Chapter Thirty-Nine

For a week, Eddie escorted the children back and forth to school with Amos or Jacob driving them. Things were smooth and uneventful. On Wednesday, when they started on their route Eddie noticing a jeep following closely behind them.

"Dispatch, be advised we have a suspicious vehicle on the farm route trailing the school wagon." She placed a hand on her piece calmly keeping an eye on the car.

She kept smiling and talking to the kids, singing songs and trying not to alarm them.

The car lurched forward speeding up riding alongside the wagon, ramming into them. "It's okay kids, everyone get down and hold on."

The horses reared up and Amos fought for control of them.

The Jeep overtook the wagon and Amos stopped and sat while the man taunted him and the horses. Eddie slid off the back and crept around the edge.

He idled as Eddie slipped around between the horses and car, "Police get your hands up where I can see them."

Eddie held her gun on the perp, he held his gun on her. Neither moved, neither flinched, they glared each other down.

Eddie's alert was bringing help, but not soon enough. The perp had climbed up on the wheel of the wagon and reached for Lydia, the smallest of the girls. She cried out for help, for her Mommy...and Eddie could not let that go. She reached deep down, hand on her gun...the gunmen fired first.

Eddie took two close range hits to the vest. "Run!" She yelled to the kids. "Run and hide!" This as she fell to the dusty cold ground. She could hardly breathe.

With the last energy she had in her breathless body, Eddie raised her gun and fired, hitting the perp in the shoulder, bringing him to his knees. He wouldn't hurt anyone else, the police were just seconds away.

Amos ran to her side to render help and prayer, "Eddie? Stay strong, I hear help coming."

She was conscious, but it hurt to breathe. Blood spurt from her mouth as she fought the coughing and the pain. They heard the sirens approaching.

Jamie and the ambulance pulled up at the same time. Many of the church members had come out and surrounded the buggy and Eddie lying on the ground. His heart almost stopped. Was she dead? Did he get her killed too? He ran to her side and saw her chest moving up and down, shallow but it was moving.

"Amos?" Jamie fell to his knees, taking Eddie in his arms to support her back.

"She got shot protecting our girls," he replied. "The man was trying to take little Lydia Hofstetter and she wouldn't let him, she fought him off even after he shot her twice.

Jamie beamed with pride, she had always been the best partner, a very talented cop, but that paled in comparison to her as a mother and as a wife.

He held Eddie tight, kissing her temple. "Eddie, honey I'm here open up those pretty blue eyes." At first, Eddie just laid still, trying to get a pain free breath. Jamie kept talking softly, "I love you so much, don't you leave me, you keep breathing, Eddie. Keep breathing now." Jamie had tears running down his cheeks. "You and I promised each other a lifetime. We got things so screwed up, but we can fix it. I need you to hang on…I'm not going anywhere. You hang on, and open your eyes for me."

Eddie stirred and turned her head. She looked up at Jamie, "Can't breathe. Hurts..."

"I know. You stay right here with me, we're bringing you to the hospital," Jamie took her hand.

Eddie coughed on the blood in her mouth and throat. She knew she wasn't dying but Jamie didn't. The fear in his eyes shocked her. They got her inside, Jamie staying with her holding her hand. "Eddie hang on okay?"

"I'll go to your girls!" Rachel called out. "They won't want for anything."

"Thank you Rachel," Jamie said keeping his focus on Eddie. "Hey keep your eyes on me."

Jamie kissed her head, "You know how to do this, remember with our Bella? She gave you a hard time."

"Yeah," Eddie groaned turning to look up at him weakly. "The kids?"

"Rachel is going over and Dad is still there," Jamie soothed. "Let's remember our Bella." Eddie gave a gentle smile keeping her eyes on him as they drove.

The doctor whisked her away, "Doctor, I can't lose my wife."

"I'll take care of her Sheriff I promise to do everything I can," the doctor assured following behind the stretched. Back at the house, Frank was wondering about all the police activity along the peaceful roads.

He found out when Rachel rang the bell.

"It's Eddie," she whispered to him. "She was wounded by a gunman and taken to the hospital. Faith and I can keep the girls, you should go to your son."

"Thank you very much for looking after my family," Frank said, heart dropping

He got a cab and headed to the hospital. Jamie was waiting for Eddie to come back from X-ray

"Jamie your friend is watching the girls how is Eddie? Has a doctor come out yet?"

"Yes," Jamie replied. "Yes, she's going to be okay, she is fine, they got her in the vest but she's terribly winded, so they are checking."

Frank breathed out a sigh of relief placing a hand on Jamie's shoulder. "Thank God son."

"I almost lost her Dad," Jamie hiccupped. "I could have lost her, and it would be my fault. I put her in danger, just like Joe"

"No Jamie Eddie was a cop she knows the danger this wasn't on you," Frank shook his head

"She's a great cop... she always was, she always will be. Eddie did the job she was deputize to do, this isn't about you, this is a good outcome and she's fine. Now fix the rest of your world and everything will fall into place"

Jamie took a deep breath, he was really shaken. "Yeah I will dad I'm just so grateful she's going to be okay."

"Make sure you tell her that, use this chance Jamie," Frank advised.

"I will, Dad. What's taking so long," Jamie paced, anxious to see Eddie.

"Relax," Frank soothed. "I'm sure they are being thorough."

Jamie sighed, "I know, I just want to see her for myself, Dad."

"Think about what you are going to do when you see her, how you are going to use this chance, Jamie,' Frank instructed.

He nodded his head slowly looking down at the floor, he had been so scared getting that call.

"Sheriff Reagan?" the doctor came out after another ten minutes. 'Your wife is back in her room now, we'll keep her over night to make sure that her lungs and heart haven't been compromised by the contusions and broke ribs."

Jamie sighed, "but she's going to be okay, right?" he had to know he wasn't losing her.

"Oh, yes," the doctor replied. 'The vest saved her life. Without that, she'd have died instantly. You can come and see her."

"Thank you so much doctor," Jamie sighed giving Frank a nod.

Jamie followed the doctor to Eddie's room, she was resting, her eyes closed, and head turned. She was on nasal oxygen and had ice packs against her side.

"Eddie I'm "Eddie, I'm here honey. God I'm so glad you're okay, I can't lose you," Jamie said taking her hand.

She took a shallow breath, "Oh, God this hurt...Are the children all right? I told them to run but I don't remember..."

"Yeah, they're all okay thanks to you, you saved them. Doctor said you're going to be okay," Jamie said

"It was that vest you insisted I wear," Eddie croaked. "Can I have some water?"

Jamie poured a little water in a cup holding Eddie's neck gently, so she could drink.

"Easy sips," he coached. "Then lean back and rest. I'm going to be right here by your side, okay? I'm not going anywhere, you don't have to be scared." He remembered when she got shot on the job, just a vest wound, she'd been so frightened to be alone in the hospital.

Eddie raised her eyes to him relieved, "Thank you Jamie it hurts so badly. The girls, who's with them?"

"I'll have the nurse come to give you something for the pain," Jamie whispered. "Rachel is with the girls and Dad will go home in a little bit, he came right away."

Eddie smiled, "where is he I'd like to see him too." she slowly looked over fighting to stay awake

"I'll call him to come in, and I'll get the nurse, so you can sleep peacefully..." Jamie stood up and stepped out to call Frank.

"How is she?" Frank asked walking over stopping just outside the door.

"She's tired, and she's hurting, she's asking to see you. Can you sit with her a minute while I go and get the nurse to help her?"

"Of course," Frank smiled walking in going right to the bed. "Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?"

She smiled at him, "Really sore, but lucky to be alive."

"Yes, you are, and we are all appreciative that you are," Frank told her

"Jamie insisted on a vest, and if not..." she sighed. "Is he okay?"

"He's grateful your alive he was scared he lost you Eddie," Frank said.

"He was...scared?" She felt good hearing that. It meant he still loved her.

"Yes scared, he loves you Eddie. He's made mistakes, but he loves you very much"

"I made a mistake too," Eddie replied.' And instead of giving him his time to be angry I...I don't want to be alone in our room anymore."

"Good so talk to Jamie when you're up to it and work things out. I'm glad you're okay sweetheart," Frank said.

Jamie returned with a nurse a moment later, "She's going to help the pain. Dad, can you go back to the house please and spell Rachel and Faith. Let them all know we'll be home tomorrow and try to keep the girls calm. I don't know how Mary will handle this."

"Of course Jamie I'll see you tomorrow Eddie feel better sweetheart," Frank squeezed her hand.

Jamie sat on the edge of Eddie's bed and took her hand in his, "When you feel better honey, we need to talk things out. We really do. The thought of losing you was just..."

"I know Jamie and I want to talk will you stay with me while I sleep?"

"I will stay with you," he replied. "I'm not going anywhere, you sleep all you can. You heal, I'm not going to leave your side. I'm not." He leaned over and kissed her lips softly. "I'm so proud of you for today, Eddie. I love you."

"I love you too Jamie," Eddie's eyes quickly shut unable to keep them open anymore. She snuggled against him falling asleep.