Page 63 of Shelter for Sharla

Cruz laughed. “We’ll let Edwards field that question. Deputy?”

“Sir, I lied.” Carter couldn’t understand. “You’re not the only one who can memorize numbers, sir. I can too. Pretty easily, in fact. Been doing it all my life.”

Carter didn’t get to say another word before he heard a voice shriek, “Carter!” In seconds, Sharla was on him, kissing his forehead, his cheeks, his eyelids, his lips, his chin. “Oh, my god, you’re awake!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Then he heard her sniffle and realized her face was coated with tears. “We thought we’d lost you, babe. Oh, god, don’t do something stupid like that again, please?”

“I’d only do something that stupid for you,” he assured her.

He got a stern glare back from that. “Why doesn’t that make me feel a bit better?”

“Weeeeee’ll just be out here, trying not to listen and laugh,” Sam announced, but it was too late. Cruz and Edwards were already laughing.

“Boy, is he in trou-ble,” Edwards was saying as they left.

“Sharla,” he started, then stopped.

“What, baby?”

“Sharla, I… I…”

“What is it, Carter?”

“I saw my dad, Sharla. My dad and my grandparents.”

Her face went pale. “Oh, god. No.”

“Yeah. They were there, in the scrap yard. And they told me to come back, and to not always be thinking ‘if only’ anymore. They told me to come back for you.” He couldn’t hold it back anymore?a lone tear trickled out the outer corner of one eye and down his cheek. “Sharla, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t spend time with you, I’m sorry I did this and almost wasn’t here for you, I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you safe like I promised, keep the kids safe like I promised, I’m sorry…”

“Shut up, Carter.”

“Huh?”

Sharla smiled down at him. “What did your dad and your grandparents tell you?”

He sighed. “No more ‘if only’.”

“Yeah. And you’re doing it again. This is over. It’s a new day. But I can tell you this.” She leaned down until her nose was almost touching his. “If you ever do something like this again, go off rogue by yourself, you won’t have to worry about the bad guys. When I catch up to you, I’ll kill you myself. Understand?” Then she kissed his forehead.

“Roger that.” He smiled up at her and wondered if he asked her to marry him, would she say yes.

But he’d wait until he could kneel for that one.

* * *

“Here ya go.”A drink, something fruity with an umbrella in it, appeared in front of his face.

“Seriously? A girly drink?”

Sharla laughed and shaded her eyes with her hand. “It’s got bourbon in it.”

“Ah, that’s more like it!” Carter took a sip first. Not bad. Then he took a bigger swallow.

Yanking the towel from the chaise lounge beside him, Sharla sat down and leaned back. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m good. They get off okay this morning?”

---