Read Online Tracks of Her Tears by Melinda Leigh - Free Book Online Page B

There were blankets and first aid supplies in the Jeep, but Seth wouldn’t be able to get Bruce out of the van. A fire crew would need to cut him out of the vehicle.
    He climbed back up the slope and burst out of the woods.
    Patsy’s eyes begged for information.
    “He’s unconscious. I can’t tell how badly he’s hurt, but he’s alive.” Seth turned to Carly, who was on the phone asking for assistance. “Tell them to bring hydraulics. He’s pinned.”
    He went back to the Jeep and opened the hatch. Carly relayed the information over the phone.
    Seth grabbed blankets. “What’s the ETA?”
    “Twenty minutes.” She handed the phone to her mother. “Let me come with you.”
    “You both need to stay here. It’s slippery, and the way the van is tilted, you’d never be able to get inside. I really need to focus on Bruce, not worry about you.” Seth hoped she understood. She didn’t like it when he was overprotective.
    “All right.” She nodded. “Be careful.”
    Seth skidded back down the slope and hoisted himself into the van. Bracing his weight on the crumpled dashboard, he attempted to assess Bruce’s condition. “Bruce.” He touched his face.
    “It’s Seth. We’re gonna get you out of here. Help is on the way.” A single groan was the only response. Seth shone the flashlight down, but much of Bruce’s body was concealed. “Can you talk to me?”
    Bruce moaned. “Can’t move.”
    “The paramedics will be here any minute. They’ll get you out of here.” Without any ability to free Bruce from the wreckage, the best Seth could do was wrap a blanket around his shoulders.
    “C-cold.” Bruce said. His eyelids fluttered. “I think my leg is broken.”
    Seth tucked a second blanket around Bruce’s upper body. “Just hang on a little while longer. The rescue crew is on the way.”
    But Bruce’s head lolled against the doorframe.
    “Bruce?” Seth slid his hands down Bruce’s shoulder and arm to his hand. He grasped it. “Squeeze my fingers.”
    There was no response. Did he not hear or was he unable to move? As the sound of a siren floated in the thin, cold air, Bruce’s breath rattled in his chest. Even though Bruce wasn’t responding, Seth kept hold of his hand. “Hold on, Bruce. They’re almost here.”

    In the hospital waiting room, Seth made a cup of coffee in the machine. In a row of chairs against the wall, Carly and her sister flanked Patsy, each clutching one of her hands.
    James entered the room. His eyes swept over the crowd. He pulled his hat off and walked to Seth. “No word?”
    Seth shook his head. “No.”
    “How was he when they brought him in?” James asked.
    “Unconscious.” Seth glanced at his wife. “He had a space blanket in the van and was aware enough to use it at some point.”
    “My dad taught us to carry emergency supplies at all times.” James sighed. “There are times I feel like he’s still with us.”
    “He left a pretty strong legacy,” Seth said. “Tonight it might have saved Bruce’s life.”
    Someone tapped him on the shoulder and Seth turned to see the other two members of Bruce’s band suited up in their winter wear.
    “Hey, man. We got your messages,” said Psych, the drummer.
    Seth steered them outside. “Did anything weird happen last night?”
    The bass player, Spencer, pushed his black cap back on his head. “Not that I noticed. We played. We got paid and left. The crowd was light. No one even threw any bottles at us last night, but then, men are usually more attentive when Amber Lynn sings with us—sang with us,” he corrected with a frown. “I still can’t believe she’s dead. She was awesome.”
    “What a voice.” Psych nodded solemnly.
    “Did anybody pay particular attention to her?” Seth asked.
    “As I said before, the crowd was pretty well behaved,” Spencer said.
    “Wait.” Psych slapped his friend on the shoulder. “On our last break, I went to take a leak and ran into Bruce standing guard at the