Page 15 of Never Quiet

“Me, too.” In a whisper, she said, “I could eat a crocodile.”

He laughed for a long time. “I’d like to see that, Mandy.”

“Welcome back, sweetheart.” Gunner bent and lifted her to her feet. He dragged her into a hug. “You’re amazing with kids. Thanks. We were panicking.”

Reaching over, she stroked Sterling’s hair as the doctor cleaned and bandaged his wound. “I know you have a high tolerance for pain because you’re fearless like my aunt. No matter how many times things go horribly wrong, you’re ready to try again.” She bent and whispered, “Wait a few days or you’ll mess up your stitches. No one wants to go through this again.”

He sniffed loudly. “Okay.”

“You’re so adorable. Terrifying but adorable.”

Dakota hugged her tightly and whispered at her ear, “I owe you. I was ready to kill everyone.”

“You don’t owe me. I’m just glad he’s okay.”

The woman leaned back and held her face. “You’re a remarkable young woman, Amanda Lang.”

“I’ve missed all of you. So much.”

“We missed you. Let me gather this child who scared about a decade off my life.” She moved around Mandy and tried to hide the tears in her eyes.

Across the small room, sitting in a chair in the corner, the front of his shirt and jeans almost covered in blood, was Erick.

“Hey. I didn’t see you there.” Tilting her head, she asked, “Are you okay?”

He stood up and walked around the adults to her. He gathered her close and held her head against the front of his shoulder. He’d gotten taller since she saw him last. His hands shook.

“Thank you, Mandy.”

On Erick’s other side, she stared into Chaz’s eyes. She thought he might have seen a little more than she wanted him to. Putting it out of her mind, she enjoyed the moment, soaked up the feel of him, the smell of him.

Finally, she forced herself to pull away. “It’s a lot of blood. I would have been scared, too.” She held his wrist and turned it over. Smears of dried blood covered his inner arm. “You held him in the car?”

“Dakota was driving.”

“Once everyone gets home, gets cleaned up, it will be better. Young Sterling and I are going to talk once he eats and rests.” She gave him a half-smile. “It can’t hurt.”

Staring into her eyes, he said, “I think, if anyone can get through to him, it will be you. You have a way with people and children in particular.”

“I just like them. I guess they notice.”

“None of us could calm him.”

“You were all scared. He was, too. It was a lot of input. I didn’t experience the terror so it was easier for me to be calm.”

A slow smile spread across his face and he murmured, “Excellent analysis.” He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Steady under pressure. Another trait to admire about you.”

“Th-thank you.”

Chaz clapped his hands together and announced, “Let’s get unnecessary personnel out of this tiny room and get that kid home. I need to feed Mandy and I’m a little worried that Noel is at the house with all the food by herself.”

Relieved for the break in tension, Mandy laughed. “A valid concern.” Her stomach growled and she put her hand on it. “She eats everything and I won’t be happy.”

Chaz winked. “Kiss the kid and we’ll take you home now that I know he’s okay.”

For a moment, she thought he was talking about Erick and then laughed semi-hysterically. “Right.”

Crouching beside Sterling, she smiled. “You doing okay?”

---