Page 75 of Forget That Guy
Charlene and Young headed to the break room with wide eyes.
Black, Denver, Boone, and I went to the waiting room and took a seat.
“Got anything good yet?” Denver asked.
“Other than the kidnapping and battery against this one.” He jerked his head toward me. “I still need your statement, by the way.”
I nodded. “Now?”
He shrugged and pulled out a notebook. “As good as any.”
I gave him everything, starting with the moment I got the call, and ending with when they’d all arrived.
“The woman,” he said. “Did you get her name?”
“No,” I admitted. “She’s apparently his granddaughter. Has a mom with a bunch of kids that she’s expected to take care of.” I paused. “But I swear, when she left, she gave me this look like she knew that I was in danger. That this would happen.”
Black took more notes.
Denver wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against his solid chest.
I would not admit how great it felt to be in his arms.
But my eyes drooped as exhaustion started to worm its way through me.
My eyelids grew heavy, and before I knew it, I was asleep.
EIGHTEEN
I don’t get enough credit for the things I manage not to say.
—Denver to Holly
DENVER
I got her to wake up enough to take a shower and slip into a t-shirt of mine, but that was it.
I put her to sleep in my bed, then went to work.
I got cows fed, horses fed, and stalls cleaned up. Inoculations were administered, children fed and oil changes were completed on two tractors.
By the time eight in the evening hit, I was so damn exhausted that I could barely keep my eyes open.
At one point in time, an all-nighter followed by an all-dayer would’ve been nothing.
Now? It felt like my damn world had tilted on its axis.
I got through dinner, took a shower, and went to bed without talking to the kids much.
They understood and sent me to bed anyway.
When I got there, it was to find Holly asleep on my side of the bed in a tight ball.
I contemplated getting dressed, but decided…fuck it.
I was tired.
I needed sleep.
