“Yes, I was alerted that there was one man who was shot in the shoulder.”
Grace called out as the medic came to look at her. “I don’t need a doctor. I need to know how my son and daughter are doing.”
“We’ll get you to the hospital, Grace,” the sheriff exclaimed. He had known her for decades. Her love for herfamily was absolute and everyone in their small town who had visited her diner knew it.
“Mike, can you pack the baby a bag?” she asked him, putting on her shoes and grabbing her purse.
“Yes, ma’am.” He left the room and made quick work of getting the baby’s things together. After spending so much time with the little guy, he’d been well aware of all the things he needed and liked.
“Ma’am…Grace. We need you to ride in the ambulance. Don’t fight us on this. Your injury is worse than you believe it is.”
“Fine, but only Mike is allowed to take Ethan.”
“I’ll make sure to lock up after they leave,” Bill said.
“Oh, and the power company will be by sometime tonight to fix the downed pole,” the sheriff added.
“Where is it at?” James asked.
“About a mile off the beaten track. The storm didn’t take it out. Someone else did.”
“Hey, don’t forget that the real Ms. Rhoades is at Cummings’s apartment.”
“She is?” the sheriff asked.
“Yes. Okay. I’ll send a couple of officers over there to retrieve her.”
Ten minutes later, Mike carried the baby to the car, strapped him in the seat, and then drove off toward the hospital. The officers waited for the coroner to retrieve the body and to take Mrs. Sparks in custody. They put out a warrant for Dallas Sparks’s arrest and the questioning of Grieg and Moran, who had seemingly disappeared.
Chapter Twelve
An hour after the minor surgery to his leg, Gage was wheeled in to see Hope in the ICU. Tears fell from his face as he prayed that she’d survive. Nothing was more important than her return to him. His chest burned as he held her hand, praying and begging. “Hope, you have to wake up for me. I can’t lose you.” He gripped her hand and squeezed it as he cried. Never in his life had he felt so helpless and lost. Without her, he didn’t know if he could go on.
“Gage. Gage.” Her voice was so weak it could barely be heard above the sound of the machines. That had been the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard.
“Hope. You’re awake,” he choked out. He reached down and buzzed the nurse.
“She’s awake.” His voice practically sang, catching the nurse off guard. Two nurses and the doctor on call came into the room and started looking her over.
“Hope, Mrs. Gibson, can you hear us?”
She nodded gently, her eyes drooping again. “Do you know where you are?” Again, she nodded, but she didn’t speak.
“So far, she’s improving.” They checked her vitals and smiled. “We need to take this slowly. We’re going to let her rest for now. You need to do so as well, Mr. Gibson.”
Gage shook his head, glaring at the physician. “Not going to happen. I’m not leaving her.” She was out cold and he couldn’t leave her unprotected, alone, and afraid. He leaned heavily onto her bed without touching her.
“We can put another bed in here if you’d like,” the nurse offered.
“That’s fine.” He grabbed Hope’s hand again and she moaned his name.
“I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.” The doctor and nurses watched in amazement because her vitals improved with his voice and touch.
After watching the scene before them the hospital staff decided to give them some privacy. “We’ll back in a little while with the bed and equipment. Your leg should be up,” the doctor scolded him before he left the room.
As he watched Hope, thoughts of getting even with everyone who hurt her ran through his head.
“Gage…what happened?” Hope looked up at him through blurry eyes. He had a large white bandage on his forehead.