Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Dylan took care of the horses while the others were in the house. He fed and watered them and made sure they were all comfortable, thinking how crazy it was that all these Carters were in his house.
An ambulance came, lights flashing, and the paramedics rushed inside.
He kept his distance and watched them taking Bella away, her hand now being held protectively by Logan.
Maeve on her other side consulting with the ambulance crew.
The brothers, all still in their club kit of white trousers and blue shirt, followed them out with Willow.
The air was tense with concern, faces were grave.
Dylan found himself hoping that that little baby would be all right. Part of a new generation of Carters.
The paramedics slammed the doors to the ambulance. There was some discussion between Noah, Brodie, and Willow about what they would do now. Then, to his surprise, he saw Noah come jogging over.
As he got near, he gestured to where the horses were grazing and said, “We’re going to go to the hospital, would it be all right if?—”
Dylan nodded. “They can stay as long as you need.”
Noah gave a tight smile, his face drawn with stress. “Thanks, I appreciate it.” He paused before adding, “We all do.”
“It’s not a problem,” Dylan replied, surprised by how much the words meant. “I hope everything works out.”
“Me, too,” Noah said with a solemn nod of agreement then ran back to his sister and brother who were on their phones, sorting out logistics.
Dylan didn’t want to intrude. He watched Brodie shout something and then go around and get in the driver’s seat of Bella’s car. Noah climbed in as well and they sped away. Behind them, the sky had started to cloud over, thick swathes of white cutting in front of the sun.
Willow looked over to Dylan and seemed torn between coming to see him and getting in her car. He could see from that distance that she’d been crying.
He started walking in her direction. “You go,” he called. “You do whatever you need to do.”
She nodded, clearly trying to stop her lips trembling. He wanted suddenly to run over to her, offer to drive her to the hospital, be by her side. But he stayed a distance away knowing that this was about their family. She gave him a sad, simple wave before getting in her car and driving away.
Suddenly, the yard was empty and Dylan was alone.
All the flurry of activity and emotion gone.
It was back to just being him and that house and the horses.
Graying sky closing over the mountain. He stood alone halfway between the paddock and the driveway, half wishing everyone back.
Thought for the first time how silent his life was.
Elvis came padding over, having hidden away from all the chaos in the house.
It made Dylan wonder if maybe that was what he did. Hid himself away from the emotions of everyday. He felt a tightness in his chest when he thought about Bella and that baby, the pale fear on Logan’s face, the helpless concern.
He had chosen to step away from moments such as those. Not consciously, but he had, nonetheless. Now, when faced with the alternative his life felt surprisingly small.
He walked back to the horses, Elvis at his heels, wishing for a moment that he was in that car with Willow heading to the hospital.