Chapter Thirteen
Everything with Sam Bell happened so fast that Balta could hardly keep up.
Geronimo dumped Beau Lafitte off in the chute and Sammy jumped down there to protect him. The sickening crack had Balta reaching down to help get anyone one out, and it was Beau he came up with.
The little Cajun fought him like a landed fish, and he shook his head. He’d seen what was down there and, more importantly, he’d seen where the cameras were. Right now Beau was the champion and they were watching.
“You can’t.” Balta hauled Beau over the rail and onto the catwalk, shaking the man but good. “Cameras,amigo, sim? We go back now.”
Beau grabbed his shirt, blue eyes desperate, the fear there awful. “Balta. Please. Sam.”
“We go. We go now.” He didn’t even think, he simply picked Beau up, growling at the Gardner boy to take care of the cameras, protect their own. “Now,sim?”
Balta headed toward the back, catching sight of Joa. “Joaquim. The car,sim? Now.Tão rápido como você pode.”
“I’ll be quick as a rabbit, I swear.” His beloved nodded, then took off at top speed.
“Balta… Please.”
The plea in Beau’s voice made him weak at the knees, but he knew what he must do. He was theLíder, the boss.
“Beau. We go to the ambulance,sim? Joa will bring your things. We’ll go to hospital.”
“I have to see.”
“You will?” Balta almost ran with Beau, and they met the EMTs with Sam on the stretcher only minutes later. “You go on now. I’ll bring your things. I’ll be right there.”
He could see Joa with his truck, waiting.
“Silva! Silva, you going to drive?” Doc Madding was there, his phone in hand.
“Sim. Joa brings the truck. Now.”
“Well, come on. I need to get to them.” Doc took his responsibility to them all so seriously.
“Sim.” He headed toward the truck, his lower back screaming every time his heels hit the pavement. His leg was bothering him, too, but he toughed it out, sliding to the back so Doc could have the front seat.
Jos glanced at him, concern obvious.
“Drive, Joa. I will be fine.”
“Sim. Sim, Balta.” Joa had gathered all their gear and had even brought the cooler over, so he pulled out a water.
Deus. His friend. His dear friend. Balta couldn’t think about Sam’s head. He’d seen—no. He would pray.
He closed his eyes, his fingers clenched together as he prayed to the Blessed Mother for her help, her intervention. His lips moved, and Balta lost himself in the Virgin until they reached the hospital.Sim, she would help.
Shehadto. Sam Bell was special.
Doc was out of the truck before it really stopped, and Balta followed quickly, Joa pressing his hand for a moment before letting go.
“Bring Lafitte’s bag,sim?”
“Yes, Balta. I have it.”
“Obrigado, doce.” Joa was good to him. Better than he deserved.
“Sim. I prayed for him. I’ll pray more.”
