by Linda Warren
Doug walked off down the hall.
Everett was shaking so much he had to sit down. Gayle rubbed his forearm and he tried to calm down. Chloe stirred again and then raised her head, her eyes sleepy.
“Grandpa.” She held out her arms and he took her, holding on for dear life.
The James family didn’t say anything. They looked bewildered at his outburst, but then maybe they understood. Walton’s son was suffering because of Doug’s thoughtlessness.
Walton turned to Levi. “Was Ethan in pain?”
“I’m not gonna lie, Walt.” Levi shifted uneasily and Everett thought that was probably something the man rarely did. “Yes, he was in pain, but they gave him something immediately.”
“How bad is he burned?”
“I don’t know. There was so much soot, ashes and mud on him I couldn’t tell.”
“Mud?” Walt frowned. “Where did the mud come from?”
Levi shook his head. “I don’t have a clue. We’ll have to wait for answers.”
The detective glanced at his watch. “I hope the doctor comes out soon. I have to get back to Austin, but I’m not going anywhere until I know Ethan’s condition.”
The two lawmen took seats and the room became quiet. Doug came back, but he didn’t say anything either. Finally, a man in a white coat came out. Everett handed a sleeping Chloe to Gayle.
“I’m Doctor Giles Grayson,” he said.
Walton stepped forward. “I’m Ethan James’s father and—” he pointed to the girl “—this is his daughter, Kelsey.”
They shook hands and Everett introduced himself. “I’m Abby’s father and—” he waved toward his family “—that’s Abby’s daughter, Chloe, my wife, Gayle, and Abby’s ex, Douglas Bauman.”
The doctor nodded. “Nice to meet everyone.”
“How are our kids?” Everett asked.
“Right now they’re in critical condition. Ms. Bauman more so than Mr. James. She slipped into a coma, but we were able to bring her out of it. She’s stabilized for now.”
“Oh, no,” Everett moaned.
Gayle jumped up, handed Chloe to Doug and was by his side. “Stay calm.”
“Our main goal is to keep them stabilized,” the doctor went on. “They’re both severely dehydrated and suffering from smoke inhalation.”
“And the burns?” Walton asked.
“Their bodies are covered with so much mud and crude it’s hard to tell. We’ll work through the night removing it as gently as possible. Our main objective is to remove the mud without removing skin so we can establish the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. It will be a long and painstaking process. By morning we should know the extent and depth of their burns and we will treat them accordingly.”
“Thank you, Doc,” Walton said. “I know you’re doing your best. If Ethan wakes up, you tell him I’m taking care of his daughter and she’s fine. Tell him not to worry.”
“I will.”
Levi moved closer to the doctor. “Did Ethan say how they got the mud on them?”
“I had to ask Mr. James that to be sure of what we were dealing with. He said they happened upon a natural spring that was drying up, but it was still trickling with water. They were able to drink from it by lying on the ground. It ran down some rocks and had made a small muddy pool. When they became aware of the fire, they ran back to the mud and dug a big hole with their hands. They lay facedown in the hole, and he covered Ms. Bauman with the mud and then he covered himself. It probably saved them from being burned alive.”
No one said anything as once again they grappled with what Abby and Ethan had been through. And how they still had a long road ahead of them.
“It would be best if everyone got some rest. There are a lot of motels on I-35. In the morning we’ll have more news.”
“Which motel is the closest?” Walton wanted to know.
“Quality Inn is about a half a mile away and they have a small restaurant.”
“That’ll work.” Walton nodded. “We’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
“Good deal. Leave your phone numbers at the desk in case anything changes during the night.” The doctor walked away.
Walton held out his hand and Everett shook it. He felt the calluses that denoted a life of hard work. “Keep positive thoughts and we’ll see y’all in the morning.”
“You, too, Walton.”
“Call me Walt. Everyone does.”
“Good night, Walt.”
Levi gave cell numbers at the nurse’s desk and the James family left. Everett couldn’t help but think they were good, hardworking people, the kind you’d want as your neighbors and your friends.
“Everett, I’ll check and see if I can find a hotel.” Gayle browsed the internet on her phone.
“I’m going to the Quality Inn. If it’s good enough for the James family, it’s good enough for me.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“Everett...”
She stopped complaining as Doug walked up. “Do you mind taking Chloe? I’d like to stay here in case Abby needs me during the night.”
“Well, Doug, that would be a first.”
“I’m sorry, Everett. I know I screwed up. I screwed up bad.”
His remorseful tone got to Everett. “Yes, you did, and I don’t have the energy to keep blaming you. My top priority is Abby and Chloe.”
“Mine, too.”
“Of course I’ll take Chloe.” He scooped the child out of Doug’s arms.
“I have her suitcase in my car.”
“I’ll follow you out.”
They started down the hall and Everett remembered his wife. “Are you coming with us or you getting a hotel room?”
“I’m coming with you.” Her heels made an angry tapping sound on the floor. “I have your medication.”
“Oh, I’d forgotten about that.”
“You forget a lot of things, Everett.”
“But I never forget you’re my wife.”
She fell in step beside him. “Sometimes it feels like it.”
Same old problem. Same old complaint. But Everett wasn’t stressing about it. That was the difference. He’d asked for a miracle and he’d gotten one. His daughter was alive.
* * *
WALT AND KELSEY walked behind Levi and Henry to the truck. The night was dark now except for the moon that hung high in the sky. It had been a long day, and it wasn’t over yet. But he knew where his son was, and that would make sleeping a little easier tonight, if he slept at all.
“He was worried about me,” Kelsey said beside him.
“You mean Ethan?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“He’s been worried since he found out about you two years ago.”
“I didn’t know. I didn’t think he cared.”
“Well, now.” He held one hand high in the air as they walked. “To Ethan, you’re way up here.” He put his other hand down low. “The rest of the world is down here.”
“Really?”
“You bet.” If anything good came out of this tragedy, it was that Kelsey was seeing her father in a whole new light.
“Grandpa.”
“Hmm?”
“I didn’t bring my stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“You know...my pads.”
“Oh...oh, we’ll stop and pick up some.”
“But I don’t want them to know.” She flung a hand toward Levi and Henry. “It’s embarrassing.”
“Don’t worry. Grandpa will take care of it.” He felt sure he should have said something about how her developing feminine body wasn’t something to be embarrassed about, but his grandparenting skills only went so far. He’d leave th
e rest up to Ethan.
Levi found a Walmart and Walt and Kelsey went in to shop. Henry complained, but that was Henry and no one paid him much attention.
They found the pads and then Kelsey wanted to know if she could buy some jeans. Being a new grandpa, he couldn’t refuse. Once she got started shopping, she picked out jeans, a sparkly top, panties and shorty pajamas. Then they bought toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant for everyone.
Walt wound up getting a shirt, underwear and pajamas for himself. He felt Kelsey wasn’t going to want to sleep in a room by herself, and he was right. She didn’t want to leave his side so he got a room with double beds, as did Levi and Henry.
He let her have the bathroom first and he thought she’d be asleep when he came out, but she was wide-awake, sitting on her bed.
He pulled back the sheet. “Time for some shut-eye.”
She crawled into bed and he turned out the light. So much had happened today and sleep would not come easy. Tomorrow would be stressful as they’d learn how badly Ethan and Ms. Bauman were burned. But Ethan was strong and they’d get through it no matter what.
Kelsey twisted and turned in her bed. She was worried just like he was. “What’s wrong, Kel?”
“I can’t sleep. I keep seeing him burned...”
He reached to flick on the lamp. “Do you know how to pray?”
“No.”
He sat on the side of the bed and patted the spot beside him. “Come here.”
She scrambled to sit beside him.
“Fold your hands.”
She did as he requested.
“I’m not much of a praying man, but your grandma, God rest her soul, was. Since your dad went missing, though, I’ve been praying a lot. Repeat after me.”
“Okay.”
He folded his hands. “Dear Lord, thank You for saving my boy.”
“Dear Lord—” she repeated “—thank You for saving...my dad.”
Thank You, Lord, he said to himself.
“Please watch over him and help his wounds to heal. Please grant me strength for tomorrow. Your faithful servant, Walton James.”
She repeated every word until the end where she added Kelsey James. Up until now, she’d gone by her mother’s maiden name even though James was on her birth certificate. Another step forward.
“Does prayer work, Grandpa?”
“Your grandma said it did and I believe.”
“Then I believe, too.”
“Good. Do you think you can sleep now?”
“Yeah.” She stood, but didn’t move. She looked at him. “Can I hug you?”
He swallowed. “You betcha.” He enfolded her in his arms and felt as if he was hugging the most precious thing on earth. And he was—his granddaughter.
She hopped into her bed. “Good night, Grandpa.”
“Good night, child.”
Walt stared up at the dark ceiling. Lordy, Lord. What a lesson. A man was never too old to learn, to accept and to love. He was beginning to like black-and-purple hair.
Now Ethan had to see his child as Walt was seeing her. And Walt prayed it wasn’t too late.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WALT AND THE crew arrived back at the burn unit before seven. Kelsey got up when he called her though she was a little sleepy-eyed.
Levi let the lady at the desk know they were back and then went to get everyone coffee. They’d already had some with breakfast, but they needed more to get through the morning.
Everett and his family soon came in and he and Everett shook hands. “Hope y’all had a good night’s rest,” Walt said.
“We rested. That’s about all I can say.” Everett took a seat, the little girl in his lap. She was wide-awake, clutching a doll and peering at everyone cautiously. She was a cutie—big blue eyes and blond curls. Probably favored her mom, but her dad was a blond, too.
Almost on cue, the man strolled in looking as fresh as a daisy. Everett frowned at him.
“Did you go to a hotel, Doug?”
“I left about one. The nurse said Abby would be out for the rest of the night.”
“We were told that earlier.”
“I wanted to be sure.”
“Mmm.” There was a lot more simmering under Everett’s cool demeanor, but being a gentleman he kept it to himself.
Walt sensed a lot of tension in that family. The wife, he’d forgotten her name, was frosty as the north wind, in control and about as friendly as a rattlesnake. But Everett was a nice enough fella and he wouldn’t mind having a beer with him one day.
The little girl slid off Everett’s lap and walked to Kelsey. “My name’s Chloe. What’s yours?”
“Go away, twerp.”
Walt almost choked on his coffee. Good heavens, that child was going to be the death of him. He leaned forward. “Her name is Kelsey and she’s glad to meet you.”
“What’s a twerp?” Chloe wanted to know.
“An annoying kid,” Kelsey spat at her.
“Chloe, come back to Grandpa.”
Chloe trailed back to Everett, her eyes on Kelsey.
“That was a big disappointment,” Walt said to Kelsey.
“I didn’t want to talk to her.”
“Now no one wants to talk to you, including me.”
Kelsey hung her head. Walt wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be okay and she didn’t need to be defiant to hide her pain. But that was one of those things his granddaughter had to learn on her own.
Walt noticed Chloe didn’t go to her father, but stayed with Everett. He found that odd, but then Everett had said his daughter was divorced so maybe Chloe didn’t see her father much. Before Everett could stop her, Chloe dashed over to Kelsey again.
“My mommy is sick and Grandpa said your daddy is sick, too.”
“Yeah,” Kelsey mumbled, not raising her head.
“Wanna hold my dolly?” Chloe persisted. “That makes me feel better.”
“No,” Kelsey mumbled again, but this time with much more force.
“Can I hold your dolly?” Walt asked. “I’d like to feel better.”
“’Kay.” Chloe handed him the doll and he cradled it in his arms. Kelsey shot him a sharp glance.
“Give it to her.” Chloe pointed to Kelsey and Walt placed the doll in her lap.
After a moment Kelsey thrust the doll back at Chloe. “I don’t play with dolls.”
“Why not?”
“I’m too old.”
“How old are you?”
“Twelve.”
“Oh.”
“Go away, twerp.”
Chloe’s eye narrowed. “You’re a twerp.”
The feisty response startled his granddaughter and Walt thought Chloe probably got her spunk from her mother. The dad seemed rather self-absorbed, texting on his phone and unaware of what his daughter was doing.
“You’re a baby,” Kelsey came back.
“That’s my doll’s name.” Chloe smiled. “Wanna hold her?”
Kelsey groaned and buried her face in her hands.
Before anyone could intervene, Dr. Grayson entered the room with a nurse by his side. Everyone immediately got to their feet. He signed something in a chart for the nurse and put his pen in his pocket.
“Good morning,” he said. “I hope everyone got some rest.”
“We tried,” Walt replied. “How’s my son and Ms. Bauman?”
“I’m happy to say they’re much better this morning. If anyone was praying for a miracle they got one.”
“What do you mean?” Everett asked.
Kelsey moved closer to Walt and he patted her shoulder.
“We treat a lot of burns here, mostly soldiers, and when we see so
meone who appears to be as charred as Mr. James and Ms. Bauman, we know the outcome is not good. I fully expected that when we removed the mud, soot and ash from their bodies their skin would come off with it, leaving third-degree burns or worse.”
“But it didn’t.” Walt was holding his breath.
“No. Once the debris was removed the epidermis was red and intact. What your son and daughter have now is pretty much a bad sunburn.”
A collective gasp sounded around the room.
The doctor looked at Everett. “In your daughter’s case, it’s first-degree and she should heal in a few days.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank God!” Everett and his wife hugged.
“What about my son?” Walt asked.
“Mr. James has first- and second-degree burns and will be in some pain for a few days. His back and calves received the worst burns. Seems he didn’t tell me the whole story. Ms. Bauman said he covered her body with his and received the brunt of the fire.”
Walt shook his head. “That’s my crazy boy.”
“In my opinion, the ground was wet and the fire jumped over them or we would be dealing with something entirely different. The severe heat caused the burns, not the actual fire. As I said, they got a miracle.”
“Do you mean I can take my daughter home?” Everett seemed almost afraid to ask the question.
“Not for a few days. I’m still concerned about the loss of oxygen and Ms. Bauman will be undergoing tests as well as taking breathing treatments and more lung X-rays because of the smoke inhalation. She’s very weak and asking for her daughter and her father. I will allow a short visit to reassure her. Don’t ask questions or pressure her. I would advise, though, that afterward you go home and let her recuperate. Someone constantly in her room will only be stressful for her.”
“My daughter is alive and not burned. I’m so grateful I’ll do anything you say.” Everett shook the man’s hand vigorously.
The doctor turned to Walt. “Mr. James is asking for his daughter so I’ll allow you and the girl to see him for a few minutes. Same thing I told Mr. Baines—just reassure him. I’ve only known your son a few hours, but I have a feeling we won’t be able to keep him here long.”