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“How’d you meet her then?”
“About eight months ago, she came into the shop with her mother. Haven’t been able to get her out of my mind.”
“Then why was she still there?” Oh, she sounded pissed.
“She’s seventeen, Ma.”
That took the wind from her sails. “What is it with you boys? First Lennox with Sophia’s tender age…I guess that was my doing, though. Then Levi with Hayes still in high school. At least, she was eighteen. Now you! With an underage girl, Lochlan!”
“Never held her in my arms until last night, Ma. Barely spoke more than a word to her before that. I knew she was underage so don’t go giving me shit.” He couldn’t deal with being admonished right now. He needed Sage to get better.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. So, what’s the plan? When is she eighteen?”
“Not a damn clue,” he mumbled, forgetting when Sage’s sibling had told him.
“Three days,” was whispered from behind the counter. Looking over, he saw Kirsten sitting there. “You didn’t hear that from me, though.”
Nodding her head, his mother asked him, “How long until she’s ready to be discharged do you think?”
Coughing, followed by, “at least a week,” was the only answer they needed.
“She’ll be staying with me,” Lorraine commented. When he tried to protest, even though that had been his original idea, she continued on. “Sage needs time, Lochlan. If you’re anything like your brothers, you’ll steamroll right on over her.” He couldn’t argue with that.
“Fine. But I need to figure out how to keep them from getting to her. From making her go home.”
“Don’t fret, son, we’ll figure something out. Now scoot back in there before she thinks you aren’t coming back. I’ll be by in a few hours with some things for you both.”
Leaning down to kiss her cheek, he told her, “Thanks, Ma, knew I could count on you,” as she left.
Loch stood in the corridor watching as patients wandered, families visited, and employees attended to their duties. He felt lost. Worried about Sage, about how or if she would come out of everything she’d endured and be able to have a relationship with him. Or even want to.
The first time he saw her, Loch had been enthralled by not only her innocence and soft features but with the indescribable aura she exuded. She had hypnotized him with her angelic features, and he’d been hooked ever since.
The way she’d watched every move he made. Inquisitive, trusting, attracted. He’d known then she was someone he was going to get to know; she was going to be an incredibly important part of his life.
Until finding her half dead, he hadn’t known just how important.
Sleep didn’t come easily to Sage as Lochlan left the room. She didn’t want to come off as some needy girl clinging to him and becoming a burden, even though all she wanted was him. He soothed her terrified mind in ways nothing else could.
When he re-entered the room on the verge of her meltdown, instant relief flooded her body as her senses picked up his presence. The world floated away like melting ice, and all she saw was Lochlan. Even as the nurses redressed her wounds.
It was only him.
Lochlan was all her mind could register.
After the nurses left, he laid down with her, careful of her injuries and mindful of her ever-present need for him in her space. For hours, they hadn’t moved. They whispered silly hymns back and forth, and he told her funny but loving stories about his brothers. His mother and father’s love had been so strong that she felt it in the intensity of his words and gaze.
Theirs was a love Sage longed for, and if she were right, so did Lochlan. After meeting his mother, jealousy had gripped her down to her bones. Not because of his love and respect for the woman, but because she was the mother she had always longed for. Kind, caring, considerate. All things her own mother wasn’t.
Even before things turned bad, Alma had never behaved warmly towards any of her children. Sage wasn’t sure if it stemmed from how they were raised, or more recently, as she had been married off at fifteen when it was clearly illegal.
Confusion swirled in her mind bringing forth a headache that was nearly blinding. Her entire body suffered from the effects of that specific ailment.
Gently turning onto her side, she reached blindly for the call button she was told would bring forth a nurse within minutes. After pushing it, the buzzing noise it produced provoked ringing in her ears and bile climbing her throat. So much pain from a headache couldn’t possibly be normal.
Noise could be heard in the distance as the door was opened and people filed into her room. “Sage?” Someone called her name, eliciting the feel of tiny needles poking her brain and causing excruciating pain throughout her entire skull.
“Oh God,” she moaned, “what’s happening to me?” Her body began to shiver, and her muscles felt like lead. Immobile, Sage couldn’t recognize anything being said to her. “Make it stop. Please, Lord, I’m sorry.” Even though her faith was shaken, she still believed in Him. “Please, I’ll be good. I promise.” Her vow was followed by violent shaking in every cell in her body.
