Richie and Toni in the ER

Richie held Toni’s hand all the way to the hospital with his good hand, the other had been wrapped and put in ice for the trip. She fought the oxygen mask until he told her to relax and breathe. She’d seemed alright when he first held her in back of the van but Biebe had been right, she was suffering from shock. It had been a shocking morning.

She kept repeating over and over that she thought he was dead. Richie kept assuring her he was not. He tried to explain in the ambo about what happened but she was confused and didn’t understand what he was talking about.

Once she was stabilized at the hospital the doctor made the decision to keep her overnight until her blood pressure and breathing were back to normal.

The fluids and drugs they’d given her were taking effect now and Richie finally allowed them to work on his hand.

Miss Peeg arrived at the hospital and after waiting a bit walked back to the little cubicle where Richie and Toni were receiving treatment.

"Miss Peeg," Richie said when she entered, "sorry I went off on you earlier."

"Oh sir it’s no matter, how is Mrs. Roberts?"

"She’ll be fine they’re going to keep her overnight for observation, trying to get her blood pressure stabilized."

Toni removed the oxygen mask, "thank you Miss Peeg, I don’t know yet what all happened but Richie’s told me some of it."

"Oh, you’re welcome Mrs. Roberts, you get some rest now, I’ll leave you alone."

"Miss Peeg, did you lock the office?"

"No, oh dear I didn’t and I have the keys, I’m sorry I never thought…and your Rover sir is still back on the dirt road, the Sheriff did lock it before we left."

"How did you get here?"

"Sheriff Biebe brought me, the um man I shot died on the way to the hospital sir and it appears I am to be charged with manslaughter. He’s at the post mortem now and I’m to wait here for him to get back."

Richie looked at her seeing the horror of it all reflected in her eyes, "you don’t worry Miss Peeg you ain’t goin’ to jail."

"The Sheriff did mention something about house arrest, do you think sir he might lock up the office if I give him the keys?"

"If he’s going to put you under house arrest that means you won’t be able to leave Millie’s place, yeah Biebe will lock up and bring you the keys, I’m sure of it." The technician came in with a tray to start on his hand. "Miss Peeg once again it’s not under your job description, but thank you for what you tried to do today."

"Yes sir," she said moving out of the way

"Richie what are they doing to you?" Toni wanted to know

"Patching up my hand honey." He reached over the bed and took her hand and squeezed it.

"Where’s Miss Peeg?"

"She um stepped out, I think her niece is here," he winced as the local anesthetic went in.

"Good she doesn’t need to be alone," Toni said. "Richie I love you."

"I love you too Toni," he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. He’d never realized just how much until today when he thought he’d lost it all. He looked at the red rings around her wrists where the rope had cut into her and the fear, anxiety, and pain that had filled him for the last few hours now was replaced with a burning rage that something like this could happen to them. Somebody was going to pay for this, it might take everything he had but somebody was going to pay. He took a deep breath and swallowed it for now.

Toni was drifting off and he kissed her hand again.

"Looks like the bullet passed through Mr. Roberts," the doctor said dropping his instruments into the pan. "We’ll stitch it up now."

"Is she going to be in here all night?" Richie asked tiredly.

"She’ll be moved as soon as we’ve got a room available, shouldn’t be long," he concentrated on the neat row of stitches. "You’re staying with her I assume?"

"Yeah, I’m stayin’ right by her side."