Eli said, “Your nose isn’t bleeding anymore.”
Duke remembered the compress in his hand and placed it to his nose, which was beginning to throb. “You said you’d ‘been there’ before?”
Eli nodded. “Yes. Rachel was involved in a serious accident on FM 709. That was back before you and Gage moved to town.”
“Oh.” Duke nodded. “The accident with Ace? So you really have been there, haven’t you?”
“Yeah. When I saw her as they pulled her from the ambulance, they had to restrain me. You’re handling this well.” Glancing in the rearview mirror, he gestured to the working paramedics and said, “Don’t worry. They’re good at their jobs. Prayer helps.”
Duke closed his eyes and prayed like he’d never prayed before.
Eli hit a button as they neared town, and the siren started wailing. Luckily it was a Sunday evening and there was very little traffic on the streets. They pulled up to the emergency room bay, and a team of doctors and nurses stood waiting as the paramedics unloaded her and began their rundown on her condition. Duke saw one of the nurses react when she saw Emma, and Duke realized that treating her would be personal for them. They would do everything they could for her.
Duke tried to follow them, but Eli directed him through the automatic glass doors and into the main waiting area for the ER. “Check in and they will let you know as soon as they have news about Emma. I let Rachel know and she said she would be up here as soon as she could. She said she would call Summer and the guys. Emma has been really good to us. I’ll be praying for her too, man.”
Duke slumped in a chair to wait for Gage to arrive. He’d looked so distraught earlier, and it occurred to him that his cousin might have been the one who shot Amy. The noises of the hospital went on around him, people coming and going, talking and asking questions. He was startled from his thoughts when Ace, Kemp, Summer, and a very pregnant Rachel showed up. Summer and Rachel sat on either side of him, and he filled them all in on what had happened.
Gage and Hank Stinson arrived, looking grim.
Gage anxiously asked, “How is Emma?”
Duke replied, “We haven’t heard yet.”
Duke peered at Gage and asked, “Everything happened all at once. Can you tell me?”
Gage leaned forward and said, “Amy fired at Emma and I reacted. My reaction seemed to…cause her to snap. I was trying to get the gun away from her, to keep her from shooting one of us, and she turned it on herself.” Gage let out a shaky breath, sat back in his chair with his head against the wall, and closed his eyes.
Hank sat down with them and said, “Amy Patterson has been staying at the Motel 6 on the interstate. They were going through her belongings and found her laptop computer. It seems she outlined her plans on it, even had checklists.” With a sad shake of his head, he added, “There was also a journal.”
Summer excused herself and a few minutes later returned with a fabric bundle. She reached out to touch Gage’s shoulder, and he opened his eyes.
“I got this for you, Gage. It’s a scrub top, in case you wanted to change,” she said, gesturing to his bloodstained T-shirt. Gage thanked her and went in search of the men’s room to clean up and dispose of his ruined shirt. He returned a few minutes later, looking drained.
Duke and Gage both sprang from their seats when one of the ER nurses called Duke’s name. Duke’s heart was in his throat as he approached her. The nurse told them that Emma had already been rushed to emergency surgery.
Chapter Thirteen
Emma laughed softly as Duke’s sexy, deep voice echoed from the hospital room doorway. “Trick or treat.”
“Are you here to trick me or treat me?”
“Treat you, of course,” Gage replied as he followed Duke into the room. The temperature outside must have turned chillier because they were both clad in sweaters and jackets. Gage even wore a stocking cap, which he removed before he kissed her. Emma smiled from Gage to Duke as he bent and kissed her also.
She felt very blessed as she gazed at her men, now that she knew how easily she could have lost them. They’d had to revive her twice on the operating table, but she’d pulled through.
Almost two weeks in the hospital had done wonders in how she felt, and she was waiting impatiently for word on when she could leave. The staff had hovered over her a lot, especially in the beginning, but the attention and inactivity was driving her nuts.
Duke said, “We brought you something.” He placed a handled bag on the bed next to her. She smiled when she saw the store name and slogan on the bag. Discretion…we put the risk in risqué.
“Oh, what did you get me?”
Gage grinned like he had good news for her. “We got you something that you can wear home…today.”
Emma sighed in thankfulness that she didn’t have to spend another night in the hospital. She had received excellent care while she was there, but doctors made the absolute worst patients. She was sick of being hovered over and told what to do. When to eat. When to pee. They treated her like she was made of glass. She knew it was out of affection, but it was driving her crazy. “That is wonderful news.”
“But…” Duke began.
“But what?”
“You’re coming home with us, angel,” Duke said firmly. “We can’t stand for it to be any other way. We almost lost you.”
“Twice,” Gage cajolingly added. “Open your gift and say you’ll come home with us.”
She could’ve argued, laying claim to her right to independence, but Emma remembered the depression and loneliness she’d felt while unpacking after their tree-camping vacation, right before she’d been accosted by Amy Patterson. She could accuse Duke of being pushy, but the truth was she couldn’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be. Her freedom and independence were pretty empty if she enjoyed them alone in her cold apartment.
“You’re going to get sick of my compulsive neatness.”
Duke scoffed and replied, “Once you’re up and out of bed, you and Gage can compete for the title of Neat Freak.”
Emma chuckled and dumped the luxuriant bundle of black lace from the bag. She lifted the first piece and realized it was a full-length, silky-soft lace robe.
Moaning in delight, she brushed the black lace against her cheek and said, “It’s gorgeous.” The other bundle was a matching long, black lace halter gown that had a split on one side all the way up to the hip. “My goodness! This must have cost a mint.” It didn’t escape Emma’s notice that they’d made sure to buy a style that would de-emphasize the healing incision over her breastbone.
“It was worth it,” Duke replied. “We can’t wait to see it on you.”
Emma held the gown up in front of her face and smiled at her handsome men, who were clearly visible through the fine lace. “I can’t wear this home. Everyone will be able to see my goodies.”
Both men chuckled, and Duke placed another, larger shopping bag on her lap. “That’s what these are for.”
Emma peered in the bag, saw her jammies, and squealed in delight. “How did you know?”
Duke replied, “We remembered that you wore them a few weeks ago when you came upstairs. You said something about them being the equivalent of comfort food, but in clothing. We probably should’ve brought them before now.”
Emma hugged her bunny slippers and her SpongeBob SquarePants jammies gently to her chest. Not only had she required surgery for the bullet wound, they’d had to perform emergency open-heart surgery on her, which was why her stay in the hospital had been prolonged. In all, she was lucky to be alive and only a little worse for the wear. Fortunately, she also had a new lease on life. Her men and their bucket list had better hold on for dear life.
Gage kissed Emma’s forehead and said, “Duke is going to help you get ready to leave and I’ll start carrying your massive collection of flower arrangements down to the truck.”
Emma pointed at one of two separate groups of flower arrangements. “All of those I plan to donate to other patient rooms. I
have all the cards from them. I’m only taking home your arrangement of roses and the lilies Dad sent me.”
Her parents and sister had come immediately from Dallas when Duke had called them. Emma remembered waking up groggy in the hospital and feeling so relieved to see the people she cared for most in the world all gathered around her bed. She’d previously confided in her sister, Desiree, about Gage and Duke. Desiree’s reaction to finally meeting them had been entertaining to say the least. Emma’s mother and father had been a little more reserved in their opinions of the situation but not any less loving toward her because of her men.
On the last day of their stay, her father had spoken privately with her and told her that he didn’t understand how Duke and Gage could share and not get into a competition for her attention. She had done her best to reassure him.
The day after they’d returned home, her dad had sent her a gorgeous arrangement of lilies. The card had stated that her happiness mattered more than anything else and he had been able to tell that Duke and Gage felt the same way.
Gage carefully lifted the two arrangements from the shelf. “I’ll be right back.”
Once he was gone, Emma turned to Duke. “How is he doing?”
Duke sat beside her on the bed and lifted her hand into his. As he stroked her fingers one at a time, he said, “The nightmares are not happening every night anymore but he’s still having trouble sleeping. I hear him up and moving around sometimes at night. He blames himself for you being hurt.”
Emma shook her head at that thought. Gage had no control over what one obsessed woman had planned to do. “And you?”
“Bad dreams here and there. It’s just going to take time for those memories to fade,” he said, looking at his hands as if he could still see her blood on them. “How about you? You seem to have bounced back with hardly any trouble at all, and you were the one who got shot and nearly died.”
Emma knew they probably both thought that. “I process trauma a little differently than most people. I suppose it’s because of the training I’ve received as a doctor. My residency was at one of the busiest hospitals in the Dallas area. Dealing with gunshot wounds and other intentionally inflicted injuries were a daily, sometimes hourly occurrence. So was dealing with mentally unstable patients. I’ve dealt with people like Amy Patterson before.
“I gained great experience working in that environment but it also trained some of the normal stress-like reactions out of me. Those traumas were a fact of life for me. I dealt with them and moved on. My reaction to what happened may make me seem sort of callous, but I’m not hung up with questioning why this all happened, so it’s a little easier for me to move on than it would be for someone not used to dealing with trauma on a daily basis. Don’t get me wrong, it was terrifying being on the receiving end of her plan to do away with me and have Gage, but I know there’s no point in trying to reason through why it happened. I’m mostly just grateful I’m still alive.”
She recalled Amy Patterson’s furious, ice-cold eyes staring at her as she pulled the trigger. Emma pushed the memory away. “I’m ready to be out of here and back home, and anxious to get back to work.”
“Not too fast, Tiger,” Duke commented as he helped her from the hospital bed. “When we get home, we’re just going to put you right back into bed so don’t get any ideas.”
“Bed. I’ve had enough of bed. I’ve got a bucket list to work on.”
* * * *
Thanksgiving Day, the Rivers home in San Angelo, Texas
Duke couldn’t help the undoubtedly sappy smile on his face when Emma crowed proudly as she removed the sweet potato pie from the oven. “See? There is one thing I can cook!”
Dressed in her clingy russet-colored sweater and snug, shin-length black skirt, Emma was flushed and beautiful and more precious to Duke each day. She had progressed well in her recovery, balking at times when they’d made her rest.
He sat on one of the barstools pretending to watch the football game when most of his time was actually spent watching her. They’d come so close to losing her, and at times he found himself wondering what his life would’ve been like if she were no longer in it. The thought always brought a painful burning to his chest.
The turkey sat in its roasting pan on the stove, waiting to be sliced. The scent of baked sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and freshly baked rolls filled the air, reminiscent of all the past Thanksgivings they’d enjoyed in this house he’d grown up in.
His mom exclaimed over the pie’s flaky, golden crust and applauded Emma’s efforts. She glanced at her son and winked, merriment in her eyes as Emma placed the pie on the rack to cool.
She came over to give her son a hug and whispered, “We love her, Duke. You did good.”
Emma joined them at the bar and said, “Mary, everything smells so good. Is anyone else feeling a little warm or is it just me?”
Mom patted Emma’s shoulder and said, “Call me Mom, sweetie. It is a little warm in here and you have on a turtleneck. Why don’t you and the boys take a walk outside? That should cool you down before we have dinner.”
Emma looked to Duke, and he heard Gage rise from the sofa and say, “Dad, I think I’m going to take a walk with Emma and Duke.”
“You’re sure that you don’t need any more help in the kitchen?” Emma asked.
Mom shook her head and gestured to the turkey. “The bird is resting right now. We’ll slice it when you get back. Go get some fresh air.”
After putting on their coats, Duke, Gage, and Emma headed out the door and down the front steps. The sun was bright, but the afternoon temperatures were still frigid. She hooked her arms through both of theirs and allowed them to lead her down the walk. There were people here and there, arriving or departing, loading sleepy kids for the drive home or letting them loose from their car seats to run after long drives. Christmas decorations were being put up at a couple of the neighboring houses.
Gesturing to the homes up and down the street, Emma said, “It’s like a scene from a Rockwell painting.”
Duke smiled and nodded, seeing it with new appreciation. “This is the neighborhood we grew up in.”
Emma replied, “Really? So your friends lived in these houses?”
Gage said, “Oh, yeah.” He pointed to a brown house next door to theirs. “Adam Rankin lived right next door. He was our best friend from kindergarten on. He’s in the Army and expected back from Iraq sometime hopefully before Christmas. That,” he said, smirking as he pointed to the blue house directly across the street. “That is where Jessica Silverman lived. And she—”
Crap.
Duke put a hand out to stop Gage and said, “—was my first girlfriend in sixth grade.”
“Really?” Emma said then chuckled. “Do tell.”
Duke nodded. “She broke my heart. Our relationship lasted two days. She left me.”
“She left you? For who?” Emma said with a disbelieving scoff as though the girl must have had no sense whatsoever.
“For him!” Duke chuckled and pointed at Gage. “It seems she had a thing for brooding men with green eyes.”
Emma laughed gaily, and Duke loved the sound of it and wanted to make her laugh more.
Gage said, “Yep. And we lasted for three days. She broke my heart, too. She said neither me nor Duke understood women.” Gage threw his hand in the air in a surrendering gesture.
With a giggling snort, she asked, “So, what happened? Did she just work her way down the block?”
Duke shook his head. “No. She gave Adam a go. Turns out she had a thing for blue-eyed men, too. They stuck together and got married after college. She’s expecting their second baby around Christmas,” he said, pointing to a very pregnant blonde helping a little blond-haired boy from a minivan parked at the house next door. “Hey, Jess!”
The blonde looked up and grinned widely when she saw them and waved. “Hey, guys! Happy Thanksgiving!” Her little boy was talking a mile a minute, tugging on her hand, and she shrugged apologetica
lly as she was dragged inside. “Take care!”
“She’s lovely.”
Gage replied, “We were better off as friends. It was doomed to failure.”
“Oh?”
Gage said, “Yeah. It turns out we have a thing for a beautiful, green-eyed brunette who loves to play doctor.”
Emma nodded and clutched their arms close to her. Duke brushed his nose against her cheekbone, kissed her temple, and murmured, “And has a pervy streak a mile wide.”
Emma gave him a crooked little grin and replied, “Which you love about me.” Duke agreed enthusiastically because it was the truth. Emma turned to Gage and asked, “You slept through the night last night, didn’t you?”
Gage sighed softly and replied, “I did. No nightmares.” Gage seemed hesitant but smiled reassuringly at her, and she paused for a step to give him a soft kiss. Gage’s fingertips feathered against her jaw with great tenderness, and Duke wished they were alone in her bedroom so they could kiss her the way he and Gage really wanted to.
Emma wrapped an arm around his waist and said, “It just takes time, doesn’t it?” Gage nodded silently. “I’m glad that talking to my friend helped.”
Emma had suggested that Gage talk with a friend of hers who happened to be a psychologist. Gage had privately told Duke that he did indeed feel responsible for Emma being shot. He’d confided that being in such close proximity to Amy when she’d shot herself had been very disturbing for him and the main cause of his nightmares.
Gage seemed lost in his own thoughts as they strolled along. Finally, he said, “I know I was not responsible for what Amy did, or what she intended to do to you. What matters most to me is that you survived. That’s my bottom line. I love you, angel.”
“I love you, too. You know, it’s been a long time since my pervy side got any attention at all,” she said as she stroked her chest over the spot where her incision had healed. They’d slept with her every night but had held off from sex because she’d been cautioned by her doctor about strenuous activity. The wait was becoming a bit of a strain for all of them. “I am recovered well enough for sex. Give me another month on the threesome but I could really do with getting laid sometime soon.”
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 4 Page 15