Page 26 of Legacy of Danger
Chapter 7
The next morning's rounds had Mariah up bright and early.
Well, at least early.
She cradled her cup of sanity like it was priceless crystal as she shuffled to the nurses' station. No one was going to deprive her of her drug of choice this morning. She rolled her shoulders. Thank God for low census in the hospital. She had only seven patients to round on, then she was off to brunch with a certain guy who made her uterus quiver.
A woman in flower-patterned scrubs strolled over.
With reluctance, Mariah set down the cup. "Good morning, Amber. Any changes with Ms. Taggart and Mr. Patterson?"
"Ms. Taggart woke up a little while ago."
"As in, awake-awake?" The unspoken question of mental status hung heavy in the air between them.
"Alert and oriented." The nurse looked at the floor then back up, triggering a sinking sensation in Mariah's stomach.
"But what?"
"Her vision is gone. Can't tell when the light is on. No sight at all."
"Oh, wow." Mariah racked her brain for stroke syndromes and head injury complications causing isolated blindness. Occipital lobe injury? Funny, the CT scan didn't show any abnormalities in the woman's brain. "Okay. I'll check on her. How about Mr. Patterson?"
"Still in a coma. No change."
"That's the damndest thing. I'll give the neuro guys in Casper another call to see if there's anything else we can do. Thanks." After a sip of the coffee, she trudged down to Shelby Taggart's room.
Before opening the door, she peeked through the narrow slit of glass. Sure enough, Shelby's eyes were open. Even though her patient's head was turned in the direction of her twin brother, Kerr, the unfocused gaze supported her nurse's assessment.
Mariah rested her hand on the door, but her muscles refused to work. The intense bond between brother and sister was obvious as he patted Shelby's shoulder and talked to her. A painful vice sensation developed around Mariah's ribcage.
Damn, she missed Kevin. Sure, Mariah and her brother chatted or texted a few times every week, but it didn't take the place of being near each other. They'd stuck together despite injury, struggles, and parents who had all but abandoned them. They had been each other's biggest cheerleader, the person each could call in their deepest funk. She and Kevin had escaped that awful situation together, years ago. Something no kid should ever have to deal with.
So, no question, Mariah knew all about the bond between brother and sister.
Sliding her hand off the door handle, she backed away.
She'd evaluate Mr. Patterson first. She brushed a hand over her eyelids.
Must be some pieces of lint irritating her eyes.
* * *
Copper River's famous Hungry Moose diner was nearly empty in the post-breakfast, pre-lunch lull on this cold weekday in December. After checking with Kerr to make sure Shelby was still awake and improving, Vaughn had decided that it would be okay keep his appointment with Mariah. Then he'd take a shift at the hospital, sitting with Shelby. His sister was awake. Thank God.
Vaughn took off his leather coat and adjusted his neatly tucked thermal shirt once more.
He checked the parking lot for the tenth time in the past three minutes. Not that he cared if Mariah showed or not. Might be better if she canceled.
As his growling stomach attested, having a meal date while trying to make weight was one of the more boneheaded decisions he'd ever made. The aroma of bacon and hash browns? Torture.
A prickling sensation at the back of his head signaled his weird radar awakening.
Ah, speaking of torture.
He gritted his teeth as he mentally unfurled the control he had over his ability, trying to ignore the headache that came with it. The compulsion to make sure Mariah was safe overrode all other instincts when he got close to her.
She pulled up in a black Mini Cooper, complete with little racing stripes. Seriously, who drove a car like that in this town? It looked like a toy parked next to his ranch truck. Then she hopped out of her car without any difficulty, and he understood why she had such a ridiculous ride. That tiny car fit her to a T.
