He’d seen a lot of men die in the war, and when they quit breathing, they were gone. Ava had been dead in his arms, and he’d witnessed life returned to her. Hunt was so grateful to God for giving her back. He didn’t know how all that worked in heaven, and right now he didn’t care. All he knew was that his sweet Ava was alive again, and how much he loved her.

He glanced up at the clock over her bed and thought about the painters and the house, and how important that had been to him this morning, and how inconsequential it was now, and how fast priorities can change.

He had arrived in Blessings on New Year’s Day. He’d been here less than two weeks, and in that time he’d buried his mother, learned the truth of the family secret that had driven him away, fallen in love, and been working diligently to fulfill that promise he’d made to his mother. Today had begun as just another day in the steps toward fulfilling that promise.

He couldn’t know this would be the day Ava died, or that the CPR he’d learned in the military would be the difference it made in reversing her fate, but he was grateful.

Thank God. Thank God.

* * *

The Rymans and the Dillons were booked for disorderly conduct. The two women were released on their own recognizance because the only people they’d hurt were themselves. They apologized to each other in tears, then begged a ride from one of the officers to get them back to the hospital to check on their injured family members.

The two men fighting had not only hurt each other, but it was nothing to the hurt Hunt Knox had dealt. They’d caused considerable damage to property at the hospital. Caused injuries to hospital personnel because of flying debris, and they were sorely ashamed.

The two Hunt had taken down were patched up in the ER. One with a broken nose reset and taped up. The other one sent off to jail with an ice pack to his jaw.

But it was Josh Ryman who was in the most trouble. What he’d done to Ava Ridley was unintentional, but his irrational behavior and his rage and violence had caused it, and now all three of the brawlers would be facing a judge tomorrow. Bail would be set.

But there was nothing that was going to take away the shame of their behavior or the grief of knowing that their first grandchild was dead because of what they’d done.

* * *

While Ava was being moved into a bed upstairs, Hunt was on the phone with the painters.

“I’m sorry to hear your girl got hurt,” Bill Smith said.