Page 146 of Captivated

“I have no idea.” The first officer stared at him. “You do know them, don’t you?”

All he could manage was a nod. “I’ll call Robert. He runs Salvation.” Nate stumbled back through the crowd, his heart pounding, his fingers and chest tingling. When he reached the car, he got behind the wheel, his hand shaking as he removed hisphone from his pocket. Once he had the number for the ranch, he clicked on it, his breathing ragged, his heart into overdrive.

He recognized Robert’s voice the moment he answered.

“Robert, it’s Nate Caldwell. Something’s happened to Toby and Zeeb. They’re being taken to…oh fuck, what’s the name of that hospital? Big Sky something.”

“Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center? Nate, where are you? And how do you know this? What’s going on?”

Nate heard the panic lacing Robert’s words.

“I’m in Bozeman. Someone said they were beaten up. They also said it… it’s bad. I haven’t seen them but the police gave me their names.” His throat seized. “Don’t come to Bozeman. They’re waiting for the helicopter.”

“I’m on my way to the hospital.” Nate heard the jangle of keys.

“Me too, once I get directions from my phone. I’ll meet you there.”

“Nate… try to stay calm.”

Anything else Robert said was drowned out by the whirring blades of the helicopter, throwing dust into the air as it landed square in the middle of the intersection. Nate got out of the car and saw the paramedics hurrying along the street, pushing two gurneys, their occupants strapped to them. He couldn’t see their faces, but his stomach plummeted as the paramedics placed the two men into the belly of the helicopter, which rose into the air less than a minute later.

Nate followed its progress as it turned and headed southwest.

Be in time. Please, God, let them be in time.

“Robert, they’re on their way.”

“I hear ya. I’m in the car.” He hung up.

Nate got back behind the wheel, only to open it a second later and throw up onto the sidewalk. His stomach heaved. When hewas done, he grabbed a wipe from the dash and cleaned up his face. He took a mouthful of water from his bottle, then spit it out.

He tapped Google maps and typed in the name of the hospital.

Fifty-three minutes away.

Not at the speed Nate had intended driving.

He couldn’t let himself think about their possible injuries. That would be a surefire distraction, and then he’d probably end up in a hospital bed too.

He pulled away from the curb and did a U-turn to head in the direction he’d taken to arrive there, his heart beating so wildly he felt sure he was having palpitations.

They’ll be all right.

They’ll be all right.

They’ll pull through.

The alternative was too horrific to contemplate.

Nate paced the lobby of the hospital, his stomach churning. He understood the need for rules and regulations, but that hadn’t stopped him from wanting to grab the guy on the front desk by the throat when Nate had come up against a stone wall of resistance. It had taken every ounce of restraint he possessed.

I only want to know if they’re alive. If they’ve going to get through this.

Christ, he didn’t even know what their injuries were.

“Nate.”

He turned, and almost wept with relief to see Robert, Teague, and Sol striding toward him. “Thank God. They won’t tell me a damn thing.”

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