Page 22 of Rekindled Heart

“I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up on him mid-sentence and pull my gloves on, pushing my hat down on my head. “This is it, Caro. There’ s no more time to let you come to me.”

She’s got to come home with me. I need to keep her safe. I’ve already lost enough. I’m not losing her and Christopher.

I’ll kill a motherfucker first.

ELEVEN

Caro

“I’ve gotyour first patient in exam room B, doc. He’s pretty pissed off. Cut his hand while he was cutting wood.”

Doc rolls his eyes. “Right. Well, I wouldn’t have to see him if he’d done it right. So he better keep the attitude to himself.” He stomps off, muttering to himself.

Hamilton is usually a pretty quiet little town. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any emergencies. This small office covers most of them unless they have to be sent on to the bigger city of Tulsa.

I sit back and pull up the patients’ charts on my computer. I barely get started on entering the doc’s notes when the door to the office slams open and Ricky comes through the doorway, his dark eyes finding me easily in the empty office.

“We need to talk.”

“I’m at work. That’s gonna have to wait!” My whole body quivers as he gives me a stormy look and strides up to the counter.

“There’s no time for that! You need to come with me now! Get your coat and hat. Let’s go.”

I glare at him and cross my arms. “Hell no! Have you lost your mind? I’m working.”

“We need to go get Christopher at school and then you two are coming back home with me.” He stomps around the counter and then reaches under it and grabs my purse, then pitches my coat at me. It hits me in the face and I fight to keep from screaming at him.

“I’m not going anywhere with you right now! You’re acting crazy!”

He stops and he glares at me. “When were you going to tell me that you lost my baby because you were shot, Caro? When were you going to tell me about your sister?”

There’s a soft gasp and doc stands in the doorway with the guy he bandaged. “Ummm. Here’s Leonard’s chart, Caroline.” He studies us and he stops. “Maybe you two need to go somewhere to talk.”

I’m shaking my head even as he grabs my things and then reaches around and picks me up, tossing me like I weigh nothing over his shoulder. I gasp loudly, stunned silent.

Doc smirks. “You okay, Caroline? Need me to call the sheriff?”

“Wanna tell him why Angel’s in trouble, baby girl?”

I freeze, going still as a rabbit facing a wolf. “No. I’m good, doc. I’ll be back later.”

I feel him shake his head at doc. “She won’t. My buddy, Jace is on his way here because Angel is too.”

I gasp. “NO! She isn’t.”

“She is. And most likely whatever trouble got both of you shot is coming with her.”

I say nothing, my head reeling as he stomps out the door, his boot heels ringing loud in the sudden quiet.

He rips the door of his truck open and tosses me on the seat. I move and he stands in front of me, leaning in until his eyes stare right into mine. Pure rage and fear coalesce in his dark gaze. “I am not taking no for an answer on this right now, angel.You’re coming with me and so is Christopher. We’re gonna pick him up and I’m taking you both home with me. My ranch has better security and it’s easier to see someone coming than being in town. Both of you are safer with me.”

I nod my head slightly and he reaches across and grabs the seatbelt, tugging it across me and then he slams the door and comes around the front to get inside. He starts the truck and then just sits there for a second, staring out the front window.

“I cannot believe that you were shot and you didn’t call to tell me, Caro. I may never forgive you for that.” His dark, tortured eyes turn to me and search mine. “I’m gonna make sure you understand that that is never going to happen again. You don’t run from me. You run to me. I will protect you. Not the other way around.”

I huff and cross my arms. I swear I don’t know what to say to that. But I think I’m just gonna save that argument for another day. He’s already pretty pissed. It seems like granny was right. Guys really don’t like it when you cut them off from the protector thing.

He starts the truck and pulls out of the clinic. “Call the school and tell them that you’re picking Christopher up.”

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