Page 80 of Sheriff's City Girl

“Emma?” a voice called from behind me. It was meek and tired, but I recognized it.

“Hi, Lucas,” I greeted Mason’s best friend, who was standing a few feet away. “I don’t know anything yet. He’s still in surgery.”

“Okay,” he said with a nod, taking a seat in a chair two seats over from me. “I’m just gonna hang around, if that’s okay.”

“Of course,” I said, giving him a soft smile. “I’m sure he’d want you here.”

“Nah, this is all my fault.” Lucas shook his head, his voice thickening with emotion. “All of this,” he paused, meeting my gaze with cloudy eyes. “It’s because of my ranch. I put Mason in this situation. He was so damn determined to save it, and it could’ve gotten you hurt, too, Emma. It kills me. I’m so sorry.”

I swallowed the new lump in my throat. “Lucas, it’s not your fault. We never could’ve known that all this would happen over land. It’s… It’s insane.”

He nodded. “Graham Hudson was a dangerous man, but I don’t think that’s some secret. Apparently, the Rangers have been tracking him for some time.”

I opened my mouth to say something just as a man in a white coat emerged from the doorway, a grim expression on his face.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Emma

“He made it through the surgery,” Dr. Hernon said to us, though his lips remained in a straight line. “But he’s not out of the woods yet. It’s going to be a long road to recovery. He’ll remain in ICU for now. His blood pressure has been alarmingly low.”

I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and concern, all at the same time. “Thank you.”

“One visitor is allowed at a time in the room,” Dr. Hernon continued. “I’ll hopefully have more answers for you in a couple of hours. He’s heavily sedated right now, but he should be awake soon. I can have a nurse come retrieve you once he’s moved to his room.”

“Thank you,” Lucas said, his deep voice cracking. “We’ll wait for the nurse.”

I echoed a thanks as Dr. Hernon disappeared back through the doors. “He’s going to be okay,” I added, turning to Lucas. I placed my hand on his forearm, leaning into the hope that was glimmering in my chest again. “He made it through the surgery.”

“Yeah, he’s a tough son of a gun,” Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. “And I think you’ve been really good for him, Emma. He hasn’t had anyone to lean on in so long—not in a romantic sense, anyway. He deserves a nice woman like you.”

“Yeah, thanks,” I choked out, emotions swelling up in my chest all over again. I stood, rocking back and forth as I waited for the nurse to show up, guiding us to see Mason.

“Oh my god, Emma… Lucas,” Lily exclaimed, her voice like a ray of light in the darkness. I turned around to see my best friend rushing toward me, her arms extended. I let her embrace me, and I leaned into her, breaking into tears all over again.

Jess was just a few steps behind her, and she wrapped her arms around the both of us, along with Dara, too. We all stood there, embracing each other for a few long moments.

“He made it through surgery,” I told them, turning to look at a bleary-eyed Jess. “Your dad is going to be fine.”

She nodded, wiping the tears from her face. “I can’t believe this happened.”

“Your dad saved my life. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if he hadn’t come to my rescue.” My voice wavered as I spoke, and it took everything I had not to break down all over again. However, now that Jess was here, I needed to be strong for her.

“I can’t believe Graham is such a bad guy,” Lily added, shaking her head with an incredulous look on her face. “And this whole time the Rangers have been watching him.”

“Yeah,” Jess’s voice was nearly inaudible. “And Cody said he had no idea.”

My heart sank at the realization. I had completely forgotten about the tie that Jess had to Graham—beyond just the mess with the ranch. Oh, poor girl. I reached for her and pulled her into a tight hug, holding her.

“Are y’all here for Sheriff Hewitt?” a voice cut in, and I turned to see the nurse standing there, a sympathetic smile on her face. We all nodded, and I held my breath, hoping that she was just there to lead us back to the room—and not to drop any bad news. “He’s still not awake,” she continued, holding a chart in her hand. “But he is in his ICU room now, so I can take you to that area.”

We fell in step as she led the way, and my heart thudded heavily in my chest as that same image came back—Mason losing all the color in his face. I had thought in that moment we had for sure lost him, but they’d brought him back…

And I had never cried so hard.

Lily grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze as we made it to the ICU waiting area, which was dotted with people. I took a moment to observe those there, noting a woman around my age, seated in the corner. Her eyes were downcast to her hands folded in her lap, her eyes shut. I wasn’t sure if she was sleeping or praying, but both were things that I needed to do.

“So, one visitor at a time in his room,” the nurse, a young woman in her mid-twenties with blonde hair, said to us. “I can lead the first person back?”

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