Hay and Heartbreak (17 page)

Dan wondered if anyone in Joaquin’s family would care after how they’d treated him. His heart ached for the man.

“I just can’t believe something like this, whatever
this
is, is happening on the ranch again,” Frankie said. “There was all that vandalism when Carlos and them came here, before I was hired on. I heard about it, though. Now there’s more trouble. That just isn’t right.”

“Right or wrong, life bein’ fair, none of that matters. Things happen regardless of good people and good intentions.” Duke scowled as he stared past Dan toward the smoke. “That’s why we gotta grab onto the good and the people we love, and hang on to them.”

Chapter Twelve

Hector kept pressure on Joaquin’s chest. “Help’s coming, man. Just hang on.”

Joaquin, his normally tan complexion very pale, gritted out, “I’m not fuckin’ dying.”

“That’s right. You aren’t.” Hector wasn’t so sure. Everything had gone to hell in a handbasket from one minute to the next. “Curt’s going for help.”

Joaquin shuddered. For one horrible second, Hector thought he’d died. But he took a breath, then hissed it back out. “Can’t believe you ever messed around with him.”

“What?” Hector pressed harder.

“God—damn!” Joaquin clutched at Hector’s arm. “Fuckin’ hurts!”

“Sorry, sorry. I have to keep pressure on it, and for your information, I never messed around with Curt. He kissed me once when he was drunk.” And it’d been one of the worst kisses Hector had ever been the recipient of. “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even remember it.”

“He remembers.” Joaquin’s eyes rolled back.

“Shit! Joaquin!” Hector tried not to panic any more than he was. He had trouble organizing his thoughts, his mind screaming that he’d let Joaquin die, until Joaquin’s chest rose as he took a breath. “Fuck! Thank God. Please”—he tipped his head up to the sky—“can You spare him? Surely You don’t need him right now?” Hector looked around for Barney and Carlos. “Hey! Barney!”

Barney had gone with Carlos to track the person who’d been squatting in the line shacks. It scared Hector to his bones that only Barney had come back.

“Where’s Carlos?” Hector asked as Barney ran over to him.

Barney dropped to his knees on the other side of Joaquin and felt for his pulse. “Still there. Good. God. Shit!” He shoved at his blond hair where it’d fallen on his forehead. “Carlos is fine. We didn’t find the shooter.”

“Then where’s Carlos?” Hector’s heart wasn’t going to be able to take much more. Too many people he cared about were hurt or at risk of it.

“You want me to apply pressure for a while and give you a break?” Barney held up his hands.

“No, I’ve got it. His breathing’s steady, just not very deep,” Hector noted.

Barney nodded. “Yeah, but he’s breathing, so he’s still alive. Unconscious is probably a good thing, too at this point.”

“Where’s Carlos?” Hector asked again.

“We found a kid, well, maybe he’s an adult, I dunno. Looks young, and he’d been hurt, had tape around his wrists and ankles, over his mouth. He was wearing clothes, but someone had beat the crap out of him. I’m surprised he didn’t suffocate with all the blood and swelling and his mouth being taped over. Poor guy’s terrified and Carlos is trying to talk to him, calm him down so he can move him. Carlos told me to git ’cause the two of us were scaring the kid.”

“What the hell’s going on out here?” Hector wondered. The loud buzz of an ATV signaled Curt’s return. At least, Hector hoped it was Curt. “Maybe we should have all stayed together.”

“We know the shooter took off on a motorcycle or dirt bike about a hundred yards past the line shack. Heard him start it up and roar off.” Barney grimaced. “Never saw a face, either. Fucker got away, and I hate that.”

“Me too.” Though the man was armed and obviously dangerous. It might have been best that he escaped then. The police could catch him. Ian wouldn’t stop looking until he found him. Hector believed that.

They waited without speaking, Hector listening to the ATVs approach. He and Barney were both tensed up, that much was clear to see. As soon as the ATV was in view, and he saw Curt, Hector was able to loosen up a little.

Barney checked Joaquin’s pulse again, and nodded. Hector looked at his hand, covered in Joaquin’s blood, then up at the blue sky now tainted with smoke from whatever had been used in the fireplace of the line shack. It’d sent up huge puffs of smoke. The mountains and trees were the same as always, the grass beneath him green and lush. The world hadn’t changed because of what had just happened.

Even though the wind carried the scent of smoke, the odor would pass and the mountains would still be there. The sky would still be blue, unless it stormed, and the grass would be green until the snow covered it. Nothing would change if Joaquin died, yet so many things had already been altered that afternoon, at least in Hector’s life.

He hadn’t fought hard enough to get through to Dan, hadn’t apologized enough. He’d been such a fucking fool. So what if the connection had been fast and frightening because of the intensity? How many people were lucky enough to find someone who drew them in so completely?

“Where’s the helicopter supposed to land?”

Curt’s question brought Hector up short.

Barney leaped up. “The pasture! We need to move the cattle. Are you okay here while we do that?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it.” He wasn’t going to let go of Joaquin. They might not have seen eye to eye on everything, but Joaquin wasn’t a bad guy. He’d been good to Dan, and obviously a better friend to him than Hector had been. That he wanted Dan was annoying, but Hector wasn’t going to just hand Dan over to him. He would fight for Dan—not in a physical battle. With words and truth and trust.

If he’ll give me a chance. I really fucked up.
He knew that the largest reason he’d been pissed off was because Curt had exposed Dan’s past to everyone like it was a dirty secret, and Hector had felt like he was being laughed at because he was one of the last to know.

Hector hadn’t even tried to think about what it must have been like for Dan to have been arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, then spend a decade in prison. To have been cut, and threatened, to have to barter for safety with his body.

Yes, Hector had a lot to make up for, and there was no way was he going to let Joaquin die if he could help it, because Dan considered Joaquin his friend. Dan would be hurt if Joaquin died.

Plus, Hector liked Joaquin. He couldn’t even blame Joaquin for wanting Dan. And if he won Dan over, then it was Hector’s fault for being a fucking idiot in the first place.

Hector’s head throbbed, and his ears rang. He ducked without thinking about what he was doing, as he looked up to see the air ambulance coming in to land. “Thank God. Please don’t be too late.” Joaquin was still breathing, but he’d lost a lot of blood. Hector knew there were no guarantees.

Once the helicopter landed, the next few minutes were a blur of activity. The emergency responders took over the care of Joaquin, and Hector stood up on shaky legs then stumbled back several feet. He wanted to stay out of everyone’s way.

Barney and Curt joined him.

“He looks so still,” Curt said. “Is he—?”

“He’s gonna come through this.” Barney bobbed his head. “Yes he will. Joaquin’s not a quitter, and he’ll fight until…until… He’s not gonna die.”

Hector hoped Barney was right.

“We’ve got him as stabilized as we can,” one of the medics said. “We’re taking him to Methodist.” And with that, Joaquin was taken away.

Hector watched them load him onto the helicopter then it was lifting off, looking like some bizarre metal dragonfly.

Hector shielded his eyes with one hand. “I’m going to find Carlos. Scared kid or not, Carlos is in danger out there by himself.”

“Scared kid? What’s going on?” Curt asked.

Barney filled him in quickly.

Hector jogged over to his ATV and removed the rifle he’d brought with him. He hadn’t had a chance to even get it before the shooting had started. Like everyone but Carlos, he’d leaped off his vehicle and used it for cover. Joaquin had gone for his weapon, and that was when he’d been shot.

Now Hector had his rifle in hand and didn’t feel a whole lot more secure. The gun didn’t act as body armor.

“Hang on. We’re coming with you,” Barney said. “Besides, I know where I left them.”

“Wait.” Hector was torn over what to do, but the police needed to be made aware of the armed and dangerous man on the loose. “No, we should call Ian again or the police dispatcher in Ashville, someone, and let them know the guy got away on a motorbike or ATV. I know police are on the way, but they need to know what’s going on. Plus, they can have another helicopter out looking for that guy in minutes.”

Barney nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Wouldn’t want someone else getting’ hurt. I’ll call.” He jogged up to the line shack. “There’s signal here.”

Hector glared at Curt.

“I didn’t know!” Curt protested. “I just—”

Hector waved him off. He’d had it with Curt and was too close to losing his temper and swinging at the man.

“Sorry,” Curt muttered.

Barney quickly made the necessary call then ran to his ATV. “Let’s go! We need to stick together.” He tossed the phone to Curt. “Here, hold that.”

Hector could track Carlos and the shooter all on his own, but he didn’t argue. The three of them set out on their ATVs once Barney had assured them that’d be easier than walking. Carlos and whoever was with him would know they were coming, too. There wouldn’t be any startling anyone.

It didn’t take long to reach Carlos, and the thin, short male he was with. Hector couldn’t guess the guy’s age—his face was too badly misshapen from having been beaten. Hector shut off his ATV. “We need to get out of here. There’s no telling when that fucker will be back.”

Carlos whispered something to the injured boy-man, and whatever it was got the Carlos the tiniest hint of a nod in return. “All right. One of you double up for now until we get back to my ATV. Sebastian is riding with me.”

“Curt’ll ride with me,” Barney said with a tone that brooked no argument. “Get on.”

Curt was soon riding behind Barney. Carlos and Sebastian were in the lead, and Hector brought up the rear.

As soon as they reached Carlos’ ATV, Curt was back on his vehicle.

Hector kept a wary eye on Sebastian. Whatever the guy’s story was remained a mystery to him. “I’m gonna check the shack. Still got some smoke coming out of the chimney.”

Hector went inside and saw that the fire was still burning. He went to the old, crooked pantry and pulled out one of the five-gallon jugs of water.

Barney rushed in a second later. “Carlos said Sebastian threw green twigs and leaves and such to make it smoke. The kid figured that would get attention. Guess he was either being held here or hiding here and got found.”

“I’d go with the last one,” Hector decided, thinking about the state of the line shacks when he and Curt had checked on them. “Could be wrong, though.” He opened the bottle then hefted it up and started pouring it over the fire and embers.

“I’m gonna get the other bottle.” Barney was beside him with it before Hector had finished emptying the first one.

Ten gallons of water made a hell of a mess in the fireplace and the floor, but Hector was sure the fire was out.

Outside, Carlos, Sebastian and Curt were waiting.

“Didn’t want to split us up in case there was any more trouble,” Carlos said.

Hector thought he heard a sob come from Sebastian but couldn’t be sure. He hoped the guy had someone to turn to and help him out. If not, he’d probably get adopted by everyone at the ranch, even if he was an adult. Hector was leaning toward him being an adult—the idea of using a fire to signal for help had been pretty cunning. Maybe it was something a kid would have thought of. There really wasn’t any way for him to know unless he asked, and that seemed crass considering everything that had happened.

It also wasn’t his business, at least not yet.

“I called Will and Troy. They know we’re coming in, and they’re headed this way. Ian’s with them. We’ll probably meet up in a couple of hours or so.” Carlos laid his rifle across his lap. “Stay close.”

Hector hoped like hell the man who’d shot Joaquin was long gone. He didn’t get the feeling they were being watched, but that didn’t mean they weren’t. Darkness fell while they were making their trip back. The full moon was up, shining orange at first, then lightening to its usual paler color.

When Hector’s phone vibrated in his shirt pocket, hope twisted in his heart. He doubted he’d be able to hear if he answered. That didn’t stop him from pulling his phone out and looking at the number on the screen. He recognized it as Duke’s, and the urge to answer it, to see if it was Dan, was so tempting. It’d mean slowing down, and possibly putting his friends at risk, though.

Unless he could slide the lock on the screen over and take the call. Hector managed it with his thumb. He brought the phone to his ear. “Duke?”

“Dan. It’s Dan.”

Nothing more, just those three words that Hector could barely make out, yet they thrilled him through and through, and ignited the spark of hope he’d nourished. “Dan. Dan, we’re coming home. I— Can we talk?”

“Yes. You’re okay?”

“We’re okay, except—” Hector’s throat constricted. “Joaquin, he was shot.”

“I know. He’s alive,” Dan said. “Did you hear me?”

Hector’s eyes stung either from the wind or unshed tears. “Yeah, I did. Can’t hear you too well but, I got that. I need to talk to you when I get back.”

“I’ll be here. Be safe.” Dan said something else that Hector didn’t catch, then the dial tone sounded in his ear.

Hector tucked his phone away. He signaled to Carlos that he had something to tell him. Carlos slowed down. Barney, Hector and Curt followed suit.

“Just talked to Dan,” Hector told them. “He said Joaquin’s alive.”

Carlos heaved a great sigh. “Thank God. Will must have called the hospital. Curt, where’s my phone?”

Curt patted his shirt pocket, then his jacket. He looked like he was about to piss himself. “It was right here, I swear it was, Carlos! I had it in my shirt pocket.”