As he writhed and screamed with his hands over his face, one of his buddies took a step toward Stone and swung his bat with all his strength. Stone ducked under the blow and snapped his belt against the side of the man’s face, gouging it. The fellow yelled in fury and came at Stone again, his bat whipping back and forth. Stone dodged out of the way, but one of the wild blows caught him squarely on the arm. He dropped his belt, rolled and snatched up the fallen man’s Louisville Slugger with his good arm. One smack to the man’s knees brought him down; the second to the base of his neck kept him there.

The remaining attacker dropped his bat and ran. Stone turned and threw the bat he was holding. It whipsawed through the air and nailed the guy in the back. He screamed, dropped to the road, picked himself up and kept going. Stone started to go after him but stopped when Danny moaned. He raced back to his side even as the truck sped off.

“Danny, Danny, can you hear me? Can you get up?”

Stone looked around. One man unconscious. The other still rolling around on the ground. He was worried the third attacker would go get reinforcements. And his arm was killing him.

“Danny, can you walk?”

Danny finally focused on Stone and nodded. Stone heaved him to his feet, the pain shooting across his injured limb. He was still able to support Danny as they made their way down the road. They reached Willie’s trailer. Stone loaded Danny into the truck and raced into the trailer. He found Willie’s truck keys, ran back out, fired up the truck and pulled off.

He drove first to Doc Warner’s office but no one was there. He changed direction and headed to the hospital.

Danny lay against him in the front seat. His face was bloody and one arm hung limp. “Hold on, Danny, we’re going to the hospital.”

Danny mumbled something.

“What?”

“Call my mom.”

Stone watched as Danny slowly dug his hand in one pocket and drew out his phone. Steering with his knees, Stone flipped it open, found the number on the speed dial and hit the key.

It took a few rings but she finally answered. “Hello?”

“Abby, it’s Ben. I’ve got Danny. He’s been attacked by some guys with baseball bats. I’m taking him to the hospital. Meet us there.”

To her credit the woman didn’t scream or start crying. All she said was, “I’m on my way.”