Page 64 of Caught By A Cowboy

“Mads….Mads, wake up, I’m here now. Shit, I never should have let you fuckin’ go. Mads…Why ain’t she waking up?” I turn my head to look at Kendra and feel myself starting to panic. I can’t lose her. This woman has become the start and end of my world. Fuck the ranch, fuck all the lies I’ve ever been told. It’s the future that matters, and she is it.

“Relax, she’s going to be fine, the doctors just gave her something to help her sleep.” I glare at the fucker when he dares to fuckin’ speak.

“You…what thefuckare you doing here?” I charge for him and he cowers against the wall as I grip his shirt, and drag him up off his feet so his eyes are level with mine.

“I swear, if anything happens to them I will–”

“I saved her.” His voice trembles as his eyes clench tightly shut.

“Saved her from what?” I drop him from my grip and take a step back.

“It’s a long story and I will explain it but, right now, all that matters is that she’s okay.” He looks past me toward Maddison who’s lying there like some knocked up, sleeping-fuckin’-beauty.

“She took a bad knock to the head. There's been some swelling but the doctors say there’s no lasting damage, they’re just monitoring her.” I step back toward her so I can gently slide my knuckles over her cheek and when I see the red marks around her neck, they make me feel sick to my stomach.

“Who did this to her?” I have to try my best to tamp down my rage because, right now, I need to be here with her, willing her to get better.

“And what about the baby?” I look down over the blanket that's covering her and touch my hand over her swollenstomach. I hate that this creep knows more about the well-being of her and my child than I do.

“They put her on a monitor to check the baby as soon as we got here, and they’ve done an ultrasound. Everything’s fine. I promise.” He moves to the other side of the bed where the screens are so he can show me. “I’ve been watching out for both of them.” He smiles at me sadly, and when he takes hold of her hand I notice how his are all bandaged up, and that his shirt is stained with blood.

I immediately reach across and squeeze his wrist, letting him know that he just crossed a fuckin’ line.

“What happened to ya?” I hold onto him firmly so he knows not to lie to me

“I had to use one of the lawn ornaments to break through the glass door. She passed out and I just focused on getting her here.” He makes that same wounded smile when he looks at her again, and I don’t know what suddenly comes over me, but I feel sorry for the man.

“I appreciate that,” I tell him as I release his hand, then turn my focus back to my girl.

I sit down in the chair beside her bed, just staring at her, until the door opens and the doctor walks in.

“The police are here, they want to speak to you.” She looks toward Adam, who immediately lowers his head. “I should imagine they’ll be with you for some time, I’m sure your friends won’t mind staying with her while you're gone.” She smiles at him, and I see the pain on his face when he closes his eyes.

“Actually, I’m not her fiancé, anymore, this man’s going to take care of her from now on.” His hand touches hers again and this time, just for a few seconds, I let it.

“You’ll keep me informed?” He looks over to Kendra hopefully.

“Sure.” She nods, and when he picks up his jacket from the back of the chair he’s been resting in, I extend my hand across the bed to him.

“Thank you.” I lower my head as he takes it.

“Just take care of her, she’s really special. It took me losing her to realize that.” He frowns before he makes his way to the door and leaves.

“How’s our patient?” The doctor checks the monitors while I take Maddison's hand and watch as she picks up the clipboard from the end of the bed and writes something down.

“So, what is this, some kind of induced coma?” I ask, in desperate need of some answers.

“No, sir, Miss MacKenzie took a knock to the back of the head and we thought sedation, while the swelling reduced, was the best course of action. She’s just sleeping.”

“Okay.” I nod my head because I can hardly argue with a professional. “The drugs aren’t harmful to the baby, who is doing great by the way.” She lifts the paper from the machine and smiles at the zigzag lines printed on it. “They’ll wear off soon, and when they do the police are going to want to speak to her too.” The doctor looks more serious now, and when I start trying to imagine what Maddison’s been through, I feel myself crushing her dainty, little hand.

“Is someone going to tell me what happened?” I question.

“I’m afraid I don’t know myself, but I do know that she’s been very lucky. When she comes around she’s going to need you to be strong for her. I get that seeing these injuries will have come as a shock but it’s vital that you remain calm.” She places her hand over mine and reminds me to ease the pressure

“I hear ya.” I nod my head at her before she leaves us.

“So, she’s going to be okay?” Kendra takes a seat on the opposite side of the bed looking relieved.

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