Megan's Hero (The Callahans of Texas Book #3): A Novel Read Online Free Page A

cuts. Just some little scrapes.” But he was going to have some nasty bruises. “All this blood must have come from your head.”
    “A purty little gal stopped it.” A faint frown creased his brow. “Or did I dream that?”
    The bloody shirt was tucked underneath his head. “You didn’t dream it. She’s the one who told me about the wreck. She’s in the truck, warming up and having something to eat.”
    “Good.” Ted’s eyelids drifted closed, and Will wondered if he’d passed out. But he looked at Will again, pain and worry clouding his eyes. “She hurt? Can’t remember.”
    “She got caught in the hailstorm, but I don’t think she has any bad injuries. The medics will check her out too. I need to ask you a couple of questions that will give them an idea how you’re doing. Can you tell me your name?”
    “Ted Bentley.” He frowned at Will. “You know that.”
    “Yes, but I wanted to see if you did. Do you know where you are?”
    Ted’s frown deepened and he glanced past Will at the lumber scattered about. “Goin’ to Callahan Crossing.”
    “That’s right. Do you know what day it is?”
    “Sunday?” the trucker asked hesitantly.
    “No, it’s Thursday. Do you remember what happened?”
    Ted pondered the question, started to shake his head, and winced.
    Will quickly leaned forward, put a hand on each side of the man’s head, and held it still. “Don’t move your head until the paramedics tell you it’s okay.” He looked down at Ted’s twisted leg. Definitely broken, but there was no sign of additional blood anywhere. “Can you tell me what happened?”
    “Thunderstorm. Pulled off the road.” He paused to take a few shallow breaths. “Rain let up. Got goin’ again.” He paused again, frowning. “Big hail. Angel woke me up. In a heap of pain. Did I have a wreck?”
    “Yep, with a tornado.”
    “No kiddin’?”
    “You need to lie still so I can check your pulse, okay?”
    “Yeah.”
    Will was worried. The trucker had grown paler as they talked. He moved one hand and gently placed his fingers on the side of Ted’s throat and counted the weak pulse. Fifty-five beats a minute. He sure hoped the medics got there pronto.
    “Still tickin’?”
    “Yep.” Will checked the pulse in Ted’s wrist. It was the same. Good. Not sweating, but he was breathing fast and shallow. He laid his hand lightly on Ted’s chest, counting his breaths. “Does it hurt when you breathe?”
    “Yeah. Ribs. Did I have a wreck?”
    “You got hit by a tornado.” Déjà vu all over again. Megan guessed right—concussion.
    “No kiddin’?”
    Two pickups pulled in behind his. “Dad and the boys are here.” Will braced Ted’s head again to keep him from moving. “I’m just going to hold your head steady.”
    “Okay.” Ted closed his eyes.
    His dad and Chance joined him a minute later. His brother-in-law, Nate, stopped by Will’s pickup to check on Megan.
    “How is he?” Chance asked quietly, squatting down beside him.
    “Not as good as I’d like. You hold his head while I call Johnny and give him an update.” He leaned closer to the injured man. “Ted, Chance is going to stay with you while I call Johnny.” No response. Will carefully lifted his hands and shifted back out of Chance’s way.
    “He’s unconscious?” Chance framed the driver’s head with his hands.
    “He’s been talking, but I think he passed out a minute ago.” Will moved a few steps away and hit the speed dial for the paramedic. “Johnny. It’s Will. The trucker is Ted Bentley out of San Angelo. Leg’s definitely broken. Ribs either bruised or broken. Head injury, at least a concussion. He doesn’t remember the accident. Short-term memory isn’t good. I told him what happened, but he didn’t remember it a few minutes later.
    “Pulse fifty-five and weak. Respiration twenty-six and shallow. He said it hurts to breathe deep. He was talking up to a few minutes ago, but he’s unconscious now. He’s lying on his side,