Saving Us (Mitchell Family #6)(48)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“Conner Healy. He was shot.” I realized I could have worded it better, but all that I cared about was finding him.

She stood up and walked over to a computer. I saw the concerned look on her face. My stomach started to feel queasy. I didn’t know what I was going to do if we didn’t make it in time. “I will have someone come out to talk to you shortly. Have a seat over there.” She pointed to the waiting room.

This wasn’t good. Why couldn’t she tell us?

Colt grabbed my hand once we were sitting. Neither of us knew what to say. I knew he was probably fearing the same outcome as I was. We would all be devastated. Tears fell down my cheeks and I didn’t care about the people that were staring. My boyfriend was back there somewhere and we didn’t even know if he was alive.

Conner’s mother and Van arrived about thirty minutes after us. I could tell from the look on Karen’s face that she was as worried as I was. I stood up and accepted her hug. “I’m so sorry for all of this.”

She rubbed my back. “Amy, you didn’t do this. All we can do now is pray.”

I saw Van and Colt having a serious discussion in the corner. She looked more mad than upset and I couldn’t understand why.

“Where is John? We haven’t seen him since we got here. Wasn’t he with Conner?”

“He won’t answer his phone, I’ve been calling him non-stop. I asked if I could go back, but the nurse told me I had to wait too. How are you? Is the baby okay? Do you need to get checked out?”

“I’m fine. I just want to know something.”

So we prayed. I begged the Lord to spare the love of my life. I begged him to give us a chance to be a family. I also begged him to forgive me for taking another man’s life.

The thing was, I had this terrible feeling that because I shot Rick, I would lose Conner as punishment. Life was all about trial and error. My actions may have cost me everything.

At least an hour later, a doctor came out and announced Conner’s last name. We all stood up as he approached.

“Mr. Healy was brought in with a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen. Once we got the blood loss stopped we were able to go in and take a look at the damage. The wound was a through and through and it missed all of his organs. We are working on getting him a transfusion and some fluids to help with recovery. If you give us about twenty minutes to get him into his own room, you can all go back and see him. He’s a very lucky man.”

Karen turned around hugged me. We were both crying different tears. Conner was going to be okay. “Everything is going to be okay.” She kept hugging me and I knew she was just so happy that her son was going to pull through.

As much as the whole family was just busting to see him, I wanted to see him first. Maybe it was selfish, but for a while I had imagined my life without Conner. It was just unbearable.

Finally, a nurse came out to escort us all to Conner’s room. A few police officers were standing around and I recognized the one from the ranch. He smiled as I got closer. “Looks like he’s goin’ to pull through, ma’am. I’m just goin’ to hang around until after you’ve spent some time together. We can talk here so you don’t have to leave. I’ve already cleared everything with the sheriff, so just take your time.”

“Thank you. Where is John?” I needed to thank him for everything that he’d done for me. Without his training, I wouldn’t have been able to handle that gun the way I had. Although, there wouldn’t have been a gun involved at all.

“Once he knew everything was alright, he had to go out and meet the coroner back at the scene.”

I forgot all about Rick’s body. Of course, someone had to come pick it up. It wasn’t like we could just burn it. “Oh, I see. So what will they do with it?”

He laughed and shook his head. “I ain’t never had someone ask me that before. Excuse me for bein’ all rude. I reckon that if nobody comes to claim it, they will burn it up and toss out the ashes.”

“He doesn’t even deserve that.” Maybe it was unkind to speak that way about the dead, but I didn’t give a rat’s ass. Rick was the scum of the earth.

“It seems like the man caused a lot of problems everywhere he went. Once I get everyone’s statements together, we will be able to close this out pretty quickly. John’s already explained what happened and I got both Heather and Lucy’s statements as well. We are aware this was self-defense. I hope you aren’t worried about that.”

The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. I had fought for my life. Clearly it wasn’t my fault. “It was me or him. I had no choice.”

He put up his hands. “It’s best that we don’t talk about that until we are on the record. I will get up with you later on. I think the nurse is ready for you to all go in now.” He pointed in the direction of Conner’s room.

I saw Karen waving me over. “Get your tail over here. He isn’t going to want to see any of us, if you aren’t there first.”

I grabbed her hand and we walked together into the room. Conner was hooked up to several machines that were monitoring his stats. He had his eyes closed, but as I touched his arm, I watched them open. Oxygen was being given to him through two tubes. He coughed when he first tried to speak.

I saw his fingers moving around and put my hand in his. He seemed relieved to see me, but it couldn’t be more than I was to see him. I started to cry immediately. “I thought I lost you.”

“I’m tough.”

Karen and I laughed. “We know.”

“Had to fight…” We could tell he was weak. “Had to save you…”

I leaned over and kissed him. “It’s over Conner. He can never hurt us again.”

He squeezed my hand. “My Blaze.”

I nodded. “Yes, I’m all yours.”

Chapter 32

Conner

I hated hospitals.

Amy ended up staying with me overnight. She refused to leave my side.

My mother finally forced her to go home and rest, knowing she needed it more than me. Amy had been through hell and back. She’d not only shot a man to survive, but it had taken a mental toll on her. I knew she was blaming herself for what happened to me. I heard her saying it when she thought I was sleeping.

Still, she stayed by my side until the day I was released to go home. Amy didn’t know it, but while my family had her help them plan a welcome home party for me, it was really a surprise shower for her. The best part of the surprise was that my sister and Ty were there, as well as her father. She cried more when she saw them.