“Right back at you.”
Boone let his smile drop as he crossed to Cooper. The younger man’s face was streaked with sweat and grime and he looked as if he might fall over at any moment. “Are you okay?”
Cooper lifted his chin and nodded, relief coursing through him when he caught sight of the sheriff. “I’m fine. I wasn’t part of this. I just saw it happen from the sidewalk.”
“So Hannah told me.”
As if remembering Hannah for the first time in what felt like forever, Cooper jerked his eyes to the sidewalk, sighing in relief when he caught sight of her familiar blond head. “Is she okay?”
“She seems tired,” Boone replied. “I don’t think she’s in any danger of falling apart, though. Once you get her home and put her to bed, make sure she gets a full night’s sleep. I think she’ll be perfectly fine.”
“That’s good.” Cooper dragged a hand through his hair. “I think most of the people are out of the vehicles.”
“They are. I got a report from my men when I was in en route.”
“Did anyone die?”
Boone worked his jaw, as if he wasn’t going to answer, and then nodded. “A woman died. She was in her fifties. I’m not sure which vehicle belonged to her.”
Cooper pointed toward one of the ones in the back. “She only hit one other car. Her vehicle didn’t look all that bad. I know who you’re talking about, though. She was one of the ones I checked on.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
“I know. I still feel bad for her. It happened so fast, out of nowhere. I still don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
Boone lowered his voice to make sure none of the bustling paramedics could hear him. “Hannah said she thinks something magical happened right before the initial crash.”
“The lightning?”
Boone nodded. “I told her she could mention the lightning in the report but not the M-world.”
“Mullet?”
Boone made an exasperated face. “You two are perfect for one another. Has anybody ever told you that?”
“No, but I’m open to hearing it for the rest of my life.”
“Ugh. You’re so sappy where she’s concerned.”
“If you think I’m going to take that as an insult, you’re dead wrong. I’m fine being sappy.”
“Good to know.” Boone blew out a sigh. “It’s a good thing you guys were here. The report I got said that bystanders helped direct the paramedics toward those most gravely injured first. You did a good thing here.”
“It still feels ... overwhelming.”
“I know.” Boone clapped Cooper on the shoulder and then glanced over at Hannah, who was rubbing her forehead. “You’ve done all you can for the time being. Why don’t you take her back to Casper Creek. If I have to, I can get your report myself tomorrow morning over breakfast.”
“That sounds good to me, but I know Hannah.” Cooper’s tone was even. “She’s going to want to check on the victims at the hospital.”
“That’s my job.”
“She won’t be able to sleep if she doesn’t see them for herself. It’s best to just go with the flow than pick a fight.”
“She’s really high-maintenance, huh?”
Cooper swallowed the absurd urge to laugh. “Don’t ever mention that to her.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’ll be annoyed.”
“Son, women always think they’re low-maintenance when they’re high-maintenance. It’s a regular thing.”
“Just keep it to yourself tonight.”
“If you say so.”
HANNAH INDEED WANTED TO CHECK IN at the hospital. Cooper didn’t offer up a single word of argument, instead automatically heading in that direction. By the time they were cleared for the third floor, which was where the teenager Hannah had bonded with had been sent with her parents, Boone was already there talking to the doctor.
“But you think they’ll make a full recovery,” the sheriff prodded, his gaze intense.
“I can’t make you any promises of course,” the doctor countered. “Their scans look relatively good. The father had surgery to correct a penetrating wound to his shoulder, although it missed all major arteries and organs, so it wasn’t that bad. They’re both still unconscious, and we want to keep them that way until the morning.”
“That’s good.” Boone flicked his eyes to Hannah and Cooper as they approached. “How did I know you guys would end up here?”
“Hannah wants to make sure the girl is okay,” Cooper explained.
“Angel,” Hannah volunteered. “Angel Bright.”
“I was just talking to the doctor about Mr. and Mrs. Bright,” Boone replied.
“Are they ....?” Hannah was fearful enough she couldn’t finish the question.
“They’re both alive, and likely to make a full recovery,” Boone replied.
“That’s good.” Hannah exhaled heavily and flashed a beatific smile. “I was really worried when they didn’t wake up. I felt so bad for Angel.”
“Yes, well, Angel is another concern,” the doctor noted. “Her injuries are minor. She needed stitches for a cut on her forearm. Other than some minor aches and pains, which are normal in a collision such as this, she’s absolutely fine.”
“Why is that a concern?” Hannah queried.
“Because she’s a minor.”
“I still don’t understand.”
Cooper cleared his throat and immediately moved his hand to Hannah’s shoulder. He sensed trouble, no matter how he told her what was sure to be considered terrible news, and he was already bracing himself. “She can’t be released on her own,” he volunteered.
Realization dawned on Hannah’s features. “But ... she must have some family.”
“According to Angel, she has an aunt and uncle who live in Georgia and a grandfather she hasn’t seen since she was five or six who she believes lives in Arizona. That’s it.”
“What does that mean?” Hannah had a sneaking suspicion she already knew what it meant but she wanted someone to confirm it for her. “Is she going to have to stay here or something?”
“We’re not a daycare facility,” the doctor replied.
“Yes, and as she’s not ten, she doesn’t need constant supervision,” Hannah shot back. “She’s a teenager. She won’t get in the way.”
Cooper cocked an eyebrow. “How do you know that? You spent five minutes talking to her.”
“I know it because she was worried about her parents. She’s obviously a good girl. I don’t see why
