AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She couldn’t believe how in control she felt. She’d faced her worst fears, seeing the man she loved shot because of her, unconscious and bloody, and she’d helped take care of him and focused on her faith and love to get her through.
The ambulance and police arrived quickly. Esther stood back as they loaded Reed up and started an IV. She saw his eyes flutter open, and he glanced around. “Esther,” he called out.
“I’m here, sweetheart.” She hurried back to his side and wrapped her hand around his.
He looked at her hand and then back at her face. He smiled. “I love you.”
“Oh, Reed.” Her heart threatened to burst with love for him. Before she could tell him she loved him too, his eyes closed again and his breathing evened out.
The paramedics were busy shuttling Reed to the ambulance. She followed, and one of them smiled at her. “You can ride with us.”
“Thank you.” She waited while they loaded the ambulance and then climbed in.
Reed didn’t wake again on the long ride to Aspen. Apparently Lonepeak’s medical center was small and Reed was stable enough to handle the forty-five-minute ride to the larger city. The “stable” prognosis was a very good one.
They reached the hospital and Esther watched them unload Reed and start to wheel him away.
“Esther,” she heard him croak out.
She rushed to keep up with the stretcher. “I’m here, sweetie,” she told him, trying to reach for him, but they were moving fast.
“I love you,” he said.
The paramedics laughed.
“I think he needs to hear it back,” the one who’d told her she could ride with them said.
Esther looked down at Reed’s handsome face as she jogged to keep up and he was rolled into the emergency room. His eyes were closed again. She wanted to tell him she loved him, but not until he was lucid and they were alone.
They rolled him into an exam room and a nurse kindly escorted her to the waiting area. She paced and chewed on her nails and prayed and paced some more. Thor, Colt, Greer, and her dad were all there watching her and offering her drinks, snacks, and hugs. Well, Greer never offered more than a side squeeze, but he smiled kindly at her.
Papa, Reed’s mom and stepdad, her mom, Maddie, her uncle and aunt, Bailey, Shelly, Klein, Alivia, Jessie, and then Reed’s two younger brothers all arrived. Everyone was hugging, asking for the story, listening to Thor embellish and make everyone laugh. Esther tried to participate and laugh, but she was ready to see Reed awake and healthy and finally, finally tell him she loved him. Then she had to share her past and figure out their future together.
A man in surgeon scrubs came through the emergency room doors. He looked around at the crowd. “Who is the closest of kin to Sheriff Reed Peterson?” he asked.
Reed’s mom, Heather, stepped forward, her husband close to her side. Esther couldn’t even remember Reed’s stepdad’s name. She hadn’t been around when they’d gotten married, and her brain was overwrought right now. She wanted to claim she was the love of Reed’s life and step forward with his mom, but sadly she didn’t have medical power of attorney or any kind of legal document backing up her claim.
“I am,” Heather said. “But everyone here is kin. You can tell us all what you need to say.”
Esther appreciated that. She was amazed and grateful at how steady she felt despite the angst of wanting to be with Reed and know he was all right and see for herself that he would fully recover. Even with Reed not by her side, he strengthened her with his love and devotion to her. He had never given up on her, even when she’d pushed him away. Ah, she loved him. Now to tell him that and kiss him without her dad watching on the cameras.
The doctor nodded. “He’s stable.”
A collective breath whooshed out. Esther leaned to the side and found Papa right there, slipping his arm around her and holding her up with an understanding smile.
“The surgery went well. The bullet passed through the oblique muscle but didn’t damage any internal organs. We believe the contusion on the back of his head is to blame for him passing out and his repetitive dialogue, not the blood loss. He should wake from sedation soon and then we’ll know if he has a concussion.”
Several people murmured, “Thank you,” and “Thanks, Doc.”
He nodded his welcome. “Why don’t you come with me, Mom and Dad, and the nurse will take you to the recovery room. They’ll have him in there soon.”
Heather gave everyone a nod and said, “Thanks for being here.”
Esther forced a smile at her. There was no other place she’d rather be.
His mom and stepdad followed the doctor. The rest of the group started talking again and then slowly one or two said the rounds of goodbyes and headed out. Colt reassured her he and Bailey would pack up her and Reed’s stuff from the cabin and get it back home for them. She gave each person a hug.
Within the hour, it was down to Esther, her parents, Papa, Thor and Shelly, and Reed’s brothers.
