Page 83 of Moving to Love
“You okay, Joci?”
“Yeah. That was disturbing, though.”
“Yeah. She’s one fucked-up bitch. Can you ride?”
She took a deep breath. “Yeah. It’ll help me clear my head.”
They saddled up, and Deacon nodded his head to her. She rolled on the throttle and headed toward the front of the building, Deacon following her out.
* * *
Several minutes later, two police officers came into the shop and relieved JT and Ryder of their burden. Jeremiah, out of breath, walked over to where the boys stood when his phone rang. He tapped the answer icon and barked into the phone. “What?”
“Dog, you have to come now. Joci’s been in an accident,” Deacon huffed, out of breath.
His heart sank. “Where?” His voice cracked, his head began to spin, and the contents of his stomach began to rebel against him.
“We’re at the end of the road by Benson’s Bend. Fuck, Jeremiah, Joci flew into the corner. She didn’t even hit the brakes. She slammed into the tree at the end of the road. It’s bad. You’ve got to get here.”
Jeremiah took off toward his truck, yelling at the boys. “We have to go. Joci’s bike went down.” He shoved his phone into his pocket as he headed to the door. Speaking to the cops, “I’ll come to the station later and deal with this.” He glanced at JT and Ryder, and they waved him on.
Gunnar jumped into the truck with him and raced down the road. They arrived as the ambulance sped toward them. Jeremiah’s heart sank when he saw the wreckage. Joci’s bike was in pieces all over the road. There was a huge mark in the tree about three feet off the ground where she must have flown into it. He groaned as the fear and panic threatened to choke his oxygen off.
They jumped out of the truck and ran over to where Deacon crouched down alongside Joci in the ditch. She was lying on the ground, not moving. He was holding her hand with tears in his eyes. Deacon looked up when he saw Jeremiah and Gunnar. He scooted away to allow them room.
Deacon shook as he spoke. “I’m sorry. So sorry, Dog…Gunnar. I was behind her, but she came into the corner. It looked like she hadn’t slowed enough. She’s a good driver, so I didn’t worry. She wasn’t speeding. But she never hit the brakes. I don’t know why. She tried turning on it, but she couldn’t get low enough. She flew off the corner into the air and hit the tree. When I got here, she wasn’t conscious. I couldn’t feel a heartbeat. I was shaking so bad. I called 911, and then I called you. I’m so sorry.” He babbled.
Jeremiah leaned down close to Joci’s head. “Baby, please don’t leave me. Joci, baby, please wake up. Please.” He touched her forehead. There was blood everywhere. Her right arm was lying at a weird angle. The right side of her head was bloody and raw where it had hit something—the tree or the road. Her jeans were ripped open at the hip, and there was blood running from the tear.
The rescue workers arrived with their equipment. “Excuse us, sir; we need to get to the patient.”
“Joci. Her name is Joci,” Jeremiah croaked. His lip trembled as he tried not to think the worst.
“Are you her husband?”
“Yes.”
In his mind, he certainly was. The rest was a technicality. Gunnar knelt with Jeremiah. Tears streamed down his face. The EMTs quickly put a brace around her neck. They promptly assessed all of her injuries, vitals, and pupils.
“Is she allergic to anything?”
Gunnar and Jeremiah both shook their heads no.
“She’s pregnant,” Jeremiah hissed. The EMTs, Gunnar, and Deacon all looked at Jeremiah with stunned expressions.
“She might be. I’m not sure yet.”
The rescue workers started shouting about her possible pregnancy and what they could and couldn’t give her. They loaded her onto a gurney and ran with her to the ambulance. Jeremiah wanted to come with her, but they said they couldn’t allow him in. They shut the door on his protests and headed out, lights flashing and sirens wailing.
“Deacon, take care of having Joci’s bike brought to the shop after the police have finished with it. Lock it up.” Jeremiah and Gunnar jumped in the truck and flew to the hospital.
He watched from the corner of his eye as Gunnar pulled his phone from his pocket. His hands shook, but he swiped and found the number he was looking for.
“Aunt Jackie.” His voice cracked, and he swallowed. “Mom’s been in a bad accident. We’re…” A strangled cry escaped as he ran his hand down his face. “Dad and I are on our way to the hospital.” He sniffed loudly, his voice still shaky, and he asked, “Can you come?”
Jeremiah watched as Gunnar listened to his aunt. He struggled to stay sane enough to follow the ambulance. He flew along the road, navigating the corners a bit faster than he should, but not wanting to lose sight of the vehicle carrying Joci to help.
Gunnar’s splintered voice broke into his thoughts. “I know. Dad just said, well, he said he wasn’t sure.”
