Page 58 of Fool's Gold

"Yes, but does he love you?" Pipi countered.

"Of course. Even a blind man could see it by his actions. Would a man who didn't love me make this noble gesture? Rafe always said actions mean more than words, and he was right."

Pipi turned to Grandfather. "You talk some sense into her. She won't listen to me."

He glanced warmly at Sarah. "I'd say Sarah knows her own mind."

"Right," Granny chimed in. "He seemed like a fine man to me."

"Darned tooting," Grandfather added. "A man after my own heart. You two love each other, don't you?"

Sarah smiled with remembrance of their last passionate encounter. "Yes, we love each other very much."

Pipi snorted. "Then why did he leave? If he cared, he would have stuck around."

"He left because he didn't want me to stay under duress. Now I don't want to hear any more of your objections, Pipi." Sarah sat up, and her head began to swim. She clung to the mattress to keep from toppling over. She had to tough it out and get to Rafe.

"What do you think you're doing?" Pipi screeched.

When the dizzy spell passed, Sarah raised her head and scowled at Pipi's panicked gaze. "I'm getting out of here."

"Good idea. Let's get back to Boston as soon as possible," Pipi placated while putting a hand on Sarah's shoulder to make her stay put. "But first, the doctors want to keep you under observation for a couple of days."

Sarah shrugged away and slid her legs off the side of the bed. "No way, I'm getting out of here now."

There was a tap on the door, and Dr. Phillips walked in. "What's going on in here, World War III?"

Pipi rounded on him with her hands on her hips. "You talk some sense into her." She peered at the doctor's name tag."Doctor Philips. Sarah wants to leave, and I was telling her it isn't a very good idea."

Mark Phillips frowned at Pipi, then turned to look at Sarah. "Why do you want to leave now?"

"I'm okay and I want to go home. There's some urgent business I need to take care of."

Pipi snorted. "For Pete's sake, Sarah, I wouldn't call the cowboy urgent business. You don't actually mean to chase after that husband of yours? You're a heck of a lot better off without him."

"Pipi, someday, when you meet the right man, you'll understand."

"Bull."

Doctor Phillips gave a sharp whistle. "That's it. All visitors out so I can examine my patient."

Pipi glared at him and turned on her heel. She left the room with Granny and Grandfather trailing behind her.

"You'll have to pardon her, doctor," Granny said on her way out. "She's just a little overwrought."

"She's always been high strung," Grandpa added.

Mark nodded. "I understand."

After they shut the door behind them, Mark turned to Sarah. "Boy, she's really something."

Sarah grinned. "Who, Granny?"

"Uh-uh, the redhead."

She shrugged. "Pipi tends to be a little overprotective."

"Yeah, like a momma bear with her cub. So, how are you really feeling this morning?"

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