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31
Darkness finally releasedits grip on me. My eyes fluttered open to a bright white light beaming down on me. I cursed and moved my arms to shield my eyes. Pain scoured through my shoulders, my brain screaming in agony at me to stop moving.
“Soph?”
That familiar soft voice stopped my movements in an instant.
“Brady?” My voice cracked, mustering barely a croaky whisper.
The sound of feet shuffling followed by something thudding against the wall behind me. Warm hands folded around my forearms, peeling them from my face.
“Open your eyes, sweetie. It’s ok.”
I squinted, allowing my eyes to accustom to the piercing light for a few seconds before I opened them fully. Brady’s handsome face peered over my line of sight. His usual sparkling brown eyes were dull, puffy, red. His usual sprinkling of stubble had grown into a shaggy mess. He looked exhausted.
“Are you ok?” I asked.
He cracked a smile and grabbed one of my hands. “You’re laying in a hospital bed after being attacked by a mountain lion and you’re asking if I’m ok?” He chuckled, shaking his head. Lifting my hand to his lips, he brushed a gentle kiss across the back of it.
I let his words rattle around my mind. Hospital? Mountain lion? What? Then it hit me—like a flood gate being opened, the entire thing hit me full force as I realised what exactly I’d done.
“Was I really that stupid?” I said, groaning inwardly at myself.
He shook his head. “Heroically brave, not stupid.”
Warmth trickled through me, tingling all my nerve endings. Before I could respond, the sound of purposeful marching feet turned my head towards the door. Two nurses and Dr Tate were soon upon me, asking questions, poking and prodding. Brady backed away, leaving them to their job. The moment was gone.
“This is becoming too much of a regular habit, Sophie,” Dr Tate said, smiling. “I may have to take out an injunction on you if I see you again this side of Christmas.”
I blushed and giggled. “Sorry. I promise no more.”
“It seems this time was much worse than last. Unfortunately, if you try to make the next time worse, I don’t think we’ll be in a two-sided conversation. You’ve been exceptionally lucky, and I can’t stress that point enough.”
I glanced down to my left leg, wondering what was beneath the bandages. “How bad is it?”
He drew his lips into a thin line. “We seriously debated a skin graft, more from a healing process point of view, but luckily, in the four days you’ve been in here, it’s started to heal very nicely. The rest of your injuries are serious but not as bad as your leg. You will make a full recovery, in time, but I’m afraid it’s nothing but rest for you until I say otherwise. I’m afraid that includes going home.”
“Four days?” I asked, stunned. “I’ve been in here four days?”
He nodded and returned his attention to his paperwork. “You’ve been pumped full of morphine to keep you out of pain and give your body a chance to heal. Your bandages are due a change later this evening. Depending on how well it’s all healing, you may be able to return back to the ranch by the end of the weekend, providing there will be care in place.”
I said nothing, shocked to say the least at my new reality. The whole thing seemed like a bad dream that had happened weeks ago. Did my parents know? They couldn’t, or they would be here.
“Has anyone phoned my parents?” I asked. “And where’s Ben?”
Brady and Dr Tate exchanged looks which instantly filled me with discomfort.
“I’ll be back later this evening to check on your leg, Sophie,” Dr Tate said. He gave Brady a single nod and hurried out of the door.
“What was all that about?” I said, frowning.
Scratching his head, Brady cleared his throat. “Um, your parents do know but they couldn’t come over.”
A sharp sting cut through my very soul. Why couldn’t they come over? They were retired and had bags of money. I’d nearly died, and they weren’t bothered? What the hell?
“What? Why?”
“It’s not really my place to say, Sophie. I think you should call them.”
