Page 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

W illa jumped off the bike as soon as Cruise brought it to a stop. The EMTs had said that there had been a large pile-up due to a storm on the interstate. Medevacs were all in use. Willa pulled open the building’s doors. Cruise ran past her, hopped on the tractor, and pulled her helicopter out to what they used for a helipad.

She grabbed her flight book and ran toward the helicopter, quickly doing her pre-checks. Cruise hopped into the passenger seat.

“War said they’ve cleared an area at the intersection on the northwest corner of the park. He said there aren’t any power lines,” Cruise said.

Willa nodded, checked her gauges, then started her baby. She was so glad the MC and bail bonds had paid to have her helicopter fitted so if she had to fly someone to a hospital, she could. She flew to where War had said and saw they’d given her plenty of space and were keeping people back.

She came in and landed. When it was safe, Cruise jumped out. They’d already discussed that he would stay so she’d have room for the EMTs, Stella, and Hope if she wanted to come.

In what seemed like forever but hadn’t taken long at all, she was back in the air.

“Head to Wichita. They know we’re coming,” Stella said. Although one of the EMTs had come with them, he and Stella seemed to be conferring on everything.

Willa hadn’t waited around to see what was wrong with Locks, and she didn’t want to ask now where Hope could hear. Locks looked gray, with blood soaking his shirt and staining his jeans. Hope seemed in shock. She hadn’t said anything and was sitting in the front passenger seat with her arms wrapped around herself. Her shirt was soaked with Locks’ blood too.

Willa only hoped they could keep him alive until they reached the hospital. Willa concentrated on flying and listening to Stella and the EMT. She wasn’t even sure what procedures they were following. They weren’t a Medevac flight, which had certain protocols to follow, but Stella wasn’t a doctor, and Willa didn’t know what she could and couldn’t do.

Willa considered what had happened something outside the normal procedures. Locks would have died if they waited around for an available flight in an hour.

Hope started moving, and Willa glanced to see what she was doing. She was rubbing her hands on her jeans, trying to wipe off the blood. Willa grabbed the bottle of water she had and handed it to Hope one-handed, then pointed to her bag with clean rags. Hope sniffed, nodded, then pulled one cloth out and poured a little water on it. She wiped her hands as best she could, then breathed deeply a couple times and turned to look behind them.

Willa could hear Stella giving Locks’ stats and the EMT responding.

“Willa, how close are we?” Stella asked.

“About ten minutes away.”

“They said they’re ready and you’re good to land,” the EMT said.

Willa really needed to find out that guy’s name. She felt bad that he worked with Flick and she’d never introduced herself. Willa just hoped and prayed that Locks would still be alive when they landed. She did not want to lose him in flight. She wasn’t sure how she’d handle it. She’d spent a little time around him because he dropped by the gym to see Winnie and the grandkids if they were there.

She saw the roof of the hospital and the helipad on it. Time to land and get him the help he needed. She really wanted to get him in the hospital and then check in with Cruise to find out how everyone else was.

Hope followed the gurney carrying Locks. Once they’d landed, Locks had immediately been loaded onto one, with two doctors and a nurse asking questions of Stella and the EMT who’d flown with them.

She glanced down at her hands. She’d tried to clean them in the helicopter, but they were still stained red with Locks’ blood. The blood he’d shed by protecting her from her son’s machinations. She’d tried to do right by him, but he’d taken a turn and become someone she didn’t know and couldn’t allow around a child. She could have never dreamed he’d want to have her killed. What had she done to make him that way? Was it her fault? Was she a horrible mother who had created the immoral man he was?

She sniffed, wondering if she’d ever see Locks alive again.

“Hope, Hope, can you hear me?”

Hope looked up at Stella’s words and felt her touch on her arm. She nodded.

“I’ve talked to a nurse, and they’ve given us some scrubs so we can get you out of those clothes until someone from Bluff Creek gets here. How about I help you get cleaned up? Willa and Max are heading back.”

Hope nodded. She needed to thank them. She turned toward Willa and Max. “Thank you for all you did.”

Willa nodded and patted her shoulder. Max nodded and then left.

Stella led her into a room to get cleaned up and helped her change into clean scrubs. She’d been content with marrying Locks whenever, but she realized that Locks was it for her. And she had no rights here. If they needed consent, they’d have to call whoever he designated for his healthcare.

“Benji,” she asked. She’d been so shocked over what happened with Locks that she hadn’t given a thought to Benji. She really needed to be better in a crisis. She snickered and started laughing.

Stella’s arms wrapping around her had the laughter turning to tears. Stella patted her back.

“Let it all out, Hope,” Stella said softly.

Hope cried until she didn’t have anything left to cry. Her eyes hurt, and her throat was tight. She needed to quit crying and check on Locks. She shuddered, then opened her eyes and looked at Stella.

“I need to check on Locks.”

Stella nodded and gathered their stuff.

Locks felt the wind as they pushed the gurney inside the hospital, and then people were talking, but he wasn’t sure what they were saying or asking. Then someone put a mask over his face, and everything went black.

The next thing Locks saw was a dark tunnel with a bright light. It was cold where he was standing, and he could feel the warmth emanating from the light. He was drawn to it for some reason. He didn’t understand where he was, but he walked toward it. The brightness and warmth weren’t scary or disconcerting. It washed over him, and he felt at home, loved, and at peace.

A figure that he couldn’t make out walked toward him. He thought he should walk toward it, but he stood still and let it approach. In a flash, the figure became visible, and tears filled his eyes at seeing Kathryn again.

He smiled. “Kathryn,” he said softly.

“Noah, it’s not your time. You need to go back,” she said.

“But…”

“Benji and Hope need you. We had our time, and I’ll see you again, but just not yet.”

“It’s been so long,” Locks said.

“It’s been the blink of an eye. Now I love you. Go live for our grandkids,” she said.

Locks looked behind him at the darkness, then turned back to Kathryn, but she was gone, as was the light. It was dark and cold around him. He wanted to go back to Hope, Benji, and his girls, but he didn’t know how. How did he get back?

He wanted to be back with his family. He’d close his eyes, and maybe he’d find them when he woke.