The medics had loaded Jude onto a stretcher and were carrying him toward one of the vehicles. She started to follow, but Dawn's hand on her arm stopped her.
"They need to get him to the helipad as quickly as possible," Dawn said. "We'll follow in another vehicle."
Angela watched helplessly as the van carrying Jude disappeared around a bend in the road. The silence that followed felt deafening after all the chaos.
“Do they have the ability to take care of him? They didn’t have an ambulance.”
“The van they put him in has everything an ambulance has, and two of the security guards have experience as EMTs. One was a medic in the army. He’s in good hands.”
Angela wanted to believe that, but with him out of her sight, her confidence wavered.
"Come on," Dawn said gently. "Let's get you back to the estate and cleaned up."
Angela looked down at herself for the first time and saw that her hands and clothes were covered in Jude's blood. The sight made her legs wobble, and Dawn steadied her.
“He has to make it,” Angela said. “I love him, and I can’t lose him. I just can’t.”
“I understand,” Dawn said. “And we’ll be praying that God will heal him. But we need to get you back to the estate so youhave time to clean up and get on the Burke helicopter. I have a feeling Mr. Burke will be getting on it with you.”
Angela climbed into one of the waiting SUVs, and soon they were on their way back to the estate.
“The police will probably have questions for you because we had to call them to the scene.”
“But I want to be with Jude,” Angela said.
“I know. We’ll see if they’ll come to the hospital to talk to you.”
When they pulled up to the main house, the back door opened, and Duncan stepped out. He looked more disheveled than she’d ever seen him, and worry was painted on his face.
“Are you okay?” he asked, resting his hand on her back to guide her out of the cold and into the mudroom.
“I’m fine. It’s Jude. He’s badly hurt.”
“We’re going to get him the help he needs.”
“Can I go to Coeur d’Alene too?”
Duncan nodded. “Why don’t you get cleaned up, and as soon as the medivac has come and gone, we’ll leave in my helicopter.”
“Okay.” Nothing could have gotten her moving faster than the promise of being near Jude.
She rushed upstairs and into her bathroom. She’d peeled out of her bloody clothes and was standing under the spray in the shower, staring blankly at the blood that swirled down the drain, when she heard Kiara say her name.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she assured her, jolted out of her trance. “Jude’s hurt, though, so I’m going with Duncan into Coeur d’Alene to see him.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“I don’t think you want to be in the hospital with the way you’ve been feeling.”
“No, but if you need me, I’ll be there.”
“I’ll be okay,” she assured her as she finished washing away the last of the blood. “Duncan will be there too.”
“You’ll keep in contact with me?” Kiara asked. “To let me know how everything is going.”
“I will.”
