hands to Becca’s chest and started pumping. In the next instant, the doors closed and the truck sped away with lights flashing.
If there was any doubt in Randy’s mind that he loved her, there wasn’t now. Never in his life had he felt so helpless. Tears slid down his face unchecked as he turned to face the chief. “I can’t lose her.”
His friend put an arm across his back and ushered him back through the crowd. “Well then we best get to the hospital and make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Randy’s time in the burn unit had to be the most heart-wrenching experience of his life. He’d seen more than his fair share of trauma, but nothing remotely akin to what he’d witnessed over the past twenty-four hours.
The double doors to his right burst open. The scent of burnt flesh assaulted him. A child being whisked in cried out for his mother to make the pain stop. A shiny, insulated pad like they’d covered Becca with cocooned the small body. Within seconds they disappeared through the same set of doors they’d wheeled Becca through what seemed a lifetime ago.
The thought of her in that kind of pain was enough to bring him to his knees. Thankfully they were keeping her in an induced coma. The fabric of the rain suit had fused with her skin compounding the severity of her condition.
Dr. Swanson walked down the corridor toward him. The physician removed his surgical garments and passed them to a nurse keeping pace beside him. He sat heavily in the chair next to Randy and rubbed his eyes. His silver hair looked like he’d just gone for a ride on a motorcycle without a helmet.
“How is she, Doc?” Randy had fully intended on letting him speak first.
“We’re going to keep her induced for now. The dead tissue and fabric has been removed, and I’m pretty sure she’ll need skin grafts to her upper arm and thigh. Right now our biggest concerns are infection and dehydration, which is why we’ve put her in an isolation tent and are pumping fluids in her intravenously. She fractured her tibia, but luckily the bone structure isn’t displaced. We’ve got her leg in traction so there’s no chance of anything shifting.” The doctor put a hand to the back of his neck and rolled his head around. “She’s got a long and painful road ahead of her, if she makes it.”
Randy went rigid. “What do you mean,
He sighed wearily. “Her body has been through severe trauma. We’ll keep a close eye on her tonight and, if all goes well, we can eliminate the threat of her going into shock.”
Randy blew out a long breath, blinking his burning eyes. “I want to see her.”
“You won’t be able to go inside the tent. She won’t know you’re there.”
“I don’t care. The last time I saw her someone was pumping on her chest, and now you’re telling me she might not make it through the night.” His voice cracked. “I just need to see her, to know she’s really here.”
Dr. Swanson nodded, and his nurse led Randy to wash up. Nobody could pass through the doors without doing so, despite the fact he wasn’t going in the tent. Once scrubbed, he put on a gown and followed the woman to a small, glass-encased room.
“Push that button if you need me or when you’re ready to leave.” The nurse left him alone, closing the door firmly behind her.
Becca lay in a tent-like structure hooked up to several machines. Her entire body seemed wrapped in stark white gauze, only her red face visible.
“What I wouldn’t give to see those beautiful green eyes of yours.” Randy splayed his hands on the glass, praying she’d somehow feel his energy.
“You’re not alone, Red. We’ll get through this together, baby, if you’ll let me.”
He hung his head. None of it mattered if she didn’t survive the night.
Becca’s nurse convinced him to go home to shower and get some sleep, with the promise she’d call him if her condition changed no matter how little. At five in the morning, he rode into his garage. After a long, hot shower, he stretched out on his bed, but sleep eluded him. Every time his eyes closed, he’d see Becca lying in the hospital fighting for her life.
The clock on his bedside table read seven a.m. when he finally gave in to the call of the open road. He could think of no better remedy for his state of mind. On more than a few occasions, the magic of the wind had been his saving grace.
Half an hour later, he rode through the sleepy streets. All the tension in his body ebbed as it dissipated in the breeze that rushed around him. The phone in his shirt pocket vibrated, and he pulled over to the curb to answer it.
“Hey, Randy, I thought you’d be up. How about meeting me for a coffee at the hospital?”
He heard the exhaustion in the chief’s voice. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Everything’s alright isn’t it?”
“No worries. Becca is holding her own.”
Randy pulled out into the street and realized the chief didn’t really answer his question. If it wasn’t Becca, what could possibly be wrong? He reached the hospital and parked around back in the reserved parking for police and other government officials.
The sounds of the waking hospital greeted him. Nurses with carts delivering morning medication rolled down the otherwise barren hallways. Only a handful of people were scattered throughout the cafeteria. Staring off into space, seemingly deep in thought, Chief sat up against the wall at the far end of the room.
The heavenly scent of coffee lured Randy to the counter where he filled an extra large cup, black, desperate for the full caffeine effect. It wasn’t until his chair scraped against the tile that the chief looked his way with a start, slopping his drink down the front of his t-shirt.
“You know, it’s not nice to sneak up on people like that.”
Randy chuckled. “Who said I was nice?”
Chief scowled and made a futile attempt to rub the stain out with a napkin. “Becca’s nurse sounded hopeful she’s out of danger. Our Becca’s a tough one. I just hope she’s strong enough for the long road ahead of her.”
“With a little help from her friends, she just might be okay.”
Chief pressed his lips firmly together. He looked like he was going to say something but thought better of it. His expression grew serious.
“I have something to tell you....”
Chapter Thirty
After three weeks in isolation and a skin graft to her arm and thigh, Becca was finally moving to a room of her own, which meant he’d be allowed to visit. The doctor was very adamant only one visitor at a time for no longer than fifteen minutes. He couldn’t stress enough how important her psychological well-being played in her recovery.
In just a few minutes Randy would actually see her face to face for the first time in weeks. He was prepared to keep positive and not bring up any topic that might upset her. He prayed she didn’t ask any questions he wasn’t prepared to answer, at least not right now.
Becca’s door opened, and her nurse stepped out. “You have fifteen minutes. She’s a little groggy from the pain medication. Remember, don’t upset her.” She waggled her finger at him like a protective mother.
Randy flashed a smile and inched his way past her into the room. Becca lay with her eyes closed, an angel swathed in white. The bandages hid the extent of her burns. He slowly made his way up to her bedside and gazed down on her.
Her eyelids fluttered open and she looked at him with such tenderness it brought tears to his eyes. He lightly pressed his lips to her cool forehead before stepping back to pull up a chair.
“It’s good to see you,” she rasped. Her gaze travelled to a bowl of ice on the table by her bed.
