Damaged Hearts

by Angel Wolfe

  Rick didn’t argue and carefully hid away the bottle once Angel left the room. He figured he knew Kaitlyn well enough to agree with Angel on the matter, knowing she’d want no part of that if she had the option. He ran his finger softly down her least bruised cheek, carefully brushing a stray hair away. “Oh baby, wake up for me.” He whispered.

  Her eyes fluttered as if hearing his plea and he heard her utter a soft request. He looked down and found himself gazing into the endless depths of her sparkling blue eyes. Moving just slightly so he could pour her a sip of water, he helped her lean up enough to wet her lips and tongue. She nodded her thanks as he gently eased her back into the pillows.

  “You sure did have me scared baby.” He told her quietly. “I am so very sorry about everything that has happened. How are you feeling?”

  “L…like I’ve been tr...” she licked her lips before trying again “trampled by Coal and hi…his harem.” She tried to smile forgetting her swollen lips and face. “Ouch!” she muttered knowing that she had just split her lip back open again.

  Rick tenderly took the cool cloth and dabbed at her lip. “Shush” he whispered. “Don’t try to talk right now. If you promise to rest, I’ll tell you what the doctor had to do and the decisions Angel and I made for you. I just hope we made the right ones.”

  “I’m not worried Rick.” She answered him softly. “I’m still here so the decisions must not have been too bad.” Her eyes drifted shut as he talked to her, opening occasionally telling him that she was trying to stay awake.

  “The doctor said that we needed to decide between stitching up the back of your leg and cauterizing it Kaitlyn. We chose the cauterization. I know it hurt very badly and probably still does but you run the least risk of infection this way, and will have the quickest recovery time. You will probably be sore longer, and it won’t be near as pretty as a small scar from the stitches but I think it will be better in the long run. Less side effects anyway.” He told her trying to remember every argument the doctor had given.

  She nodded as if agreeing before drifting back into a fitful sleep. Rick sat uncomfortably in the small chair next to the bed watching and hoping that she would not be subjected to the stages of delusional fever and chills. She had been sleeping for almost an hour when she began to thrash around and mumble incoherently in her sleep giving him warning that that would probably not be the case.

  In trying to calm her and keep her from injuring her leg further, he inadvertently made things worse. Lost in an unconscious state, she mistook Rick for George and began fighting him trying to escape from the horror of the previous day. Finally, Rick was able to break into her nightmare and bring her back to consciousness.

  “Kaitlyn honey, wake up. Wake up and look at me.” He said once she had stopped shaking so violently. “It’s ok. I’m here with you and no one is ever going to hurt you like that again, ok baby.” He continued to talk to her in a soft, soothing voice; gently stroking her hair.

  After what seemed like eternity, her eyes fluttered open again and he could tell she was at least partially lucid. “I need...I need to talk to my sister Rick.” She told him, pink tinting her cheeks.

  He knew what she needed but wasn’t about to push his luck right now, even though he could very easily help her.

  “I’ll be right back honey. We have some more to talk about to but that can wait.” He left the room in hunt of Angel or Consuela, opting for the first more for Kaitlyn’s comfort level.

  “She’s awake?” Angel almost yelled. Running down the hall, she gained more attention than she had intended. Turning into the room, she closed and latched the door, affording her sister with at least a minimum amount of privacy.

  “Kat” she whispered, seeing her sister’s eyes were closed. “I’m here. I can help you but it will take a little time to get sat up.” She started.

  “Angel?” Kat opened her eyes as she whispered. “I really need um, you know.” She said, uncomfortable with asking for help of this kind for the first time in her adult life.

  “Ok Kat let me go get the emergency one. Hang on and I’ll be right back.” She said quickly leaving the room and going out to the washroom. Meeting Consuela and Grace on her way back in, she quietly explained the situation, and they agreed to keep watch over the door so no one accidentally wandered in unannounced.

  She returned to the room and attempted to try to help Kat sit up. Kat struggled and tried to move but her most of her body was limp weight until her hand grazed her leg, making her gasp and jump almost off the bed in pain.

  “Wow, what a way to get movement and reaction from my body. At least I’m partially up now.” She commented. “If only it was as simple to use a chamber pot.” She attempted both with and without Angel’s assistance but could not make her leg accept her body weight. It throbbed severely but it would not hold her up. Almost in tears, she finally gave up. “Angel, it’s no use; send in Consuela or Rick I guess. It’s not your fault but my leg is all but useless right now.” She groaned in frustration.

  Opening the door cautiously, Angel spotted Consuela not too far away. “Consuela, could we borrow your assistance por favor?” Once she entered the room she continued, “Kat’s leg will not support her weight yet and she needs to relieve herself. Could you please help me hold her over the chamber pot?”

  “That is no problem Miss Angel; we all need help from time to time.” She bent to help lift Kat to her feet and then supported one side while Angel took the other, holding Kat semi-upright while attempting to keep most of her weight off her injured leg as she took care of her personal needs. Finally, relieved but completely mortified, Kat was assisted back into bed; the little bit of movement completely exhausting her meager strength.

  Consuela conspicuously got rid of the contents of the pot, wiped it out, and hid it away in the corner while Angel helped Kat get comfortable and covered up the best she could with a wrapped leg. Opening the door, Angel then nodded at Rick who had returned to stand guard by the door.

  Seeing Rick admitted, everyone else in the house wanted to follow suite. Rick settled himself in a chair near the head of the bed where he could be close to her, and watch to make sure she didn’t get too tired or excited.

  Morgan and Ali were among the first to trail in, heading straight to the head of the bed where their father sat next to Kat. “You are going to get better aren’t you Kat?” Ali asked her, looking none too sure.

  “Of course I’m going to get better Ali,” Kat told her as her hand went out tiredly to smooth the hair on the girls head. “How else will us girls go riding and trade hair care secrets? I’m going to have to be able to get out of this bed to do that.” She told her.

  “Do ya mean it Kat? Can we really go riding with you?” Ali asked her excitedly.

  “Only if you want to.” Kat answered. “We will have all kinds of things to do once I am out of this bed.”

  “Well, you should just get out of it now then” Ali told her using a five year’s old logic. “That way we can get started. Daddy says we’ll never get anything done if we don’t hurry to start.”

  Rick smiled and then sensing how exhausted Kaitlyn was “Ok Ali, we’ll work real hard at getting Kaitlyn up and around but the doctor says she has to be really still for a few weeks first so her leg and other owies can get better.” He explained. “Why don’t you take Morgan out to go see those puppies again? If you work it right, you might convince these two sisters to trade ya a puppy for a kitten.” He laughed as Morgan rolled her eyes and smiled.

  Kat thought to herself that the girl was exceptionally pretty when she did that and told her so. “You should smile more often Morgan. Your face is very beautiful and it makes your eyes shine.”

  Looking at Kat, Morgan surprised her “Thanks Kat. I never realized until just recently how very much I had to smile about.” She took Kat’s hand in hers and squeezed it gently. “I’m glad you’re going to be ok; for our sake as much as Dad’s.” She added, smiling one more time before leaving to check ou
t the puppies with her sister again.

  Marie came next, talking a hundred miles an hour as usual. “Oh my goodness, Kaitlyn. I am so sorry to hear about everything that has happened. We haven’t gotten to talk to each other much yet but I love Angel as much as a sister already and I can’t wait to get to spend time with you. Frank has already promised to teach me to ride better and Angel said she’ll show me how some of the things here on the ranch work. Well, I had better go help Cook again. Get well soon so we can talk.” And with that, she turned and hurried out the door nervously.

  “Wow.” Kat said arching her eyes. “What was all of that about?”

  “She was really nervous.” Angel informed her. “Just be glad she didn’t sing for you.” She said as Rick smiled, and Matt started laughing as he walked in next.

  “So how’s my favorite sister-in-law?” He asked almost seriously. “I am so very sorry about all that happened. You’re still looking awfully pale, under all that bruising anyway. Overall, I’d say you look pretty good for what you’ve been through. I must say though that Rick’s clothes tend to make all females look rather fetching.” He added, laughing again as he ducked the pillow Rick threw at him, while he was leaving the room.

  “And don’t come back until you can behave yourself!” Rick yelled threateningly at him. “Sorry Babe. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “Ummm, exactly how many women have worn your shirts to bed Rick?” She asked with arched eyebrows, smothering a huge yawn. “I am beginning to think that we need to have a little talk where you do all the talking after I get caught up on some sleep that my body seems to think I need.”

  “Oh come on Honey. You should know me better than that.” His eyes pleaded. “After all, I was married once before.”

  “Hmmm” She replied. “I suppose I’ll have to sleep on it for a bit and tell you what I decide.”

  “Oh, look more visitors.” Rick changed the subject. “Hello James. I heard you had a little incident in town earlier.”

  “It wasn’t much Mr. Jamison. Matt came and got me out of jail and we talked to Mr. Weatherby before coming back to the ranch. By the way, your parents should be here in a couple hours. When Matt went to get your father, your mother became worried about your injury and decided they all needed to be here.”

  “There are going to be more people in this house at one time then we’ve ever had here the entire time the house has been standing.” Kat laughed before grabbing her ribs. “So you are really ok then James? I hear thanks are in order to you for helping Angel scout me out. I really appreciate it.”

  “There’s no thanks necessary Miss Kat.” James blushed. “If I would have been doing a better job watching out for you, you wouldn’t have been kidnapped to begin with. It ought to be me apologizing to you.”

  “Oh James, you couldn’t have known any more than I did that he’d ride right up into the yard and take me like that. Please don’t hold yourself at fault. None of us knew.” Kat said anxiously.

  James looked at the floor, still clearly not comfortable with the idea. “Well, I am glad you’re back Miss Kat. If there is anything at all that I can do to help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to send for me. Now, you had better get some rest because I figure you’ll want to be chasing cattle in a matter of days or weeks”

  James quietly left the room leaving Angel and Rick to settle her back in. Finally, after checking the dressing on her sister’s leg and not seeing any evidence of her wound seeping, Angel convinced Rick to try to rest on the bed with Kat while she sought her bed for a while.

  Coming out of the bedroom and heading to the kitchen to inform Consuela of her decision to rest, she noticed that there were people standing in the entryway looking a little lost. There was a young lady that looked a little out of place with an older couple that she assumed was Matt and Rick’s parents.

  “Hello. I’m Angel; you must be Matt’s parents.” She introduced herself. “Please come in and find a place to make yourselves comfortable. Would you like something to drink?” She asked.

  “It’s a pleasure Miss Carson. I am Sarah, this is my husband Edward and my daughter Anna.” Matt’s mother said. “So have I heard the rumors correctly? Are you and our youngest son getting married?”

  Matt came into the room, effectively saving her from having to make the explanations. Putting his arm around Angel, “Mother, Father, Angel has agreed to become my wife and we are just waiting for the preacher so we can finish making the arrangements.” He informed them.

  “Well, since we are all here maybe someone can convince the preacher to show up and we can just have the wedding while everyone is together.” Sarah announced. “Where is the girl that was injured?”

  “Kat is in her room,” Angel started “But she is attempting to rest after having gone through a terrible ordeal.”

  “You both can probably meet her tomorrow.” Matt added, sensing Angel’s hesitation at letting his parents barge into her sister’s room. “If you would like though, I can go see if I can find Rick.”

  “If you will just show us where to put our bags, then we will go with you to find Rick.” His mother told him.

  “Hello, I am Marie.” His future sister-in-law bounced happily into the room. “I believe you are Sarah and Edward. You have been to some of my father’s dinners.” She said reintroducing herself. “And you must be Anna. I believe we were in school together for a while and I think I’ve see you at the dinners as well. Good to see you again. If you would like to share my room, I’d be happy to have you.” Taking over the hostess duties for Angel, she turned and made a polite request “James, could I possibly convince you to assist Mr. and Mrs. Jamison with their luggage and show them where they can settle in?” She finished with a dazzling smile that she had perfected out east.

  Marie indicated for Matt to take Anna’s bag to her room and she and his sister followed along behind him. Taking a deep breath, Angel quickly snuck down the hall and into Kat’s room silently closing the door.

  “Rick!” She whispered. “Your parents are here and I feel a terrible headache coming on. Marie has temporarily diverted disaster but your mother is demanding that we bring her and your father to you immediately. I am sure she knows you are with Kat and the curiosity is getting the best of her.” She all but wailed.

  “Ok Angel, calm down and let me think about this.” Rick said looking down at Kaitlyn’s sleeping form. “I don’t dare leave for a second. I promised I’d be here when she woke up so that she would rest.” He said, feeling rather besieged at the moment.

  The door opened quietly as Matt slipped in. “Oh my God Rick, Mother is going to be the death of us all.” He announced. “She is bound and determined that she and Father are going to come see you regardless of where you may possibly be.”

  Kat began to stir and her eyes fluttered open going straight to Rick. Stretching slightly, as he took her hand in his; she smiled at him before closing her eyes again; totally oblivious to the tension in the room. Reaching up, Rick felt her forehead frowning. “She is very hot Angel. I am afraid the fevers have started. She has been going in and out of consciousness and is pretty much unaware of what is going on.” Rick told her sister worriedly.

  Angel came up to the bed and felt Kat’s forehead herself swearing under her breath. “Let me go get Consuela. She will know what to do.” She left the room and looked for Consuela while attempting not to draw too much attention to the panic that was setting in. She had a house full to bursting with people that she and Kat did not know, her sister was sick, and she didn’t have any idea what to do now. She just knew that they didn’t need their future in-laws in the way.

  “Consuela, please come quick.” She said finally finding her. “Be very quiet though, I do not want Sarah and Edward to find us if I can help it. Kat is burning up with fever and Rick says that she is not lucid.” The hurried down the hall to Kat’s room, quickly and quietly shutting the door behind them.

  “Matt” Consuela started. “Yo
u must keep your parents occupied so they do not come looking for Rick. Rick, you and Angel must take cold rags and begin sponging Miss Kat’s body over and over until she cools. This is the worst part of fighting infections. If the fever rises too high, she may not recover. Just keep her cool and once her temperature drops, be sure to cover her back up. She will alternate between freezing and burning up. Are you both prepared for this?” She asked seriously. “Angel, let Rick take the first shift. You have to rest or stress will cause you to lose the bambino you carry.”

  Rick looked her in the eye. “I will do whatever it takes to make her better. She is my life.” He declared.

  Angel looked surprised. “I knew you loved her but I think I am totally convinced. Whatever happens Rick, thank you.”