Page 78 of More Than a Fling

“Even with what he just went through with his heart and all?”

“Even with all that,” Pepper said encouragingly.

“I hope you’re right.”

“Hey, have a little faith, I am a nurse you know,” she said teasing him. “The police were here trying to get his statement. They obviously left empty-handed.”

“That can wait. They are looking for Bradley as we speak. I know it was him. Who else could it be?”

“He is the most obvious, but you never know. How is Sam taking all of this?”

“He looked completely beaten down. All he has worked for…”

“It sucks but at least no lives were lost He’ll be okay. He’ll rebuild.”

“That’s what I told him, too. I’m sure he’s in shock.”

“Who wouldn’t be. How are you holding up?”

“Honestly I don’t have a clue. Right now, I’m going through the motions.”

“One foot in front of the other,” Pepper agreed.

“I’m going to sit here with Slim for a while,” Gabe said.

“I’ll check in later after I get some sleep. It was a long shift.”

“Bye Pepper.”

“See ya Gabe.”

Gabe sat down and leaned back in the uncomfortable hospital chair and promptly fell asleep to the steady beeping of the cardiac monitor. He awoke to a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Annie!”

“I heard. The fire! Thank God you’re okay.” She glanced over at Slim, “Any changes with Slim’s condition?”

“No. Annie.”

“Gabe,” they both started talking at the same time.

“Me first,” Annie said. “I owe you an apology. What happened the other day is totally on me. I can’t put you in a cage away from the rest of the world. My insecurities are my responsibility, not yours. I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”

“Thank you for that.” The magnitude of what happened began to sink in. “The barn is gone,” he said, voice breaking.

Annie held Gabe’s head against her belly, stroking his hair, “When I think of what could have happened to you, with the fire, it makes me feel like throwing up. I’m sick.”

“Midnight, the rest of the herd, are all okay. Hopefully Slim will pull through.”

“God, I hope so. It must have been terrifying.” She glanced over at Slim and felt her eyes misting up. “He looks so fragile.”

“We’re all fragile when it comes right down to it,” Gabe said solemnly.

“There’s another thing, I hate to bring up right now but I feel you should know,” Annie said.

“Okay.”

“Um, I don’t know how to say this without freaking you out, but Bradley showed up at my house before dawn. I was startled awake and there he was,” she said.

“That son of…”

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