Katherine held her breath. Ollie didn’t seem to be in distress, but there was no telling what could be wrong.
When Cody finally got to Ollie, a bit of relief loosened the tightness in her chest.
Cody cradled Ollie in his arms and trudged back up the hill.
Ollie clung to Cody, burying his face in Cody’s neck. His leg hung at an awkward angle.
It didn’t take a nursing degree to know something was seriously injured. Something that she couldn’t fix at home.
Cody’s mouth was set in a firm line, his face a mask of determination. He reached the top of the hill and kept on walking. “He needs a doctor. We should take him to the emergency room.”
Panic swirled in her belly, but she called on all her training to stay calm. “Is it your foot or your leg?” she asked as she stayed in step beside Cody.
“I don’t know,” Ollie said between sniffles.
“Looks like his ankle, but I could be wrong. Nothing we can’t fix, right buddy?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I know I was supposed to stay on the trail, but Bailey ran after something, and I didn’t want her to get lost. I held on real tight to the leash but then tripped and fell down the hill.”
“It was an accident, honey. Just like the water,” Katherine said. “Now we’ll work together to fix it.”
He responded with a pitiful cry. Guilt gnawed at her. This was a lot more serious than an overturned dog dish. Her son wasinjured and she couldn’t fix him, which meant leaving their safe space.
She just prayed that getting Ollie the help he needed didn’t lead them straight into more danger.
The feelof Ollie’s little body in his arms was imprinted in Cody’s brain.
But now his arms were empty as he stood outside the room where the doctor examined Ollie.
He wanted to be in there. Holding his hand. Supporting Katherine. But it wasn’t his place, and she hadn’t asked. Better to stand guard and make sure no one lurked in the hallway, waiting to attack.
Heavy footsteps pounded on the linoleum floor, drawing his attention down the hall. A trio of pissed-off Wells men marched his way, Mike leading the pack.
Cody braced himself for impact.
“Where the hell’s my grandson?” Mike barked.
“In the room, being examined.”
Mike made a move to shove past Cody, and he took a step to block the door.
“Boy,” Mike snapped out the word. “I suggest you get out of my way.”
“And I suggest you take a seat in the waiting room until the doctor’s finished and Katherine’s ready for you come in.”
Owen took a step forward. “Excuse me?”
Unintimidated, Cody lifted his chin. “Ollie’s scared and his leg hurts like a bitch. Katherine’s struggling to keep a brave face. The last thing either of them need is the three of you gettingthem upset. Give them a minute. Let her know you’re here, and when she wants you to come in, she’ll tell you.”
Tommy rested a hand on Owen’s shoulder. “Dude, calm down. Cody makes sense. Katherine would be pissed if we just barged in there while the doctor was seeing to Ollie. Text her, give her a heads up we’re here, and just relax. Both of you.”
Appreciation relaxed Cody’s rigid stance a fraction. At least he had one of them on his side.
Mike huffed out an irritated breath. “Well at least tell us what happened. All Katherine said in her text was Ollie might have broken his leg. You were supposed to keep them safe.”
“We went on a hike. Ollie fell. It could have happened to anyone.” He’d repeated the same thing to himself a thousand times, but he still didn’t completely believe it.
Maybe it’d been a mistake for Katherine to stay with him. If she’d gone to her father’s, Ollie would be laughing and playing, not sitting in a hospital room with a possibly broken leg.
