by Kay Edwards
Four hours later Dalton, Chad, and Brock made it home. Brock had refused to be put under while they removed the arrow and tended his wound. He was sent home with an antibiotic and supplies to irrigate the area.
Dalton explained everything to Terry. His eyes never left Misty. When Terry went to make supper, he walked over to the sofa and sat down beside her. "It was an accident."
Misty's eyes were red and puffy from crying. She looked up at Dalton and nodded. "Misty I wasn't mad at you when I told you to come to the house. I was getting ready to cut some of his clothes away from the arrow. I didn’t want you to see that."
"I shot him." She whispered.
"It was an accident. He walked right out in front of you. This wound is all on him, and he knows that." Dalton said softly.
Misty nodded. She rested her chin on her knees. He didn't know what to do to make her feel better. "Misty…" he whispered as he pulled her into his arms.
Misty held on to Dalton like her life depended on it. She knew they all thought she was still feeling sorry for what happened and she did. However, seeing a person wounded like that broke her heart. Her vibrant husband had been shot. As she watched the blood coming out of Brock’s injury, all she could think about was Brent. He must have been so scared knowing what was going on. The grief she felt poured out of her in the most gut wrenching sobs. Her mother and brothers all came to the living room in a rush and watched as Dalton held on to her. Chad walked over and knelt in front of his daughter. He wasn’t sure what was wrong until he heard her speak. "Brent knew he was dying. He must have been so scared."
Dalton released Misty into her father's arms. Tears stung his eyes at the picture she was dealing with. He watched Chad hold his daughter close. Dalton's heart ripped in half as he heard her at almost a scream plead with her father. "It hurts Daddy. Please make it go away."
Chad spoke whispered into his daughter's hair. "It will be ok Misty. I'm right here. Let it out it will be ok."
The family watched as Misty unraveled in front of them. Wyatt and Brock comforted their mother. Dalton held fast to Misty's hand. Chad held his sobbing daughter to his chest. Thirty minutes had passed before she calmed. Dalton's hand was bleeding from the force of her grip which caused her nails to dig into him. It didn't matter. All that mattered was letting Misty deal with her grief.
Chad pushed Misty's hair out of her sweaty face and kissed her forehead. He could feel her relax against him and knew she was exhausted.
Misty opened her eyes. She looked down at her hand in Dalton's hand. She could see the blood and closed her eyes as fresh tears stung them. She felt so tired. She started to open her eyes again and then decided not to. She allowed her body to relax fully and sleep.
Chad looked up at Dalton. "Take her."
Misty's body was limp as Dalton picked her up and took her to the bedroom. He gently laid her on the bed and brushed her damp hair out of her face. He quietly turned and left the room closing the door softly behind him.
