35~

"I just got word that there was a bad accident around 10 miles out from here. Be alert and ready."

Hudson nodded in understanding to the black-and-white Mercury who had just given him the news. "Thank you, Sheriff. I'll be ready." he promised.

"I'm going on out there now with Mater; should be back within the hour. Sounds like a pretty bad event. If I were you, I'd keep Grace over at Flo's until the victim comes in and is stabilized. Things like this can traumatize the kids." the police car warned.

"I will make sure she doesn't see anything. I appreciate the concern." Hudson answered.

"See you later." Sheriff said and then pulled away from the Ornament Valley Mechanical Clinic towards the direction out of town. Hudson watched the police car and the tow truck retreating for a minute or two before returning to his office to get things set up for the trauma victim. Road accidents were his least favorite to see, and he was thankful they happened once in a blue moon. They resulted mostly from speedsters showing off and not watching where they were going.

Thank goodness Cornelia was so careful, he thought.

Grace was already over at the V8 Café helping Flo, so when he was done at the clinic he went over and spoke with the mint-green car about the upcoming events. "I want her to stay with you just until things are tied up. I'd hate for her to come into the office and see something that would frighten her. Accidents are never pretty." he told her.

"I understand that, honey. I'll keep a good eye on her and make sure she stays busy here." Flo assured.

"It'll be hard, because her mother is due home today and she's wanted to greet her. I don't know when she'll be coming though, so it's best to keep her eyes from wandering at every cost. I truly appreciate this, Flo."

"Spending time with your little girl gives me an extra piece of happiness in my day. You've no need to beg for me to watch over her, Hudson." she said, smiling warmly.

"Well, thank you either way." he offered.

"You are sho' welcome."

. . . .

Within a half hour, Sheriff and the tow truck Mater arrived at the scene. An old station wagon with a set of steer horns on his grille and a Texas accent had been keeping watch over the battered victim ever since he had come upon her; his brother had been the one to notify law enforcement of the accident. Sheriff inspected the damage with a professional eye, looking over something that the tow truck didn't.

"Sheriff! I think… no, I know! This here gal is someone we both know." he started, staring with widening eyes at the broken car. Aside from color, it seems anything identifying had been pulled from her. Even her plate must have been torn off in the crash. Mater didn't wait for Sheriff's acknowledgement or question.

"This here is Doc Hudson's girl! Look at her hood ornament!" he exclaimed. Sheriff excused himself from what the brothers were telling him and looked to where the tow truck motioned. Crowning a crumpled green hood was an unmistakable gold decoration. The recognition gripped him also, and knocked down the professional wall he had been forced to build around him. Mater was right.

He looked over the rest of the broken female car. Her eyes hadn't once opened since their arrival and only a flicker of movement from her shallow breaths told she was alive. But that ornament didn't lie. Neither did paint that could be described only as jade-green, despite the long and deep scratches that marred it. The police car met the eyes of the shaken tow truck briefly before looking back to the victim who now had a name so many knew so well. He said only one sentence that said it all.

"This'll break Hud's heart."

. . . .

Hudson continued occupying himself in his clinic, preparing the final paperwork that would be needed to make a file on the patient when a near funeral-like procession marked Mater and Sheriff's return to town. Flo caught sight of the broken Cadillac first, and rushed to shelter Grace from the view by giving her an order that didn't exist. She had to do everything she could to spare the girl from seeing the awaited return of her mother… a heartbreaking return devoid of joy.

Hudson was still scanning over some forms when the double doors to his office were eased open by Mater. "Uh, Doc… we, uh…. we got the injured." His voice was oddly hollow and didn't at all have the chipper streak as usual. But, if any accident didn't sober someone, they were heartless. Hudson didn't question it.

"Thank you, Mater. Please bring the patient in." he instructed, not yet looking up.

"Alright," he solemnly answered as he drove through and very carefully set her down. When Mater turned back around after doing so, Hudson happened to turn at the same time. His azure eyes were calm for only a moment and then they took on a light that not even a hillbilly truck would ever forget. The recognition in them was so painful to see, he had to look away.

Hudson's professionalism had no chance of being maintained now that he was faced with something worse than he ever could have imagined. He had no interest in putting on airs for something his heart couldn't match. He saw something horrible that only one with medical training could decipher. When he spoke, his voice lacked in strength. It was laced with a sorrow that couldn't be adequately described, although it was felt by whoever heard it.

"My poor, sweet, beautiful girl…"