THE LOST CAUSE BAR #wattys2017

Chapter 20

                 

This hasn't been edited.

Please bear with me, Texas is going through a tough time right now. I will come back and edit this mess later.

Devin's POV

            After being hung up on and stranded I get to walking back to the house to fetch my truck and think somewhere other then the house where I am sure they'll take Delaney after they pick her up.

            Cutting through the woods and brush shortens the time it takes to get back to the house. With truck keys in hand and with no where else to go I head towards the bar that is owned by one of the most gorgeous woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. The woman I screwed over with my assumptions of her being a spoiled, little princess, which is so far from the truth. – I should be in India.- she saved our butts by buying the bar and trying to make it better.

Sawyer and Wyatt were right to make leave me and go take care of our girl.

Our girl its something we always talk about but since Delaney came into town the looks and talks have grown more frequent. I know they are wanting to move forward and after today it may be without me; unless I can get my shit together.

Reaching the bar without thinking, I find myself parked next to Wyatt's truck.

What the hell are they doing here?

My mind having wondered the whole way here its not until I'm out of the truck that I feel the rain and smell the scent of burning wood.

Taking in the bar, Wyatt and Sawyer I know it's the bar that has their attention or actually who is trying to open the front door of the burning bar.

"Get her away from there! I'll try the back door and hopefully find out what's so important that she is risking her life to get out into a burning bar." I say before quickly rounding the corner and off to the back door that I am fairly certain should be able to be broken down quickly.

The small windows splitter and crack as my foot goes through. Immediately I hear the coughing of a man the thud of a the person falling vibrates through the wooden floor boards pushing me in to actions.

Covering my mouth and nose with one arm and draping the man over my shoulder and hurrying the both of us out of the place and none too soon since once a safe distance away the windows blow glass out.

I can fell pinpricks all over my back, the small bits of glass reaching us a good hundred yards from the back of the bar.

Taking in the smoke free air between coughs relieves the heaviness from the smoke ridden air from inside the building. I let the older man down now able to move under his own power after deep breathes of his own.

The sirens of first responders can be heard coming closer as the pair of us round the front of the building. The closer we get to the sirens the more I can see.

The huddled forms of Sawyer and Wyatt around someone on the ground send a shiver down my back. Sending a pray up hoping its not Delaney but knowing it is.

"Where is Delaney? Where is She?" my voice laced with panic making the pair on the ground, part and allows a glimpse of the one who lies on the ground the still and unmoving, Delaney.

The older man places a hand on my shoulder preventing movement closer to her. I turn to the man to chew his ass out when his words stop my words. "Son, I can gather that you care for her but she needs to remain where she us until the EMTs can assess her and determine any injuries she may be suffering."

The movement of Delaney startles us all. Her hands reach out to take the older man's hand.  The affection between the two is clear the hesitant gestures show that time has passed since they last saw each other. Her gaze soon finds mine, examining me trying to understand.... something.

            I hope she sees how sorry I am and how hopeful I am to make up for my wrong doings.

            As the ambulance unloads the gurney we take a step back and let them get to work.

Wyatt and Sawyer were quick to load up in the truck the older gentleman, her father, quickly follows. When they look to me I wave them off, letting them know to go on without me.

My mind made up I would take care of the bar, bow out graciously, and leave the three of them to be happy without me.

I'd take care of the repairs for the bar, convince Sawyer to take up managing the place and then I'll head to a different city and start over.