Honey Stone

Caution on the Wind

Honey sat in the chair at Nash's side and watched the monitors in their endless rhythmic dance. She should be grateful she supposed; if there was any change then that would be bad, wouldn't it? For now the endless beeping and the mechanical, artificial cacophony mean he was still alive. Alive? What did that mean exactly? Yes his chest was rising and falling as oxygen was forced into him, the feint pulse at his neck told her that his heart really was beating and his skin was warm and dry, but he wasn't her Nash anymore. She wanted to see his smile, to hear his laugh even to listen to him chew on his toast in the morning. None of that was there though was it.

Clara stirred in her chair, mumbled something about pie and fell back asleep. Honey huffed. How long had she been here? Time was passing so slowly but at the same time she was always surprised when someone came in and told her several hours had passed and she needed to eat. She hadn't left his room though, not for a moment; she knew it had been days. The fear that something would happen and she wouldn't be there to see it, she was in a constant flux between being terrified he would die to being terrified of what would happen when he did wake.

Clara moved again. This time she almost jumped out of her skin as a dream startled her awake.

'Did you hear that?' she whisper shouted, looking round anxiously before fixing her gaze on Honey.

'Hear what?' Honey said blinking back at her.

Clara stood up and leaned over her son, touching his face and shoulders. Satisfied he was unchanged she sat back down and rubbed hand over her weary face. 'Could have sworn I heard him calling. Calling out for help.  It was a warning! He's not out of danger yet Honey.'

Clara's eyes met Honeys making the tiny hairs on her neck stand on end. 'What do you mean? Is he dying?' Honey spoke through trembling lips not daring to look away but needing to see Nash's face for herself, just to check.

'No child, I don't think that's it but he's worried, worried about you.' Clara mumbled.

'It was just a dream Clara, he didn't say anything.' Honey's temper was frayed and she was on the edge now, her blood was running cold and she felt every hair prickling across her skin. Clara had rounded the bed and grasped Honeys hands, rubbing life back into them.

'Oh I know that sweety.' she replied but smiled sadly 'I know my boy though and I know he's worried. That makes me worried.'

'Worried about what?' Honey's voice was rising by the second and she was fighting to remain calm.

'Sweet thing, did you not think about the people that did this? They are still out there; the boy that broke into your house is still out there.'

'My house!' Honey gasped in shock as she remembered for the first time in days that she'd been broken into and photographed. She bolted for the door but Clara stopped her.

'No-ones been there sweety. Mary is looking after the place and Violet is it?'

'Mari and Viola' Honey whispered in reply as she turned back to the pale figure in the bed. She stared at his still form and fought the tears as she sat on the beds edge. She slipped her hand into Nash's and silently begged for him to wake. Tears coursed down her face and Clara rubbed Honeys hunched shoulder, letting her own tears slide. Honey, overwhelmed by the compassion of the older woman towards her, allowed her body to slumped lower. 

Her hand was still gripping Nash's but her tears were falling, several splashed onto the back of his hand and wrist. 

Suddenly Honey jerked upright and almost threw Clara to the floor. 'Goodness child, what is it?' she gasped, clutching her chest in surprise. Honey was leaning deeply over Nash whispering to him but she turned her face to Clara with an expression that was almost unhinged.

'Clara!' she gasped 'he moved!'

###

The men folk were sitting around outside their rented rooms planning their next move. Tommy and Clay hadn't moved too far from the hospital and Albert hadn't left at all until tonight. Clay dragged on his beer and sat back in the plastic chair.

'This club that bad then?' he asked to no-one in particular.

'They're bad.' Tommy answered as he nursed his own bottle. 'Bout as bad as club can get I reckon. Drugs, violence, whores. No respect.' the last word was practically spat out and Tommy grimaced. He didn't have time for people like that.

'If Angela's got them coming here its gonna be a shit storm.' Preach laughed with no humour. 'It'll be an absolute blood bath.'

'But why?' Albert asked looking from face to face. 'Why would they come here? what it got to do with you?'

'Because Nash killed Angela's boyfriend.' Clay stated simply looking blandly at his brother in law.

Albert stared back at him 'My boy? Cold blooded murder, I don't believe it.' he said as he shook his head.

'Now hold on a second Al, I never said it was cold blooded. That fella had it coming and James was the wrong person to mess with. Or should I say, Honey was the wrong person to mess with.'

'He hurt Honey?' Albert was shocked. Clara hadn't told him the story, what little she knew of it anyway.

'That he did Al, that he did. Little girl was lucky James was around. Bastard had a knife to her throat and his pants round his ankles.' Clay said angrily. 'That's why I come up here. Brought my gear in a U-Haul truck, sold my wagon and my house and I'm staying put here in Nebraska.'

Preach and Tommy looked at him curiously. 'Why?' was all Preach asked.

'Cause I've had enough of the desert, I miss my family and if I'm right and I know I am, that little girl is going to marry my nephew and I intend to walk her down the aisle.'

'Marriage!' spluttered Albert looking around the group but no-one else shared his shock 'Its too soon to think of things like that. They've not been together five minutes.'

'You've not seen the way they look at each other.' Clay answered

'Neither have you.' Tommy said on a chuckle as he looked at Clay meaningfully. 'Things changed after she arrived here. He worships the ground she walks on and she is a stronger person because of him. They need each other. I don't know about wedding bells but those two belong together.'

'Where you gonna live?' Preach asked, changing the subject as he cracked open another bottle and almost drained it in one go. 'You could stay with me and Vi till you find your own place.'

'Thanks good fella but I got a little place sussed out for me out on the edge of town. Looked at it this morning.' Clay smiled at him 'Plus I don't think your good lady would appreciate an old fart like me stinking up your home and getting under your feet, nice young couple like you need their privacy.' Clay winked and the other men chuckled as Preach grinned bashfully, his cheeks an uncharacteristic pink.

Tommy was just about to pass round the next round of beers when Alberts phone trilled. He looked at the screen and murmured that it was Clara. His face was suddenly ashen and they watched him as he walked a few steps away to speak to his wife. They were all on their feet in anticipation of news, any news. Albert turned and faced the gathering,  his phone dangling in his trembling fingers.

'What is it Al? Is James alright.' Clay was first to break the silence.

'He's awake!'