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He was on his feet in seconds.
“I need you to tell me she’s okay, Doc.”
“I can’t tell you anything, Joe, as you’re not her next of kin.”
“I’m her fucking fiancé. So speak!”
“Joe,” Luke clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Dial it back now.”
The doctor didn’t look intimidated.
“Come on, Doc, you can see he’s distraught, and like he said they’re engaged,” Jack added coming to Joe’s other side. “Besides she has no next of kin in town, her grandfather’s left,” Jack lied.
“All right, but if I get into trouble for this, I’m blaming the Trainer family.”
“Fair enough,” Jack said.
Joe kept his eyes on the doctor, willing him to say Bailey was okay.
“She’ll recover, Joe. The bullet passed through the fleshy part of her thigh, so that’s the good news. But it will take a while to recover from this, and she’ll be in a lot of pain.”
“I’ll look after her,” he made himself say. All he could think about was that Bailey would come through this. “Can I see her?”
A nurse came and got him when she was in a room, and Joe found Bailey lying on the bed, eyes closed, and tubes going everywhere. Monitors beeped, and lights flashed, and she looked so small and pale. His angel. Leaning over, he kissed her soft lips.
“I love you,” Joe whispered, dragging a chair close to the bed with one foot. He lifted her hand, opening it and sliding his fingers through. Closing his, he held hers inside. He then just watched her.
Bailey woke slowly.It felt like she was swimming through a thick cloud of fog. Forcing her eyes open, she moved slightly, wincing as pain tore through her thigh. She remembered everything then. Her hand felt heavy, and looking down, she found Joe sleeping. He sat in a chair, with his head braced on an arm. His other hand held hers.
“Joe.”
His eyes opened and looked straight at her.
“Bailey?” he croaked.
“I’m all right.”
Joe got to his feet, pushing the chair away. Leaning over her, he cupped her cheeks and kissed her softly.
“Marry me?”
“Yes,” Bailey whispered, running her eyes over his face. She saw the tension in him, the sadness in his eyes. “This is not your fault, Joe. You couldn’t have known Angie was unstable.”
He managed a smile. “I know. My family and Fin have been telling me that, but it’s going to take time to believe it.”
“I’ll help you.” She touched his face.
“I know, you always help me.” He kissed her again. “My beautiful Bailey. How the hell did I manage without you for fifteen years?”
“I’ve never loved anyone like I love you, Joe.”
“I know, baby, me either. How’s the pain?”
“Okay, just an ache now.”
“You’re not a very good liar, Bailey Jones.”
She closed her eyes as he stroked her cheek.
