Page 84 of Longest Ride

People stood on the sidewalk on both sides of the street watching the rescue team.

Billy had passed Travis on the way south to the airport and given him a wave, so the boys were covered.

Travis crowded in as close as he could get to watch the firemen from Cut Bank reaming the door off the Lexus to get Olivia out. The ambulance was already there, and the paramedics were waiting for Olivia.

His heart pounding, Travis wanted to shout at the firemen to hurry the fuck up, but they were working frantically to get her out. They knew their job and they were doing it well.

Travis shoved a cigarette into his mouth so he wouldn’t yell out orders at them.

Savanna came along next to see about her driver. Bert was shaken up but wasn’t badly hurt. There was little damage to the front of the big feed truck, the Lexus taking the worst of it.

After making sure her guy was okay, Savanna rushed over to Travis and stood next to him. “Bert isn’t drunk or anything,” said Savanna. “He says the woman turned in front of him and he didn’t have a chance to stop.”

“I’ll get his statement in a minute,” said Travis, “or better yet, take Bert inside and Molly will record it. I’m staying here until they get Olivia out.”

“Aw, Jeeze, I didn’t realize Travis. I’m so sorry.”

Wishing Savanna would get away from him, Travis was already having trouble keeping it together.

With an ugly keening sound, the door was wrenched off the car and the paramedics were able to lift Olivia out of the vehicle and lay her on the stretcher they had ready. As soon as they hadher, they wheeled her to the ambulance and took off with the siren wailing.

Travis hollered, “Ted, you’re in charge. I’m going to the hospital. I’ll call Billy from there.”

“Copy, boss. Don’t think you can get by to go north.”

Travis started the Bronco and to get past the crash, he had to put two wheels on the sidewalk until he was clear. Ted gave him a wave and a grin.

Cut Bank Hospital.

Travis spoke to the triage nurse when he got to the hospital and found out Olivia had been rushed to surgery minutes after she came in by ambulance. He plopped down in the waiting area, exhaled a tension-filled breath and called Billy.

“Boss, you okay?”

“Far from it. I’m at the hospital and Olivia is in surgery. As soon as I know anything, I’ll go back to the station and help Ted. You go straight home with the boys and feed them on the way or pick up dinner. Whatever.”

“Copy that.”

Great Falls Airport.

Me and Virge ran through the arrival doors with our bags in our hands looking for Dad and he wasn’t there to pick us up. Billy was there instead.

“Hey, Billy, where’s Travis?”

“He was on his way to pick you up when there was a bad accident on Main Street in front of the station.”

“How bad was it?” asked Virge.

“Olivia’s Lexus was T-boned by the feed truck.”

“Our Olivia?” I asked.

“That’s the one. Olivia Best.”

“Is she okay?” asked Virge.

“Not okay. Travis is at the hospital, and he’ll meet us at the ranch.”

“Was she coming to the station to see Dad?” asked Virgil.

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