Page 54 of JoyRide

“You will, Tam. Y’all will find the other two. It’s more important for you to be here for your brother. Billy will help y’all tomorrow. Take some deep breaths, girl.”

“I’ll be okay, Daddy. I have to take Virgil to the ranch, then I’ll come back tonight to sit with Harlan when he gets out ofsurgery.”

“No. You stay at the ranch and take care of Virgil and Billy and do the chores. Don’t forget to feed the dogs. I’ll get a nurse to put me in a wheelchair and I’ll sit with Harlan while he’s waking up.”

“Can you get out of bed?”

“I’m going to.”

I hugged Travis and went downstairs to get Virgil. I only had to wait for a few minutes, and he was ready to roll. Crutches and a prescription for the pain.

He was a virgin on the crutches, and trying to walk on them made him mad as a hop. He cursed non-stop and it took a while to get him through the lobby, down the steps and into the squad.

I opened the door and he flopped into the passenger seat and closed his eyes. “If my brother hadn’t made me go with him, I never would’ve gotten shot. This is all his fault.”

“No. It’s the fault of your shitty friends, Virgil. Those assholes knew you and that’s why they shot at you. Ever think of that?”

No answer from Virge on that one.

“You part of that dirty little gang of robbers?”

“Don’t know them.”

“Liar. We’ll have a couple of beers when we get home, and you can tell me the whole fucked-up story. My brother got shot today and there is no way in hell I’m letting a lying punk like you hold out on me.”

“I could use a beer.”

“Yeah, and I could use six. If you’re thinking of me as a girl who can’t hurt you, Virgil Linley, you’d better think again. I could beat your ass into the dirt with one hand tied behind my back.”

Virgil laughed. “I’d like to see that happen.”

“Soon as we get home, I’m gonna show you.”

Cut Bank Hospital.

I opened my eyes a couple of times, and they didn’t want to stay open for long. The third time I tried to wake up, I saw Travis sitting in a wheelchair beside my bed.

“You shouldn’t be here, Dad.” My tongue felt fat, and I couldn’t tell if I was slurring my words like an old drunk at the Dry Run.

“I am here, son. I’m okay and I want to make sure you’re okay too. Tammy told me what happened at the market.”

“Yeah, two of those fuckers are still on the loose.”

“Tammy and Ted are taking the dogs out tomorrow. Max and Sarge will pick up a trail.”

“How long will I have to stay here?”

“Shoulder wound? Few days. Don’t rush it. Your whole body needs time to heal and recover from the trauma of getting shot and from the blood loss. Not just your shoulder.”

“Feels like unfinished business out there and because of me, Virge got shot.”

“He’s okay. Tammy took him home and I’m sure she probably fed him and Billy dinner. He’ll be fine.”

“I think he’ll run off first chance he gets. He don’t like me much. Pissed I took him out of the crack house he was living in.”

Travis shook his head. “Sounds shitty.”

“Yeah, it was. Needles crunching under my boots. Gross place to hang out.”

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