Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
His words hurt, but the thought of losing Jesse hurts worse. Ignoring Aaron’s tirade, I grab some paper towels and do my best to make bandages to apply to the wounds. Maybe if I stop the bleeding, it’ll buy me some time to fish out the pellets or bullets or whatever’s inside of him. Then I’ll find something to sew him up with.
Heavy footsteps rush into the diner. I’m relieved Kellen has returned, but then I hear other voices. Not Dan’s or Hope’s or Hailey’s. Strangers.
Voices bark out commands that I’m unable to make sense of. All I can do is try my best to help my brother. When someone grabs hold of me and drags me away, I start screaming and throwing punches.
“Dude, chill,” a guy grunts against my ear. “Let Vince get your boy to Dr. B.”
Dr. B?
I fall slack in his arms, hoping against all hope that this is a friend, not an enemy. My eyes land on Kellen’s and he’s nodding emphatically. These newcomers seem prepped for such situations because they bring in a stretcher—like one you see EMTs pushing.
They expertly load Jesse onto the stretcher and then manhandle the apparatus over broken glass and debris in the diner.
“I’m Owen,” the guy behind me says. “The doc’s people will get your boy to the hospital. Dr. B is the real deal.”
Another guy with white hair and kind eyes helps Aaron to his feet. “I’m Owen’s dad, Richard. If it weren’t for you guys, we would’ve never caught that piece of shit.”
“Who?” Aaron croaks out. “The guy who shot my brother and killed Wayne?”
Richard nods. “His name’s Holt. Was with the Goodland group but then lost his damn mind. We knew he was likely hiding out here in this little town, but he was able to evade us. Well, until you guys showed up and made him blow his cover.”
“The prick kidnapped my little sister. That’s why we’ve been hunting him,” Owen growls. “And if he did more than kidnap her, he’s going to wish we’d shot him when we caught him.”
“He’s still alive?” Aaron hisses. “He killed my best friend!”
“And he will be punished severely,” Richard says, nodding emphatically. “Now come on. You guys can hitch a ride with us back to Goodland.”
Apprehension washes over me at having to be at the mercy of another group, but they have my brother with them and they have a doctor. We have no choice but to trust them.
By the time we make it outside, we find the rest of our group talking to one of the women in the Goodland group. We don’t speak much as we all find places in the various vehicles. I’m split from Kellen and end up sharing a small sedan with Aaron in the back seat and two balding guys up front. As we drive off, I see a woman helping a young, visibly shaken girl about my age into a big truck where Owen is already at the wheel.
I sure as hell hope these people are safe.
Jesse’s life is in their hands.
The trip by car to the town of Goodland goes by in a quick blur. Exhaustion and hunger take a break as despair and fear over my brother’s life take over.
I can’t lose him.
I can’t lose Jesse.
A sob chokes my throat, but I manage to swallow it down. Aaron openly cries, unashamed. His pain just pours out of him while I try desperately to keep mine from escaping.
We drive past a guarded checkpoint that reminds me of St. George. The curious guards watch us through the windows as we pass. One of them gives us a nod, but I’m unable to return the gesture.
Not long after we enter the small town and turn down a few streets, the driver of our vehicle whips into the parking lot of a medical facility. It’s not quite the hospital I imagined, but it’s something. A helluva lot more than what we had without these strangers’ help.
Before he gets the car stopped, me and Aaron are already out of it, rushing to the front doors of the building. A woman in blue scrubs stops us with raised hands.
“Hey now, slow your roll. Only authorized personnel allowed inside.”
The driver of our car plants a kiss on her face. “It’s okay, babe. They’re with the kid who was just brought in. We owe it to these people for us nabbing Holt.”
“And Deedee? Carl, where’s Deedee? She still alive?”
“Dee’s safe, Karen. She’s with her pops and brother now.”
Karen lets out a rush of breath. “Thank the Lord. Okay, come on, you two. I’ll take you to a waiting area.”
“I want to see Jesse,” I blurt out. “Please.”
Karen nods. “I know, but Dr. B is strict about her operating room. Just know your brother’s in safe, capable hands. If anyone can help him, it’s Dr. B. She’s a surgeon from Denver who happened to be here visiting her sister when all the terrible things started happening. We’re lucky to have her.”