Page 54 of Longest Ride

“We’ll never get across the border, Tammy. You’re going to be in big trouble, and you’ll go to jail too.”

“I don’t care. If you’re in jail, I might as well be in jail too.”

“Have you lost your mind, Tammy?”

“No. I’m just doing what I have to do to protect the man I love.”

Avoiding the kitchen and the door to the loading area, I pushed Eldon out the doctor’s exit. Once the stretcher was rolling easily on pavement, I ran towards the big rig with him.

“We’re almost there, Eldon. This is the start of our new life.”

“Tammy, no. I’m begging you to leave me here. You’re going to get both of us killed.”

“If I do, we’ll be just like Bonnie and Clyde, Eldon. That’s the most romantic story ever.”

“The cops shot them both dead, Tammy. Remember that part of the story?”

“No, I don’t. They loved each other so much.”

Fletcher jumped out of his truck and broke into a run when he saw Tammy pushing the gurney towards the Freightliner.

“Stop, Tammy. You can’t do that. You’re under arrest.”

She pushed the stretcher up against the passenger door of the truck and unlocked the door. “Keep away from me, Fletcher,” she hollered.

“No, Tammy. I’m arresting you and Eldon is going back inside where he belongs.”

“Nope.”

She turned with her gun in her hand and shot Fletcher in the leg. He fell to the pavement and before he could right himself for a shot at her, Tammy aimed and shot his gun out of his hand. It skittered across the asphalt out of reach.

She put Eldon into the passenger seat, slammed the door and ran around to the driver’s side. The engine of the big Freightliner roared to life and Tammy ground a gear and sped out of the parking lot.

Fletch reached into the pocket of his jeans with his left hand and called Annie.

“Fletcher, did you find her?”

“Oh, yeah, I found her, boss. She just shot me twice.”

“What?”

“She took Eldon and she’s gone in the big truck.”

“I’ll be right there to get you, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, boss.”

An hour later, Annie arrived with Mick. She queried the triage nurse and found Fletcher lying in an examination room, bandaged and sedated.

“Holy fuck, Fletch,” said Mick. “Tammy shot you twice? Is she off her fuckin nut?”

“I think so.” Fletcher sounded groggy and his eyes were heavy from the drugs.

“Rest, sweetheart,” said Annie. “As soon as you can go, I’ll drive you home. Mick will drive your truck back to the ranch.”

“Thanks, boss.”

Annie stepped into the corridor and called Travis.

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