Page 234 of Back in the Saddle

“There!” Harlow cried and pointed.

I looked there and saw Eric doing his beautiful saunter through the mess of first responder vehicles, heading our way.

He didn’t have any blood on him, thank God, but he did have a gun holstered at his hip, as well as one in a shoulder holster.

“You can go now,” Titus allowed.

We all jumped out of the car.

But only Raye and I raced across the street. Me to Eric, and Raye to Cap, who was trailing Eric by about five feet.

I hit Eric like a dart, if hisoof!was anything to go by.

After I hugged him tight, I touched his head, his shoulders, ran my hands down his chest, while asking, “You all right?”

“Fine, honey. We’re all fine.”

Thank you, God, thank you, God,thank you, God!

I looked into his eyes. “Homer?”

“Come with me.”

He took my hand and walked me to the sidewalk. We had to dodge a bunch of people, and a cop started to say something to us, saw Eric and stopped, when Eric led us into the yard of a house, the back of which was on fire.

To the side of the yard, well away from the melee but being guarded by some cops, was a gaggle of scruffy people.

One of them was Homer.

I pulled my hand free and raced to him.

Eric called, “She’s with me,” to the cop who moved to block me.

I came to a rocking halt in front of Homer.

He looked unsettled, undone, and seemed to have trouble focusing on me.

“Hey, Homer,” I greeted. “You okay?”

When my voice sounded, it appeared as if some of the confusion cleared.

Therefore, I kept talking.

“Do you need me to go get some plastic bags so we have everything to get you home?” I asked.

I watched the confusion completely clear, and he focused on me.

“You’re here,” he whispered.

“Yeah, big guy,” I whispered back. “I’m here.”

He stared at me.

I lamented my decision to study cocktails and not psychology.

Then I held my breath as he walked up to me, got toe to toe, bent his neck, pressed just his forehead to mine, and repeated, “You’re here.”

Good Lord.

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