Page 67 of Rancher's Heart

“You took it all up; there was no room for me.”

“Well, there is in this bed. Get in.” He opened his eyes, and there was one thing I couldn’t ever say no to: those rum colored, pleading eyes. Nodding, he let me go and I walked around to my side of the bed.

“Wake me up if you need anything, okay?” He nodded as he sighed, and I crawled into bed, careful not to bump his arm. I ached to be held but being this close to him would have to do for now.

The morning sun shone brightly through the window. Rolling over, I opened my eyes and stared into brighter, beautiful eyes I’d longed to see back. “Did we sleep all night?”

“You did.”

“Oh god, your meds, you must be in agony.” As if I sat on a spring, I bolted off the bed.

“I took them at four, went to the bathroom, and came back to bed. All on my own.”

“It wasn’t on his own, I helped him.” Griff’s mom walked into the room carrying two cups of coffee. “I told you both I’d be here to help. You might have a nursing degree, but I’ve dealt with this one for thirty-five years and I’ve got him figured out. Don’t worry, I’ll make notes for you.” She laughed, and I took a cup from her, handed it to Griff, and set the other one on the dresser.

“Thank you.” Tears formed in my eyes as I hugged her.

“Don’t you think I can’t read you too.” She placed her hand on my cheek when I let her go. “You both need to recover, and you have an extra job that’s going to make you more tired than him.” She grinned and reached to my stomach.

“How do you know?”

“My son’s kind of chatty at four in the morning. It might have been the pain meds also. He’d be a terrible spy, loose lips.” She laughed, and I glanced over at Griff, trying to hide my laughter. Her thinking her son would make a lousy spy was too funny. “I’ll let you two be. Call me if you need help Elle.”

“How about you get over here and test out these loose lips.” Griff wiggled his eyebrows.

“I need to look at your dressing, Casanova.”

“You know what they say about all work and no play.”

“All play and no work means your wounds get infected. Tell you what, we can play after I do my job.” I arched my brow, waiting for him to answer.

“Fine, do what you wish, Nurse Greggory. I’m at your will.” He finally relaxed back on the pillows I’d propped up, and I gathered the supplies I’d need. The bruising on his sternum had turned to a putrid yellow, and my stomach turned again as I thought about working on him out in that barnyard.

Taking a step back, I blinked and I stared out the window. This wasn’t me. I didn’t let things bother me. I compartmentalize. A person is a patient, but I couldn’t do that this time. The patient was my person. Slowly, I sank to the floor, avoiding looking at Griff.

The tip of my nose stung, and tears clouded my vision. I couldn’t breathe, clawing at the T-shirt I was wearing, I needed it off. Throwing the supplies out of my hand I pulled at the neck gasping for breath.

“Elle.” I could hear Griff’s muffled yells at me, but it sounded like he was above water and I was slowly sinking into the deepest depths of the ocean.

Griff’s hand was on my face. He was staring into my eyes, but I didn’t see him. His lips were moving, but I didn’t know what he was saying. Suddenly, his hand was off me, and he was trying to sign with one hand.

Something banged behind me and the amount of voices in the room was overwhelming. Blinking, I raised my hands, and signed,I’m fine, I’m fine.Over and over again, I made the same motions with my hands but nobody believed me.

Kipp and Ryder helped Griff back to bed, and Nash picked me up off the floor and set me on the couch that was now in the room, for people to visit with Griff.

“Elle, we need you to come back.” Fallon’s voice said from beside me. “Griff needs you to change his bandage, and he’s bleeding a little.” Turning to face her, I blinked and nodded. A smile formed on her face, but her dark eyes were filled with concern. “There you are,” she whispered.

“I’ll need you all to leave so I can change that bandage. I can’t be worried about any of you passing out from looking at it.” Standing I walked over to the pile of supplies on the floor and frowned as I picked them up.

Before they left the room, each person looked at one another, but Ryder stood firm at the end of the bed. “Ryder, seriously, I need you out.”

“Not going to happen.” He crossed his arms and widened his stance.

“If you pass out I’m letting you fall.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less.” He gave me half a smile and I nodded at him.

As if I were a robot, I went about the work I needed to do without thinking, without looking at Griff. I didn’t want to face him; I had no business breaking down. I was supposed to be strong for him, the person he needed, not the one sitting on the floor blanking out on what I was supposed to do.

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