Page 38 of Engaging with Her Enemy

Neither could Cameron. “Where are you hit?” His hands felt around. When they touched Hudson's arm, Hudson hissed and jerked away.

“Let me see.”

“It's fine. The bullet exited.”

“You can at least sit down.” Cameron shoved him on his good shoulder as the paramedics came in, tending to Barry first. Hudson perched on the edge of the desk, keeping his shoulder away from Cameron’s pokey fingers.

Hudson overheard the paramedics’ conversation. Broken nose. Missing a few teeth. Broken jaw. Cameron pointed at Barry. “Did you do that with only your fists? I found the gun near the door.”

The accusation in Cameron's voice spiked Hudson’s temper. “The S.O.B. shot me when I tried to take the gun from him. So, I punched him a few times.”

“I get it. You might have gotten in a little more than just a few punches.” Cameron motioned for one of the paramedics to come over. “He was the one shot.”

The paramedic glanced back at Barry. “Oh. We need to see to him first, sir.”

Becky burst into the room, her gaze swung wildly around the room, past the paramedics blocking her view of Barry, and latched onto him.

They widened.

He planted his feet to rise, to take her out of the trailer before she saw Barry, but Cameron’s firm hand on Hudson’s shoulder kept him in place.

“Damn it, Becky. Dewey told you not to come.” Cameron sighed. “You need to leave.”

“Yeah, right. I haven't listened to you or Dewey since you told me that eating cauliflower would make my boobs grow.” She stepped over Barry's feet as if she didn’t even see him. Panic and anger flared in her eyes as she scanned down Hudson’s shirt, taking in the blood.

Hudson managed a smile. The pain in his arm was still a tolerable pulsating throb. That throb had moved, though, from his arm to his entire body. The steady thump of his heartbeat pounded harder than usual in his good arm, both legs, and his temples. But he wouldn’t let Becky know.

“Is that why you ate so much cauliflower in seventh grade?” Hudson asked. If only he could get her to smile and not worry about him. To leave and not see him hurt. It was one thing to tell her about being in the hospital with his leg, another to see him

Cameron reached out and patted Becky on the shoulder. “I guess Hudson should be thanking me now for all my worldly advice.”

She punched Cameron in the arm, hard enough that his friend flinched from the contact. “He's bleeding to death, and you're making sex jokes. Real mature.”

“I'm not bleeding to death. He got me once on the outside of my arm.” He shifted, keeping her from seeing the wound straight on or letting on that his fingers felt a little numb. And wet.

It was superficial, and the bleeding should stop soon.

Her eyes focused on his collared shirt. “But...”

“Barry's.”

She started to turn to look back, but he stopped her, cupping her chin harder than he usually would and bringing her face to his. “Don't. Please.” He didn't want her looking at what he'd caused. Barry’s face was a bloodied mess. He’d lost control, something he wasn’t proud of.

Her hand touched his knee as she stepped closer to the desk where he sat. The contact soothed and settled him in a way that nothing else had before.

Her forehead leaned against his. “God, you scared me,” she whispered. Her hands trembled as they lay on his thighs.

“Baby—”

“Rebecca Gallagher. You're under arrest.” Dewey walked in, handcuffs in his hand as he began to read her the Miranda Rights. He’d heard Dewey mention he would arrest Becky. The man wasn’t joking. He knew Dewey had a funny personality, but now wasn’t one of those times.

“You cannot be serious,” she said, looking to Cameron and Hudson for help.

Cameron covered his mouth, almost hiding his laugh.

Hudson rose. “I’m sorry, baby.” He kissed Becky on the lips, wishing he could linger longer. “I'll bail you out.”

“Bail me out? That's all you have to say? I came out here to make sure you weren't dying.”

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