just when it all makes sense, I’m confused again. That whole surrender thing goes against the grain of my independent nature.”
“Keep at it.”
Tigo wasn’t sure faith answered the plaguing questions in his life. But Ryan and Linc held stock in prayer, and for them, it worked.
Twenty minutes later, at the hospital ER, Tigo flashed his ID and followed a nurse through double doors into the treatment area. She no doubt thought the accident was an FBI matter. Behind a curtain, Vicki lay on a treatment table with her eyes closed.
A nasty gash near her right temple needed stitches. Why hadn’t they taken care of her yet? Kariss sat in a chair holding a baby decked out in pink and lace and some sort of frilly headband. Kariss and Vicki’s parents stood by Vicki’s bed. Fred held his injured daughter’s hand while Ella gently stroked her hair. Tigo planted a kiss on Ella’s cheek and patted Fred’s back.
“We’ve been here about five minutes. Did you fly?” Fred said.
“I have my moments on the road.” Tigo caught Kariss’s gaze. The first time they’d met, he’d been driving faster than Buzz Lightyear on steroids and had cut her off on the highway. A mile later, an officer had ticketed him.
“I remember.” Although her hair was tousled, she looked in control and beautiful … as always.
“How’s the patient?”
“Doing okay. I think she’s in more pain than she’ll admit,” Kariss said. “We’re waiting to get her stitched up. They had another emergency just before she was brought in.”
Tigo studied Vicki’s pale face. “Is she sleeping, or did the doctor give her something?”
“Resting,” Kariss said. A hint of pink tinged her cheeks. “I think she used up her energy making sure Rose was okay. I told Dad not to bother you.”
“Friends look out for friends.”
“Most of the time.”
He understood exactly what she meant and focused his attention back on Fred and Ella. “Thanks for the call.”
“We knew you’d want to know about the accident, despite our youngest daughter’s protests.”
Tigo chose not to toss out a sarcastic remark and turned to Kariss instead. “Rose is growing. She’s a beautiful baby.”
“We’re all prejudiced, but you’re right.” She smiled.
Thoughts about the past slammed against his brain. Why had he been so stupid?
Vicki half opened her eyes. “I thought I heard a familiar voice. Are we having a party?”
“Only when the jerk who did this is arrested,” Kariss said.
“I pity him if my sister gets to him first,” Vicki said. “Thanks for coming, Tigo. I’m fine, really. Just waiting”—pain creased her face—“for the doctor to stitch my head.”
“And a room.” Fred patted her hand. “Got to run a few tests on little mama. Make sure nothing’s knocked loose up there.”
A doctor stepped inside the curtained area, a nurse trailing behind, pushing a cart loaded with paraphernalia to stitch up Vicki’s head. Tigo seized the opportunity and turned to Kariss. Odd how he needed courage to talk to the woman who occupied his thoughts. “Would you and Miss Rose join me for a walk? Blood makes me squeamish.”
Kariss laughed. “Right.”
He reached for the baby so Kariss could stand.
“You handle Rose very nicely,” she said.
“I handle little girls better than big ones.”
Ella and Fred laughed, but Kariss didn’t. Once outside the ER, they strolled down the hospital hallway. Tigo continuedholding Rose. She felt right snuggled in his arms. To think Kariss had once been this helpless. She could still be helpless, but Tigo wouldn’t bring it up.
“Are you in trouble, Ms. Indiana Jones?” he said. “Or should I ask if you’re working on a story that’s put you in danger?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Her voice trembled.
Was it fear he detected, or did she feel uncomfortable with him? “I hear the reservation. Want to tell me about it?”
“I’m tired and angry at the truck-daddy who did this. He was
“Keep at it.”
Tigo wasn’t sure faith answered the plaguing questions in his life. But Ryan and Linc held stock in prayer, and for them, it worked.
Twenty minutes later, at the hospital ER, Tigo flashed his ID and followed a nurse through double doors into the treatment area. She no doubt thought the accident was an FBI matter. Behind a curtain, Vicki lay on a treatment table with her eyes closed.
A nasty gash near her right temple needed stitches. Why hadn’t they taken care of her yet? Kariss sat in a chair holding a baby decked out in pink and lace and some sort of frilly headband. Kariss and Vicki’s parents stood by Vicki’s bed. Fred held his injured daughter’s hand while Ella gently stroked her hair. Tigo planted a kiss on Ella’s cheek and patted Fred’s back.
“We’ve been here about five minutes. Did you fly?” Fred said.
“I have my moments on the road.” Tigo caught Kariss’s gaze. The first time they’d met, he’d been driving faster than Buzz Lightyear on steroids and had cut her off on the highway. A mile later, an officer had ticketed him.
“I remember.” Although her hair was tousled, she looked in control and beautiful … as always.
“How’s the patient?”
“Doing okay. I think she’s in more pain than she’ll admit,” Kariss said. “We’re waiting to get her stitched up. They had another emergency just before she was brought in.”
Tigo studied Vicki’s pale face. “Is she sleeping, or did the doctor give her something?”
“Resting,” Kariss said. A hint of pink tinged her cheeks. “I think she used up her energy making sure Rose was okay. I told Dad not to bother you.”
“Friends look out for friends.”
“Most of the time.”
He understood exactly what she meant and focused his attention back on Fred and Ella. “Thanks for the call.”
“We knew you’d want to know about the accident, despite our youngest daughter’s protests.”
Tigo chose not to toss out a sarcastic remark and turned to Kariss instead. “Rose is growing. She’s a beautiful baby.”
“We’re all prejudiced, but you’re right.” She smiled.
Thoughts about the past slammed against his brain. Why had he been so stupid?
Vicki half opened her eyes. “I thought I heard a familiar voice. Are we having a party?”
“Only when the jerk who did this is arrested,” Kariss said.
“I pity him if my sister gets to him first,” Vicki said. “Thanks for coming, Tigo. I’m fine, really. Just waiting”—pain creased her face—“for the doctor to stitch my head.”
“And a room.” Fred patted her hand. “Got to run a few tests on little mama. Make sure nothing’s knocked loose up there.”
A doctor stepped inside the curtained area, a nurse trailing behind, pushing a cart loaded with paraphernalia to stitch up Vicki’s head. Tigo seized the opportunity and turned to Kariss. Odd how he needed courage to talk to the woman who occupied his thoughts. “Would you and Miss Rose join me for a walk? Blood makes me squeamish.”
Kariss laughed. “Right.”
He reached for the baby so Kariss could stand.
“You handle Rose very nicely,” she said.
“I handle little girls better than big ones.”
Ella and Fred laughed, but Kariss didn’t. Once outside the ER, they strolled down the hospital hallway. Tigo continuedholding Rose. She felt right snuggled in his arms. To think Kariss had once been this helpless. She could still be helpless, but Tigo wouldn’t bring it up.
“Are you in trouble, Ms. Indiana Jones?” he said. “Or should I ask if you’re working on a story that’s put you in danger?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Her voice trembled.
Was it fear he detected, or did she feel uncomfortable with him? “I hear the reservation. Want to tell me about it?”
“I’m tired and angry at the truck-daddy who did this. He was
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