which I’d saved in my cell phone contacts list.
Wyatt answered after a couple of rings.
“Wyatt, it’s Carly.”
“Is everything okay?”
I ran my hand over my head. “Um…I’m worried about Hank.”
“He’s good. I convinced him to take half a pain pill, and it knocked him right out.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said, casting a glance at the two guys in the corner. They were both watching me with an unnatural intensity. “But that’s not what I’m worried about. There was an incident at the funeral home today.”
“Why are you just now telling me this?”
“I don’t know,” I said defensively. “Maybe because I was too busy trying to get you out of your truck.”
“Okay,” he said, his abrasiveness gone. “Tell me now.”
I gave him an abbreviated version of the events, explaining what Dwight had said and done, although I glossed over the way he’d leered at me and how I had reacted. Then I filled him in on the confrontation at the bar.
He was silent for a moment after I finished. “Do you feel safe?”
“I’m worried about Hank.”
“I realize that, Carly, but I’m askin’ anyway,” he said, sounding exasperated. “Do you feel safe?”
“Yeah,” I said with a soft smile. “I feel safe.”
“Call me back if anything changes.”
To my surprise, I realized I would.
Chapter Twenty
Max stayed in his office for another hour and was subdued when he emerged. He and Ruth spoke quietly behind the bar for a few minutes, and then she gave him a hug and walked over to me.
“Tonight’s pretty slow, so Max wants me to go home. I told him that I’m your ride, but he offered to take you home instead.”
“Oh,” I said, realizing I hadn’t told her that Wyatt was picking me up, but now that I thought about it, I didn’t like the idea of Wyatt leaving Hank alone. “Yeah. You go.”
“Are you sure?” she asked with worry in her eyes. “Aren’t you freakin’ out about stayin’ with Hank?” I thought she was talking about the worry of Dwight or someone showing up at the house, a legitimate concern, but she cringed and then added, “You know, about taking care of his leg?”
I tried not to cringe myself. “A little. I learned how this morning, and I’m not gonna lie…it’s rough, but then I told myself it’s a million times worse for poor Hank.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Her mouth twisted to the side. “I’d tell you to call me for moral support when you’re changing his bandages, but I don’t think I could stomach it, Carly.”
I gave her a warm smile. “Don’t worry. I’m gonna make Wyatt help.”
“I still can’t believe he’s gonna do that.”
I shrugged. “He rewrapped his leg this morning. You should have seen him. I think he picked it up faster and handled it better than I did.”
“Well,” she said, taking a step toward the back door. “Call me if you need me for anything other than bandage changing.”
“Thanks, Ruth. I will.”
She’d been keeping track of her tips during the slow times, so she quickly settled up with Tiny and put the rest of the money and receipts in Max’s office.
Max was sitting behind the bar, reading his book.
“Ruth says you offered to take me home.”
He looked up and smiled. “Yeah. I hope that’s okay with you. I guess we should have included you in that conversation.”
“Please. I’m at the mercy of people offering me rides. Far be it from me to raise a fuss. But…” I lowered my voice and leaned in closer. “Wyatt offered to pick me up and take me to Hank’s.”
The smile on his face slowly fell. “Oh. So you and he…?”
I shook my head. “There’s nothing between us, if that’s what you’re thinking. He’s keeping an eye on Hank tonight, and he made the offer because he knew I didn’t have a ride.” I wasn’t about to tell Max his brother had been run off the road. Wyatt hadn’t asked me to keep it to myself, but he also hadn’t reported it to the sheriff. Although it was plenty possible it was a deputy who’d tried to kill him, I suspected there was another explanation. “And after Seth’s murder, I guess he’s concerned about me being out late by myself or with just Ruth.”
A shadow crossed his face. “Damn. He’s right. I should have thought of it sooner.”
“Why should you have?” I said in dismay. “I’m only telling you because I still want you to bring me home, if you don’t mind. After Dwight showed up tonight,