35

I could see the many emotions dancing in Forrest's eyes. Both our brothers were dying and he didn't know what to. I felt as each second passed Ray was dying and Forrest didn't seem to be anywhere in the process of giving an answer.

"Forrest!" Jack and I looked at Howard now seeing the blood leave his mouth and his skin tone pale. Forrest looked at them and then frowned and looked back at me but down at the ground to think. I closed my eyes knowing I couldn't do this. I couldn't make Forrest choose between me and his brother. I shook my head and took a step back and began to open the door and Forrest looked up with hurt in his eyes but I could tell he tried to hide it.

"Get Howard some help." I told him.

"Eula…" he said softly and I could tell he felt as if he was betraying me but I shook my head.

"Go." was all I said before running back outside and down the road. I had no idea what was going on back at my house, but I kept running to find someone. Ray will not die today. I was not going to burry my brother. My chest began burning again and I saw a car coming towards my direction. The front of this car looked oddly familiar and I suddenly stopped and I felt my knees weaken and the car came to a screeching halt and a familiar face stuck his head above the wheel. Brandon.

"Eula?" he asked and I could tell he was shocked by my blood covered dress. I trembled with joy and moved towards him.

"Please, please help me. My brother's been shot please help me." I begged and in seconds he was out of his car leading me towards his car.

"Where's your house?" he asked. I pointed forward.

"Just down the road. Please hurry." I said in a panicking tone. He stepped on the gas and the car shot forward fast. In minutes we made it to my house and I rushed inside and called on my brother and mom. They carried Ray out who I thought was dead for a second before I saw his lips moving a bit. Mother everyone sat in the back except for me and Brandon drove us to the hospital. I saw Forrest's truck parked, but I could not think of him at the moment. Arliss carried Ray inside and mother rushed in behind him. Brandon followed behind with me and the doctors carried Ray away on a rolling bed.

"Please save my baby." mother cried out wanting to follow the group of doctors behind a white door but Arliss held her back as she cried on his chest. I simply stood there, eyes releasing tears and I felt a soft hand touch my arm and I looked up at Brandon. He looked so casual yet afraid for me. He was in a polo shirt and brown shorts. I shook my head.

"What are you doing here?" I asked with a sore throat. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

"I was driving back to New York to visit my family. Eula what all happened?" he asked. I shook my head in confusion and I wasn't sure how to even answer.

"I don't know." I replied feeling a head ache coming on. Brandon blinked and looked down for a second before grabbing me and pulling me into a deep hug and I leaned in and wrapped my arms around him feeling my body merge into his.

"You'll get blood on you." I mumbled.

"It's alright I don't mind." he said. I sniffled and pulled back and he looked down at me, his hands remaining on my waist and I knew this kind of public display was not allowed.

"You should go. I don't want your family to have to wait." I said. He winced a bit.

"I know I should go… but I can't bring myself to leave you here with your condition." he said. My condition? He must've meant my stress and sadness. I was going to say something back but I did not get the chance.

"Eula?" I heard the deep voice of Forrest call out to me. My body snapped into action and I looked in the direction of the voice to see Forrest walking cautiously towards us, a frown on his face. I pulled back from Brandon completely and I looked at him.

"Forrest…how's Howard?" I asked and I saw Jack walking behind him well. Forrest glared at Brandon.

"Doc's got him in the back, who the fuck are you?" he asked with a growl looking at Brandon now and Brandon looked him over with disgust and with a snobbish look.

"I don't answer to you old man." he frowned and Forrest glared and his hands curled into fists, but Jack placed his hands on his brother's shoulders.

"Forrest now is not the time. This is only going to bring further stress." he said. Forrest squint his eyes at Brandon and his eyes looked so dangerous and I saw Arliss coming over now.

"Get away from my sister, Bondurants." he said and in seconds he took my hand and pulled me away from the three men. This was all so wrong. Howard was here because of my father and now my father was missing somewhere and we didn't know where he was. My brother is having surgery and I couldn't get away from my brother and mother to talk to Forrest. I watched the men however as I was being dragged away and I saw Brandon glance at me before walking around Forrest and followed after me and Arliss. I sat down with my mother who looked as if she was going to go into shock and I wrapped my arms around her. I watched as Jack persuaded Forrest to come with him and he did, but not after giving me a mild stern stare of which I knew meant we would be having a talk later about some things.

Arliss shook Brandon's hand and thanked him. Brandon nodded kindly then looked at me.

"I'll be staying down town in a hotel for a while. I'll see you later." he said and I nodded and he smiled before leaving the hospital. I looked at Arliss who was pacing around and I looked at him with gentle eyes.

"Arliss…what happened?" I asked. Mother looked up at him, eyes red from crying.

"We were on our way up to the shack where we make our whiskey and a cop car pulled us over. It was that deputy from Chicago… he threatened us. Said he was going to hurt you and momma if we didn't show him to our shack. Ray refused and the man pulled his gun and shots were fired and we got away but Ray was shot." he said, his hands were on our hips. I hid the anger that Charlie Rakes had done this to my brother. I could handle the harassment and the violation but now this was personal beyond belief. Mother cried some more and looked at Arliss.

"Arliss you must go find your father. Please baby." she said holding me tighter. Arliss nodded.

"Sure momma. I'll be back as fast as I can." he said and began to move when my arm shot out and grabbed his arm and he looked at me. My eyes showed nothing but fear for my brother.

"Be careful." I said softly and he nodded before slipping his hand from mine and leaving the hospital.