Chapter Eleven #3
Alex went very still. Something moved across his face, and he said nothing for a moment. He didn’t have to.
They both knew about their late colleague, Macauley Carter, whose widow had delivered their baby after they put him in the ground.
“Creed never said anything.”
“He told me the day we went to Whitefish.” Hud exhaled. “He was happy about it.”
Alex was quiet for a moment, then put a hand on his shoulder. “He’s tough. Tougher than most. We have to hold onto that.” He paused. “Ride with me to the hospital?”
“No. I’ll take my truck.” Hud turned. “Tell Luke to ride with you.”
“Sure.”
Beau McCallister came walking toward him across the dark field.
“You alright, Hud?”
“Yeah. Just settling myself before I make a call.”
“I can call Abbie if you want.”
“No.” Hud shook his head. “I appreciate it, but it’s mine to do.”
“Understood.” Beau crossed his arms. “Good news is we got all of them.”
Hud looked up. “White?”
“Pissing and moaning about Fitch giving him up, but yes. We’ve got him. Nine total, one dead. We’ll get names back at the office and hand them off to the sheriff’s department.”
“Thanks, Beau. I’m heading to the hospital after I make this call. Let me know if one of the names is Whittingham.”
“Will do.”
Beau turned and walked back across the field.
Hud stood alone for a moment in the dark. This job could hollow a man out if he let it. But every one of those agents would be back out here tomorrow without a second thought, same as him. It wasn’t something you could explain to someone who didn’t live it. It was just who they were.
Hud grabbed the water bottle from the cupholder, poured it over his hands and watched the water run dark before it ran clear. He dried off with the paper towels he kept behind the seat, climbed in and got moving.
He called Abbie on the way. She held herself together the way strong people do when they have no other choice, but her voice shook at the edges and he heard it. He told her he’d meet her there.
Behind him the field was emptying out. He watched in the mirror as headlights swept across the tree line one by one and moved away, until there was nothing left but the darkness and the quiet of the pasture.
An hour later he was still in the waiting room. No one had come out. He sat with his elbows on his knees, head down, hands clasped between them.
He wasn’t a man who prayed often. But he did tonight.
That man has been through enough. Dear God, let him live.
He heard the elevator open down the hall but didn’t look up. Not until someone sat beside him and placed their hand over his.
He looked to his left.
Blair.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for you.”
“How did you know?”
“Celine called me. Kian filled Killian in.” She looked at him steadily. “I got here as fast as I could.”
“He can’t die,” Hud said.
“I know.” She kept her hand over his and didn’t try to fill the silence with anything else.
After a moment she said quietly, “I’m sorry I didn’t let you explain tonight. I was so hurt I just shut everything out.”
Hud turned his hand over and laced his fingers through hers. “I should have led with it the minute I walked through your door. I was too caught up in the case and then you were there and everything else went out of my head.” He looked at her. “I planned to tell you after tonight.”
“I know that now.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
He let out a slow breath. “I’m glad you’re here, Blair.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” she said quietly. “I’m here for as long as you need me, Hud.”
“You’d better be damn sure about that.”
Blair lifted her head from his shoulder. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll always need you. It just took me longer than it should have to see it.”
“Always is a big word.”
“I know what I’m saying.” He looked at her. “I’m in love with you, Blair. I know this isn’t the time or the place, but I needed you to know.”
She searched his face. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I know where it all comes from, the walls and the leaving and all of it. And I know you’re nothing like her.” He held her gaze. “I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me.”
Blair was quiet for a moment, then the corner of her mouth turned up. “Well. To use your words, you’d better be damn sure about that.”
It was the first time Hud had smiled since he’d arrived at that hospital. “More than you know, sweetheart.”
“I love you too.” She shook her head. “You stubborn cowboy.”
“I’m not going to argue about being stubborn. But you’re worse.”
“I have a temper.”
“No shit.”
He heard footsteps and looked up. Abbie was coming down the hall. He got to his feet.
She looked exhausted but her chin was up. “He’s out of surgery. Stable. He lost a lot of blood but they’re monitoring him closely.”
“Abbie, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t shoot him.” She said it firmly, like she’d already decided not to let him carry it. “He’s strong. He’ll come back from this.”
Hud pulled her into a hug and held on for a moment. When he stepped back he knew he had tears in his eyes, but he didn’t care. Creed was one of his best friends. “Yes he will.”
Abbie looked at Blair. “Take him home. Make sure he actually sleeps.”
“I will.” Blair touched her arm. “Call me if you need anything at all.”
“I promise.” Abbie hugged her, then turned and walked back toward Creed’s room.
Blair looked at Hud. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“Which home?”
“Mine. Tonight.”
He hesitated just long enough for her to notice, then nodded. “Alright. I want to stay a few more minutes.”
“Hud.” Her voice was gentle but firm. “There’s nothing you can do tonight. They won’t let you see him until tomorrow. Come back then.”
He looked down the hall toward where Abbie had gone, then back at Blair. “Yeah. You’re right.”
He took her hand and they walked to the elevator together. When the doors closed he leaned back against the wall and let out a long slow breath. He knew sleep wasn’t coming easy, not with Creed’s blood still in the creases of his knuckles and the whole night playing on a loop in his head.
But Blair was beside him. He’d make it through until morning. He was sure of that much.