Escaping the Past

“Yeah, but it went all the way through.” Brody stated, brushing her hands away as she touched his shoulder.

She laid her head on his other shoulder and took a deep breath. “Is it over?” she asked.

“Looks like it,” Brody said quietly before kissing her on the nose. Then he let himself be led away by paramedics.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lou rode along with Brody in the ambulance to the hospital. It took hours for them to get x-rays, clean the wound and give him some IV fluids and start antibiotics. Wes came and went, updating them on Jerry’s health through the night. He suffered from a concussion, several broken ribs, and a broken femur, but he would survive.

“At least he can do his time in prison,” Lou sighed. Then she narrowed her eyes and looked at Wes. “He will go to prison, right?”

Wes nodded. “We have him on attempted murder, murder, theft, and a number of other crimes. I can guarantee he’ll never live another day outside of prison in this lifetime.”

Lou sighed and sat down on the side of Brody’s bed. “Thank God it’s over,” she said, taking his hand in hers. Wes walked out of the room.

Brody rubbed the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“Much better than you, it seems,” she responded, smiling at him. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

He puffed out his chest and grinned, “Happy to be of service.”

She leaned forward and kissed him quickly on the lips just as John walked into the room.

“Oh, man. Would you two cut that out?” he joked, covering his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” Lou asked, turning toward John.

“I thought you guys could use a ride home,” John shrugged. “Besides, I didn’t have anything to do after they cleaned up all the mess at home.”

“Everyone gone?” Brody asked as he sat up.

“Yep. They all cleared out. I called Jeb and Sadie. They’re coming home tomorrow.”

Lou smiled. “I can’t wait. I just want things to be back to normal.”

“What’s normal?” Brody asked, joking.

“Who knows,” Lou shrugged. “But I want some of it.”

The doctor came in a few minutes later and discharged Brody. They went home and, when they walked into the kitchen, John hung his hat on the peg by the door and turned to Lou. He kissed her gently on the forehead.

“When did you get to be so grown up?” Lou asked playfully as she reached up to hug him.

“Same time you did, I reckon,” he shrugged and smiled.

“You saved the day today, John,” Brody said, clasping his hand.

“Aw, shucks,” John replied. “Weren’t nothing you wouldn’t have done for me.”

“You better believe it,” Brody said.

John turned to walk down the hallway to his own bedroom. “Night, all,” he threw back over his shoulder as he did so.

Lou turned to Brody and took in the sling holding his arm in place and the pained look on his face. “I am so sorry you got caught up in all this,” she said.

“I’m not,” he replied.

“You’re not?” she asked.