Page 70 of Butterflies and Hazel Eyes
He addressed the EMT. “Take her, and I’ll be right behind you.”
“We’re rolling,” the EMT said, nudging the stretcher forward through the crowd of people. They parted and allowed us to pass, most of them offering me a shoulder pat in solidarity. Laverne held the door open for the stretcher, and I saw that the ambulance sat with its lights spinning in the parking lot next to three cop cars from two different counties. I was safe again, and my brain let the adrenaline drain from my system.
Laverne grasped the edge of the stretcher before they maneuvered me through the door. “I was petrified. I’m so glad you’re okay. Don’t ever do that to me again.”
I laughed with her because I understood she was just relieved that I was okay and not truly mad. “I’ll try not to, believe me.”
She patted my shoulder and gave me a weak smile. “I’ll go check on Mojo. Don’t worry about him.”
I squeezed her hand for a moment in gratitude. “Thanks, Laverne. See you soon.”
I dropped her hand and waved from waist level while they loaded me into the back of the ambulance. The sirens roared to life, and the heavy metal beast rocked back and forth as it rocketed down the gravel road. The EMTs worked around me, and I closed my eyes after taking the first breath of the rest of my life.
CHAPTER 22
No one said modern medical care was fast, but after too many hours and a small procedure on my ankle, I was finally in Gulliver’s bed. I had an ice pack over my ankle while the butterflies on the wall kept me calm. Gulliver strode through the door of the bathroom, his hair wet from the shower.
“I love you so much,” I whispered when he climbed into bed with me.
“Ask anyone at the barn tonight how much I love you,” he said, stroking my hair tenderly. “I think I lost my mind when I got that text.”
“How did you know something had happened?” I asked, confused. “The drugs they gave me at the hospital are making everything fuzzy.”
He kissed my forehead, which was starting to bruise from smacking the tree in the orchard, and my right temple had a ridiculously large goose egg on it from hitting the window in the SUV, but the doctors didn’t think I had a concussion. They agreed that I was fortunate tonight.
“You texted me and said you’d be there in ten minutes. When you didn’t show up in twenty, we sent the cops out to find you. Mathias’s team hustled him and Honey out to safety while they searched. The police found Simon injured in the SUV and radioed it in. When they reported bullet holes in the car, I lost my mind.” His eyes closed in a motion of pain and anguish. “When they told me there was blood, I’m pretty sure I would have collapsed if Laverne hadn’t been there with a chair.”
I stroked his cheek to calm him. “I didn’t know I’d been shot. It was dark, and I couldn’t see my ankle. It made sense to me that I hurt it in the crash, so I didn’t worry about stopping to check it out. I’m sorry.”
He lifted his head and captured my hand. “No, you can’t apologize for something that’s my fault. I should never have let you out there in Mathias’s car. It didn’t even cross my mind. It didn’t cross Mathias’s either. Simon said he came to as two burly guys approached him with guns. He fired back but doesn’t think he hit either of them. When they realized he wasn’t Mathias and he had a gun, they took off.”
I lifted my other hand and ran it through his hair. “Baby, it never crossed mine either, so no one gets to carry the blame. I’ll heal. You were there when the doctor told us I’d be fine. They removed the piece of the bullet, and now we just have to give it time to heal.”
He stroked my cheek, seemingly needing to touch me constantly to prove I was safe, which I didn’t mind. “He also said the bullet was the only thing protecting your leg. He said if you’d lost the piece along the way, you would have slowly bled out, or at the very least lost your leg.”
“Shh,” I whispered, my finger to his lips. “I’m okay. I’m here. It’s been sutured, and it will heal. It doesn’t even hurt. I’m far more worried about Mathias and Honey than my leg. If anything, the leg is a hindrance we don’t need right now. Are you sure we’re safe here?”
This time a smile tipped his lips up before he kissed mine gently. “Yes, we’re safe and so are Mathias and Honey. There are too many guys patrolling the perimeter of the business right now for anyone to try anything. Other than this apartment, the entire complex is ablaze with lights, cars, and guys with guns.”
“I just want this to be over,” I whispered. “It’s a pesticide, for God’s sake. I’m struggling to wrap my head around attempted murder over pesticide.”
“It’s about money; don’t lose sight of the real reason. The pesticide means nothing to them. They don’t care if our pollinators continue to thrive. They care about the piles of cash they can get from selling the formula—end of story. I talked to Chief Flats, and he reported their guy is still working on getting information from the forum.”
I rested my hand on my head. “I’m tired. I also lied when I said my leg didn’t hurt.”
He chuckled softly and shook his head. “Like I didn’t already know your leg hurts. Wipe your mind of everything and sleep. You’re safe here with me. I’ll do nothing but lie here and watch you sleep. Hopefully, my heart will finally stop pounding.”
I rubbed his face as I drifted into a drugged stupor. “You were the voice pushing me forward, Gulliver. You were the voice urging me to take the next step when I didn’t think I could. I know it was you. You saved me.”
He lifted me onto his chest and rubbed my arm slowly and calmly. “If I was, it’s because our hearts are connected forever. When we’re apart, I’ll always cry out for you to come to me. You’re my life now, Charity, my whole life. I’m never going to take our love for granted after living through tonight and seeing firsthand how quickly it can be taken away. Will you move in with me? I know the apartment is small, but so are you,” he teased.
I grasped his shirt in my fist and gripped it tightly. “Live here? With you?” He nodded, his finger stroking my temple gently. “I want to,” I agreed, my eyes heavy. “I love you, Gulliver Winsome,” I whispered, my voice soft and far away.
He squeezed me to him, letting me snuggle into his arms. “And I love you, Charity Puck, with my whole soul.”
♥
Afamiliar sound liftedme toward consciousness, and I struggled to wake up. When I opened my eyes, the room was dark, and I noticed the door to the bedroom was closed, but there was a light shining under the door. Gulliver was missing from the bed, and I sat up and swung my leg to the floor, unsure how it would feel once the anesthetic wore off. They’d insisted I take crutches, but I couldn’t figure out how to use them, so I tucked one under the arm of my left side and tested out my ankle. I took a tentative step toward the door. The leg held my weight, which was good news, even if it was tight and sore. Mojo followed me to the door and waited expectantly for me to open it.
