13. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

C annon waited for his discharge papers. Why did the hospital tell you that you'd be leaving before lunch, but it was now after two? He still didn't have discharge papers. He'd changed into clothes for going home, but it really wasn't more than he'd been wearing. They'd slid sweats on him, slicing the leg open, and his T-shirt sleeve had been split to fit over the cast. He had socks on, but since he wasn't going to be walking except from the wheelchair to the vehicle, he'd foregone shoes.

He wanted to get home, but he wasn't looking forward to trying to lay in a vehicle and be driven home. He was independent, and this accident was teaching him humility in a big way. Baron, Locks, and Rascal had shown up and taken Clara to get her stuff from the hotel she'd stayed in. They would be back in a little bit, but he didn't think he needed to worry. The hospital wasn't in a hurry. His nurses on this floor had been wonderful, but from the little bits he'd heard, they were understaffed. Clara had run out and gotten food for them one night because they'd been so busy, none of them seemed to get a chance to eat.

"Knock, knock. Everybody decent?" a voice asked before Hennessy peeked around the door. "We didn't want to interrupt a sponge bath."

Hennessy chuckled as he and his cousin Quinton walked in.

"What are you guys doing here?"

Hennessy sat down and kicked back while Quinton came and shook his hand.

"Glad you're okay, man," Quinton said.

"Thanks. Me too."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm glad too, but my back is killing me. The highway had some construction and was rough. And we're here to give you an escort home. Halligan and Gaines stopped to talk with a hot nurse by the cafeteria."

Cannon waited to see if Hennessy would explain more. When Hennessy started trash talking his cousins, Cannon decided he had enough.

"Why are you all escorting me home?"

"We offered if they wanted some extra protection. Which, by the way, what is up with your asinine deputy sheriff? He ticketed me because he said I didn't park my bike correctly in front of the diner. Then when I asked about the status of finding the hit-and-run driver, he was freaking evasive. Like all, I can't talk about an active investigation as if he's FBI instead of deputy sheriff. Dude, this is Kansas farm country, not CSI," Hennessy grumbled.

Cannon was surprised the guys thought it was warranted to have an escort but he was okay with whatever. Ellie had called yesterday to update him on how the range was doing. She was currently working at the bail bonds for security, but he wondered if she'd be interested in a part-time job at the range after he was up and around. He needed help anyway and she was capable. It would also keep her home more for her kids.

"So we hear congratulations are in order? Brave man, taking on one of the Franks sisters," Quinton said, chuckling.

"Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl?" Hennessy asked.

Fuck. He really didn't want to answer them because then they'd know he'd been an ass.

"What all did you hear?"

"That you found out Jesse was pregnant, yelled, and before you all could talk, you were hit. At least that's how Peck, Burt, and Bill recounted it. They talked with Locks."

It gave him a little bit of comfort knowing that Locks hadn't thrown him under the bus, but Cannon still wasn't ready to be stuck for the drive with Locks in the car. Time on the road where he couldn't get away from them could lead to a lot of talking. Maybe he could sleep.

"Yeah. That about sums it up. I don't know what she's having because we haven't talked since I've been in the hospital."

Hennessy rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Dude, you just keep shoving that foot in your mouth until it chokes you, don't you? You haven't even texted her?"

"My phone was destroyed in the wreck. I haven't needed one, so I figured I'd replace it when I got out."

Quinton stood up, pulled out his phone and handed it to Cannon. "You should text her saying ‘Hey, Jesse, sorry we haven't spoken. This is Cannon. My phone was destroyed during the wreck but I'm so fucking sorry I yelled. I'd like to talk with you once I get back.' Like right now. Maybe this text will keep her from shooting you or keep Locks from stopping on the way back to bury your body in the hills between Medicine Lodge and Coldwater."

Cannon looked over to see what Hennessy thought. He was motioning toward the phone, mouthing better safe than sorry . Cannon held his hand out for the phone. He pulled up Jesse's number and thought about what he wanted to say but really, Quinton's was better.