“Ruby, this is Lon Pittman. Can you talk, or do you want to call me back?”

“I’m closed, so I can talk. It took me a minute to get to the phone because I was mopping. What’s up?”

Lon began to explain, and by the time he was through, Ruby was in tears.

“Bless her heart,” she said. “I can’t imagine how broken she must feel. I’d heard the boys were in jail, but didn’t know why. And I knew there’d been a fire, but we’ve been slammed today and no one ever mentioned there was a casualty. So, what are we aiming for? Raising enough money to get Arnold buried and her back home? Or adding some to that so she’ll have something to live on until Social Security gets her widow’s benefits started?”

“Yes, the latter. I’m thinking Dub Truesdale should have insurance to cover his employees, so she might even get an insurance settlement from that. We’ll have to find out.”

“Just leave it to me,” Ruby said. “First thing I’ll be doing is going to see her and find out what her wants and wishes are. We’ll go from there, okay?”

Lon sighed. “Yes, very okay, and thanks.”

“Always,” Ruby said.

Lon hung up, and then Avery buzzed his office.

“What’s up?” Lon asked.

“The coroner is on the scene,” Avery said.

“Thanks,” Lon said. “I’ll be at the feed store and then going home from there. Call if you need me.”

“Yes, sir,” Avery said.

Lon grabbed his hat and once again left through the back of the station to get to his car.

While the chief was still tending to death, Ava was at the nurses’ station monitoring patient calls and tending to life.

She had just come out of a patient’s room when she heard a commotion out in the lobby, and then a man came into the ER pushing a very pregnant woman in a wheelchair. He was obviously pale and shaken, and the woman was crying and moaning and appeared to be in serious distress. When she realized the man was her ex, Vince Lewis, she was shocked.

When Vince saw her, he started pushing the wheelchair toward her, talking frantically, trying to explain.

“We were on our way home from Florida when she went into labor. I took a detour off the main highway because this was the closest hospital I knew of. She’s eight months pregnant and bleeding.”

“Roll her into room four,” Ava said, and then called out to one of the other nurses. “Page Dr. Quick, ASAP.”

Within seconds, Vince had his wife in the exam room with Ava right behind them.

“It’s okay, honey, it’s going to be okay. This is my friend, Ava. Ava, this is my wife, Carly.”

Ava reached for the young woman’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.