Page 62 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

She reached for his hand, attempting to climb from the car.

One of the doctors rushed forward. She had a warm smile and steady, familiar green eyes. “Stay still, Sadie. It’s Jenna—Dr. Simon. If you have a bullet wound, I want to know the extent of the damage before moving you.”

She swallowed hard and locked her gaze with Tommy’s. His take-charge attitude calmed her, and the hint of terror and emotion clinging to him made her heart dance despite the constant pain in her head.

He stayed within view as the doctor carefully lowered her hand and peeled away the scarf. Blood trickled down the side of her face. “You’re lucky. Looks like the bullet barely grazed you. You’ll need some stitches and a CAT scan. I’d also like to tend the cuts from the glass.” Dr. Simon glanced over her shoulder. “On both of you.”

The pressure squeezing her chest loosened. The agony in her head was still intense, but she would be all right.

“Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.”

Dr. Simon stood and motioned the other doctor forward. He approached, rolling the gurney close to the car. “Do you need help, Deputy?”

“I can do it.” She gritted out the words, needing to prove she was capable.

Tommy wedged himself between her and the doctors. “I got her.” Leaning forward, he cradled one arm around the small of her back then hooked her elbow around his neck and swept her into his arms.

The movement made dizziness swim in her head. She closed her eyes on a long beat to regain her equilibrium, squeezing her arms tight around Tommy’s neck.

Tommy lifted her onto the gurney. “Lay down and relax.”

Refusing to leave her side, he clung to her hand as he helped wheel her through the emergency waiting area and into a curtained-off room. The thin, blue curtains might have blocked off the rest of the area but did nothing to shut out the chaos on the other side. The smell of bleach coated the air.

“I’ll get started on you, Sadie. And my colleague here, Dr. Perkins, will take Deputy Wells right next door.” Dr. Simon softened her voice, but her order came through loud and clear.

“I can wait,” Tommy said.

Sadie smiled up at him. Spots of blood dotted his face from the broken glass. She winced. He had to be hurting. “I’m all right. Go. The sooner we’re both taken care of, the sooner we can leave.”

Dr. Simon analyzed the sterilized tools lined up on a tray beside the bed. “We’ll talk about your evening plans when I’m done.”

Tommy lingered beside her, certainty wavering.

She pushed back the pain, not wanting to give him more reasons to demand he stay at her side. “I’m fine. Go.”

“All right. I’m right next door if you need me.”

Sadie watched him go, deliberately ignoring the large needle in Dr. Simon’s hands. Instead, she closed her eyes and sucked in deep calming breaths and pictured being anywhere but there.

Tommy hesitatedin the doorway of Sadie’s bedroom, giving her the space she needed to finish her phone call. He didn’t want to intrude, but also didn’t want to let her out of his sight.

“I really appreciate it,” Sadie said into the phone she’d placed on her lap. “I hate putting so much on you, but I don’t want Amelia to see me like this. Not to mention someone has come after me twice now and been in my home. I don’t want her in any danger.”

“We’ll keep her safe.” Mrs. Collin’s voice rang out from the speaker. “She’s excited to stay the night. I’ve been promising her a sleep over for ages, and Laura will be here tonight as well. She has everything she needs here, and I’ll make sure she has a blast. She can stay as long as needed.”

Sadie blew out a long, shaky sigh and dashed tears from her eyes. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“We may not be blood, but honey, we’re still family. We’re here for you. No matter what you need. Now get some rest so this little girl can come home and see her mama.”

She smiled. “Can I talk to her?”

A light rustling sounded before Amelia’s little voice said, “Hi, Mama! I love you! But I have to go help make popcorn.”

“Love you, Baby,” Sadie said, smiling.

“All right,” Mrs. Collins said. “Go rest now.”

Tommy walked to the bed and fluffed another pillow then stuffed it between Sadie’s back and the headboard of her bed. “Can I get you anything? Water? Food?”

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