Page 60 of Colton’s Inferno

Voices came from the top of the hill. Aiden stepped away from the truck in time to see two EMTs coming down the hill. “Frank,” he called out. “Carol. Over here.”

The paramedics both carried med kits. Frank had a folding stretcher, and Carol held a back brace.

“I heard you were supposed to be at home for two weeks,” said Frank.

“I was in the neighborhood,” said Aiden, “and knew I could get here quick.”

“We can take over from here,” said Carol.

Stepping away from the truck, he made room for the EMTs. “I’ll be up at the top of the hill. Yell if you need me.”

“Will do,” Frank said but he didn’t turn around. He was already examining Rusty.

Aiden started climbing the hill. Lucy stood on the road and looked down.

“How is he?” she asked.

“He’s in good hands now,” he said. “I found a pulse. His breathing sounds normal. Then again, I don’t have a stethoscope. Carol and Frank will get him stable and to the hospital.”

He stepped onto the dirt lane. His fingers itched with the need to touch her. But he wouldn’t reach out to her without an invitation.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, he asked, “How are you holding up?”

“Is he going to make it?”

“Your grandfather is a strong man. He’s determined. It’ll take more than a fender bender to take him down.”

“You think so?” she asked.

In reality, the situation was complex. He had no idea what—if anything—had caused the wreck. And he didn’t know what injuries her grandfather had sustained during the crash. But he sensed that what Lucy needed most of all was reassurance. “Your grandpa will be fine.”

“Coming through,” yelled Carol.

He turned in time to see the two EMTs carrying a stretcher between them. Aiden stepped to the left. Lucy moved to the right. The gurney split them in the middle.

“We’re going to Red Grove University Hospital,” said Frank.

“I’ll take Lucy,” said Aiden. “We can meet you there.”

The EMTs hustled to the waiting ambulance.

It was a cruel joke that less than an hour earlier, Aiden had only wanted to spend the day with Lucy. Now, he was going to get his chance. But this was not what he imagined.

Lucy sat in the waiting room of Red Grove University Hospital. It was the same place her grandfather had waited for her after the fire. Aiden had been with her the whole time. Honestly, she had mixed feelings about his company.

He was the chief of surgery’s son. His future brother-in-law was in charge of the emergency department. And what’s more, Ryan Palmer was one of the doctors on shift. It meant that Lucy was given frequent updates. For now, her grandfather was stable. He’d had blood drawn and several scans had been completed. Now, they were waiting for results.

The problem with Aiden staying with her was this: if it weren’t for him, Rusty would never have gotten into the accident in the first place. His presence was little more than a reminder that she never should have left the ranch.

Dr. Palmer entered the waiting room. He took a seat next to Lucy. “I need to talk to you about your grandfather. We can go someplace private, if you like.”

Tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked several times. Lucy scanned the area. There were only a few other people in the waiting room, and they were too far away to overhear anything that was said. Besides, she wasn’t sure she had the strength to walk to another room, especially if she was about to hear the worst. “Here is fine.”

Aiden sat in a seat on the other side of Lucy. He shifted toward her. His thigh brushed against her knee. Despite it all, her leg warmed with his touch.

“I’ll start with the good news. Your grandfather is still in stable condition, and I don’t expect that to change.” He exhaled. “Here’s the bad news. We have all his test results. According to the X-rays, Rusty cracked two of his ribs. It doesn’t look like he punctured a lung, so that’s more good news, but until the bone heals, a secondary injury is possible.”

So far, nothing sounded terrible. “Okay,” she said.