Page 42 of Longest Ride

“Billy and I will go to the station. Virge and Harlan go get Paula and bring her in.”

Virge grinned. “Copy that, Dad.”

Huntsville Trauma Unit. Texas.

Lucy stayed in the waiting room while I went in to see Eldon. The nurse at the front desk told us he’d been awake a couple of times, and the doctor said it was a small miracle that he woke up at all.

After what I did to Eldon, we needed a miracle and not a small one—a big one.

I sat down next to his bed and held his hand. He opened his eyes and it kind of startled me because I wasn’t ready for it.

“Where am I?”

“Huntsville Hospital.”

“Am I under arrest?”

“Yes. But that’s okay,” said Tammy in a whisper. “As soon as you’re better, I’ll get the truck and we’ll go to Mexico.”

“I’m not leaving this bed until I’m healed, Tammy. No more of your stupid ideas. Hear me?”

“I hear you, Eldon. You can make all the decisions from here on. I’m not allowed to make anymore mistakes. Mama said so.”

Fleming Residence. Valier. Montana.

This was the third time me and Virge had driven down to Paula’s house in Valier.

Virge knocked and Paula came to the door looking extra pretty today with her hair down long and makeup on. She was dressed up like she was going somewhere.

“You going out, Mrs. Fleming?” I asked.

“No. Why are you boys here again?”

“We’re here to bring you to the station. The sheriff has some questions he’d like to ask you.”

She laughed and tossed her long hair. “I’m not going anywhere with you boys, so you can forget that.”

Like lightning was up his ass, Virgie grabbed Paula Fleming, pulled her arms behind her back like he’d been doing it since he was four years old, and he snapped cuffs on her like a pro.

Paula screamed like we’d scalded her with boiling oil as we marched her out the front door and secured her in the back of the Jeep.

“No point screaming, ma’am,” said Virge. “The sheriff wants you, and that’s where you’re going. Might as well sit back and enjoy the ride to the station.”

“Shut up, you little prick.”

Virgil laughed.

“What about my dogs?”

“You can give us a number of someone who will feed the dogs if you aren’t back in time.”

I was backing out the driveway when a pickup slowed down like it might be turning in, then it sped up and drove away.

“I got the tag,” Virge whispered to me.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek. Montana.

We parked at the back of the building and brought Paula in through the sally port. Virge ran ahead and asked Dad where he wanted her.

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