AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m okay. My throat's a little sore, and my side hurts, but other than that…” I trailed off not knowing what else to tell her.
She nodded as she began to take my blood pressure and pulse. “I’ve paged the doctor, he’ll be here soon.” After taking my vitals, she wrote more details in my chart, before placing it back at the end of my bed. “We haven’t been able to call any relatives as you weren’t carrying any ID. What’s your name?” she asked kindly.
“Quinn. Quinn Montgomery. There’s no one to call though, it’s just me.” My eyes flitted to Brody, and I subtly shook my head, hoping he wouldn’t mention Evan. Thankfully he seemed to take the hint and just raised his eyebrows in question. Ignoring him, I turned back to the nurse. “When can I leave?”
“Let’s get you checked over by the doctor first,” she replied with a smile before leaving the room.
“Where are you going to go?” Brody asked gently.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I’ll be fine.”
“How? If everything you had was in your backpack, all that’s left is those clothes over there.” He gestured with his head to the folded pile of clothes on the chair across the room.
My eyes looked over to where he was pointing, and I sighed. “I’ll figure it out,” I muttered, not having a clue what I was going to do with no clothes and no money.
Standing up, he walked to the end of the bed and rested his hands on the bed frame. “Let me help you.” I sat up and opened my mouth to speak, but he held his hand out to stop me. “I’m not blind, Quinn. I can see the bruises. So, I know something is going on with you. I don’t expect you to share what’s happened, you barely know me. But I can help you.” His eyes found mine, and I held his gaze. He may have said he didn’t expect me to tell him what had happened, but his stare told a different story. Sighing, he came back to sit next to my bed. “Let me find you a job on the ranch. There are some of the old cabins not in use as well. You could live in one of those. Just until you can sort yourself out.”
“Why?” I asked him, my voice showing my surprise. “Why do you want to help me?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I pulled you out of that burning stable, I don’t want it to be for nothing. You need help, and I can help you.” His eyes bored into mine and I found myself unable to look away. My apprehension from earlier was ebbing away, and I found myself thinking maybe I could trust him. My gut was telling me he was one of the good guys. Whatever connection we had was broken when the door to my room swung open and a doctor and a nurse came in. “Think about it, Quinn.” Standing up he made his way to the door, his hand resting on the handle. “I’ll wait outside while the doctor checks you over.”
Brody
Walking out of Quinn’s room, I closed the door behind me and dragged in a deep breath. “Shit!” I mumbled. Why I’d just offered her a job and a place to stay, I had no idea. I just knew I had to help her. I’d felt this overwhelming need to protect her from the minute I pulled her from the stables. I couldn’t explain it, but it was a feeling that left me uncomfortable. Sighing, I dropped my head back against the door and let out a groan. I couldn’t watch her walk away knowing she had nothing. She was scared, I just wish I knew who and what she was running from. As I walked down the corridor, I saw Beth approaching me.
“He’s awake, Brody,” she cried, throwing her arms around me. I picked her up and swung her around.
“And he’s okay?” I dropped her feet to the ground and took a step back, watching as she nodded.
“Yes, he’s going to be fine,” she assured me with a grin.
“Thank God!” Relief flooded my body at knowing he was going to be okay. “Can I see him yet?”
“Of course. Come on.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me along the corridor, coming to a stop outside a door identical to Quinn’s. “I’ll leave you to it.” She paused and bit down on her bottom lip. “Call me, Brody, we were good together.” I nodded and brushed my lips across her cheek. I’d call her. I wasn’t one to turn down what she was obviously offering. There were no feelings involved with Beth and that was just the way I liked it.
As she walked away, I turned to open the door to Josh’s room, only to come face-to-face with my parents who were on their way out.
“Brody,” my mom said, throwing her arms around me. “Are you okay?” She frowned as she reached down for my bandaged hand.
“I’m fine, Mom. Sorry, I’ve been with Quinn.” I smiled sheepishly at her. I knew I should have spent more than five minutes with her after I got released from triage. I knew she would worry.
“Who's Quinn? Is that the girl you pulled from the stables?” I nodded as I quickly filled them in on what little I knew about her, and why she was in there. “She’s got no family? No friends?” I shook my head, choosing not to tell her about Quinn’s “brother,” Evan. I was sure whoever he was, it wasn’t her brother.
“I don’t think so. Her mom died, and she hasn’t mentioned her dad. She lost everything in the fire.”
“Poor girl. We should help her,” my mom said, looking over at my dad who was nodding in agreement.
“About that. I kind of offered her a job and a place to stay,” I told her with a wince. “She’s running from something, she just won’t tell me what. I want to help her.” I watched as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
She nodded and put her hand on my arm. “I’m sure we can sort something out. What room is she in?”
“Just down there on the left.” I gestured down the corridor in the direction of Quinn’s room.
“I’ll go speak to her. Go see Josh and your sister. They’ll want to see you.” She pulled me in for another hug, holding me for a little longer than she normally would.
I gave her a grateful smile and watched as they walked toward Quinn's room. I was torn between wanting to go with them and needing to see Josh and Savannah. Not understanding why I was feeling the need to help and protect this girl I’d only just met, I sighed and pushed open the door to Josh’s room.
Quinn
