Surviving With Love

by Vickery, Rebecca J.

  The next day Stacey received a call and swallowed her disappointed when it wasn’t Cord.

  “Hi, Stacey, it’s me, Don Prophet. You didn’t answer my e-mails. I thought something was wrong or you forgot about me.”

  “I could never forget you, Don. But I’ve been out of town,” Stacey assured her young friend. “I haven’t even thought to check my e-mail since I’ve been back. I’m so sorry.”

  “I finally got mom to let me call to remind you,” he told her. They chatted for several minutes about his family’s time at the safe house and about how he and Ricky would have to testify at a real trial.

  “I promise to check my computer mail regularly,” Stacey laughingly promised when his mother made him end the call.

  By the end of her first week back, Sam watched his daughter with growing concern.

  “Leave her alone,” Lucy told her husband. “She’s in love and she’s worried about him. She’ll be fine as soon as he calls.”

  “I just don’t like to see her so pale,” Sam hugged his wife to him. “She’s not eating and I hear her rambling around the house all hours of the night.”

  “I went through the same thing when you were gone on ski trips when we started dating seriously. And I survived,” Lucy laughingly reassured him.

  Stacey moved restlessly from one task to another, praying for Cord to call. The date was fast approaching when she would have to leave for the week long trip near the Lochsa River. She wanted to know Cord was safe before then.

  * * * * *

  Emily Gaines, the leader of the group Stacey would be guiding, called to announce their arrival. “We’re in Lowell, Stacey. We are so looking forward to this.”

  “It’s great to hear from you, Emily. Did everyone get a copy of the list I sent?”

  “I made sure of it. And everyone who didn’t have them bought their hiking boots at least two weeks ago and broke them in like you said. No brand new boots on this trip,” Emily laughed.

  “Then everything seems to be in order. How many in this group, Emily?”

  “There are three married couples, me and you—makes eight of us, total.”

  “I’ve arranged for fishing permits, extra purification tablets, snakebite kits I hope we won’t need, and several doses of Epinephrine in case someone has an allergic reaction. I’ll also be carrying the dart gun and tranquilizer darts. This time of year the she-bears have cubs with them and some of the wildlife might not be friendly. I don’t foresee a problem, but I want everyone to feel safe.”

  “Sounds like you have your part of the list covered, Stacey. Thanks for taking another group for me,” Emily told her. “We had such fun on the short hike back in the winter. Now I just have to get everyone to turn in early so we can be up with the chickens.”

  The chopper picked Stacey up just after sunup the next morning. Although very worried about not hearing from Cord, Stacey still needed to do her job. As soon as she reached the motel, she gathered the small group and went to work by first explaining the basic safety rules of hiking.

  * * * * *

  Stacey breathed a sigh of relief once she settled aboard the chopper flying her back to the lodge. This hiking trip had left her totally exhausted. It has to be the stress. She wanted to crawl into bed and sleep twenty-four hours straight. But she wouldn’t be able to until she heard from Cord. Has he called while I’ve been gone? Has he come back and decided not to call me? She ached from wanting to be with him.

  Leaning back and listening to the soft music coming from her earphones, Stacey recalled every detail of his face and his touch.

  Sam met the chopper as it landed and helped her out. He gave her a big hug and then grabbed her pack.

  Her first question was, “Did Cord call?”

  “Yes, honey. The fourth day you were out. He wanted to be sure you know he’s safe the minute you got back,” Sam yelled and urged her farther away so the chopper could lift off. He gave the pilot a wave and the chopper lifted and veered away from the mountain.

  “Did he get the hostages out?” she wanted to know.

  Something in her father’s face told her there was more. “Yes, but he ran into some trouble. He was in a hospital in a small town in Colombia.” Sam caught Stacey’s shoulders as her face went ghostly white.

  Lucy ran from the porch to help her daughter.

  “He was hurt?” Stacey whispered. Good thing her father had hold of her as her knees turned to jelly.

  Lucy frowned at Sam and wrapped an arm around Stacey’s waist. “He’s okay, honey. He said he missed you and he wants you to meet him in New York when you can. He was supposed to be released from the hospital yesterday. Cord’s okay, Stacey.” her mother assured her again and hugged her close.

  “I have to go to him, mom.” Stacey’s voice trembled. She wasn’t handling this well at all. Her mind was numb with fear for Cord. He would never admit how badly he was hurt.

  “I know, honey. But you need to rest and clean up first. You would scare him to death if he saw you like this,” Lucy tried to inject some humor into the situation and succeeded in getting a small smile from her daughter. “Did you sleep at all while you were gone?”

  “Some. I—I guess I should probably rest and leave tomorrow. If he wasn’t released until yesterday, I doubt if he’s home yet,” Stacey agreed as they headed toward the lodge entrance. She was so tired she wanted to drop down and sit on the walkway.

  “You come on with me,” Lucy led her straight through the lodge and out to their home. “We’ll get you a nice hot bath and tuck you in. Sam will make your reservations for you and I’ll make you a good bowl of soup. Straight from the can,” Lucy teased. Her daughter was too thin and there were shadows under her eyes. It wasn’t like Stacey to ignore her health. She was making herself sick worrying over Cord. Her daughter was definitely in love.

  “Thanks mom. Dad, you’re sure he wasn’t badly hurt? I want the earliest flight you can get, please.”

  “He sounded fine, Stacey. Tired, but okay. I talked to him myself. The line wasn’t that good and he couldn’t talk long so I didn’t get any details. Just what I’ve already told you. But they surely wouldn’t let him out of the hospital to take a long flight if he wasn’t up to it,” her father told her as he stroked her hair. His little girl was all grown up, but she still needed him for now. He consoled himself with that.

  Lucy helped Stacey get her bath, brought her some soup, and tucked her in as promised. Now that she knew Cord was safe and headed home, Stacey couldn’t keep her eyes open. She was asleep almost before her mom kissed her cheek and left the room. Her dreams were of Cord and being held by him as he told her he loved her. Warmed and comforted, she slept a full eight hours. At around two in the morning, she went downstairs for a sandwich and coffee then went back to bed and straight to sleep.

  “Stacey. Stacey, honey, you have to get up,” her mother kept calling her. Finally she got a mumbled response and went on. “We have to pack your things. The chopper will be here before long to pick you up.”

  Stacey pushed up to a sitting position and brushed her hair back from her face with her hand. “What time is it?” she asked drowsily.

  “Almost eight. The chopper will be here at ten to fly you to Helena. You’ve got a noon flight to Chicago. Here’s your coffee. Tell me what you want to take and I’ll start packing or do you just want me to pick out some things and lay them out while you shower?” Her mother had already thrown open the closet doors and was rifling through the outfits.

  Stacey sighed and shook her head as she sipped her coffee. Lucy was a dynamo in the mornings and she could usually keep up, but, even after fourteen hours of sleep, Stacey still felt tired and sluggish. She yawned and watched as her mother chose several garments and put them across the foot of the bed.

  “Mom?” Stacey began tentatively, which was unusual.

  “What, honey?” Lucy turned from the closet and looked at her daughter.

  “Would you and dad think badly of me—if I moved i
n with Cord—not that he’s asked exactly, but he might—and I don’t know what to do.” She never wanted her parents to be disappointed or ashamed of her.

  “Is he already married?” Lucy asked.

  “No mom, it’s nothing like that. He just has a problem with—marriage. Personal issues left over from his childhood, I guess.”

  “I would rather see you married, of course, but Cord’s a good man. If that’s all he can offer right now, you have to be the one to decide if it’s enough. You’ll have to follow your heart, honey, but try to use a little common sense in with it. It’s your life and you have to do what will make you the happiest. I won’t think badly of you no matter what you do, as long as you do it for the right reasons. I also have a feeling that Cord will do what’s right when the time comes. Now, what do you want to wear on the plane?”

  * * * * *

  Stacey had a much smoother flight, but was exhausted when she reached the city. A cab took her to the apartment building and Wilkes carried in her luggage. She greeted the security men and Ben took her up on the elevator.

  “We sure are glad you’re back, Miss Parker. I know Mr. McConnell could use some cheering up,” he commented.

  “Is he here already?”

  “Yes, ma’am, he’s waiting for you in the apartment.”

  Using her keycard with shaking hands, she opened the door and Ben put her things inside the door for her. Cord’s gear was lying against the wall and a trail of black clothing led her through the living room and down the hall.

  The bedroom door opened and Cord stood there, leaning on a cane, his left arm in a sling. He wore a pair of gray running shorts and sported a large white bandage around the upper thigh of his right leg. He was tired and hurt, but the most wonderful sight she remembered seeing.

  Stacey ran to him. “Cord, are you all right? I missed you so much,” she touched his chest gently, careful not to upset his balance.

  Dropping his cane, he gathered her in with his right arm and squeezed her tightly to his side. He lowered his head and kissed her thoroughly. “Come to bed,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “We can’t...” she laughed worriedly.

  “I’m definitely not up to that yet. Just lay down with me, talk to me,” he insisted. He grimaced as he moved.

  She leaned down to get his cane then helped him back to the bed and got him settled. Two bottles of medication were on the nightstand. “Are you going to tell me how bad it is?”

  “Later, sweetheart.” His breathing was rapid and a faint sheen of perspiration covered his grayish face. She knew the tell-tale signs of pain when she saw them. Moving to pick up the pills, she saw that one was an antibiotic and the other was for pain. She shook out one of each and went to the bathroom for a cup of water.

  “I don’t want them,” Cord grumbled when she came back into the room.

  “It will just take the edge off. I know you’re hurting more than you want me to know. It says take two. One won’t knock you out.” Stacey stood over him and held the capsules to his lips.

  Finally when she didn’t relent, he opened his mouth and swallowed the pills with a drink of water.

  “Thank you. Did you call Stanley?” She put the water on the bedside table and went to the other side of the bed. Sitting down gently, she slipped off her sandals then eased onto the bed, trying not to bounce it. “Where is your arm hurt? I don’t want to bump it.”

  “My shoulder. As long as you’re on this side, you’re okay.” His voice sounded weak and tired.

  She slid close laying her head on his right shoulder as he wrapped his right arm around behind her. Rubbing his chest and shoulder in a gentle massage to help ease and comfort both of them, she relished being back with him.

  “Wilkes called Stanley when I arrived.”

  “Good. Now relax and I’m going to tell you about the trip I just got back from. I’m going to bore you to sleep.” Stacey described the uneventful trip until the combination of the pain pill, exhaustion, and the sound of her voice lulled him to sleep. Unable to keep her own eyes open, she drifted off too.

  Cord woke several hours later to a dark room and a warm woman curled into his side. She was right about the pill. It took enough of the edge off to let him relax. He was so relieved she came back to be with him. The weeks without her were a nightmare, even before he was injured. The nurses told him he kept calling her name while he was drugged. He could remember dreaming about her and being terrified of losing her.

  Moving his hand over the soft knit top she wore, he cupped the breast he couldn’t wait to kiss again. His stomach growled and Cord realized he was actually hungry for the first time in days.

  Stacey blinked and stretched a little against his side. “Better?” she whispered and ran her hand over his chest and down his stomach.

  “Yeah. Except for a few aches and pains, I feel like a new man. If you keep that up, Parker, I might show you,” he growled.

  “No, you don’t. The anticipation will make you heal faster,” she laughed softly and moved her hand to his face. “You do sound much better. Have you eaten lately?”

  “Not for days, it feels like. Would you go see what Stanley has for us to eat while I wash up?” he asked.

  “Okay.” As she shifted to get up, she leaned up and gave him a butterfly kiss on the lips. “I love you” she whispered. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

  When she would have drawn away, Cord caught the nape of her neck and pulled her back to kiss her deeply. His tongue found its way into her mouth. The kiss became hotter and, as desire pumped adrenaline through him, he shifted to roll her over. With a groan and a curse, he fell back and breathed deeply to offset the pain.

  “Oh, Cord, I’m sorry. What can I do?” Stacey rose up to her knees and ran her hands gently over his face and chest.

  “Wait—a minute,” he told her as the pain ebbed. “Close the door, please, sweetheart,” he requested.

  She slid from the bed and pushed the door closed. Then she went back to him, planning to help him to the bathroom. He waved her closer and she crawled back on the bed near his right side.

  “Could you kiss me again? I just have to remember to lie still,” he told her softly with his eyes closed.

  “But I don’t want to hurt you,” she argued.

  “It helps me forget the pain,” Cord insisted.

  Stacey leaned over him and carefully kissed him. He taunted her with his tongue against her lips until she deepened the kiss this time. As she began to relax, she touched his chest and stomach.

  Cord used his right hand to urge hers lower. “Stacey, I need you,” he groaned with need now instead of pain. “All I could think of while I was gone was coming back to be with you.”

  “We shouldn’t try anything, Cord,” she told him gently. “But I missed being with you too.” Her breathing became shallower and her heart raced when she discovered how very much he did want her.

  “Oh God, we have to, sweetheart. I’ll show you,” Cord pulled her mouth back to his and she went beyond arguing or even thinking. They made love with her taking the initiative for the first time. Once he whispered certain instructions to her, she pretty much figured out the rest on her own. She enjoyed her control over him.

  Later, she helped him to the door of the bathroom and got dressed while he was in there. She tossed him his shorts after he sat down on the bed then went to freshen up herself.

  Cord was hobbling toward the sofa when she reached the living room. Both of them definitely felt better and were less tense.

  “I’ll go see Stanley,” Stacey offered and kept going to the kitchen.

  “Miss Parker!” the houseman exclaimed when he saw her.

  “It is good you are back. Is Mr. McConnell’s injury bad?”

  “He’ll be okay. It’s his left shoulder and right leg. I’ll have to fill you in on the details later. He hasn’t even told me yet. But he’s hungry, which is a good sign, I think. Do you have something sort of light? He’s taking antibiotics and I don�
�t think he’s been eating very much.”

  “Mr. McConnell is like that on a job. Could be he missed you. I have soup and roast chicken sandwiches. This will do for light?”

  “Perfect, Stanley.” She touched the small man’s arm, briefly. “I missed both of you. If you could fix a tray, he’s on the sofa. No alcohol while he’s on the pain pills, please. Iced tea would be good. You can tell him I said so if he gives you any trouble,” she ordered.

  “Better you than me, Miss Parker. I will bring the tray in fifteen minutes,” Stanley told her with a broad smile. She returned to the living room to join Cord. He was propped up on the sofa playing with the remote control. “I think you like your new toys,” Stacey chuckled and dropped to the floor near his head.

  “I like you better, but this will have to do for now. You found Stanley?” He flipped to the news channel.

  “Yes. He said fifteen minutes and he’ll bring it in here.” She reached to smooth the hair off his forehead. It was longer than he wore it when they first met. They watched the news until Stanley brought in a loaded tray and placed it on the coffee table.

  He and Cord exchanged greetings and a very happy houseman returned to the kitchen.

  Stacey gave Cord his bowl of vegetable soup first. She handed him the tea glass as he wanted it and ate her food as she watched over him. After she cut his sandwich into quarters to make it easier to handle, he managed to eat it all and half of another. As he finished eating, Stacey saw the rapid breathing and the slightly grayish cast of his skin and went to get another pain pill. She insisted he take it then she gathered up their dishes and took them to the kitchen.

  “Thank you, Stanley. That was excellent and just what we both needed. I gave Cord a pain pill so he may be asleep when you leave. You usually come at nine, don’t you?” Stacey asked.

  “Yes. Then I stay until the kitchen is clean after dinner if Mr. McConnell will be in. But perhaps you will need assistance tonight. I can stay. I have a room here for when necessary.”