Chapter 35 Second Guessing Was Useless
SECOND GUESSING WAS USELESS
Ford fought through the drug-induced haze, managing to crack one eye open only to squeeze it shut again when the light pierced through, sharp and unforgiving.
Where was he?
Why did he feel as if he couldn’t lift his head?
“Come on, Ford. Don’t play possum.”
Was that Blaze? What the hell was his brother doing next to him while he slept?
Then it hit him full force like a truck slamming through a paper fence.
Reenie!
He’d knocked on the door with Clay. Much against his brother’s wishes, but he was calling the shots on this.
The minute Randy Frontage opened the door, Reenie screamed and came running out of the back room.
He saw the blood smeared down her arm, the bruise on her head, and a man yanking her close. Clay took down Randy, Ford drew his gun and sprinted toward Reenie, who was fighting the man off with everything she had, knowing his brother had his back.
He fired to disarm at the same time Clay fired to execute.
The second man came stumbling into the room as he was trying to get to Reenie. Ford took a bullet to the thigh, then dropped and covered her with his body. Before he hit the floor or could fire a second round, Clay delivered a bullet in the guy’s forehead.
He remembered his brother saying it was a good thing the guy was a bad shot, and he now realized the shot wasn’t intended for him. Reenie had been the target.
“Ford, open your eyes.”
This time it was Reenie’s soft voice calling to him.
Not as strong sounding as Blaze’s but more forceful for him to comply.
They flickered open and all he saw was a halo around the head of the woman he loved.
“Are we dead?”
There was laughter this time. Not just one male but two.
“Do you think I’d let you die?”
“Or me?”
He turned his head and saw two of his brothers. Blaze said the first statement, Clay the second.
“I feel like horse shit smashed on the road,” Ford said.
“This is your first time being knocked out. It’s common.” Blaze grabbed a can of something and opened it, then popped a straw in it. “Drink this slowly.”
“I can do it myself,” he said, reaching for it, appalled at how much his hand was shaking.
Reenie got it and held it instead.
“Do you remember anything?” Clay asked.
“Yeah. I got shot when the guy tried to shoot Reenie.”
“Me?” she asked.
“The guy had shitty aim,” Clay said. “And Ford went in front of you.”
She started crying. He didn’t want that. “Hey, come here. We are all safe. It’s over with. Right?”
He was looking at Clay. “It is. Randy is in custody. He pulled a gun, but you were too busy running for Reenie to see it, but I had him out. The other two are in the morgue.”
“Christ,” he said. He didn’t want the body count on his brother’s conscience. “Thanks.”
“What about me?” Blaze asked. “I saved your life too.”
“You got a bullet out of my thigh. Thanks.”
“Your femoral artery was hit. You were losing blood fast and that’s why you passed out.”
“You’re welcome again,” Clay said, walking over and giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Jesus, I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“Maybe in a few years,” Clay said. “Seriously, how are you feeling?”
“Like I was shot and stitched up. I’m all right though?” he asked Blaze.
“You will be. Going to keep you here a few days just to be safe. Can’t risk you bleeding again. You’ll be on crutches for a bit. Out of work four to eight weeks. Depends on if you follow orders and just sit at your desk or not.”
“I’ll do what I’m told,” he said, his head hitting the pillow again. He was weak just holding it up.
“Since when?” Reenie asked. “Do you want some more?”
She held the straw to his lips and he took a sip.
“I listen to you.”
“Not me,” Clay said. “My plan would have been better and saved everyone from getting hurt.”
“You don’t know that,” Ford said. His brother had wanted to go in through a back window and find Reenie, get her out and then take the three guys unaware by himself. Not happening.
She was his responsibility, his love. He was saving her.
All they had planned to do was knock on the door and look around, get an idea of who was there and say there was a complaint in the area, nothing more.
If Reenie hadn’t come screaming out of the room, maybe it would have worked easier for them to return with backup once they knew what they were dealing with.
But since everyone was safe now, second-guessing was useless.
“Mom and Dad want to come see you,” Blaze said. “We are getting a room ready for you to transfer to. I’ll be here until midnight and check in on you anyway.”
“Can I stay with him?” Reenie asked.
“We’ll get something brought in for you,” Blaze said.
His eyes dropped to the bandage on her arm. “What happened? Do you remember anything?”
“Someone from your department already took my statement,” she said.
“I want to hear it,” he said. “Do you know?” He was looking at Clay.
His brother nodded. “She should tell you. You’ll be proud. I know I am.”
Reenie twisted quickly, winced once, but still said, “You are?”
“Yeah,” Clay said softly. “You did good. We’ll give you guys a few minutes before Mom and Dad come in.”
Blaze and Clay left. “Tell me what you told everyone else.”
“I feel like such a fool,” she said, sniffling.
“I should have been paying more attention, but I thought I’d be okay in town.
I was around other people, I had your truck, people were waving to me.
They know who I am. But that happened too.
Randy said they’d been in town for days and watching me.
They’d been to the cafe. Not Randy but Bobby and Lyle.
I didn’t recognize them. Someone in town told them who I was and where I worked when they asked around. ”
“Couldn’t have been anyone that knew we were dating or that would have been added.”
She shook her head. “They said they hadn’t known where I was living so they’d been watching the orchards for me to leave, assuming the truck was mine, then they followed me. Clay said you found me because of the necklace.”
Her fingers went to the gold heart. “Yeah. He’s always one step ahead. I owe him big time.”
“Me too,” she said. “Guess he does like me, in a way.”
“He does,” Ford said, lifting his palm, waiting for her to put hers in it. She didn’t hesitate. “Don’t think otherwise. Clay doesn’t compliment people much. I’m so proud of you for fighting back. I knew you had it in you.”
A tear traveled down her cheek. “I almost didn’t. I froze when they grabbed me in the alley between buildings. He had a knife and he stuck me.”
“You were stabbed?” He was reaching for her shirt, but her hand was rubbing his arm.
“Just a little one in the side. Blaze glued it closed. It was a warning to not draw attention. We got close to your truck going to his van and I thought if I could just sound the alarm on it I could run, but it wasn’t close enough.
I lost my chance. When we got to his van, though, I knew if I didn’t fight, I might die.
I started to kick and stomp my feet, but I wasn’t hitting more than air. Then they knocked me out.”
“Who did?” If it was Randy, he’d go down and beat the shit out of the guy himself in lockup.
“Bobby. Randy was the one who cut me. For me to think about where the pills were hidden. I didn’t know. I told them that, but I also put doubt in his head, saying it was Oliver who took them. Must have been enough because he left me alone after I was cut.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I should have done a better job protecting you. It’s my fault.”
“No,” she said. “It’s not. Don’t think that for one minute. No one is to blame.”
“You got free,” he said. He saw the rope burns on her wrist. He remembered it hanging on one hand when he raced toward her.
“I used the knife. I told myself I could do this. I cut it just enough to have it break free when I could catch them off guard. I stabbed Lyle. Am I going to get in trouble for that?”
“Fuck no,” he said. “Good for you.”
“I reacted. I lunged and got him in the side. Then Bobby grabbed me and I did everything that you taught me. I’ve got a concussion, not sure if it’s from them hitting me or me hitting Bobby with the back of my head.”
“That’s my girl,” he said. “I need to hug you for your heroism.”
Her smile was wobbly. She leaned down to kiss him, then climbed on the bed and under his arm.
“I was so worried I’d never see you again.” She was weeping. “I didn’t want you to think that I took off.”
“Never.”
“Then I thought you’d never know how much I love you,” she said.
“How much do you?” he asked, his hand tracing the side of her face.
“Why do I hear humor in your voice?”
“No humor,” he said. “Just happiness because I love you too.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“Ford,” his mother said, rushing in. “Blaze said you’re all good, but I needed to see for myself. My boys. I can’t stand this. All of you make me nervous.”
Reenie tried to get off the bed, but he held her there, just hitting the button to sit up better.
“I’ll be okay. Thinking clearer now.”
“Reenie, honey,” his mother said. “Blaze said you’ve got fifteen stitches in your arm too. I’m going to need you to stay home and take care of Ford for a bit. No arguing with me about work. You need to rest too.”
“Don’t even try,” he said, squeezing her side. “I mean it. She won’t listen and I will need some help.”
“I’ll be there to take care of you,” she said. “Just as well as you’ve taken care of me. I promise.”
His mother put a bag down. “I’ve got some clothes for you, Reenie. Blaze told me they’d get you a room to stay here. I hope you don’t mind I grabbed them.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I can’t wait to burn the ones I’ve got on.”
“We stopped at Ford’s and got him some clothes too,” his father said. “I know there is no way you want to be in a hospital gown any more than me.”
“I hope it’s shorts,” he said.
“Of course it is,” his mother said. “Once they get you in a room, the nurses can help get you dressed.”
“I can get myself dressed.”
Good lord, he wasn’t incapable of something that simple.
He wanted to fight to be released, but the truth was, he wanted Reenie looked over too, and if she stayed here with him, then they’d both feel more comfortable.
“No arguing,” she said, poking her finger lightly into his side, then cuddled in some more.
When she yawned, he said, “Close your eyes and nap.”
“What time is it?” she asked. “I didn’t even know how long I was gone.”
“It’s six now,” his mother said.
“At noon I noticed you’d been gone about three hours and had heard nothing,” Ford said. “I panicked and called Clay. You didn’t answer your phone so I checked your location and my radar went up.”
“I know how you found me,” she said. “But I’m not sure where I was. Bobby knocked me out, and they didn’t tell me how long I was unconscious.”
“You were about thirty minutes outside of Lake George. My guess is you weren’t out long. I had to find you on camera to see who you might be with. We found the rental van and who rented it. All we knew was Randy was involved but not how many people.”
Randy had rented the vehicle. The object of showing up was to try for a head count.
“Oh,” she said, sitting up. “Officer Stiles. He’s their dealer. Randy had to come after me because Stiles needed the pills back. From what I could put together, someone was onto him stealing them from work and he was being watched. They had to be returned rather than sold.”
“That makes more sense,” Ford said. “I’ll have someone reach out to Gainesville Police and let them know everything.”
“Clay took care of it,” his father said.
“What?”
“Well, you deputized him and since he was there, he and some of your other men made the call.”
Ford nodded his head and yawned.
“You need your rest,” his mother said. “Your father and I will be back in a bit, but I wanted to see you for myself.”
“Can’t trust Blaze, can you?” he asked, trying to smirk.
“I trust all my children,” Brooke said. “But a mother always worries. Reenie, do you need help changing?”
She swung her legs over the side. “No, I can do it. Thanks.”
When his parents left, Reenie got the bag and opened it. “Do you want me to help you get some clothes on?”
“Please,” he said. “You don’t mind helping me?”
He realized he was free balling it under the gown. He was more embarrassed over that than the fact his mother was in his underwear drawer.
Reenie undid the gown in the back, pushed it off his shoulders, then helped him get a T-shirt over his head.
His leg was in a brace keeping it straight, so she slid his underwear and shorts over it and he could get the rest on himself.
“Feel better?”
“At least more decent.”
“What are you doing?” a nurse asked, marching in.
“Getting clothes on. I need to use the bathroom. Are there crutches around here?”
“Wheelchair,” the nurse said. She pulled it from the corner. “We’ll get you in it and there. They should have a room ready within an hour for you. Having pull gets the job done faster.”
He wasn’t sure if it meant him being the sheriff or his brother being an ER doctor.
Probably Blaze.
After he used the bathroom, they wheeled him back to bed.
“I think we need a nap,” he said to Reenie.
“I’ll nap if you do,” she said. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“You’re never going to, right?”
“Never,” she said, climbing in next to him again.
The minute she was next to his side, her eyes shut, his doing the same.
She’d be safe as long as she was with him.