Chapter 14
The first thing he felt was a deep pain in his shoulder that spread down his arm. Hugh squinted as he moved, trying to ease the discomfort, but it didn’t work. Fluttering his eyes open, ready to give hell to whomever was causing the ache, he saw a bright light. Am I dead? No. If I were, I wouldn’t feel any pain.
He opened his eyes fully and he saw the faces of Weston, Roman, Penn, and Urban surrounding him. They smiled. “His ugly mug is awake,” one of them said, followed by nervous laughter.
“Nothing can keep a Jericho down,” another said.
“You boys behave yourselves. No irritating him until he’s recovered and can defend himself or you’ll have us women to contend with.”
Hugh recognized Sammie’s voice as she stepped up next to her husband, wagging her finger at him in reprisal.
“Hell, he knows we love him,” Weston muttered.
“You had me scared, Hugh. I would have strangled you if you would have died,” Pippa said. By her red-rimmed eyes, he could tell she had been crying.
“That makes two of us,” Harley added.
“Say something,” Presley patted his hand. “How do you feel?”
“Wh-what happened? Was I shot?” His mouth was so dry and he was so damn thirsty he could barely talk.
“In the shoulder. You’ll be fine,” Penn said. “Bullet went straight through.”
The fuzziness was finally starting to lift from his mind. “Where’s Adira? Is she okay?” He tried sitting up but was held down by a number of hands.
“Hold your horses, bro.” Roman shook his head. “You’re hooked up to a lot of machines. No moving for you.”
“Where is she?” He needed to see her.
“Let’s leave them alone,” Pippa said, corralling everyone toward the door.
He felt a soft touch on his arm and turned his cheek, finding Adira standing at his bandaged shoulder. “I would have elbowed my way through them to see you, but it wasn’t happening.”
“I know. They’re a lot to contend with.”
“They love you. I’ve never seen so many concerned people in one spot in all my life. Your brothers were ready to wring Joe Peterson’s neck while your sisters-in-law made sure the nurses treated you like a king.”
He started to open his mouth, but then it came to him…a dead man can’t have his neck wrung. “Joe? He’s alive?”
She tugged a tendril of hair behind her ear and nodded. “You shot him in the stomach, but it didn’t hit anything vital. The doctor let us know he made it through surgery all right.”
“I didn’t want to kill him.”
“I don’t think he wanted to kill you either. While he and I were alone in the house, he told me he wasn’t the prison kind of man and he’d force your hand.”
She grasped his hands and he lightly squeezed. “How about you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now that you’re awake.”
“Sandra?”
“She’s okay too. She’s down the hall with Joe. Carol is sitting outside watching his room.”
“I don’t know what I would have done if that bastard would have hurt you,” Hugh grumbled.
“I’m not defending him, but in those last few minutes, when he thought he wouldn’t be leaving his farm alive, he decided to empty his heart, and past, onto the table. His dad ruled like a tyrant and was abusive, not only to Joe’s mom, but to him as well. A man doesn’t carry those demons unless he had them placed there by something or someone. I hope he can get the help he needs. I learned something though. Nothing that I’ve been through is worth missing happiness. Sometimes a person must walk through hell to get to heaven.”
“Are you saying…?”
“I love you.”
“You’re not just saying this because you thought I was dying, are you?”
“I knew how I felt before today. I can’t say that I won’t have to face my demons, because I will, but I must forgive myself. I didn’t make anyone mistreat me.”
“I will help you. You can trust me.”
She swiped at the wetness on her cheek. “Guess who stopped by?”
“The reaper,” he joked.
“That’s not funny. Judge Marley. He told me you’d spoke to him about my sentence. He lifted my community service and told me I was free to go.”
Hugh’s heart hammered against his ribcage. He didn’t want her to go, but he also couldn’t force her to stay. She had to be happy, wherever that took her, or what part of the world she landed. “Are you leaving?” Although she said she loved him, he needed to hear the words.
“That all depends on what one man has to say.” Her blue eyes glistened.
“What man is that? And what does he need to say?” He lifted a brow.
“I’ve fallen in love and if he feels the same way, and feels he’s up to dealing with my baggage, then I think my stay will be permanent. I think a man who can gets shot and lives to tell about it can certainly take me on.”
“Speaking for this guy, he will gladly take you on. He has fallen head over heels and promises to love, cherish, and protect you until his last dying breath. You see, this man you’re referring to has baggage also. He’s never allowed anyone close, therefore he might need guidance in communication and picking up his dirty socks from the floor. And I have word that he wants to give you his heart, tell you each day how special you are and procreate—lots and lots of procreation. Can you handle that, babe?”
She bent and kissed him on the lips. “Tell him that I’m all in. Forever.”
A clearing of throat made both look around to the door. The nurse was smiling. “I need to check vitals.”
Adira scooted back. “Sorry.”
“No apology needed. I wish every person who had been shot looked this good after.”
Hugh laughed. “Nurse Jane, when can I go home?”
“That’s up to the doc, but I’m sure he won’t keep you too long.”
“Good thing. I plan to take a few days off and I don’t want to spend them in here.”