“I think the bullet hit the fleshy part of his thigh and not the bone or an artery. I’d checked his bleeding before I left him to see about you. There wasn’t much bleeding then, and there’s only a little more now.” He glared at Andrew, who hadn’t said anything since being wounded. “I’d like to have had pleasure of giving you a good beating. Too bad you got shot before I had the opportunity.”
“I never thought you were the violent type, Mr. Brodie.” Susie tried to smile through the pain.
“I’m not usually. Being around you has brought out many unknown facets to my personality.”
She heard the sirens. “I think we’ll have lots of company soon.”
“One quick question.” Clay stood and looked across at her. “Why the hell did you put yourself in danger? You could have died.”
“I couldn’t let him kill you. I wouldn’t have you around to torment.” She winced when she tried to sit up.
“Stay there.” Clay went to the door and opened it. The police rushed in with guns drawn. When Clay handed them the gun, they motioned for the paramedics to come up.
Clay pointed out Andrew to the medics. “He’s the shooter, and the one hurt the worst. She has an arm wound.”
One man went to each patient. Two more came up the stairs with a stretcher.
“I’m not sure my apartment can hold all these people,” Susie said and the men smiled.
“Don’t worry. Old Mr. Evans had a heart attack up here and died. We had more people that time.”
“I’d as soon have lived here without ever hearing that story.”
The medic checking her arm looked up. “You were lucky. The bleedings slowed. It looks like the bullet went straight through without doing much damage. The others are still working on the man. He’s going to need the stretcher. I’ll carry you down.”
“Oh, no. My legs work fine. Help me up, Clay.”
“She gets bossy when she’s in pain,” Clay teased.
“Madam, we need to ask you some questions.” One of the police officers stepped forward.
“The man on the floor shot me. Clay got his gun, but Andrew, the shooter, got injured in the struggle. If you want more information, talk to Clay or see me at the hospital.”
“Yes, madam.” He moved out of the way. Clay picked her up to carry her down the stairs. “There’ll be no walking. You could faint and tumble down the steps.”
Susie frowned at him. She didn’t want to admit she felt sick and a little woozy. “I’ll let you have your way this time.”
“I didn’t realize what a turn-on it’d be to see you take charge,” Clay said on the way down.
“Don’t talk. Watch your step. I don’t want more injuries.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Clay put her in his truck and placed his hand over his heart. “You wounded me, my love. I’d never drop you.”
“If you don’t step on the gas and get me to the hospital, I’ll wound you more.” She saw his mouth twitch with amusement.
The one medic had followed them down. “We can take her in this ambulance and call for another.”
“No. I’ll be fine. Clay will drive me.”
“Then I need you to sign this release.” The medic handed her a form and pen.
“Clay, please sign the paper for me. The damn bullet hit my right arm. I can’t write with my left.”
The medic started to speak. Clay shook his head, and he closed his mouth. After Clay handed the form back to him, he rushed up the stairs to join his buddy.
As they started toward the hospital, a rush of joy spread through her. Although she felt worse every moment, they were alive. No one had serious injuries. Susie placed her hand on Clay’s thigh without thinking. His muscle tightened under her fingers.
She yanked her hand back. “I wanted to say how happy I am that no one got killed.”
“You didn’t have to move your hand.” His slow drawl made her heart flutter. “You can touch me anywhere and anytime, but you’ll have to accept the consequences.”
“I’ll take your warning into consideration.” She bit her lip. The ache in her arm increased.
Clay pulled into the emergency exit. A nurse must have been waiting for them. She hurried out with a wheelchair.
“The medics called us,” she explained as she wheeled Susie into the emergency room. “You’re going to cubicle three.” Once inside the cubicle, she told Clay to wait in the waiting room until she helped Susie undress.
“It’s my arm. You can cut away the sleeve. The blouse is ruined anyway. Clay, stay with me.”
“Darlin’, wild horses wouldn’t keep me away.”
He stepped in and pulled the curtains. The nurse frowned at him, but when he didn’t move she shrugged and began to cut off the sleeve.
“Is my brother, Dr. Brodie, coming to the ER to see her?” Clay asked the nurse.
“Yes, he’ll be here shortly.”
It was only a minute or two later that Rand came rushing into the cubicle. “I’d gone home early. It took me a few minutes longer to get here than if I’d been in my office.” Rand walked to Susie’s side. “They told me someone shot you.”
“She took a bullet for me,” Clay said, and Rand and the nurse stared at him.
“What?” Rand asked. “Who’d want to kill you?”
“My old boyfriend,” Susie said.
While they’d been talking, Rand had uncovered the bullet wound. He held her arm up and looked at the front and back. “It went clear through. I’ll have to do some probing to make sure none of the material of whatever you were wearing didn’t end up in the wound. I’ll check from the front and back.”
“Am I going to be asleep?” Susie asked.
“No, I’ll numb the area. You can hold Clay’s hand and squeeze hard if it hurts.” Rand glanced in Clay’s direction and grinned.
“I’m going to close my eyes,” Susie said.
“That’s a good idea.” Rand gave her several shots around the area and the nurse gave her one for pain. “I forgot to tell you, it doesn’t take much to put me to sleep.”
“Good, relax and let the medicine work. Then I’ll do my job.”
* * * *
Rand left Susie with the nurse and stepped out with Clay. “Are you all right?”
“Other than being shook up, I’m fine. My heart almost stopped seeing her jump in front of the gun. When I saw her injury wasn’t fatal, I didn’t know whether to hug her or yell at her.”
“You love her,” Rand said matter-of-factly. “When a loved one’s in danger, it’s the most frightful experience.”
“I do love her. When I thought she might have a fatal wound, my empty life flashed in front of my eyes. I’d never stop missing her if he’d killed her.”
“Then you’d better stop dragging your feet and let her know.”
“Christmas isn’t far off. I’ll tell her then.”
The nurse pulled the curtain back. “She’s sleeping.”
“Then let’s get to work.”
Clay held her hand. “I’m here, darlin’,” he whispered in her ear.
“I thought you’d left.” Her words were slurred.
“Never. Hold onto me and go back to sleep.”
Rand was thorough. He checked the wound, cleaned it, and bandaged both areas.
“I’m going to put her on oral antibiotics as a precaution. If she gets any redness, swelling, or discharge from either site call me. She may require a few days of IV antibiotics. Are you going to take her to mom’s house?”
“No. I’ll take care of her.”
“Try to keep her in bed most of the time for the next two days. Then bring her to the office for a check.”
“Will do. I’ll call and make an appointment. I’d better call her sister and let her know what’s happened.”
“Your house may be invaded by her family.” Rand raised an eyebrow at Clay. “Are you ready for an onslaught of company?”
“I won’t like it. But I want her near me to see she’s doing all right, so I’
ll bite my tongue and be gracious.”
“That’s a sight I want to see. Don’t bring her to the office. I’ll stop by on my way home.”
Rand left the cubicle mumbling, but Clay heard him say, “The last Brodie brother has been securely caught and pulled into the fold.”
Clay sat beside Susie and held onto her hand. With the other hand, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and punched in the number for her sister.
“Sondra, this is Clay. Don’t get excited, but I wanted you to know there’s been an accident. No, Susie will be fine. But Andrew shot her in the arm.” He pulled the phone away from his ear. “You’re right. It wasn’t an accident. I hoped to give you the news a little more gently than saying right off she was shot.”
“Yes, you and your mother and whoever else wants to come, are welcome. She’ll be at my house. Yes, you heard right. I’m taking care of her.”
He was glad to end the call. And very happy Sondra would phone the rest of her family. He studied Susie’s pale face. She’d put up a good front, but the bullet had taken a toll on her strength.
The nurse peeked in the cubicle, and then pulled the curtain opening wider. “You mom is here. We’re waiting for Miss Nyland’s CBC results. The lab tech is on his way to draw her blood. If the results are normal, you can take her home. Dr. Brodie ordered them stat.”
Mrs. Brodie walked around the nurse and sat by Clay. “Tell me what happened, and why you think you can take better care of her than me.”
“I love her, Mom. I want her with me. Although if you came and stayed the first few days, I wouldn’t complain.”
“Rand said she saved your life.”
“She didn’t hesitate to throw herself in front of me.”
“For that I’ll be forever grateful. I knew from the first time I met her that she was special. I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”
“Her family’s coming,” Clay said and frowned.
Mrs. Brodie laughed. “I can’t wait to see how you do.”
“Rand and you seem to think this is all very funny. I don’t.”
“Years from now Susie and you will laugh about all of this, but not yet.”
When the tech came in with his basket of equipment, Clay stood. “Do you mind staying with her for a few minutes, Mom?”
“No, go take a break. You look a little pale yourself.”
“I’ll be right back. I need some fresh air.”
Clay took long strides to the ER door. Outside, he breathed in air not scented with smells of the hospital. He paced up and down in front of the ER entrance.
What have I done? I admitted to Mom I’m in love with Susie, and I’ve hardly settled it in my own mind. I planned to suggest to Susie at dinner about us living together for a few months. We’d see how it went. Now I’ve volunteered to take care of her. I don’t know how to treat a person with a gunshot wound. And I keep letting people know I love her.
He sat on the curb by the driveway. Clay hadn’t noticed another truck parking nearby until a man sat beside him.
“Rand said she’d be all right.”
Clay heard his brother, Graham’s voice. He raised his head. “Where did you come from?”
“Rand suggested you might need some support.”
“I told Mom I loved Susie.”
“You don’t look like a happily in love man. You look confused.”
“A few hours ago I wasn’t certain how I felt. Now I can’t seem to quit saying I love her.”
“You’ve got it bad. I imagine the shock of seeing her wounded made you quit denying how you really feel about her.”
“Were you shocked into accepting your feelings for Gina?”
“Ah, yes. She left Frontier City and went home. The thought that I’d lost her overcame the fear of admitting my love.”
“Then I’m not going crazy?”
“Oh, you are, but crazy will start to feel normal.”
Clay shook his head at Graham. “You talk more since marrying Gina.”
“I ought to punch you, but I do. I’m thankful you’re the last brother to marry. I can retire my shingle as the brother to go to for lovelorn advice.”
Graham stood and Clay joined him. “I need to get back in the ER,” Clay said. Then he hugged his brother. “You’re been a great help and a good brother.”
“I think you have lost your mind,” Graham said when Clay stepped back. “I’m the one who drove you crazy with my outrageous ideas to travel and write books.”
“So you did. See you later.” Clay walked hurriedly back to cubicle three.
Susie was awake and sitting up. “Your mom said I’m to go with you when I’m discharged. You are not taking care of me. I’ll stay with your mom until my mother gets here. I understand you called Sondra.”
“Calm down, darlin’. I’m capable of seeing to your needs. I want you at my house. Mom’s agreed to stay with us until your family arrives.”
His mom slipped out of the cubicle. Clay went to sit beside her. “We need a chance to talk and start over in getting to know each other. I’d planned to ask you to move in with me at dinner.”
“But I have my bookstore to open.”
“You know the shop isn’t ready yet. I’ll go there with you, after you’ve recovered, and help with the books and whatever else needs done.”
Her brow creased with worry. “What about your office?”
“I don’t plan to open officially until after the New Year. When do you want to open your bookstore?”
“I’d thought I’d try for before Christmas. But the earlier date wasn’t very realistic. With all that’s happened, I guess it’ll be after the holidays. Thanksgiving is next week.”
“Then we have plenty of time to get ready.”
She bit the edge of her lip and Clay wanted to lean forward and rub his tongue across the spot.
“What’s worrying you?” he asked.
“I needed to open before Christmas and start making money. This change of plans will make it real tight for me.”
“I’ll loan you some money.”
Her lovely violet eyes shot sparks of displeasure at him. “You will not. You didn’t approve of my venture, and I’m not going to take your money and be obligated to you.”
“We’ll discuss this later.”
“No, we will not. I’ve made my mind up and that’s that!”
“I love it when you get bossy. It’s cute and a real turn-on.”
“Don’t get any ideas, buster. I’m wounded.”
“Whatever you say, darlin’.” At least until I get you home and can change your mind.
Chapter Seventeen
Clay carried her to the front door. “I’m quite capable of walking,” Susie stressed.
“I like holding you in my arms.” Clay handed his mom the keys. “Open the door for me, please.”
She did and held it back for them to get through. “I like your house, Clay. It’s set in a beautiful part of the ranch.” Mrs. Brodie put down her purse. “I’ll check your refrigerator and see what groceries are needed.”
Clay carried Susie down the right hallway to the master bedroom. “I am not staying in your bed.”
“Yes, you are. I’ll sleep in the lounge chair by the fireplace. I don’t want to roll over on you and injure your arm.”
“You can stay in the room down the hall. What room is your mother going to use?”
“Her own. We talked outside while we waited for the nurse to bring you out in the wheelchair. We agreed she’ll help during the day, but sleep in her own bed at night.”
“I’ll be alone with you at night?”
“I hope you won’t attack me in the dark and insist I make love to you.” His voice held a hint of humor in it and amusement shone in his eyes.
“This is not funny.” She sounded shakier than she wanted to. “All of the sudden you’re finding humor in everything.” She wrinkled her brow at him. “Did Andrew hit you in the head with that gun?”
His laugh spilled
out deep, warm, and sexy. She wanted to pull his head down and kiss his sensuous lips.
“You’re delightful.”
“Excuse me for interrupting.” Mrs. Brodie had a wide grin on her face. “The daughters-in-law have stocked the kitchen and one of them left a pot of homemade chicken soup. It was probably Marian or Grace. It’s on the stove warming. Would you all like to join me in the kitchen?”
“I’d love to, and I don’t need to be carried.” She held her arms out to keep Clay from grabbing her.
Clay’s phone rang and seeing the caller he handed it to Susie. She sat on the side of the bed. “Sondra?”
“How are you? Mom and I are flying in early this evening. If our plane’s on time we’ll arrive at six thirty.”
Tears came into Susie’s eyes and her voice shook. “I’m okay, but I’ll be glad to see you.” She glanced at Clay. “Will you meet my mom and Sondra at the airport at six thirty?
“If Mom can stay with you. Otherwise, I’ll ask Sam to get them.”
“I’ll stay,” Mrs. Brodie said. “I’m looking forward to meeting your family. They could sleep at my house, but I imagine they’ll want to be near you.”
“Sondra, Clay will be at the airport. See you soon.”
Susie handed Clay’s phone to him. “Knowing my mom and sister will be here has given me an appetite.” She walked beside Mrs. Brodie across the house to the kitchen. Clay followed close behind.
During the meal, Susie got so tired she feared she’d fall off her chair. She put her fork down.
“I need to go to bed.”
Mrs. Brodie felt her forehead. “She’s not hot. I think it’s a reaction to all that’s happened. Clay, you’d better carry her to the bedroom. I’ll help her from there.
Susie tried to protest and say she’d walk on her own, but when she stood she swayed and sat down quickly.
“I guess you’d better carry me.” She put her arms around his neck when he bent toward her.
“Finally you’re being sensible,” he muttered.
Susie started to speak. Instead she put her head against his chest. It felt good. His heart beat steady under her ear and her eyes closed.
* * * *
“Has she passed out?” Clay asked his mother.
The Billionaire Cowboy's Christmas Surprise [Wives for the Western Billionaires 10] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 12