She nodded because she wasn’t sure she remembered how to speak. Somehow, she got to Georgey’s side. Clarence had rolled him over and a ring of blood was spreading across his chest like waves rippling in a pond. The big man was holding what looked like a balled-up t-shirt to Georgey’s shoulder.
Georgey’s face was creased with pain but he asked, “Who else was hit?” in the same voice he might have asked what was for dinner. “There were two shots, right? Did he get anyone else?”
“Why is everyone so calm?” Summer demanded. Georgey had been shot, for God’s sake! How could he even think of someone else at a time like this?
“Shit, Levi—you hit my tire! Where the hell am I going to get a new tire?” asked a pissed-off teenager.
“Better the tire than your leg,” Clarence noted helpfully. “Rebel?”
“She’s on her way to the Clinic.” If anything, Rebel sounded bored by this whole situation. “If you don’t need me, I’ll go with Circle to take Jeremy back.”
The little boy, his headdress barely hanging on his head, pushed up next to Summer to stare at Georgey. “You okay?”
“He’s fine,” Clarence said. “He’ll have a super-awesome scar, though.”
“Cool,” Jeremy said in awe even as tears clung to the ends of his eyelashes.
Circle knelt by Georgey’s head. “That was amazingly bad-ass,” she whispered before brushing a kiss over his lips.
“Why is everyone so calm?” Summer demanded again, the hysteria rising. Even the little kid was acting like this was no big deal! “He’s bleeding!”
“That’s our cue,” Clarence said and damn him, he said it calmly. “Summer, you come to this side and hold here.” With his chin, he pointed at the t-shirt. “I’ll pick him up and we’ll meet the doc at the clinic. He’s going to be fine.”
“Bad-ass scar,” Georgey said weakly.
Clarence lifted and Georgey went pale. Somehow Summer managed to keep the pressure on his shoulder without blacking out. “You’re okay,” she repeated over and over. She had no idea if she was trying to convince him or herself.
“I’ll call Jack,” she heard Tim say. “Can you get him to the jail without killing him?”
She didn’t know who he was talking to, but there was another little pop of electricity that she didn’t understand at all.
Levi screamed and said, “Don’t you dare leave me with this fucking sica! This is police brutality, man!”
“You shot a kid,” Tim said, disgust dripping off every word. “Nobody doesn’t like it when someone hurts a kid, does he?”
“Keep moving,” Clarence said and Summer had no choice but to follow him, tripping sideways over her feet as she struggled to keep up with Clarence’s huge strides.
“Georgey? You’re going to be fine,” she repeated. “You idiot. Why did you piss him off like that?”
“Was…waiting. For Tim. Made a promise,” he muttered, his skin ashen. Now that he wasn’t in front of Circle and his friends, he wasn’t bothering to put on a brave face. “Kept it.”
“What promise, sweetie?”
“Told Dad I’d keep an eye…” His head lolled against Clarence’s huge shoulder. “On you,” he finished and then his body went limp.
“Georgey?”
“He’s fine,” Clarence assured her. “Just passed out. Moving isn’t fun for him right now. Here’s my truck. You’ll have to ride with him in the back.”
Before Summer could protest, strong hands went around her waist and boosted her into the truck bed. “I’m here, babe. I’m right here.”
Tim. She cried with the relief of it all.
Things happened in a blur. Someone threw a blanket into the back of Clarence’s truck and she spread it out. Together, Clarence and Tim laid the unconscious Georgey out. Summer cradled her brother’s head in her lap while Tim put pressure on the wound, both front and back. They drove way too slowly for Summer’s taste, like there wasn’t a wounded teenager in the back of the truck, turning horrifying shades of gray even as the rags Tim held against his wounds turned bright red and then darker brown.
“You kept your promise,” Summer wept as she braced Georgey’s head from another bump. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep mine.”
“He’s not going to die,” Tim said. “Babe? Look at me.” Summer had no choice but to do as he ordered. “He’s going to be fine.”
She nodded. Clarence had said the same thing, hadn’t he? They wouldn’t lie about something life or death, would they?
“But,” Tim went on, sorrow in his eyes, “you’re leaving as soon as you can. And you’ll take Georgey with you. Just to be safe.”
He didn’t say because there might be gang retribution, but he didn’t have to. Summer understood. Levi was in deep with gangs. He might have even been the one who shot Tim in the bullet-proof vest at the gang fight all those weeks ago. Things might get messier and more dangerous before the day was out.
There would be no staying just one more day, no dragging things out. She would take Georgey to Minneapolis, to the safety of anonymity that came with living in the big city. Because that was the only way she could keep her promise to their father. Just like Georgey had kept his.
Which meant she would leave Tim. If not today, then tomorrow.
This was how things ended.
With a bang under the wide blue sky.
“I’m sorry, babe,” he whispered. “I wish you could stay.”
“I wish I could, too,” she wept. “I’m in love with you and right up until the guns and the blood, I’d felt like I’d finally found a place I could call home.” She made herself look at him, at the man who’d risked everything to keep her brother out of jail and out of a gang. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known, Tim Means. I just wish we had more time.”
She didn’t even ask him to come with her because she knew—he couldn’t leave this place or their people. Tim was as much a part of the White Sandy as the sun in the sky.
He stared at her with such longing it took her breath away. “So do I, babe.”
And she couldn’t even hold him right now because Georgey was between them, bleeding and wounded and her heart was breaking.
“Jesus, you two,” Georgey croaked.
Summer startled, which made him moan. “You’re awake!”
“Who can sleep with all this mushiness?” he mumbled. He was still ashen and his eyes were closed tight, but she thought she saw a hint of smile on his lips. “Ever hear of long distance?”
Summer’s head snapped up and her gaze collided with Tim’s.
“Just saying. Buncha idiots…” Georgey’s voice trailed off again and he relaxed in her arms.
Tim’s eyes were wide and Summer had to believe hope brightened them a little. They began to speak over each other. “I could get a better internet connection and hire Ezra full-time…”
“We could come out when Georgey has an extra day off for school?”
“…Stay here for Christmas—I could go there for Thanksgiving?”
“Idiots,” Georgey muttered. “Shoulda thought of that in the first place.”
“Hush,” Summer said. She wiped tears out of her eyes but these weren’t tears of panic. “Could this work?”
“For you?” Tim reached over and with the back of his hand—thankfully blood-free—he stroked her cheek. “I’ll make it work, Summer. Because home is wherever you are.”
Epilogue
Four years later...
“Nervous?”
Summer sighed as Tim’s arms encircled her waist, pulling her back against his chest. She never tired of the feel of his arms around her. God willing, she never would.
“Why would I be nervous? I’m not nervous. There’s nothing to be nervous about,” she said. Nervously.
“It’s just a graduation party,” Tim said, resting his chin on her shoulder. “You’ve been to graduation parties on the rez before.”
She had. For the last four years, she’d spent her summers on the White Sandy, t
utoring kids and watching Georgey relax in a way he never quite managed while living in Minneapolis.
“Correction—it’s Georgey’s graduation party. That’s huge.” It truly was. Considering Georgey had barely been able to read when she’d become part of his life, graduating from high school was a major accomplishment. Yes, he was almost twenty-one, but he’d made it through by sheer force of will.
And a lot of nagging from Summer. She wanted this moment to be perfect for him. In all honesty, she kind of wanted it to be perfect for herself. She wasn’t a part-time Indian anymore and, at least in her mind, this party marked the start of her living on the White Sandy—and with Tim Means—full time.
Which was a lot to ask of any one party, frankly. “I mean, his mom is coming, for heaven’s sake.”
Tim chuckled in her ear. God, she never got tired of the sound. “You’ve met Eileen before, babe.”
Summer turned her head to give the man she loved A Look. “Was that supposed to make me feel better? Because it’s not working.”
Not considering the last time Eileen Crow Dog had bothered to put in an appearance—at her own mother’s funeral two years ago—Tim had been forced to call in Ezra Johnson, his deputy, to arrest the woman.
At least Tim hadn’t arrested her himself. Score one for family harmony.
Still, Summer had agreed to include Eileen today for one simple reason. “It’s important to Georgey that she’s here. So she’ll be here.” He might never see his mother again and she wanted him to have one more good memory of the woman who’d tried to raise him. Even if she hadn’t succeeded.
“She’ll be on her best behavior.” Tim didn’t say or else but Summer heard it anyway.
She smiled to herself. Tim loved Georgey like…well, maybe not like a son. But like a brother, definitely. She and Tim both walked that line between sibling and parent. But at least they walked it together. That was the important part. “I’m glad I’m here,” she said, holding him tight.
“I’m glad you’re here, too. There’s no place else I’d want you to be.”
Was it her imagination or did Sheriff Tim Means sound nervous, too?
Surely not. The man wasn’t capable of anxiety. For four long years, he’d been her rock of stability as she’d shepherded Georgey into adulthood. Long video calls, longer drives, intense weekends together—through it all, Tim Means was unflappable.
No, she was just projecting her own anxiety onto him. She looked out across the community room she’d reserved for the party at Sinte Gliske Community College, checking to see if there was anything she’d missed. This was the first party she’d thrown herself and she wanted it to be just right.
Everything looked perfect. Two banners hung over a long table set with punch, snacks and five huge cakes decorated with enough icing to put the entire tribe into diabetic shock. One read, “Congrats H.S. Grad!” and the other, “GO ARMY.”
A table by the doorway was laden with store-bought blankets, towels and pillows, as well as baby blankets, hats, scarves and mittens Summer had started knitting for just this occasion four long years ago. Giveaways were an important part of any celebratory milestone out on the rez and she wanted to put her own touch on it.
Then Georgey walked into the room, his military dress clothes highlighting just how damn much he’d grown over the years. Summer’s breath caught at the sight of him. She hadn’t seen him in almost three months—Tim had been the one to pick Georgey up at the airport and drive him home to the rez. Since then, he’d kept out of sight.
Now she knew why. She wasn’t going to get through this without crying. “Oh, Georgey,” she said, blinking back the tears. “You look like...”
“A warrior,” Tim finished for her, pride in his voice. “Your dad would be proud, son.”
Georgey gave them a salute and Summer couldn’t take it anymore. She threw her arms around his chest and hugged her little brother.
Who was, of course, about eight inches taller than she was. He’d grown into his hands and feet and broadened both with regular meals and basic training.
One thing was clear—he was not her little brother. Not anymore.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice cracking. Maybe they should have had this little reunion in private, not right before the big event, so she could cry her happy tears and not worry about smudging her makeup.
“Geez, sis—don’t do that. It’s embarrassing,” he said, but he couldn’t even pull petulant off anymore. His voice was too deep and his eyes shone bright with unshed tears. Before she could scold him, he pulled her back into a fierce hug. “Missed you, Summer.”
“I missed you, too, Georgey. Sort of,” she added, just because she could. They laughed and that helped with the tears.
Living with Georgey for four years had been a challenge, even on the good days. She hadn’t been able to afford a bigger place and it hadn’t taken them long to learn each other’s irritating quirks.
But for all that, she’d loved having her brother with her. Her mother Linda had basically stopped speaking to her and, if Summer hadn’t had Georgey to focus on and Tim waiting for her, she might have crumbled in the face of such rejection.
But she’d had Georgey and Tim and, when she could make the trip out to the White Sandy, the rest of the tribe. Well, that part was at an end. She wasn’t going to spend another second making long-distance video calls or counting the days until the next weekend one of them could make the long drive.
Four long years of focusing on Georgey first were finally at an end. He’d flown through basic training with flying colors, thanks to Tim doing his best to prepare Georgey for military life. He was heading out for his first tour in a few days and then...
This was her home now. Tim was her home. True, he hadn’t asked her to marry him yet, but hell, that was just a piece of paper. She’d happily live in sin for the rest of her life if that’s what Tim wanted.
People began to trickle in—kids Georgey had gone to school with, families of littler kids he’d played soccer with at the Child Care Center, veterans who always, always turned out to honor another warrior. The whole tribe showed up, it seemed.
Shorty came with his younger sister and his mother. After Levi had been sent to prison, Shorty had come back to the rez, finished high school and had just completed his first year at Sinte Gliske. He had a job working cattle for Jacob Plenty Holes on the far side of the rez. Summer couldn’t be prouder of the kid.
Jeremy, the kid Georgey had saved at the pow wow, came with his entire family, which meant Georgey got hugged again. As far as Summer could tell, Jeremy’s mom cried and hugged Georgey every single time she saw him. Georgey shot Summer a desperate look as the woman clung to him, but all Summer did was laugh.
Circle came back from college at South Dakota State, where she’d gotten a scholarship after earning her GED. She spent her summers at the Child Care Center and had plans to become a special education teacher. Although no one said anything about it, Summer got the feeling she was waiting for Georgey. But was Georgey waiting for Circle? Summer didn’t know. He’d dated in Minneapolis, but nothing serious. Not like the way Circle walked up to him, her eyes wide, and certainly not like how Georgey pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard.
People kept coming. Rebel Runs Fast and Dr. Madeline Mitchell showed up with their daughter Kathleen who, at three, just sat in her father’s arms and watched the whole party with huge, soulful eyes while Madeline caught up with some of the older guests. Summer figured that, with Rebel and Madeline as parents, Kathleen was going to grow up to run the world.
Clarence and Tammy Thunder arrived next with their kids in tow—Mikey, now a cocky ten-year-old with a mind that still moved a mile a minute and Farrah, who announced to anyone sitting down that she was four and a half, going on five. Farrah was followed by Katie, who was just starting to walk, much to Flo Tall Tree’s delight. Then, tucked against one of Clarence’s shoulders was little Sean who, at three months old, was starting to smile
at everyone and everything.
Nobody and Melonie Bodine showed up, which made Summer smile. Jamie Bodine, now sixteen, gravitated to Georgey and within seconds, the two guys were deep in conversation while Circle sat on the ground, singing to the babies. Jamie might very well wind up in the military. Heaven knew the boy had been raised with a strict code of honor. The Bodine girls, as twins Susanna and Sophia were known because they were identical and no one—except for Nobody and, on good days, Melonie—could tell them apart, made straight for their cousin Kathleen. Within seconds, the trio of three-year-olds were in danger of upending the table of cake. Melonie got there first and saved the table while Nobody swooped up his daughters, smiling as they shrieked with glee.
Summer let the laughter and chatter wash over her. The men congregated around the punch and talked of old battles and old loves, as well as new ones. The women were by the cakes, keeping a close eye on the kids and talking about birthdays and anniversaries. The grandparents took over the chairs, laughing and singing and enjoying the heck out of having Georgey serve them cake in his dress clothes.
Eileen Crow Dog showed up late. She looked terrible—a lifetime of alcohol abuse was catching up to her, but at least she seemed sober today. Summer watched from a safe distance as Eileen hugged her son and patted his arm and even smiled at him. It was, hands down, the most maternal Summer had ever seen the woman act and Georgey beamed down at her.
There. Georgey had his moment. The party, as far as Summer was concerned, was a total success.
She sighed with happiness. This was what she’d missed growing up, but she wasn’t going to miss out on it ever again. These were her people but more than that, they were her family. They always had been, even when she hadn’t known it. Summer loved them all.
She’d resigned at the end of the last school year and left her apartment in Minneapolis behind. She’d officially moved in with Tim and, even though the front door still stuck, she loved actually living with the man. They cooked dinner together and turned everything they could into a date, even if it was just a grocery run. And when the weather was right, they headed out for the middle of nowhere and made love on the hood of the car.
The Sheriff (Men of the White Sandy Book 5) Page 17