Page 33 of Longest Ride

“That three welders raped his wife, and he killed them. He told me that when I told him about the guys who raped me in their trailer. We were both sad and he said he’d look out for me.”

“I see how you kind of connected with Bobby.”

“I love him…and now I killed him.”

“We don’t know that for sure. The ambulance will be here soon.”

“Is Mama’s ranch far from here?”

“About an hour or a bit more. La Grange is southwest of where we are now.”

“An hour ain’t too far.”

“I’m going to call Annie now and let her know everything is okay with you.”

“Thank you for coming, Fletcher. I was scared of being here alone with Eldon almost dead in the truck. I wasn’t sure I could find his house, and I didn’t know if there was a key for it on the ring.”

Annie answered on the first ring and Fletcher said, “Hey there, boss. Tammy and I are waiting for an ambulance for Bobby. They should be here in a couple of minutes, and I’ll call you back as soon as I know where they’re taking him.”

“Thanks so much, Fletch. Tell Tammy I’m leaving now, and I’ll sit with her at the hospital.”

“I’ll tell her that.”

“What did Mama say?”

“She’s coming to sit with you at the hospital.”

Tammy cried. “I made so many mistakes. If Eldon dies, it’s all my fault.”

“Let’s see how he makes out, Tammy.”

The ambulance pulled in behind the Freightliner and the siren went silent.

Fletch jumped out of the cab and hollered to the paramedics. “The patient is in the sleeper, boys. He’s unconscious and it’s going to be difficult getting him out.”

“We can handle it.”

The paramedics jumped into the cab of the rig and worked swiftly to get Bobby Prescott out of the sleeper and onto a stretcher. They quickly started an IV and shoved the stretcher into the back of the ambulance.

“Where are you taking him?” asked Fletcher.

“Huntsville Trauma Unit.”

“We’ll follow you.”

“Can I ride in the ambulance with Eldon?”

“Sure. You go ahead, Tammy. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Thank you, Fletcher. Thank you for coming to help me.”

“Annie didn’t want you to be alone when you got here with Bobby.”

“I love my Mama.”

“I’m sure you do.”

Huntsville Trauma Unit.

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