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Boyd tightly gripped Raylan’s cold-fish fingers and dragged him along.
“C’mon boy! Move!”
Raylan stumbled, his feet like lead. Boyd risked a glance behind them. The mine rumbled concerningly and the ground trembled. Raylan began to move at last and Boyd continued to drag him to the exit. The sky opened up in front of them and the fresh air swum into their nostrils.
“We made it! We did it. We’re safe,” Boyd repeated, over and over. He bent over his knees and panted. Raylan slithered to the ground, propped up against a wheel. Boyd gave up and plonked himself down too. “We’re safe,” he repeated quietly to himself. Raylan still hadn’t said a word. Boyd looked over at him. He was covered in coal dust and there was a dazed look in his eyes, but he didn’t look hurt other than some scrapes.
“Raylan?” Boyd said gently. “You alright?”
Raylan slid his vacant gaze to look at Boyd’s face but still didn’t say anything. Boyd scrambled to his knees and put his face right close to Raylan’s. His pupils were a normal size so probably not a concussion. Shock, then. Boyd put his hand on Raylan’s knee and squeezed.
“We made it out. You’re safe.” Raylan looked into Boyd’s eyes but still didn’t speak. He was listening now though, Boyd could tell. “I’m going to take you home, okay?” Raylan looked distressed at that, so Boyd quickly backtracked. “Okay, not home. We can go up to that cabin, okay? Wash the coal dust off and have a drink. Get ourselves sorted.”
Boyd wasn’t entirely sure alcohol was good for Raylan at the moment but he sensed he needed it. Raylan seemed to relax a little at that. “I’m going to go and talk to the foreman now, okay?” Raylan didn’t say anything, so Boyd straightened up to leave but Raylan’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. “I’ll be back, Raylan, I promise. I’ll just be a minute.” Raylan’s grip tightened. Boyd pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay. Raylan, come with me?” Boyd heaved Raylan to his feet and helped him walk semi-steadily to where the foreman was gathered with the other miners.
“Givens isn’t too good. I’m gonna take him home.”
The foreman barely glanced at them. “Okay, Crowder. Take tomorrow but I expect you both back in here on Friday.”
Boyd nodded and escorted Raylan back to his truck. He held his hand out to Raylan: “Keys.” Raylan looked blankly at him. Boyd sighed and dug in Raylan’s jacket pocket where he always kept his keys. He herded Raylan into the passenger seat and untangled Raylan’s fingers from Boyd’s shirt. “You have to let me go so I can drive your truck.”
Raylan reached out and cradled Boyd’s face in his palms, then fixed his gaze to Boyd’s. Thank you, he mouthed, the words coming out soundlessly.
Boyd ruffled Raylan’s hair and gave him a soft smile before going round and settling himself into the driver’s side. He stared out the windscreen for a moment before starting the engine.
“Right. Let’s get out of here.”