Page 95 of Texas Hold Em'
I felt compelled to lie so as not to worry her, but I lifted the hem of my shirt anyway and showed her the gash in my hip from where Caroline’s bullet had grazed me. “This is the worst of it. Aside from this it’s just a few bruises. Nothing I can’t handle.”
She touched gingerly at the skin near the gash. “You’re still going to need stitches. We should get you back to Brody. And check on Jackson. The others might need us.”
“Does William’s bike still run?”
She nodded weakly. “Yeah, I think so.”
“I’ll follow behind you in case anything goes wrong. We’ll take it easy. Ride gently. But you’re right, we should get out of here.”
Back at Grant’s, I opened the gate and held it open for Carrie to walk William’s bike into the back. All the others were back already, and their bikes were parked on the gravel. We heard commotion up on the porch and turned just as Suzie launched herself down the steps. She met us down on the gravel and threw her arms around Carrie.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. Mason said you took off like a crazy woman after Bates. We thought… well, we thought you might not make it back.”
“I’m fine. William’s bike however…” She looked over her shoulder back at the bike. “I’m sorry, Suzie. I didn’t mean to.”
Suzie shook her head. “It’s okay. I can fix it. Hopefully. Besides,William always said bikes were made to be ridden. He put his fair share of dents and dings in the thing when it was his.”
“How’s Jackson?” Carrie asked.
Suzie’s expression fell. “Brody is seeing to him. He lost a lot of blood, but Brody says he’ll be okay with some rest. Sam on the other hand? She’s a bit of a mess.”
“I can only imagine,” Carrie breathed. “And the others?”
Suzie grinned at us both. “Everyone made it back in one piece. Come on up to the deck. They’ll all be happy to see you. We’ve been worried.”
We made our way up onto the deck where everyone got to their feet and welcomed us with hugs and claps on the back. Carrie seemed initially overwhelmed by the greetings and I couldn’t blame her. This was the first time she’d had such a warm reception.
When everyone had reunited, she looked around at them all. “I’m sorry, guys, but Bates got away. I was so close. I had him. But Moss... if not for him, I would have gotten Bates and his daughter.”
Abel brought her under one heavy arm and pulled her up against him. Carrie, barely over five feet, was nearly swallowed up by his size, and it became quickly obvious that he’d already had a couple beers, possibly to handle the pain of several fresh broken fingers on his left hand.
I’d have to get the story on how that happened later.
“Don’t sweat it,” Abel told Carrie. “You were a mad dog out there, just like the rest of us. Thinking you could take on Bates by yourself.” He threw his head back and laughed. “You’re as wild as the President.”
Carrie looked surprised, then flattered.
Abel set her free and pushed her toward me. She fell into my arms and let me wrap an arm around her hips, holding her to me.
“What’s this about then?” Knox leaned on the railing, nursing a deep purple bruise forming on his jaw.
All eyes were on us. Carrie blushed and looked at her feet.
“Out with it,” Gabriel pushed.
Grant, leaning on the side of the house by the patio doors, chuckled. “Come on, we’ve all known this has been going on a while. No need to keep secrets.”
“Fine,” I said, before spinning Carrie around and kissing her in front of everyone.
Suzie clasped her hands together and giggled almost gleefully. I’d never heard a sound like that come out of her. The men whooped and hollered, and Carrie pushed at my chest, embarrassed but giddy.
“Tex,” she muttered, tucking her hair behind her ears.
The patio doors slid open. Much to my surprise, Sam stepped out. She looked worn and tired, but her lips were curled in a gentle smile as she made room for someone else to come out behind her. We were all surprised when Jackson filled the doorway, stepped lightly out onto the porch, and accepted Sam’s help as she guided him to the closest chair.
However, he didn’t sit down.
On his feet, he stood around and looked at us. “Tonight may not have gone how we hoped, but we’re all still here, and that has to count for something. You boys saved my ass tonight. And you?” His gaze slid to Carrie, who froze like a deer in the headlights and clung to my arm. He surprised us all by chuckling until it pained him, and he clamped a hand on his side while Sam shot him worried looks. “You made us all look bad, riding off after Bates like that.”
