Page 51 of Maggie’s Match

“It’s broken,” she reminded him.

“Yeah, happened when the blast blew me on my ass,” he replied, remembering it all now. He sat up a little straighter. “Was it really Royce and his uncle that did this?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “Your parents and your uncle spent a few hours at the local station until the state police showed up and took over the investigation.”

“Tell me they’re rotting in a cell,” he said.

She nodded. “Arson and attempted murder charges. Which they are denying wholeheartedly.”

“Good thing we installed those cameras.” He rested his head back. “Why do I feel woozy?”

“The medicine. When you get some food in you, you should feel better.” She touched his face.

Just then a nurse entered the room, and Maggie asked if he could get something to eat. The nurse said she’d find him something and left again.

“When can I go home?” he asked.

“They want to keep you for a little while. They’re going to have a burn specialist look at your leg tomorrow and let that doctor decide,” she answered. “Rick?”

He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Yeah?”

“I think my cousin can handle opening up the shop from here on out,” she started, and he could tell she’d thought a lot about it.

“No.” He shook his head. “I can see the pain that is causing you. We’ll stay.” He wished he could take her hand in his.

She shook her head and closed her eyes. “I don’t know if I can stay any longer. I need home.” He heard the pain in her voice. “We could come back as often as needed. For opening day and such.”

“Let’s not decide tonight,” he said, and closed his eyes again.

She woke him when a tray of food was delivered and sat with him while he downed the pudding and dry toast. He drank a whole hospital mug of ice water before clocking out again.

Next time he woke it was to a loud and very bright room.

“There he is,” his father said, getting his attention. “The star of the hour.”

Rick groaned at his father’s joke. Then his mother appeared next to his dad, and Rick felt his heart skip at the worry in her eyes.

“Hey,” he said, holding out his arms for his mother to hug him. He held onto her while she soaked the front of his hospital gown.

It was then that he noticed Maggie wasn’t in the room. His father noticed him looking around for her and said, “She went back to the ranch to shower and change. We wanted her to rest, but something tells me she’ll be back soon.”

He nodded. “Who wants to fill me in?” He looked between his dad and his uncle Grant.

“That’ll be my job, as your lawyer.” Grant stepped forward.

For the next hour, his uncle filled him in on the state’s case against Matthew and Royce Tillerson. Both men had tried to lawyer up with one of the most expensive firms in the state. But after seeing the video evidence, the firm turned them down. Currently, they were without representation.

Grant seemed to think it was because he let it slip that he was working the case, and no one in the state who had brains wanted to go up against him.

A larger tray of food was delivered, and he wolfed down the tasteless meal and then begged his parents to grab him something more when they went to get lunch for themselves.

His sister sat beside his bed. After his parents and uncle and aunt left to grab lunch, she hugged him.

“You idiot,” she said into his chest. “There are a lot of other ways you can get attention, you know.”

“Yeah, but this one will give me a few really cool scars,” he joked.

She cupped his face and kissed him on the forehead. “I love you. You know that, don’t you, you idiot?”