A Very Married Christmas: A Silver Bell Falls Holiday Novella(11)

“Jared, it’s Melanie,” she said quickly. “Do you have any updates on Josiah?”

“I wish we did, Melanie, and I’m sorry. Things are a bit out of control here right now. I believe Drew Maxwell—he’s new to the force—is at the hospital with him. I’ll text you his number right now and you can call him.”

“Thanks, Jared.” She hung up and thankfully his text came through a minute later.

“We’re almost there, Mel,” her father said and as she looked around, she knew it would still be at least another ten minutes before they pulled up to the small hospital.

With little more than a nod, she quickly tried calling Drew’s number but it went directly to voicemail.

“For all you know, he’s on the line updating them at the station,” John said calmly.

The rest of the drive was spent in silence and Melanie was relieved when her father dropped her off in front of the ER so she could go right in while he parked the car.

Running to the front desk, she did her best to calmly ask to see Josiah.

“Are you family?” the receptionist asked.

“I’m his fiancée,” she said and looked around for anyone she knew who might be able to give her information faster than the staff would.

“Miss Harper?”

Turning, Melanie saw a deputy walking toward her. She didn’t recognize him and hoped it was Drew Maxwell. A quick glimpse at his badge confirmed it. “I just tried calling you,” she said, shaking his hand. “Any updates on Josiah?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. The last update I got was that they were taking him for x-rays.”

“Miss Harper?”

This time she turned back to the receptionist. “Yes?”

“You can go back now.” There was a nurse in a pair of scrubs standing behind the desk and she gave Melanie a small smile.

When she looked at Drew, she spotted her father walking in. “They’re letting me go see Josiah. I’ll be back out as soon as I can,” she said before following the nurse back.

They went through the first set of doors before Melanie asked, “Is he awake? Will I be able to talk to him?”

“Dr. Cooper is waiting to talk to you,” she responded and then motioned for Melanie to go to the triage area.

The curtain was partially pulled back and as soon as she got close, a middle-aged man stepped out to greet her. “Miss Harper? I’m Dr. Cooper.” He shook her hand.

Melanie tried to look around him and into the area to see Josiah, but Dr. Cooper stepped farther out into the hallway and guided her to follow.

“Your fiancé has two gunshot wounds and a mild concussion.”

“Where?” she asked shakily. “Where was he hit?”

“The first went through the pectoralis minor muscle—that’s the muscle in the upper arm. It avoided any bones, arteries, and nerves—which is a good thing. It appears to be a clean in-and-out gunshot wound, leaving no shrapnel within the body.”

That made her feel mildly better.

“And the other?”

“The other grazed his shoulder,” he replied. “He was extremely fortunate.”

“Can I see him now?”

With a nod, he stepped aside.

With a murmured thanks, she moved around him and went directly to Josiah’s bedside and then openly cried at the sight of him. His eyes were closed and he looked pale. His clothes were covered in blood. She must have whispered his name because his head turned slightly toward her and his eyes fluttered open. Never in her life had she been so thankful to see those brown eyes open.

“Hey,” he said softly. He tried to move but immediately winced with pain.

“No, no, no,” she said quickly, soothingly. “Don’t try to move, okay?” It was hard to stop herself from touching him everywhere just to confirm that he was all right. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe just in case the paramedics and doctors missed anything. When Melanie looked up and met Josiah’s gaze, she saw nothing but tenderness there.

“I’m going to be okay, Mel. It was a clean shot.”

She nodded, but couldn’t seem to make herself speak. She was shaking and overwhelmed and felt completely helpless. Her hands hovered over him—not wanting to touch him directly in case he was in any pain. Thankfully, he took pity on her and slowly reached out and guided her hand down onto his thigh and then covered it with his own.

“It’s going to be all right,” he said softly. “I promise.”

And then she finally felt in control of her emotions enough to speak. “I was so scared, Josiah. I had no idea what happened to you and the drive over felt like it took ten lifetimes!” She explained how her father had been the one to come and get her and bring her to the hospital. “I wish I had gotten here faster.”

“I wish you didn’t need to be here, sweetheart,” he said gruffly. “I hate that you’re upset.”

Her eyes went wide. “Josiah, my being upset is nothing compared to what you’re going through.”

He chuckled and then winced. “Um…yeah. Probably should wish that I hadn’t been shot, huh?”

“Ya think?” she teased even as tears streamed down her face.

“Unfortunately, I can’t turn back time and this is what I have to deal with,” he said, his eyes closing slightly. “I’m fortunate this is all that happened. I’ll be uncomfortable for a while and my arm will be in a sling, but in a few weeks, I’ll be as good as new. Probably just in time for the Christmas parade, but my waving will be at a minimum.”