Page 85 of The Rebel
She didn’t seem able to talk, so I just pulled her close, resting her cheek against my chest. She softened as I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close and safe. I wanted to take away whatever was causing her this distress, but I couldn’t without knowing what was going on.
After a while, she straightened up. “Annelise just called,” she explained in a shaky voice. “My dad had an accident early this morning. He fell off the tractor and broke a few ribs and his leg. He’s stable. They brought him home from the hospital this afternoon.”
“That’s good.” Broken ribs sucked. You couldn’t do much except wait for them to heal. At least they hadn’t perforated a lung or something. “How is your mom coping?” I asked.
“Mom didn’t tell me. I spoke to her this morning. I’m sure it was after the accident!” Daisy shook her head again, running both hands through her hair. “She kept this from me. Can you imagine that?”
I frowned. “She probably didn’t want you to worry.”
“He’s my dad,” she replied. “Of course I worry!”
“Fair point.”
“I need to get my head in the game and figure out what to do.” She licked her lips. “Could I take a few days off? Just so I can head up there and check how things are? I don’t trust talking to them on the phone. They’ll try to placate me. I promise I’ll work from there.”
“Daisy—”
“I won’t fall behind.”
“Daisy,” I said in a more forceful tone, and she stopped talking. “Of course you can take time off. No work. Take care of your family and yourself.” As I spoke, an idea popped into my mind. “I want to come with you.”
She furrowed her brow. “Home?”
I nodded. “Yeah. As support. I want to make sure you’re taken care of.”
“But you have a busy week.”
“I don’t give a fuck, Daisy. I just want to make sure that you’re okay. We can deal with everything else later.”
She took in a deep breath, then let out a shaky exhale.
“That, um… that would be wonderful, actually. God, I don’t know why I’m so out of sorts.”
“It’s understandable.”
“Annelise said he’s not in any danger. But if he can’t move, Mom will have to take care of him and the farm.” Daisy had mentioned that they had a few farmhands, but her mother would still be the one managing it all.
I stepped closer to her, grazing her temples with my thumbs and kissing her forehead. “Let’s take things one step at a time. I’ll book us tickets for tonight.”
“It’s going to cost a fortune,” she countered.
I looked down at her, “I have a fortune. And I don’t mind spending it to get you home as quickly as possible.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll take care of everything.”
“But I’m your assistant.”
“The only thing you have to worry about is packing quickly.”
“I don’t think we’ll leave that fast. There aren’t that many daily direct flights to North Dakota.” She backed away, seemingly pulling herself together. All I wanted to do was tug her back and tell her how much I cared. It was so unlike me in oneway but so right in another. She was the woman for me. “Thanks for staying so calm.”
“It’s easier when it’s not happening to you,” I said truthfully. “Now, call an Uber and go home. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Thank you so much, Anthony.”
“Don’t mention it. I just want to make sure you’re okay.” I knew she wouldn’t be, though—not until she saw her father with her own eyes.
