Page 58 of Montana Groom of Convenience
“I am. Why aren’t you sleeping?” She’d gone to bed an hour or more ago, the kitten curled up beside her. Carly had checked Jill’s injuries at her bedtime, and they were scabbing over.
“Can I take Skippy when we go?”
Carly’s heart thudded. “Where are you going?”
“I dunno. But Sawyer goes. He always goes. Papa said he was like a rolling stone.”
“But, honey, he isn’t going to leave. We’re married.” Doubts flashed through her mind. Married in name only. And even if that wasn’t the case, there was nothing to keep him from leaving if he chose. But she could offer Jill reassurance. “This is your home now. You don’t ever have to leave.” She wished she could see Jill’s expression, but that might not provide her any information. The child was good at hiding her feelings. Something she’d learned from her big brother. Or perhaps from the events of the past few months.
“You’re not just saying that?” Jill’s voice was thin, uncertain, yet full of hope.
“Nope. I’ve never had a little sister, and now that I do, I’m not going to let her go.”
“Okay.” A moment later. “I’m glad.”
“Me, too.” She smiled into the dark and listened to Jill’s breathing deepen.
A few days later,Carly glanced out the window at the sound of an approaching conveyance. “Doc Baker,” she informed the others who lingered at the breakfast table. He’d said he’d be out this week to check on Father’s leg. Hope and sorrow laced through Carly. She understood that Father’s leg was not going to get completely better. But perhaps the doctor’s prediction had been wrong.
She opened the door to let Doc enter. “Would you care for coffee?”
“Wouldn’t say no.” He eyed the biscuits.
She offered them to him, knowing he must miss his daughter, Kate, now that she’d married Conner Marshall and lived on the ranch.
Doc looked about at the little Morrison family. Or—Carly corrected herself—was it the Gallagher family?
“How are you all doing?” he asked.
“Fine,” they answered in unison, making Jill giggle.
Doc turned to Jill. “What’s this I hear about you getting hurt again?”
Jill lifted her arm to show him the scrape on her elbow. “And my foot.” She reached down to start taking off her shoe and sock.
Doc chuckled. “No need to show me. I’ll take your word for it.” He studied Jill. “That’s two accidents in quick succession. Are you being careless?”
She returned his study with serious expression. “Sometimes I get in too big a hurry.”
Doc nodded. “Then maybe you should slow down.”
Carly and Sawyer exchanged a smile. She understood he thought the same as she—Jill wasn’t likely going to slow down.
His coffee and plate of biscuits finished, Doc rubbed his hands together. “Robert, are you ready to have your leg checked out?”
Father nodded. “So long as you have good news for me.”
“I can’t promise.”
Carly got to her feet. “We’ll wait outside.” The three of them exited.
Jill stopped two feet from the door. “Is he going to hurt Granddad?”
“I think his leg hurts much of the time,” Carly said. “But he won’t complain. Father never does.” She picked weeds from the flower bed, enjoying the bright orange of the poppies that had blossomed in the last few days.
Sawyer leaned against the corner post of the veranda, his gaze on the closed door. “I hope he’ll be okay.”
“Me too, but—” Carly didn’t finish. Doc had already warned them that Father’s leg would never be the same.
