Page 25 of Kent's Watch
“Yes, I was waiting for a ride, but if it’s okay with you, I’d like to go up to the fifth floor and check in with Mikey’s parents. Because Jim radioed it in, hospital personnel were waiting for us. After about a five-minute assessment, they rushed him to surgery.” He looked at his watch and sighed. “That was almost six hours ago.”
Together they stood, and with the dogs on their leashes, they headed to the elevator. As the doors closed she looked at him, to get his attention, she reached out and took his hand in hers. Heseemed to grasp it like a lifeline. “Did he wake up? Do you know what happened?”
“Yes, he did wake up, but he didn’t say what happened. He was scared. I talked to him and let Tate comfort him, but by the time we arrived he was out again. Maybe his parents will know something.” He looked at her sadly as he shook his head. “I know it’s not our place as a search and rescue person to know the why, but sometimes, it helps me sleep better at night knowing it.”
They exited the elevator and started toward the nurses’ station. They were stopped when a woman let out a little scream, and rushed them. Kent caught her before she bowled them over. Through her tears she thanked him for saving her son.
“Do you know what happened?” Kent asked, after he reminded her of who Rita was. It turned out that they were from out of state, and this was the first camping trip they had ever taken. Little Mikey had been fascinated that he could pee outside, and in the middle of the night he had to go. He went outside to do his business, then saw what he called baby lights flying in the air. He tried to catch them and ended up chasing after them, until he fell off the side of the cliff.
“For the life of me,” Mrs. Kelp said. “I have no clue what he means by baby flying lights.”
“Could it be lightning bugs?” Rita asked.
As soon as she said it, the man that had joined them slapped a hand on his forehead. “Probably, we would try to catch them in our backyard at home.”
“How is Mikey?”
“He’s roughed up, broken leg, broken arm, and a deep cut on his head. The other cuts and scrapes are superficial. The doctors want to keep him here for at least three days before he’s released. We’re going to stay here tonight, then tomorrow I’m going back to the campsite to pack everything up. When he’s released from the hospital, we’re going home.”
“May I ask where that is?” Kent asked. He had heard a southern accent as they spoke.
“We’re from Little Rock, Arkansas. This is our first time in Colorado. Might be the last for some time.” He looked at Rita with a sad smile. “No offense to your state.”
“None taken. I’m just glad we were able to find him.”
“Do you have an organization we can donate money to?”
Before Rita could say anything, Kent gave them the name of Rita’s operation. They said their goodbyes, and as the Kelps went back to Mikey’s room, Rita and Kent made for the elevator. Once outside, Kent took Tate to a grassy spot to do his business, then they settled into Rita’s truck. When she asked if he wanted to drive, he said he was okay with her driving.
Before she started the truck, she looked at him with a grin. “Okay, a couple of choices here. One, do you want fast food, or a sit-down restaurant? Two, do you want to eat here in Colorado Springs, or home in Fool’s Gold, or halfway between?”
“I’m not really dressed for a sit-down restaurant.” He pointed to the mud caked on his pants, and that’s when she saw the dried blood on his shirt. “But I don’t like fast-food restaurants. I avoid them unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
“Do you trust me?”
Kent looked at her hard, then nodded. “Yes, what are you thinking?”
“Why don’t I call in an order from a place I know on the outskirts of town. We can stop and pick it up. Three blocks away is a park we can pull over and eat. The dogs can run a little, and we can eat.”
“Perfect, I’d like a double cheeseburger with the works. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers. Make that two.”
“Fries, onion rings?”
“Both. With the largest plain iced tea they carry. Better make that two of them also.” He leaned up on his hip, withdrew somemoney and placed it in the cup holder between them. Rita only nodded and made her call. Thirty minutes later with his arms loaded down with food, and Rita handling the dogs, they sat at a picnic table, divided the food, and dug in. Neither said a word as they ate.
CHAPTER 11
Kent wipedhis mouth with his napkin, bunched it up, then tossed it on his empty food containers. He sipped his tea and sighed heavily after he finished. “I’m sorry.”
“For?” Rita frowned at him. “What did you do?”
“I’m not normally that rude and not talk to my date while we eat. My only excuse is that I was starving.”
Rita laughed. “First, we are not on a date. Second, I was just as hungry as you. I didn’t talk either.” She wiped her own mouth and did the same with her napkin. She settled back and looked at him. “Do you feel better?”
“I do.” Kent looked at his watch and winced. “By my calculations, it’s been eighteen hours since I last ate.” He grinned at her. “I’m not counting those protein bars on the trail as eating. They were just a snack.”
“Speaking of,” Rita said as they both gathered their trash, carried it over to the barrels, and gathered their dogs to head back to her truck.
