Page 66 of Prophet
Prophet chuckled. “As you can tell, he never shuts up.”
Zed laughed.
I did too, then I coughed.
“Easy baby, take it easy,” Prophet soothed.
“The doc told us that you had a severe concussion,” Zed again interjected. “And all that you went through tapped the strength from you. I kept telling this kid of mine that you just needed to rest. I knew someone like you wasn’t gonna give up, ever.”
I stared up at Zed. I didn’t know him but then again, I didknowhim after what we went through together. I then looked at Prophet and squeezed his hand harder. I had more questions.
He stared at me. “Ok, let me think...” He nodded. “Deacon got away.” His expression went hard for a few seconds before he caught himself and it changed again to a relaxed look.
Yes, Zed and I knew this by what Maxim had said. And Maxim had told the truth in the end. I now remembered more and more of that odyssey through hell.
“He and some woman,” Prophet added.
I paused then I knew who he meant.Vi.I squeezed his hand again.
He chuckled at my squeeze-prompting. “Um, everyone else is fine. They are all at the Connor House. Ma wanted to come here andtend to youas she put it, but it took Jarret to keep her there.”
Just the sound of his voice made me feel so…warm, so safe.Safe?The ranch, did Deacon…I whispered through the oxygen mask, “Ranch.”
Prophet met my gaze and replied, “It is still there.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief.
A nurse came in and headed over to us. “I need to check and see if she needs to stay on the oxygen.” She came up to the bed and studied the machines.
Ones that I just noticed. I was hooked up to a huge platform of them. The fact that I lived and Zed was here alive with us, hit me all over again. But we weren’t safe, I felt so grateful to be alive and that Prophet was here with me, but Deacon had also made it out alive. That meant—
That beeping became loud in the room again.
“Please don’t let her get too upset right now,” the nurse said as she removed my mask. “Her body had been so taxed that it nearly shut down. She needs to stay calm and rest.”
I glared up at her. “They didn’t upset me,” I defended the two men.
Looking down at me, she said, “Maybe not. But they need to let you rest for a while.”
“It is you that’s upsetting me,” I stated firmly.
Zed chuckled at my taking her to task.
The nurse turned her head to scowl at him as she answered me, “Your rest is more important here.” She checked the buttons again, then turned and left the room.
“Wow, Jewel,” Prophet still held my hand.
I opened my mouth to back up what I’d just said.
He raised his other hand and covered my lips gently with his fingers. “No talking for now.”
“You are a brave one kid,” Zed said with a snicker in his voice. “This little woman ain’t no filly in the field that you can bridle. She’s what you call a princess warrior.”
I stilled and stared over at him as Prophet had to remove his hand from my mouth.
Zed nodded his head at me as warmth shone from his eyes. “I don’t know how ya got so lucky, but you did, son. She was my guardian angel and no one can tell me any different and after what she lived through, she deserves to do anything she damn well pleases. That nurse just learned that lesson as well.” He grinned at us.
“Dad, I swear, you…” Prophet shook his head as he couldn’t help but to smile.
