Page 92 of The Lonely Road

“There is significant damage and⁠—”

“Is anyone hurt?” she cuts him off. It’s clear what’s important to her.

There’s a long, uncomfortable pause.

“Hugh?” Taya calls out, her voice high-pitched with anxiety.

“Mac was there.”

She puts a hand to her heart. “No. Is he okay? Is he⁠—”

“He’s at County Memorial.”

“I’m on my way. Is he…is he….”

“He’s got a concussion—which is shocking since he has such a hard head,” the Sheriff deadpans, which is his way, I think of calming her down.

“Someone…hurt him?”

I clench my jaw. Fucking Trafton. Fucking Jessup.

“He surprised the intruder, who struck him in the back of the head. He didn’t see who it was.”

She goes silent and sniffles. I see tears streaming down her face.

“Taya?” Hugh says.

She doesn’t reply, just sniffles.

“Sheriff, this is Mason Brooks. What’s his status besides the concussion?”

I have never met the Sheriff, but I’m not worried that he doesn’t know of me—he would. Wildflower Canyon is a small town, and after the barbecue, it was clear that I’m connected to Taya.

“Just that, Brooks. They said they’ll keep him overnight, but that’s about it.”

“Thanks, Sheriff. We’ll be there”—I look at the time and assess where we are—“in ninety minutes.”

“Stop by the office first and…just do a quick recon. Mac wanted me to tell that to Taya. He’s worried about the client files.”

Once we end the call, I put a hand on Taya’s arm. “Pull over, Taya.”

“What?” Her voice is reed-thin.

“Come on, sweetheart, let me drive.”

She nods vaguely and does as I say.

Once we’re parked at a rest stop, she just sits, staring out of the window. “He was there for me…for the Whitman case. He said he’d go through the files and….” She takes a deep breath and lets it out.

I pull her into my arms, ignoring the console poking at me.

She leans against me, her forehead resting on my shoulder.

I drive carefully but do not respect the speed limit.

We get to Wildflower Canyon in fifty minutes. The county hospital is another twenty minutes away.

I take her to her office—because that’s what Mac wants. She agrees.