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“Walker,” she croaked his name. Her mom had taken her hand in hers and was asking all sorts of questions, but Danni kept looking at him.
Simon stood behind Rachel with his hand on her mother’s shoulder. He went to the other side of the bed where no one stood. Walker sat hard on a chair beside her. Her hand slipped between the rails seeking his. Walker grasped it with his and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand.
Then his gaze traveled to her face which was battered. He wanted to reach out and touch it and reassure her that he would protect her, but he hadn’t. She had been hurt because he left her. The what ifs were going through his head while he looked at her.
This morning, he feared his feelings for her, so he left early. Knowing, that someone had vandalized her truck he shouldn’t have left her alone. What if he had stayed? He knew that Jesse wouldn’t have had the opportunity to hurt her. His brother caught her when she was vulnerable.
“Walker, it isn’t your fault,” she told him.
She knew him well. Danni knew that Walker was blaming himself. He nodded but he knew he was the reason for putting her here. Danni squeezed his hand. “Don’t you worry about me,” he whispered.
He caressed the side of her face that wasn’t so bruised. Then Walker frowned. His brother was left-handed. The left side of her face was battered. He looked at Simon Hatfield.
“Simon,” he said continuing to caress her, not looking at anyone but Danni. “Jesse is left handed.”
“I’m not sure what you are getting at, son.”
His eyes shot up to Simon. “When he swings at you, he tends to connect with the right side not the left. I’ve been on the receiving end of his punches before.”
Simon Hatfield frowned at him. “We’ll tell the sheriff but let’s keep this quiet for now.”
“I still want to talk to Jesse to be sure that he didn’t bring this on Danni because of the money Jesse owes.”
Walker rose from the stool, Danni held onto him. “Don’t go.”
He knew she was worried about him but now that he had seen her it was even more important that he talk to Jesse. “I’ll be back,” he promised her. Walker leaned over Danni and kissed her forehead.
“I’m leaving for a little while if Matt will let me borrow his truck.” Danni still gripped his hand. She wasn’t going to make this easy on him.
It was like no one else was in the room but them. Danni wouldn’t let Walker’s hand go. A tear streamed down her cheek and into her hair. He watched another, and he swiped it away. “Don’t cry, Danni Rose,” he whispered to her. “I can’t bear to see you cry.”
“Then don’t leave.”
“I’ll be back,” he promised. He kissed her forehead again. It didn’t make her feel any better. He could see the worry on her face and the last thing he wanted to do was make Danni worry about him.
“Let Matt go with you, Walker,” Simon told him.
“If he wants,” he agreed.
“Let me go, Danni.”
Her fingers unlaced from his. He walked to the door and glanced back at her once then he left her room. He met Matt in the lobby where he took him aside.
“Jesse didn’t do this. I want to talk to him, though.”
“I’ll take you,” Matt said. “Do you know where to find him?”
“I think so,” Walker replied.
They turned together to leave the ER when Jackson spoke up. “I can take care of her, Walker.”
He glanced over his shoulder knowing that Jackson was right didn’t make him feel any better. “Come on,” Matt told him, pushing Walker through the ER doors.
Chapter 9
The truck was heading south on Route 68 towards Severe. Walker had said little except directing Matt where to go. He just had to be sure that Jesse didn’t bring this danger to Sherwood. His mother might be next. Then he was returning to the hospital and no one was removing him from Danni’s side not even Jackson Hand.
He might be right about him. Walker might not be the best thing for her but dammit, he loved her, and she loved him too. He had known for a while how Danni felt about him. He continued to keep her at arm’s length because of things like this.
