Page 59 of Fool's Gold

"Like hell, but I can handle it. I need to go home."

"I'll be the judge of that. Let's take a look." He shined a light in her eyes, then probed her forehead.

"Ouch," Sarah mumbled.

"You're going to have one beautiful shiner in a couple of days," he said, slipping his light back in his pocket.

She smiled. "Gee, thanks."

He cocked his head and gave her a once-over. "Well, you don't seem too bad, considering what you've been through. But I wouldn't advise any strenuous activity for several days. I'd rather have you here, but I guess you can go home if you're that gung-ho about it. Just don't overdo it. I don't want Rafe and the redhead to come down on me."

"Thank you, doctor." Sarah let out the breath she was holding.

He walked to the door. "You know, you're one lucky lady. A little harder and you wouldn't have made it."

Sarah nodded. She knew she had a second chance at life, and she wasn't going to mess it up this time. "Thank heaven they caught the guy."

Mark opened the door. "I heard they arrested one of the ranch hands. They also picked up Nevell Blackthorn. I hear he's making quite an argument about false arrest."

Thankfully, Bob Wilson had checked the rifles at the ranch. That was probably how they’d zeroed in on the hand. She could picture Nevell Blackthorn all huffy and trying to throw his weight around. The man definitely wouldn't take well to confinement.

But she had more important things to dwell on, like Rafe and how much they meant to each other. There would be nothing to keep her from telling him she loved him now. She felt free.

Sarah eased to the side of the bed and stood up. Keeping one hand on the bed for balance, she walked to the closet. The door opened and Pipi, Granny, and Grandfather walked in.

"So, that stupid doctor is letting you leave?" Pipi carped.

Sarah continued pulling her clothes off the hangers. "Mark Phillips is not stupid. He's very accommodating. And he's a very good doctor, to boot."

"I don't care if he's the world's best doctor. I'll accommodate him with a malpractice suit if anything goes wrong."

"Will you stop spouting off and come over here to help me get dressed?"

Grandfather left to call for a wheelchair escort.

Sarah sank on the bed while Pipi and Granny fluttered around her, helping her dress.

She put on the same jeans, camp shirt, and hiking shoes she'd worn yesterday. The scent of wood smoke on the clothes brought back memories of that wonderful camping trip and the surprise attack that followed. She really should have seen it coming, but she thought he was there on ranch business. Her last memory was of Tab’s grim face as he brought the butt of his rifle down on her head.

After she finished dressing and signed the release forms a nurse had brought in, Pipi said, "I'll go call us a cab to take us to the airport."

Sarah grinned. Her cousin wouldn't give up easily. "While you're at it, call me one to take me back to the Double-H."

Pipi frowned. "But he doesn't want you."

"That's not true," Sarah said cheerfully. "He doesn't want to force me. I'm going back of my own free will."

"For a lifetime of cows and horses? You know how you hate horses, Sarah."

She put a soothing arm around Pipi's tense shoulder and pulled her close for a hug. "No, for a lifetime of love and babies. Don't worry about me, Pipi, I know what I'm doing. And no offense to any of you, but I found the love and family I've always missed right at the Double-H, in Rafe's arms. And guess what, I'm never going to leave."

Granny smiled and patted her arm. "Go for it, Sarah. Follow your heart. I did like the look of that young man you married. Besides, we've got all the time in the world to get to know each other."

Sarah let go of Pipi and hugged her grandmother. "Thanks, Granny Blake. I love you even more for being so generous."

She turned to get crushed in her grandfather's tight embrace. "Be happy," he said with a shaky voice.

She blinked away the tears in her eyes.

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