As soon as his hand left hers, her certainty fled with it. She started to rock back on her heels.
“Sanna.” More than anything, Isaac’s gentle tone pulled her back. She nodded and pressed, only worrying about her part as Isaac barked orders to Bass. In minutes, the sirens of the Door County EMTs pulled into their drive, followed by Sheriff Dibble in his cruiser. Isaac pulled Sanna back to make room for them to do their work. Sheriff Dibble joined them, reaching an arm up to pat Sanna’s shoulder.
“He’ll be okay, Sanna. Einars is made of tough stuff.” Sanna could only nod. When he realized she wasn’t going to talk, he reached out his hand to Isaac. “Paul Dibble, but everyone just calls me Sheriff.”
“Isaac Banks.” Isaac paused, looking at Sanna and the EMTs as they worked. “Are you related to Mrs. Dibble?”
“She’s my mom—but half the county is related to her.” He nodded in the direction of the EMTs. “I’m going to get some info.”
As they carefully put Einars on a board and Sheriff asked a few quick questions, Sanna swayed where she stood. The EMTs loaded him into the truck and Sheriff joined them again. Sanna found her voice.
“Is he going . . .” was all she could get out. Why wasn’t she rushing to his side? That’s what a good daughter would do. Instead she was useless.
“He’ll be okay. Some broken bones, some blood loss, but they’re taking him to the hospital. Isaac here will get you cleaned up and follow. Okay?” He switched his eyes to Isaac. “I’ll catch up with you there.”
He returned to his cruiser, flicked on his lights, and led the ambulance out of the driveway. Isaac guided Sanna by the elbow toward the house but she resisted. Bass stood nearby in silence. “No.” She pointed in the direction of the retreating ambulance. Isaac moved in front of her so he could look her in the eye.
“We’ll meet them there. I promise.”
She believed him and so let him lead her into the house, the blood on her hands tacky. She kept pressing her palms together and pulling them apart, like a child might. Isaac turned on the faucet in the kitchen, letting the water warm before guiding Sanna’s hands under the stream. He soaped up his own hands, the white suds turning a rusty brown, then used them to soap up Sanna’s, too, gently rubbing off the drying blood with his soft touch, rinsing, and repeating until the suds stayed a clean white.
“Sanna, I need you to help me get to the hospital. Can you do that?”
Sanna blinked. She could hear him speaking and feel the way he carefully handled her, comforted by the contact and concern, but when she blinked, she couldn’t stop seeing her father bent in unnatural ways. Her mind couldn’t imagine what would happen next. Isaac looked her in the face. He was getting closer and closer, his eyes looking at hers. His lips moved in explanation. Inches from her face the sound finally came back in a roar.
“I need to get to him. I need to get to my dad. Why didn’t I go in the ambulance? Why are you just standing there? Let’s go.”
Isaac took her hands in his. They were both still wet.
“I know. That’s where we’re going. I need you to tell me how to get there.”
Sanna almost insisted she would drive, but knew enough to know that she couldn’t.
“There’s no time to get to your car, let’s take Elliot.”
“You trust me to drive him?”
Sanna paused before answering. Remembering his sprint to her dad’s side, his control of the situation, the gentle way he washed her hands.
“I do.”
? ? ? ? ?
Isaac ushered Bass and Sanna out the door, watching for any sign that Sanna would disappear to wherever she had gone before. It had been disconcerting to see someone who, in the short time he knew her, lived life with confidence and strength disappear into uncertainty.
As they walked back to the gravel driveway, Isaac first noticed the shiny, silver pickup truck, then registered the man leaning against the driver’s-side door. Everything about him was taupe. Sand-colored hair blended into dusty skin as if he’d rolled around in the dirt like a hog on a hot summer day. His tan and cream plaid shirt topped khaki pants. If he were to lie down on the dirt and gravel parking lot, he’d disappear. Everything about him mumbled dull and predictable. Isaac would have yawned if his adrenaline weren’t still pumping.
As they approached, Sanna’s gait slowed, her body resisting the forward motion, whereas moments before it had strode with purpose. But it was too late, Mr. Taupe waved to them. They had been spotted. She resumed her pace toward Elliot, both he and Bass rushing to match it.
“This isn’t a good time,” Sanna said as she approached him. Taupe’s face molded into a condescending smile.
“Since you skipped our date last night, I thought I’d see how you’re doing,” he said, ignoring what she’d said. “Find out why you canceled.”
The man’s eyes twitched to Isaac and Bass, seeming uncertain of how to take this new development. Isaac watched Sanna for any sign he should get rid of him, which he’d be all too happy to do. She paused long enough to listen and respond to him.
“It’s not a good time.” Sanna carved each word into the air so there would be no mistaking the meaning the second time. “Pa fell off a ladder, and the ambulance just left. We’re going there right now.”
To his credit, this man straightened and understood the urgency immediately.
“I’ll drive you.”
Sanna ignored him and continued toward the barn and truck. Isaac and Bass hustled after her, leaving the man behind to watch them all clamber into the seat. As Isaac pulled Elliot out of the parking lot, the silver truck followed in their wake.
Who was this guy? And why did he need to follow them to the hospital? What did she cancel last night? He wanted to ask Sanna, but now was not the time, and besides, it wasn’t his business, was it? He looked over at her, leaning on the door at the far side of the bench seat, Bass sliding between them as the truck veered around corners in response to her terse directions. She rubbed her hands together as if still trying to remove the blood, her forehead against the window so he couldn’t read her expression. She only looked forward to point in the direction Isaac needed to turn then resumed her stare.
As they rumbled down the highway, the silver truck tailed him menacingly, nearly rear-ending them at a stoplight. Surely this guy didn’t need to follow them so closely. If he was local, he would know the way to the hospital.
“Do you want me to get rid of that guy when we get there?” Isaac said, unable to stay silent.
Sanna looked at him over Bass’s crazy curls, her eyes still a million miles away, and shook her head.