Chapter 19 #2
“Oh, dang it, Dad! I didn’t even think about that. Yes, tell them it was a gift from me, and that I won the damn lottery, if you want. It will explain everything else I do when I get home.”
“Thanks, son. Even though people finally knew the truth of that, it’s still in the back of their minds, and I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Gunner said. “Enjoy your supper. I know it has to be great because Pearl made it, and we’ll be home before you know it.”
“You have no idea how happy this makes me,” Jacob said. “Take care of yourself and get well first.”
“Yes, sir. It’s my intention,” Gunner said and then looked up as Holly returned with two bowls of ice cream. “We’re still safe. It’s noisy, but no funnels have formed. Enjoy your supper.”
“I’ll do that. Can’t leave Pearl alone too long in the Weed. She’ll have the men all using napkins and bringing their dirty glasses to the bar,” Jacob said.
Gunner was still smiling when his dad disconnected, and moved a pillow so Holly could sit beside him.
Gunner took his first bite of ice cream. “Dad called. He said we have a good water source for the build, and the man will be sending me details via email.”
“One more step accomplished,” she said, but still chose the seat closest to him. Bruises and stitches aside, he would always be her safe place to fall.
* * *
Jacob ate his way through supper and finished it off with a bowl of banana pudding. Pearl never made a meal without dessert, which made him a happy man. When he finished, he rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, then went back into the bar.
“Thanks for standing in for me, and for that good food,” Jacob said and kissed Pearl on the cheek.
She turned a sweet shade of pink and hustled out before the crowd got rowdy again.
* * *
The thunderstorms over Dallas passed with nothing more than minor wind damage, most of which consisted of trampolines blowing into neighbors’ yards and dead or dying trees finally giving up the ghost.
Gunner woke up, heard Holly in the shower, and went to the guest bath to wash up. When he came back to the room, she was getting dressed for the day.
“Hey, honey, do you want me to wrap your arm again for the Jacuzzi?”
“I do, but I need my wake-up kiss first,” he said.
“Your wake-up kisses make me wish for so much more,” she said and then put her arms around his neck and leaned in for the onslaught of emotions she knew were coming.
And they did, like an avalanche.
The thudding heartbeat.
A growing ache without release until they stopped.
“Good morning, love. The storms are gone, and it’s a new day,” Gunner said.
Holly felt like a leaf, still floating in the wind, still trying to fall to earth.
“Yes, it is. I’m going to get the plastic wrap.”
He went into the bathroom and started filling up the tub. The skin still pulled a little beneath the bandages, but he was sure ready to get them off. Maybe today was the day.
As soon as she had the arm wrapped up again, he got in the tub and turned on the jets.
“Take all the time you want,” Holly said as she put out a fresh bath towel and handed him a washcloth. “I am going to verify the appointment time that was made with your doctor,” she said and turned to walk out.
“Hey, Holly.”
She paused and turned around. “Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t need thanks for taking care of the man I love.” And then she was gone.
He emerged later with the whisker stubble gone, actual clothing, and slip-on loafers, minus the socks.
Holly was impressed. “Gunner, sweetheart! Look at you! I’m as proud of your progress as I was when Travis finally learned to tie his shoes.”
Gunner laughed. “Darlin’, your analogies are bumper stickers for life.”
“Whatever,” she said, but it made her happy when he laughed.
* * *
It was just after 10:00 a.m. when they left the house.
At Holly’s insistence, he’d taken a pain pill. Not because he was in that much pain, but she was afraid when they started pulling off bandages, he would be.
When they arrived at the doctors’ building, instead of parking in front, Holly circled the building and parked near a side entrance.
“Why are we parking here?” Gunner asked.
“Because we’re not parading through the main lobby. People keep taking pictures of you and posting them on social media. All that’s going to do is give someone who knew Whistler or that crooked detective the idea that they should finish the job,” she said.
“Damn, girl. You think like a cop.”
“Doctor Raines agreed with me. You’re not sitting in the waiting room, either.”
“You’re calling the shots, darlin’,” he said.
She nodded and sent a quick text. “Okay, out we go,” she said and locked the doors behind them as they entered the building.
They were walking up a long hall when a nurse came around the corner and waved at them. “I’m your escort. Follow me.”
They wound through one hallway after another, past a lab, past X-ray and digital imaging, and then through a door into the area where Doctor Raines’s exam rooms were located.
“You’re in Room 4,” the nurse said. As soon as Gunner was sitting on the exam table, she took his blood pressure and temp. “We’re going to need you to take off your shirt, sir.”
“Right,” Gunner said.
Holly got up without saying a word and helped him pull the T-shirt he was wearing over his head.
The nurse blinked. She’d seen the bandage on his arm and the bruise on his jaw but was not prepared for the rest of it, or the larger bandage on his shoulder. Wisely, she said nothing.
“Dr. Raines will be here shortly,” she said and closed the door on her way out.
Holly sat back in her chair with his shirt on her lap and raised an eyebrow at the charts on the wall. “A hypochondriac would have a meltdown in here,” she muttered.
Gunner nodded. “Very descriptive, but still better than reading autopsy reports. Trust me.”
Holly leaned back against the wall for a more comfortable position. “We never went to the doctor unless we were really sick. With the closest doctor being in Amarillo, it wasn’t convenient.”
“Crossroads is lucky to have Urgent Care and two nurses on staff now, with a once-a-week doctor. It’s not large enough to sustain an actual hospital.”
“It doesn’t really grow, does it?” Holly said.
“No, but that’s due to lack of available jobs and housing. Finding a place to live there is almost impossible,” he said.
Holly’s eyes widened. “You could build an apartment building. Six up and six down, just to see if it would make a difference. If people took to the idea, you’d be in business.”
“That is actually a really good idea. I’ve been thinking about the simpler ways I could make a difference there.
I know nothing about leasing or renting homes, but I sure know someone who does.
If we did that, it would have to be your business to run.
Collecting rent, dealing with problems and repairs. ”
Her eyes lit up. “I could do that with my eyes closed,” she said.
“Then that will be our first project,” he said. “My wife, the real estate mogul.”
“Considering the size of Crossroads, mogul might be stretching the point.”
“Gotta start somewhere,” Gunner said, and then the door opened and Doctor Raines walked in, followed by his nurse.
“Gunner Kingston, and who’s the lovely lady you have with you?”
“Holly Dillon, my soon-to-be wife. Holly, this is Dr. Benjamin Raines. For my sins, I have been his patient ever since joining the force.”
“A pleasure to meet you, and best wishes for the both of you.” Then he took a look at Gunner and shook his head. “I knew when I saw that video that you would soon be gracing my clinic. And the word is, you did this one as a civilian. Did you really quit the force?”
“I did. Having a bounty put on my head and a dozen hit men after the money can ruin a whole lot of things,” Gunner said.
“Good lord! The public knew nothing about that!”
Gunner nodded. “Yet another reason the bubble burst for me. It’s hard to work in a department knowing there’s a dirty cop somewhere in the bunch, and no one wanted to hear the words or consider the possibility. Bad look for the department, and all that.”
“So, that guy on the Harley…?”
“Wanted by the FBI. His face was all over the news. I just happened to see him,” Gunner said.
Raines frowned. He’d known Kingston long enough to recognize he was being redirected to a different subject, so he got down to business.
“I’ve read the ER report on these injuries. Let’s get these bandages off so I can see where we’re at.”
With his nurse assisting, Raines began on the lower part of the arm. The bandaging was stuck in a couple of places, but he got it off without causing any scabbing to break loose and start bleeding.
“Is this painful?” Raines asked.
“Somewhat. Mostly. Is it at the point where I can get it wet?” Gunner asked.
Raines frowned. “You could let warm water run over it and gently wash it with soap on the palm of your hand, but not on a washcloth. Pat it dry, lightly apply Neosporin, then use nonstick gauze pads to cover it, and keep them in place with a wrap like an Ace bandage. We’ll reapply a fresh bandage here for now. The rest will be up to you.”
“I’ll take that as progress,” Gunner said.
“Let’s take a look at the stitches,” Raines said as he removed the large patch on Gunner’s shoulder and checked that out.
“These are healing properly. I don’t see any undue inflammation.
You can leave the bandage off here. It will heal faster without it, but you will still need to finish the prescription of antibiotics, and pain pills as needed.
Of course, if you think it’s become infected, don’t waste time getting back to a doctor, wherever you are.
” Then he tapped lightly on the bruise on Gunner’s jaw. “Did that hurt?”
Gunner nodded.
“Then don’t do that,” Raines said and grinned. “It’s a heck of a bruise. Ice is the best medicine for that.”
Gunner grinned. “You’re still a wiseass.”