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“You can definitely see him. I’ll take you to his room, but I’m sorry to say he isn’t yet awake. We’ll keep him in ICU until we’re certain he’s stable. Like I said, the swelling has gone down some but not enough yet to bring him to full consciousness. Don’t let that stop you from talking to him, though. I think it’s important he hear your voice. It might help him along.”
She was so relieved, tears formed in the corners of her eyes. The doctor escorted her to her father’s assigned ICU room and stayed a couple more minutes to go over all of the equipment and wires hooked up to him before leaving them alone.
“Daddy, it’s Ally, can you hear me? I’m so glad the doctor says you’re going to be just fine. You still have a little swelling, but once it goes down more, you should be able to wake up and go to a step-down from ICU. I’m not leaving this room until you do. Matt is still out in the waiting room. He was asleep, and I didn’t want to alarm him until I knew how you were doing. I’ll call Maribella and let everyone at the ranch know how you’re doing, too, and I’m sure you’ll have more visitors than you know what to do with.” It broke her heart to see him laid low. He looked so pale and fragile. She kissed him on the cheek and the forehead, whispered her love for him, and left the room to make some calls. She hoped they wouldn’t mind her being around a while. No way was she leaving her daddy there all alone.
* * *
Matt openedhis eyes to people talking around him. He must have fallen asleep while comforting Ally. He’d woken once during the night to find her snuggled tight into the crook of his shoulder, out like a light with her arm around his waist. The couch hadn’t been real comfortable, but he couldn’t think of a better way to drift off than with a beautiful woman in his arms. Rising with a stretch, he decided he should go find her and see if Jesse was doing okay. As he was leaving the waiting room, he met up with Ross.
“Hey, how’s your patient doing?”
“Gentry, you look like shit. Did you sleep in the waiting room all night?”
“Thanks, man, yeah. Ally and I both did. So how’s your patient?” He was sure if something bad had happened or he’d gotten worse, someone would have woken them.
“He’s actually doing a little better this morning. Still unconscious but he’s been restless. It’s a good sign. Swelling is down a bit. I’d like to see it go down more in the next twenty-four hours, but his vital signs are all strong. That’s one tough old bird in there.”
“Thanks, I agree. Glad to hear he’s not worse.”
“I won’t lie to you; he’s got a long road ahead. He’ll be spending a little time here in Cody. His daughter won’t want to go very far, so I can get a cot set up in his room for her. She’s a pretty little thing, too. You dating her?”
“No, not dating her. Yeah, she’s definitely a looker. She’s a city girl. Probably won’t be sticking around once her father’s on the mend. Shame, really. I could get used to having her around.”
“Well, I have rounds but don’t go far. I’ve got something I’d like to talk over with you.”
“Okay, Ross. Thanks again for everything you did. We both appreciate it.”
Matt stared down the hallway where the doctor had disappeared. He needed to find some coffee to wake him up.
“Good morning.”
“Shit, Ally. You scared me. Don’t sneak up on people like that.”
“I’m sorry.” She giggled. “I didn’t mean to. I thought you heard me walk up. Coffee?”
“Perfect. You’re heaven sent. I was heading to look for some. Heard Jesse’s doing better today. That’s good news.”
“It really is, but he looks so weak; it kills me to see him lying so helpless in his bed.”
“Why don’t we go check on him again?”
He escorted her down the corridor to Jesse’s room. More than likely they’d both be spending quite a bit of time together.
* * *
For Ally,the next few days passed by in much of a blur—excessive amounts of caffeine and very little sleep. Not like Matt hadn’t tried along with Dr. Stanford to get her to try a sleeping aid. She wasn’t having any of it, though. She’d been determined to be there when he woke and her efforts had paid off that morning. When her daddy opened his eyes, hers was the first face he saw—happy tears and all. After completely checking her father over, the doctors reiterated that he still wasn’t out of the woods completely and would need as much rest as he could get, but they had moved him out of ICU.
Looking over the remnants of flowers and get well wishes around the room gave her brief reminders of the visitors at odd hours since they’d all been there. It was a clear sign of how well-loved he really was. Most of them she didn’t remember except for one or two close neighbors and of course all the guys from the ranch. It was so heartwarming to hear everyone talking so kindly about her daddy.
Her gaze finally landed at the far corner by the windows where the doctor had requested a cot be placed in Jesse’s private room in hopes Ally would use it for sleep. At least she could say she’d tried, but it had given her an awful crick in her neck the one time she’d napped there. Matt obviously hadn’t experienced the same issue since he’d been asleep on the lumpy mattress for several hours. Having ensured the ranch was in Tommy’s capable hands, making himself available by phone whenever they needed him, he hadn’t left hers or her daddy’s side the whole time.
More than once in the last few hours, she’d stolen glances his way, telling herself she was only making sure he slept comfortably. She’d rather not have anyone know how much she’d come to rely on the man. Really not a great idea, on her part. Leaving the Circle K Ranch would be very hard to do, but she would push herself to do it. She had a life already, and it wasn’t in Rock Creek. Once her daddy was in the clear, she would return to New York. For the time being, she would find something for dinner.
Forty-five minutes later, feeling full and sassy, Ally walked down the hall toward her father’s room but stopped short of turning the corner when the corridor filled with familiar voices—Matt and Dr. Stanford, the man he had mentioned more than once as being a really good friend.
“Matt, are you sure you don’t need a job change? We couldreallyuse a man with your skills around here….”
Both men moved off in the other direction, their voices fading. No matter, she’d heard quite enough to know she’d been right. This man had a whole other life no one but the good doctor knew anything about. It was high time she found out, whether Daddy liked it or not. She would be waiting in the room when Matt returned.
