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Authors: Jessica Matthews
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residents.
“I’ll get to him,” she said. “You look like you’re in worse shape than he is, so you get first dibs on my attention. Any dizziness or nausea?”
“Plenty of both. Including a granddaddy of a headache.”
“Dad was out of it for a few minutes,” Will reported. “Butsince he woke up, he hasn’t passed out again. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.” She pulled a penlight out of her pocket and flashed it in Clay’s eyes. His pupils reacted equally, which was encouraging, as were the rest of his vital signs. “Any other injuries?”
“A few bruises.”
“Any pains in your back? Arms or legs? Your neck?”
“No.”
“I’m going to put a collar on you as a precaution,” she said as she matched her words with action. As soon as the brace was situated to her satisfaction, she patted his shoulder. “You’re ready to go. When my partner comes back, we’ll escort you to the plane.”
“Fine by me.”
She turned to his son. “Do you mind hanging there for a few more minutes?”
“Nah, I don’t mind.”
“I’ll hurry,” she told him.
He nodded, but not before she glimpsed a light sheen of moisture on his upper lip. She narrowed her eyes. “Where does it hurt?”
“I’m fine,” he insisted.
She knew he wasn’t being truthful, but a quick visual didn’t give her any clues. She lowered her voice. “I know you’re in pain.”
“My right shoulder,” he muttered. “Just take care of my dad.”
Dana was impressed by the teen’s selfless attitude. Clay Ewing should be proud. “I will.”
The van creaked and shuddered once again as she helped Clay squeeze free. By the time he’d inched his way to the back with her assistance, Micky had returned.
“You’d better hurry,” Micky warned her as he held Clay’sarm while the man found his footing. “I’m not sure how long that rope or the post it’s tied to will hold.”
“Understood,” she said as she grabbed her kit and carried it inside the van.
“It’s just you and me, kid,” she told Will.
Will closed his eyes, as if the stress of hiding his injury from his father had taken its toll. “And Dad’s going to be all right?”
“I’m not a doctor, but he looks great, all things considered.” She gently ran her hands along his collarbone and felt the break. “In fact, I’d say he’s better off than you are. You won’t be able to hide this from him indefinitely, you know.”
“I know. I just didn’t want him to worry about me.” He paused. “Is the bone broken?”
“Afraid so.” She ran her hands down his arm to check both his brachial and radial pulses. “I’m going to immobilize your shoulder before I release the seat belt.”
“I’ll fall.”
“Not if we do things right.”
In spite of her reassurance, she knew that it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience for him. He’d feel any sudden or jarring movement. “Just relax while I get things ready,” she told him.
As soon as Micky returned, she’d call the hospital for permission to use a painkiller. In the meantime, she’d learn just exactly what goodies were packed in her kit so she’d know what she had to work with.
She pulled the drug box closer and ripped off the plastic tie threaded through the latch. As a lock, it left a lot to be desired, but she supposed it was better than nothing. At least it served to ensure that anyone who opened it would leave the evidence behind. Mentally she gave a point to Micky for ingenuity until she flipped the latch and raised the lid.
A gleaming black handgun lay on the top shelf.
CHAPTER FOUR
D ANA RECOILED . “What in the world—?”
“Something wrong?” Micky’s head and shoulders appeared in the opening at the back of the van.
She pinched the grip of the gun with two fingers and gingerly raised it. “Do people in Texas treat their accident victims, or shoot them?”
“Well, now,” he drawled, revealing an unrepentant grin. “That depends if they’re the two-or
“I’ll get to him,” she said. “You look like you’re in worse shape than he is, so you get first dibs on my attention. Any dizziness or nausea?”
“Plenty of both. Including a granddaddy of a headache.”
“Dad was out of it for a few minutes,” Will reported. “Butsince he woke up, he hasn’t passed out again. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.” She pulled a penlight out of her pocket and flashed it in Clay’s eyes. His pupils reacted equally, which was encouraging, as were the rest of his vital signs. “Any other injuries?”
“A few bruises.”
“Any pains in your back? Arms or legs? Your neck?”
“No.”
“I’m going to put a collar on you as a precaution,” she said as she matched her words with action. As soon as the brace was situated to her satisfaction, she patted his shoulder. “You’re ready to go. When my partner comes back, we’ll escort you to the plane.”
“Fine by me.”
She turned to his son. “Do you mind hanging there for a few more minutes?”
“Nah, I don’t mind.”
“I’ll hurry,” she told him.
He nodded, but not before she glimpsed a light sheen of moisture on his upper lip. She narrowed her eyes. “Where does it hurt?”
“I’m fine,” he insisted.
She knew he wasn’t being truthful, but a quick visual didn’t give her any clues. She lowered her voice. “I know you’re in pain.”
“My right shoulder,” he muttered. “Just take care of my dad.”
Dana was impressed by the teen’s selfless attitude. Clay Ewing should be proud. “I will.”
The van creaked and shuddered once again as she helped Clay squeeze free. By the time he’d inched his way to the back with her assistance, Micky had returned.
“You’d better hurry,” Micky warned her as he held Clay’sarm while the man found his footing. “I’m not sure how long that rope or the post it’s tied to will hold.”
“Understood,” she said as she grabbed her kit and carried it inside the van.
“It’s just you and me, kid,” she told Will.
Will closed his eyes, as if the stress of hiding his injury from his father had taken its toll. “And Dad’s going to be all right?”
“I’m not a doctor, but he looks great, all things considered.” She gently ran her hands along his collarbone and felt the break. “In fact, I’d say he’s better off than you are. You won’t be able to hide this from him indefinitely, you know.”
“I know. I just didn’t want him to worry about me.” He paused. “Is the bone broken?”
“Afraid so.” She ran her hands down his arm to check both his brachial and radial pulses. “I’m going to immobilize your shoulder before I release the seat belt.”
“I’ll fall.”
“Not if we do things right.”
In spite of her reassurance, she knew that it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience for him. He’d feel any sudden or jarring movement. “Just relax while I get things ready,” she told him.
As soon as Micky returned, she’d call the hospital for permission to use a painkiller. In the meantime, she’d learn just exactly what goodies were packed in her kit so she’d know what she had to work with.
She pulled the drug box closer and ripped off the plastic tie threaded through the latch. As a lock, it left a lot to be desired, but she supposed it was better than nothing. At least it served to ensure that anyone who opened it would leave the evidence behind. Mentally she gave a point to Micky for ingenuity until she flipped the latch and raised the lid.
A gleaming black handgun lay on the top shelf.
CHAPTER FOUR
D ANA RECOILED . “What in the world—?”
“Something wrong?” Micky’s head and shoulders appeared in the opening at the back of the van.
She pinched the grip of the gun with two fingers and gingerly raised it. “Do people in Texas treat their accident victims, or shoot them?”
“Well, now,” he drawled, revealing an unrepentant grin. “That depends if they’re the two-or
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