Page 95 of Love for a Lifetime

“Don’t you worry. I’m going to take good care of her.”

“I know. Like Dad does for Mom when she’s sick,” Levi said.

“Just like that. Can you get the door?” Dawson asked.

Levi’s footsteps pounded against the wooden porch. “Got it!”

“Shh,” Dawson whispered. “Miss Olivia’s head hurts really bad.”

“Oh, sorry,” Levi said lower.

“Can you grab her water and find a bucket?”

“Be right back.” The kid’s quick steps retreated, leaving only the rumble of Dawson’s breaths beneath her ear where it rested on his shoulder.

“You still with me, Liv?”

“Yeah,” she whispered, thankful for every movement Dawson made for her.

He stopped and lowered her to the bed. When the fluffy mattress cradled her back, she released her hold on his neck and let her body sink into the bed.

Olivia opened her eyes, thankful for the low light of the lantern. Dawson hovered over her, shielding her from the entire world.

Hadn’t he been doing that for a while without her asking? Dawson was her first line of defense–a sturdy mountain that couldn’t be moved unless he allowed it.

“What can I do?” he whispered. The sweet words warring with the formidable man protecting her from unseen enemies.

His brows pinched together, and his lips pressed into a flat line. When his hand brushed over her forehead, then her hair, there was a moment of relief before the pressure returned.

“I took some medicine. It needs half an hour to kick in.”

Dawson reached for the blanket at the foot of the bed and spread it over her. The fuzzy softness was brand new, and the freshness calmed her as she breathed it in.

“Got the stuff,” Levi said as he tiptoed into the cabin.

Dawson turned and took the things from Levi. “Thanks, buddy.”

Levi let his arms fall to his sides with a slap. “What else can I do?”

Olivia did her best to smile as she reached for the kid. “Nothing. Thanks so much for your help.”

“Are you gonna be okay?” Levi didn’t even try to mask the worry in his words.

“I’ll be okay really soon. I’ll probably feel better before you go to bed tonight.”

“Really?”

Olivia nodded slowly. “Really.”

Dawson clapped a hand down on Levi’s small shoulder. “Can you go tell everybody what Olivia said? Tell them not to worry.”

“Okay.” Levi darted out of the cabin, closing the door behind him with enough force to rock the old cabin walls.

As soon as they were alone, Dawson walked to the door and toed his boots off. Seconds later, he was crawling onto the other side of the bed.

“You don’t have to stay. I’ll be fine in a little bit.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

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