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“That’s pretty much what we’re all thinking,” Annie said. “Nothing like this has ever happened up here in my lifetime. I’ll talk to you later.”
Rusty Pope heard the news from her sister-in-law, Rachel, and made a frantic call to Cameron.
Cameron had taken Ghost for a walk in the woodsan hour earlier and was on his way back home when his cell phone rang. When he saw Rusty’s name come up on caller ID, he smiled.
“Hey, darlin’. Were you worried? We’re almost home.”
“No, no, it’s not that,” Rusty said. “Rachel just called. Someone shot Charlie Raines. Betty found him unconscious at Big Falls. He’s in surgery now. Rachel said it’s touch and go.”
The words sent a chill up Cameron’s spine. “Shot him? He’s just a kid! What the hell is going on up here now?”
“This is one of those times when I’m sorry I’m no longer in law enforcement. I don’t know where we can help most,” Rusty muttered.
“We’ll figure it out. I’ll be home in about ten minutes. See you soon,” he said.
Ray Raines was pale and tight-lipped, trying not to cry. Betty was doing enough for them both. Family kept coming into the waiting room in silence, giving them a hug or a pat on the shoulder, then sitting down to wait, and the families continued to gather in the waiting room until they’d run out of chairs and people were sitting on the floor. But it was the silence of that many people in one small space that was most telling. There was nothing to say that could make this nightmare better, but they wouldn’t let Ray and Betty bear this nightmare alone.
And then two hours later, Charlie’s surgeon walked into the waiting room, did a double-take at the number of people present, then gazed around at the faces.
“Is anyone here for Charlie Raines?”
Ray stood, keeping his hand on Betty’s shoulder.
“Ray and Betty Raines. We’re his parents. Everyone else is family. Say what you have to say to all of us.”
The surgeon nodded. “He’s in recovery. The bullet hit his clavicle and ricocheted down, breaking two ribs. It just missed his heart. He’s lost a lot of blood and will be in critical care for at least the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours so we can monitor him closely.”
“When can we see him?” Betty asked.
“Critical care is on the fourth floor. There is a waiting room there as well. The visiting hours are posted but, for now, parents only. You can check in at the nursing station to let them know you’re there. I will follow up on him off and on throughout the night, but his family doctor will be the doctor of record throughout the rest of his time here in the hospital.” The surgeon paused. “Do you have any questions?”
Ray shook his head. “No questions. Just our undying gratitude for saving Charlie’s life.”
The surgeon nodded, shook their hands, and then left the room.
As the family began to leave, Annie went straight to Ray and Betty.
“Shirley sends her love and prayers. She also said to tell you that she and Sean will get your chickens fed and put up for the night, and feed the barn cats. And they’ll tend to them tomorrow morning, too, so you don’t need to fret about your livestock.”
“Oh my God. I hadn’t even thought about all that,” Ray said. “Give her our thanks.”
“I will. You two try and get a little rest when you can. I’ll bring breakfast for you early in the morning when I come to open the bakery.”
Betty was crying with relief, just knowing Charlie made it through surgery.
“Thank you, Auntie. Thank you for always being there,” she said.
Annie hugged them both, and left with tears in her eyes, praying all the way home that Charlie would heal.
It was late by the time Aaron got back to the station. The chief had gone home. The night shift was on duty. The kid he’d arrested for shoplifting was no longer in lockup. He wondered how much money it had taken the man’s father to pay off the Cherokee Trading Post to get them to drop the charges. It was the only way the kid would have been released that fast. But Aaron had bigger issues to worry about besides a spoiled rich kid burning bridges at such a young life. He clocked out, swung by a drive-through to get some food and drinksfor Ray and Betty, then went straight to the hospital to check on Charlie.
Ray and Betty had the ringers turned off on their phones and were letting messages go to voicemail. There was nothing new to tell, and they couldn’t even look at each other without bursting into tears.
It was getting dark. Betty felt like she should be home cooking supper, not sitting here like this, waiting to see if her son lived through the night.
Ray’s mind was in free fall He kept trying to think of who he’d pissed off, or if Charlie had a run-in with a friend and they hadn’t known about it. Was it someone they knew? Or was it a stranger?
And then Aaron Pope walked into the room carrying two to-go sacks and a drink carrier, and set it down on the table beside them.
