Page 69 of Homicide in Water Creek

“He’s okay. Relax,” he whispered, trying to soothe her. “He has a minor skull fracture and a concussion, but the doctors are confident he will be fine. He’s down the hall in a room with Keene watching over him. Deep breath.”

“Thank God,” she whispered, wiping away a tear. “What about Cass?”

“The doctor said it was a through-and-through wound of his chest wall. He’s going to be hurting in the morning, but he’s been through worse.”

“I don’t remember much other than getting to the hospital and the doctor saying I needed surgery on my leg.” The words were so quiet he had to lean in to hear them. “Parenti? Chinos?”

“Dead and deader,” he said, his lips set in a grim line. “I failed so hard in so many ways out there tonight.”

She grabbed his hand and held on tight, shaking it once. “No, you saved all five of our lives. That’s not failing. If you hadn’t kept your head and let Maverick take the lead, we could all be dead.”

“Maverick was shot, Jackson has a skull fracture, and your leg was destroyed by a bullet. That is the epitome of failure, baby.”

Jacks shook her head as she gazed into his eyes. “I’m convinced Chinos sacrificed himself to end that standoff and avoid going to prison. I saw the look in his eye right before he swung that gun around and fired at his father, not at Cass. I know it feels like things went wrong, but I also know we could all be dead and Parenti could be walking free. As for my leg, well, the bullet just put it out of its misery. It’s gone, isn’t it?”

King nodded, his gaze drifting to the empty space on the bed where her right leg should be. Now only her thigh remained. She used her finger to turn his chin back toward her.

“Whatever drugs they gave me must be the good ones because I can’t feel anything,” she said, a teasing smile on her lips, but he couldn’t smile. Not when she was in this bed, having failed to protect her.

“I should never have left you alone at the ranch, Jacks,” he whispered. “No matter that we were trying to get Chinos to approach you. That was a mistake I can’t take back, and now you’ve suffered even more for it.”

Pushing herself up in bed, she shook her head. “King, the leg was done. It had been reconstructed and radiated within an inch of its life. All the bullet did was hasten the inevitable. I don’t know why it went downhill so fast, but since we didn’t have time to explore the issue, the doctor is going to biopsy the bones to make sure the cancer hadn’t returned. Either way, the leg was at its end, don’t you see? Maybe now I’ll have less pain.”

He sighed, closing his eyes. “Jacks, I think we should take a brea—”

She put her finger to his lips. “Don’t say it. You aren’t doing anything but taking a nap. You’re exhausted. I’m exhausted. Everything hurts, and the people we love are hurting. All of that aside, when I wake up in the morning, I will know two things are true. I love you, and you love me. That means we can get through anything together. Our granddaddies will be fine, and Maverick will heal. Take a deep breath, and remember that everyone who matters is still breathing tonight.”

“Jacks,” he said, swallowing, his head hanging low as he sucked in air. “I need some time to think.”

“Because they had to amputate my leg?”

“No, baby, no,” he said, shaking his head to keep a tear from spilling. “Leg or no leg, you’re always going to be my Jacks.”

“Then stay with me, King,” she begged, her hand clutched around his wrist. “Don’t leave, please. You’ve been through a lot tonight. I’ll worry if you leave. I want you to be safe, and that’s here beside me.”

The tears in her voice broke his heart. “I have to go to the station. Barron County sent some deputies to cover for us, but they’ll need help sorting out this mess.”

“It can wait until morning, King. Please,” she begged.

As much as he wanted to stay, he couldn’t bear to see what his lapse in judgment had done to her. All he could do was gently kiss her lips, barely brushing his against hers, before he walked out of her room. All he heard as he closed the door was her heartbroken sob.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Knock-Knock,” a voice called out.

Jacks told her caller goodbye and lowered the phone. She’d been doing everything from her hospital bed, but thankfully, Keene had arranged for their head ranch hand to keep everything running and the animals fed until she or Granddaddy returned.

“Hiya, Jackie,” her granddaddy said as Keene wheeled him into her room. She had never been happier to see that grumpy old man. He wore a soft helmet to protect his skull fracture, but the doctors had told them he would be just fine. “How’s my baby girl?”

All she could do was reach out to him, and Jackson took her hand and squeezed it. “Granddaddy,” she said, her voice choked. “I’m so glad you’re alive.”

“Not half as glad as I am to know you are,” he said with a wink. “We’ll get through this, Jackie, just as we always have.”

“It’s gone, Granddaddy,” she whispered, motioning to her leg. “And with it, the man I love.”

“No, Puddin’,” Keene said, squeezing her left knee. “He’s not gone. He’s scared. I’ve been talking to him. Give him time.”

“At least we have time thanks to him,” Jackson said, holding her hand. “He kept his wits about him and worked the case without letting his feelings for you overpower his judgment about what was smart policework.”