Page 68 of Refuge for Ailsa

“She looked okay. Tired and pale, but okay. I have no reason to think she won’t fully recover. Physically, that is. Mentally, I think this is going to be hard.”

“I’m glad she’s got you,” Magnus said and slapped Tavish on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re going to be there with her.”

Tavish gave him a smile that he hoped put Ailsa’s father at ease. “Every minute of every day.”

“MacDougal?” The MacDougals and Tavish all stood. “I’m Dr.Myrick. I’ve checked her over and she looks to be in pretty good shape, given the situation. She does have a really nasty cut on her foot, and there’s a raging infection in it, so I want to keep her here for a couple of days on IV antibiotics, but other than that, I think everything’s fine. You’re welcome to go back and see her in a few minutes, and then they’ll move her to a room.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Maeve whispered and burst into tears. Magnus drew her up against him and patted her back.

Tavish had been relieved about a variety of things in his life. He’d been relieved when he graduated from high school and college. Been relieved when he’d paid off his truck. Been relieved when he’d found out that Claire wasn’t pregnant the one time they’d had a busted condom. Been relieved when he’d closed on the house and knew it was his. None of those things, none of them, compared with the relief he felt knowing that Ailsa was okay.

“MacDougal?” Tavish looked up to see a pretty nurse standing in the doorway. “One of you can go back and see her now.”

He turned to Maeve. “You should go, since you’re her?”

“Tavish, she wants to see ye, laddie. She wants to know yer close. Ye saved her. Go. Be there for me lass. Please.” Maeve was smiling through her tears, and Magnus nodded, so Tavish hopped up and followed the nurse.

Ailsa’s eyes were closed and her breathing was soft. He didn’t want to wake her, but when he took her hand, her eyes fluttered open. “Hey, babe. How ya feelin’?”

“Tav?”

He stood and looked down at her. “Yes, babe. It’s me. I’m right here, and you’re okay.”

She closed her eyes and a tear dripped down her cheek. “I was so scared, Tav. I didn’t know where I was, and I knew she wasn’t coming back to get me. She was leaving me to die, and I knew it.”

“She’s in jail now, honey. She’ll never bother you again. They’ve got her for attempted murder for what she did to you, and she’s going away, most likely to Eastern State Hospital. So don’t worry about her. You’re here, I’m here?”

“Starlight?”

“Babe, she’s how we found you. I don’t know how she got there, but she had been running back and forth at the water’s edge for two days. The owner called animal control and they knew I was looking for her. I figured out where you were when I got there.”

“How?”

“Because I heard the owner of the place say his name. He’s Bridget’s father.”

“Oh, god. So that’s how she did it. Did he help her?”

“No. Not at all. He had no knowledge of what she’d done.”

“What is that place anyway?”

Tavish gave her a gentle smile. “You won’t believe it, but it’s a pearl farm.”

“Apearl farm? I didn’t know those existed.”

“They grow freshwater pearls there. The thing you were in was a pod where they hang the racks of mussels once they’ve seeded them to get them to make pearls.”

“Wow. Where is that?”

“It’s called Honey Hill Pearl Farm and it’s out off of highway thirty-three. And I tell you what… When we get you out of here, I’ll go get you a beautiful pearl necklace and?”

“No. I don’t want pearls. I don’t care if I never see another pearl in my life.” She shuddered. “Keep them away from me.”

“Okay. But they’ve got some pretty ones out?”

“No, Tavish. No. Just no.”

“Right. So you rest and you’ll be out of here in a couple of days.”

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