The Tin Star (19 page)

After Ethan and John got here, he was going to have Ethan drive by Margie’s house. He’d be willing to bet that the old dog’s truck was parked out front. Ever since Jamie had started “family supper night” on Sundays, Bill had changed. He’d been eager to learn how to cook, and he took more time on his appearance nowadays. Heck, Jamie had even caught the old codger cleaning the bunkhouse, which had definitely needed it!

“What are you smiling at?” Hayden asked as he slid into the seat across from him, passing him and Ed each another longneck of Shiner.

Jamie grabbed his and tipped his head. “Thanks. I was just thinking about Bill. I think he’s taken a shine to Margie.”

“Yeah, I think so, too. He sure seems sweet on her, anyhow. You think he went to Margie’s tonight?”

“I’m almost sure. Wonder if I can talk Ethan in to letting us all go for a visit when he gets here.”

Hayden laughed. “That’s pure evil! Now, how would you feel if every time you and Ethan disappeared into the house on the occasional afternoon, we all came knocking? Eh?”

Jamie almost choked on his beer.

Ed chuckled from the other side of him. “He didn’t think we knew.”

He shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”

Hayden grinned. “’S okay. I think it’s a good thing ...”

Jamie raised an eyebrow.

Ed leaned forward. ”Yes?”

Hayden flushed and drank his beer. “I mean, I’m cool with it. I like Ethan and I like you, and if y’all are happy, well, then, that’s cool. That’s all I meant.”

Jamie and Ed chuckled. Then Ed added, “Yeah, it’s cool. Can’t remember seeing the boss man this happy. And speaking of happy ...” He held up his beer bottle. “Happy birthday, man.”

Hayden did the same with his bottle. “Yeah, happy birthday, Jamie.”

Jamie grinned and tapped their bottles with his own. “Thanks!”

They all took a long pull. Then, over the loud music came the opening notes of Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like a Woman.”

Ed set his beer down and grabbed his phone from his belt. "Hello?"

That was all Jamie heard. He and Hayden looked at each other. They smiled.

Hayden raised his eyebrows. “I’m beginning to feel a little outnumbered ... apparently I’m the only straight guy at this table.”

Jamie snorted, then grinned and played along, pumping his fist in the air. “Yes! It’s working! Come to the dark side! You and Bill are the only ones left now ... join us.”

Hayden cackled, his face turning red with laughter. “Fuck you!”

“Yeah? Does that mean my Jedi mind powers are working on you, too?”

As Ed talked on his phone, nodding and answering with short yeses and noes, Jamie and Hayden laughed their asses off.

Finally, Ed hung up. “Ethan says turn your phone on, Jamie. What’s so funny?”

Jamie kept laughing, tears streaming down his face. He reached down and checked his phone. Yup, it was off.

Ed shrugged. “He said that he and John got tied up in their meeting a little longer than they expected, but they are heading this way. So, what are y’all laughing at?”

Hayden shook his head and doubled over, his shoulders shaking with hilarity.

“Dude! You
cannot
use that song as your ringtone!” Jamie got out between guffaws, barely managing not to fall off his seat.

“What? Why not? I like Shania Twain.”

Jamie shook his head. Ed obviously didn’t see anything wrong with the picture. “It’s just wrong! Pick a different Shania song.”

“But I like that one. That one is my fav--”

Hayden held up a hand. “Hey, man, are you trying to tell us something? ’Cause I’m giving it to you straight. If you start prancing around the bunkhouse wearing pink lacey panties, we are going to have issues.”

The image of Ed in pink panties had Jamie almost on the floor. “Oh, shit!” He gripped his belly, looked at Ed, then back to Hayden. “You can ask Ethan, but I don’t think our health insurance covers sex change operations.”

Hayden choked.

Ed sighed, but he was grinning broadly. “Fine! I’ll change it! Bill took “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” or I’d’ve used it!”

They laughed some more and had a good time until two cowgirls came over and asked Hayden and Jamie to dance. Jamie took one look at Hayden and knew the other man was planning to refuse -- whether because Hayden was shy or because he thought that Jamie wouldn’t want to dance, he didn’t know, but Jamie had seen Hayden checking out the two women only seconds before.

Hell, he liked to dance, and it wasn’t like they had anything else to do. He quickly stood up and accepted the offer for both of them. “We’d love to.”

Ed took one look at the little blonde who had latched onto Jamie’s arm and smiled, his eyes twinkling with suppressed mirth.

Jamie rolled his eyes at him and grinned back. “Shut up, and go get us all another beer. Get me a Coors this time.”

Hayden smiled at them both, gave Jamie a nod of thanks and eagerly led his partner out to the dance floor.

Jamie nodded back and followed with his partner. The band was playing a Toby Keith song. He introduced himself and learned the blonde was Shelly. She seemed to take it fine when Jamie declined her offer of a little something more than dancing, so he enjoyed a few more songs with her. He was having a good time and had gone back to the table a couple of times to get some beer. Ed was nowhere in sight, but he’d left their beers on the table.

Ed found him two songs later and came right onto the dance floor. “Jamie, we might have a problem.”

“Huh? ’Scuse me, Shelly.” He looked at Ed. Whoa! Ed was slowly listing back and forth. He blinked, and Ed got fuzzy, too.

“Jamie, I just saw Jeff. He and Carl are at the bar. I think they saw me, but we didn’t say anything. I just wanted to let you know. You watch yourself. I already told Hayden.”

Why did Ed seem like he was far away?

“Jamie? Jamie, are you okay? What’s wrong with you?”

Me? What’s wrong with you? You’re the one looking all weird and shit.

“Oh, wow! I think the bar might have been picked up in a twister or something.” He glanced back at Shelly. “Whoa, now you’re all fuzzy, too! How are y’all doing that?”

Ed grabbed his arm. “Excuse us, ma’am, I’m gonna make him sit down for a bit. I think he might have had too much to drink.”

“Okay. I didn’t think he had that much. Not sure how much he drank before we danced, but he’s only had a few quick sips since then. Bye, Jamie.”

Jamie smiled and waved over his shoulder as Ed pulled him off the dance floor. “Bye, Shelly!” He giggled. Why was he giggling? Damn, something wasn’t right. But he couldn’t focus long enough to figure it out. He heard Ed talking, but couldn’t make out what he was saying, either.

Hayden came out of nowhere and grabbed his other arm.

Jamie smiled at him. “Hi, Hayden. Did you get her number? Hey, you’re all fuzzy, too. Come to think of it, everything is a little on the fuzzy side.”

“What the hell is wrong with him?” Hayden stared into his eyes.

Jamie widened them and stared back at Hayden.

“Don’t know. He hasn’t had that much to drink.” Ed pushed him into his chair.

Hayden waved his hand in front of Jamie’s face. “His pupils are huge! Call Ethan and find out where the hell they are.”

Jamie waved his hand back in front of Hayden. Why was Hayden doing that?

Ethan stepped into the bar and looked around. What the hell was going on? What did Ed mean, “There’s something wrong with Jamie”?

He saw someone jump up from the side of the room and wave at him.

He nudged John and pointed. “Over there.” As they drew closer, he could see Jamie sitting and staring off into space with a blank look. The knots in his stomach eased a little, until Jamie looked right at him, or rather tried to. He seemed to be having a hard time focusing.

Jamie blinked several times. “Ethan?”

“Yeah, it’s me. What's going on, Jamie?”

“Don’t know. Feel weird.” Jamie shrugged and almost slid to the floor. Ethan grabbed his shoulder to steady him and bent to peer deeper into Jamie’s eyes. “Shit, his pupils are too freaking dilated. Someone tell me what the hell happened.” Ed and Hayden hadn’t noticed anything unusual other than Jamie’s current state. According to Ed, Jamie hadn’t had much to drink before he’d started dancing and his partner had claimed that he’d only had a few sips between dances.

“Did y’all leave your drinks unattended at any time?”

“Well, yeah. They went and danced and I went to the bathroom.” Ed blanched. “Shit, Ethan, that’s just for women. People don’t drug men’s drinks!”

“The hell they don’t!” He looked back at Jamie, who was now propped against his hip and yawning.

“I really don’t feel so good. Is it gettin’ hard to breathe in here?”

Was it his imagination or was Jamie wheezing?

“Jeff and Carl are here.”

“What?!”

Ed and Hayden both flinched.

“I just saw them. I went right away to tell Jamie to be careful. That’s when I realized he was acting weird. I called as soo--”

Jamie passed out.

“Fuck!” Ethan grabbed him and hauled him up into his arms. He didn’t bother to explain himself as he took off for the door, ignoring the odd looks and questions other patrons tossed at him as he passed by. He had to get Jamie to a hospital, immediately.

Damn, he was heavy! Ethan looked down at his lover’s pale face as he stepped out of the bar. His breathing was irregular, slow. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

John ran in front of him, unlocking the truck and opening the door. John helped him climb in the back seat with Jamie.

“Get us to a goddamned hospital!” Thank God they’d gone into San Antonio instead of staying closer to home.

“Already ahead of you! Hold on, I’m calling Jules.” John burned rubber getting out of the parking lot.

Ethan pulled Jamie closer to him, stroking his face. “Come on, Blue Eyes, wake up for me. Baby, hang on.”

“Ethan!”

Ethan looked up at the rearview mirror and into John’s worried eyes.

“I’ve got Jules on the phone. She’s meeting us at the hospital.”

“Tell her he’s not breathing right. He’s wheezing and having a hard time, and he’s sweating like crazy.”
Come on, baby. Please. Don’t you die on me.

“Jules, did you hear that? Yeah, I think so. Ethan, are his pupils still dilated?”

“Yeah. At least they were. He’s still unconscious.”
God, please, don’t let him die. I just found him; I can’t lose him.

The drive seemed to take forever, but Ethan knew it was only a matter of minutes before John pulled up to the emergency room entrance.

“We’re here!” As soon as the truck jerked to a stop, John jumped out and opened the door. He pulled Jamie out and dashed toward the entrance. “Ethan, go park the truck!”

Ethan ran in behind him. Fuck the truck! Someone could steal it if they wanted to. He’d buy a new one.

A nurse met them just inside the door and directed John into a room to lay Jamie down on a stretcher. Other hospital staff were already there. Ethan and John told them what they suspected. Someone snapped out an order to intubate Jamie and get blood gases, stat. Ethan suddenly felt very ill. Fuck! Jamie was going to need help to breathe.

“Oh, God!” He watched in a daze as the doctors and nurses raced to pull out tubes and machines, and got to work on Jamie. The nurse that had led them into the room ushered them out.

John turned to him, his face white. “I’m going to park the truck.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll go wait for Julia.”

John nodded and walked off. Ethan stood there for several seconds, then forced himself to move. He went into the waiting area and sat down among the rest of the patients and their families waiting to be treated.

A few minutes later, John sat down beside him. “Anything?”

Ethan shook his head. “Fuck! Did you pick up his hat when it fell off in the parking lot?”

“Yeah, I got it. It’s in the truck.”

“Good. He’d be pissed if we lost his hat.”

“Yeah.” John turned to him. “You think Jeff and Carl drugged him?”

“I think it’s damned suspicious. Of all the bars, what are the odds that they’d turn up at the one we’re at? Especially on a work day. I bet they followed Jamie, Ed, and Hayden when they left the ranch.”

“Think they cut the fence and shot Jamie’s truck, too?”

Ethan looked at John. “Don’t know. Up till now, I thought it was your daddy. He called Jamie today --”

“What? You didn’t tell me that!”

“Just did.”

“Why the hell didn’t you say something earlier?”

He’d thought about it. He’d considered discussing it on the way to their meeting, but had decided against it. He’d promised not to keep things from Jamie, not to try and protect him in other ways. He also didn’t want to get into Jamie’s parentage. It was Jamie’s place to tell his siblings, not his. He shrugged.

“John! Ethan!” Jules came rushing toward them. She was in a pair of jeans and tee-shirt, but her badge was pinned to her shirt. “What’s going on?”

John stood up, holding his arms out to her. She hugged him, then Ethan.

“Don’t know, Jules. We think he was drugged, but we don’t know for sure and we don’t have any idea what with.”

She nodded. In her work environment, it was clear that Jules was very good at her job. She’d always been that way, calm, cool, and collected, in a real emergency. She thought for a few minutes. “Okay, I’m going back to see what I can find out. I’ll come back and get the two of you soon.” She walked off through the double doors leading into the ER, waving at one of the other nurses as she went.

Thirty long minutes later, she was back.

Ethan jumped up. “Well?”

She stopped in front of them. “They have him intubated and hooked up to a ventilator, and his blood pressure is up. He’s still unconscious, but otherwise stable. Based on his symptoms and what you guys said, we think it was GHB. It gets used as a date-rape drug sometimes.”

“Why would someone give him that?” John asked.

Ethan shook his head angrily. “Who the hell knows? Whoever did this -- they’re sick fucks!” He looked at Julia. “What does GHB do? How’s that going to affect him? Is he going to be okay? Why is he hooked up to a ventilator? I know he was having a hard time breathing, but ... SHIT! This is serious, isn’t it?"