Divine Charity(Divine Creek Ranch 18)(60)
Val was on the other side of the gurney, on one knee, holding the guy’s limp hand. “Hang in there, buddy. They’re taking good care of you.” He looked up at Ransome and the bleakness in his eyes told him what he really didn’t want to know.
Two city police officers came over, their eyes were bloodshot as they spoke with the EMTs who raised the gurney and moved swiftly to the waiting ambulance. One of the EMTs patted one of the officers on the shoulder as he took out his phone and placed a call.
With an aching heart, Ransome tugged Val’s shirt and they hurried back to the ambulance Charity was in. Knowing it was the right thing to do, Ransome said, “Justin, you ride with her to the hospital. We’ll bring the truck and find out what’s going on with Justine and Grace. I’ll call Beau on the way.”
“Okay,” Justin said as he climbed into the ambulance at the EMT’s nod. “When you see Justine, kiss her for me.” Left unspoken in his husky tone was the hope that when they got to her, she was okay.
“Val! Ransome!” Charity called out, stopping the EMT from closing the door.
“Yeah, angel?” Ransome called.
Charity said, “Justine’s prom dress and all of our shopping from this morning was in the back of the SUV. Please get as much of it out of there as you’re able. Grace had stuff in there, too.” She sounded like she was choked up. “I love you. If you see her, tell her I love her.”
Ransome’s throat closed up on him. Val nodded and said, “You got it, babe.”
The ambulance took off and Ransome couldn’t help the empty feeling that assailed him with their absence. Charity was a vital part of his life and he sent a prayer of thanks heavenward that she was mostly okay, if a little banged up.
They found Ethan talking to Hank while he continued directing the emergency workers as they dealt with the injured people in the other two vehicles and began working on clearing the street. After spotting Ransome and Val, Ethan approached with Adam, while Jack stayed with Grace.
Ethan said, “The driver of the truck was texting when the accident happened. Hank said they found his phone.”
“That explains why he looked so scared earlier.”
“Damn it,” Val growled.
Hank joined them and nodded. “This job is hard on days like today. Dumb-asses think their conversations can’t wait until they get where they’re going. If Patterson dies, that driver’s looking at reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter.”
Val’s face fell. “Patterson Elder? They had his head wrapped already when I walked over there so I wasn’t sure.”
“Yeah, Patterson Elder. He’s a city cop, and a damned good one, too.”
Ransome’s heart ached for Patterson’s family. “We know him. Met him several months ago on a ride with Eli and Justin. Nice guy. I thought I recognized his bike but I knew he was a cop so I didn’t want to say anything. No point in starting a rumor if it wasn’t him.”
Hank nodded, his shoulders drooping. “His father and brothers are going to be devastated. If anyone deserves a miracle, it’s them. I wish he’d been wearing his helmet.” He looked up at Val and Ransome, since they hovered over him by several inches and said, “I hope you both wear your helmets when you ride.”
“Every time, sir,” Ransome replied. “It sucks sometimes but I like my head on my shoulders more than I like the wind in my hair.”
Hank nodded when they told him they needed to retrieve all of the girls’ belongings from the SUV, which included a couple of handbags and numerous shopping bags and a gorgeous blue and gold dress wrapped up in a long plastic bag. It tugged at his heart that it was probably Justine’s prom dress. He prayed Justine would be able to wear it.
Val saw it and whistled. “Our girl’s gonna knock that boy’s socks off…but not his pants.” They shared a wry chuckle.
“Definitely not his pants.”
They placed everything in the truck with care and hurried on to the hospital. Val dialed Beau’s number while Ransome drove. Ransome listened to the one-sided conversation and after he hung up, Val told him that Beau and his friend Noah were stuck in the traffic backed up from the accident but were now turned around and heading toward the hospital.
“Good.”
“I could hear Noah in the background asking questions. He sounded worried.”
“Of course he did. Our girl’s perfect. He must know that.”
* * * *
“Trevor Dornan, you are a man fortune smiles upon,” he said to himself as he sat parked on the curb watching the drama unfold while snacking from a bag of pork rinds. He’d been about to take a detour around the accident after he’d seen it happen, before the traffic got snarled and clogged all the surrounding roadways. But then he’d had a brilliant thought.