didn’t fail, Rue. Someone cut them.” Nick had gentled his voice but didn’t mince words. Cash sent him an uncertain look, but they couldn’t afford to beat around the bush. “We think we know who set Tyler up and cut your brake lines.”
“Those Salvation Anew jerks,” Rue said.
“Yes,” Cash agreed. “We’re pretty sure we know who the leader really is and why he’s targeted the ranch.”
“Why?” Rue asked.
“We’ll tell everyone together when we get home,” Cash told him. “We’d planned to have this conversation over poker. I’m truly sorry we didn’t figure this out sooner.”
“Not your fault, boss.”
“See?” Nick said.
A nurse whisked the curtain aside before Cash could respond. He wheeled a cart that resembled a toolbox into the already cramped triage room. “It’s a full house in here.”
“I’m the life of the party,” Rueben told him.
“I bet.” The nurse offered a cheeky grin before opening a laptop and reviewing the information they’d gathered.
He cycled through a series of questions before removing equipment from the drawers and performing a cursory assessment.
“I’m sure the doc will want to run some tests, but it appears you are one lucky guy. ”
Rueben smiled at the nurse. “In more ways than I can count.”
The nurse patted his shoulder and told them a doctor would be by. “It’s a packed house tonight, and she’ll see patients in order of urgency. The good news is that you’re low on that scale. The bad news is that you might have a long wait.”
Nick had received a similar warning during his recent emergency room trip.
His visit had taken five hours, so it was hard to tell how long they’d be there with Rue.
Nick resettled in his chair and read through the group chat conversation.
He snorted when he reached the part where everyone placed bets on how long it would take for Rue to win the sheriff’s heart.
Nick wanted in on the action. The shortest bet was two days, and the longest was two weeks.
There was no doubt in Nick’s mind Rueben’s attraction flattered and intrigued the sheriff.
He also knew Burke needed to make peace with his feelings for Cash, so Nick landed on six months.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he studied Rueben.
The kid was a charmer and seemed very determined that Burke would be his. Two months, he typed and hit Send.
Nick’s entry sparked a flurry of activity, both welcoming him and debating his entry.
Rueben held out his hand for Cash’s phone when he heard the notifications landing on both their devices. After reading the latest thread, Rue quirked a brow at Nick.
“Such little faith,” he said.
“Hey, the bet is how long you take to win the man’s heart, not to get him in bed.”
Rue’s devilish smile warmed Nick’s heart in the cold, sterile space.
When Burke showed up a few hours later, Nick wanted to amend his entry.
The good sheriff wore a pair of scrubs he must’ve borrowed from the hospital.
His skin looked a little gray, and his discomfort was clear with every step.
But his face lit up when his gaze landed on Rueben.
Cash vacated the seat by the bed and offered it to Seth.
“Thanks.” Burke’s grimace and slow descent were other clues to his pain level, but he seemed to stop caring when Rueben held out his hand.
“This doesn’t mean we’re really engaged.
I just wanted to find out what my sister said about me.
I’m an elected official and need to be sure my secrets won’t land in my opponent’s hands. ”
Rue smiled slyly. “Guess you’ll have to take me to dinner to find out. How does Friday work for you?”
“I’m free. How do you feel about steaks?” Burke asked.
“Love a good steak.”
Nick’s phone pinged with an alert when Cash messaged the group. One month.
The crew was outraged and accused them of having insider knowledge.
Nick nodded his head toward the curtain, and Cash followed him out.
It was doubtful the other occupants in the small space noticed.
They stopped a nurse and asked where they could find the nearest vending machines, then followed her directions.
Since there was no one else in the alcove, Nick cupped Cash’s cheeks and kissed him hard.
The emotions he’d suppressed during the heat of the moment surged upward.
Someone hated Cash enough to want him dead.
Nick had been the target of plenty of bad guys, but it came with the territory.
Having that level of hatred aimed at Cash was a bitter pill to swallow.
Nick embraced Cash and held on for a long time.
“I love you, Saint. I love you so damn much.”
“Well, I was going to treat you to a candy bar, but now I’m going to buy you chips too,” Cash said. He turned his head and kissed Nick’s neck. “I love you too.”
Someone cleared their throat, and the two men pulled apart. Burke stood there with his arms across his chest and a big smirk on his face. “A nurse just popped in and said it would be a little longer before the doctor would be by. I thought I’d buy Rueben a snack.”
“That’s what we were doing,” Cash said.
“Uh-huh.” Burke scoffed. “Looks like it.”
Nick pulled his credit card from his wallet. “What’ll it be, Burke? My treat.”
They took a variety of sweet and salty snacks back to Rue’s triage room. Burke made his excuses to leave after he ate a bag of Cheez-Its and a Payday candy bar.
Rueben reached out for his hand again, and Burke clasped it without hesitation. He batted his long eyelashes hard enough to stir the air. “Are you sure you have to go?”
Burke’s grim expression softened. “I have to make somebody pay for what they did to you.”
“Oh, wow.” Rueben covered his heart with his free hand. “Friday?”
Burke nodded. “Cash has my personal number. Text me when you get your replacement phone.” He again promised to inform them of any developments before he ducked out through the curtain.
Rue stared at the spot Burke had occupied with a wistful expression on his face.
Nick figured he wore a sappy expression like that every time he’d pined for Cash during all those trips they’d taken as friends.
An amazing idea struck him between the eyes.
Cash had taken him to Denver to kind of relive their first weekend together.
Nick wanted to reexperience their favorite vacation spots as a couple.
But before that could happen, they needed to put Mick Carson behind bars.
He promised not to interfere with Burke’s investigation, but he couldn’t sit idly by and wait for the next attack either.
When Rue got restless, he borrowed Cash’s phone to play Best Fiends.
Cash tipped his head back against the wall and shut his eyes.
Nick dug through social media to see what he could learn about Mick Carson and associates.
It was remarkable the things people put out for just anyone to see.
He found an active Facebook account, but Mick hadn’t updated it in over three years.
Nick doubted he’d find a detailed manifesto in the man’s posts, but he hoped to uncover something he could give Burke.
Carson’s posts were mostly scripture and updates about his personal life.
Nothing Nick would call radical. He’d almost given up when he came upon a photo of a fishing trip.
It looked like four men had ventured out on a boat and reeled in a great haul.
He wasn’t sure what about it had caught his attention until his third pass over the group.
The young guy on the far right was looking away from the photographer, so only his profile was visible.
Nick sat up straight as recognition dawned.
The poorly healed nose gave him away. It was the guy from the security photos.
“What?” Rue asked.
His voice woke Cash, who’d dozed off in the chair. “What’d I miss?”
Nick stood up and walked over to Rue’s bed. Cash pulled his chair up so they could all see what Nick had found. “Does the guy on the end look familiar to you?”
“That’s the guy who framed Tyler with the stolen tools!” Cash exclaimed. “Who is he?”
“A guy in one of Mick Carson’s Facebook photos,” Nick replied. “It’s from five years ago. A fishing trip.” Mick had tagged first names only, but it didn’t take long for Nick to click through the three guests. Each had the same last name, so he assumed they were related.
“Quinton Carson,” Nick said, showing them the profile.
Before they could say more, the doctor finally appeared.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Rashid.” The doctor barely stood five feet tall, but her confident aura made her appear taller. She tucked long, wavy hair behind one ear as she read over Rue’s notes. Her kind, whiskey-colored eyes returned to Rue. “You’re a very lucky man, Mr. Sanchez.”