Page 114 of One Last Shot

A voice rose from beyond the curtained area. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Oaken looked at her, frowned, then glanced at Moose, who had come down the hall. He stood just beyond her bed.

The voice came into view. An older man, mid-fifties maybe. “Where’s my daughter? You’re just going to leave her out there? What is wrong with you people?”

Axel had stepped up behind Moose, a coolness in his expression.

“Listen, Mr. Benton,” Moose said. “The weather is not safe for our people?—”

“Hewas out in it!” The man pointed at Oaken. “He brought back his girlfriend.”

Boo froze.What?

“I saw him freak out on you when you brought Hannah in.” He turned to Oaken. “And you couldn’t stay out there, keep looking for Grace? What kind of rescuer are you?”

Oaken juststood there.

“Don’t you even care that she’s out there freezing to death?”

“Of course he does,” Boo snapped, not sure where the words came from. Maybe she could blame the drugs, but—“He very much cares. His own sister froze to death, so yeah, Oaken is probably the one person who would do anything to find your daughter. But if you haven’t noticed, it’s a blizzard, and we barely made it back?—”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have without my daughter!” He looked at Oaken. “You left her to die.”

Oaken looked slapped. Flinched.

“And maybe you shouldn’t be such a jerk to the people who risked their lives for you,” Boo retorted. “Your daughter isn’t the only one who could die out there!”

“That’s enough,” Moose said, putting his hand on the man, glancing at Boo.

The man swiped it away and swung his fist at Moose.

Moose caught it and forced the man back. Shep was behind him and now put his arm around Benton’s neck, sleeper hold. But he didn’t bear down. “Calm down.”

“Let me go!” Benton slapped at his arm.

“Stay calm,” Moose said. “Listen, we get it. But I’m not going to risk my people any more than I already have. We’re sick about this as much as you are, and I promise, the minute the storm lets up, we’ll be back out there. But for now, maybe you should spend more time praying instead of drinking.”

Benton shook away from Shep, pushed him back, and stormed away.

Shep raised an eyebrow to Moose.

“That was exciting,” Axel said. He turned. “Did you get all that?”

Boo followed his gaze and spotted Beto and Huxley standing in the corridor.

Great. But maybe she didn’t care.

And maybe it was the drugs.

She sank into the pillow. Oaken turned toher, the residue of Benton’s words on his face, in his eyes. She wove her hand into his. “Oak. That’s part of the gig. You can’t save everyone.”

His mouth tightened, but he nodded.

“Can you get me some water? I’m so parched.”

He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

I believe you, she wanted to say, but he walked away.