Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(102)

Gavin had no response for that.


“Thanks, Doc. I’ll take it from here.” Cam pointed at two chairs facing each other. “Gavin. Take a seat. Boone, you too.”


Gavin didn’t argue. Neither did Boone.


“Now, Boone, why don’t you tell Gavin what you told us.”


Boone aimed his face at the carpet.


Probably out of guilt that the kid couldn’t even look him in the eye.


“No rush,” Cam said.


Chet and Remy stood behind him; each had a hand on his shoulder. “The sooner you get this over with, the sooner we can get you to our place, get you warmed up and doped up so you can rest.”


Boone nodded and winced slightly. “I showed up at a party and Sierra was there. She’d been drinking.”


Gavin listened as the kid detailed what’d gone on. His stomach pitched when he heard the word blowout. “You were driving Sierra’s car and you had a blowout?”


“That’s how the accident happened, although her car was running like shit before that so it could’ve been a combination of factors. I was driving about forty-five when the right front tire blew. I stepped on the brake and the back end skidded out on the ice. I managed to get the car slowed down but we still hit the ditch at thirty miles per hour. My airbag deployed. Sierra’s didn’t. At the angle we hit, the passenger’s door got wedged open.”


A sick feeling took root. “It’s twenty degrees below zero outside.”


“Yeah. Once the powder from the airbag cleared out, I saw Sierra was unconscious and I knew we were in the middle of f*cking nowhere…” Boone paused to take a breath. “I shoved my airbag aside and hoped like hell Sierra had stashed a cold weather emergency kit someplace. I crawled out and opened the rear hatch. I found the thermal blanket and tucked it around her as best as I could after I checked her vitals.”


“Vitals?” Gavin repeated. “Why would you do that?”


“I’m an EMT. She came to when I was checking her and I suspected between the impact and seatbelt, she’d broken her collarbone. My cell phone was dead so I found hers and called the ambulance line directly. They were en route to the hospital from another accident. Given our location, I knew it’d be thirty minutes before the ambulance even reached us.” That’s when Boone looked Gavin in the eye. His eyes filled with guilt. “I’m sorry. The instant that tire blew I knew we were gonna crash. I tried to…”


This kid that he’d accused of hurting his daughter had actually saved her. Saved her. Saved her from drinking and driving. Saved her from hypothermia. Saved her by being an experienced driver. Because if Sierra had been behind the wheel? She probably wouldn’t have known what to do during a blowout. It might’ve been hours before anyone found her…in subzero temperatures, alone, injured…she wouldn’t have made it long.


The horror of the situation hit him anew and he started to lose it. His body shook. He couldn’t breathe. He wanted to laugh, scream and cry all at the same time.


Then Vi was tugging him to his feet. Telling everyone he needed some air.


He clutched her hand, followed her blindly as she led him to another small waiting area. She placed her cold hands on his cheeks and got right in his face. “Gavin,” she said softly. “It’s okay. Let it out.”


“I… What if… She…”


“She’s okay.”


“But… I can’t…”


“It’s just you and me here. Go on, son, and let it out. I’ve got you.”


Gavin broke down, crying quietly, silently. His body trembling as he curled into her and let her hold him up. His thoughts bounced between being grateful that Sierra was all right and being paralyzed with fear about what if scenarios now that he knew the truth.


He began to regain control when his gratitude overtook his fear. He squeezed Vi before he released her. “Thank you.” He could barely look her in the eye. “How did you know?”


“A tough front only lasts so long and then those tiny cracks start to appear. No one else saw it, if you’re worried about that, but I recognized it.” She fussed with his shirt collar.


“How?” Gavin expected her to say because I’m your mother, but her answer surprised him.


“Because I’m the same way. I never want anyone to see me as weak. Even when a few tears don’t make you weak, they make you human.”


“I’m really glad you’re here. I…” Just say it. “Didn’t think I needed anyone and apparently I do.”


She smiled softly. “Along those lines…please let us help you when Sierra comes home. She won’t be a happy camper bound up and homebound and the more people who show her they love her and want to entertain her, the better. Plus, it’ll keep you two from being at each other’s throats for the duration. I know the two of you butt heads frequently.”


That was an understatement. “I’d appreciate that. Thank you.”


“Good. Now I know you’re chomping at the bit to check on her, so I’ll send the people in the waiting room home.” She kissed his cheek. “Not that I’m meddling or telling you what to do, but you owe that boy an apology.”