Page 67 of Megan's Mate
Nathaniel winced. “Right the first time.”
She glanced at Coco. “You seem to be in able hands, here. I have a call to make.” She smiled thinly. It helped to have connections, she thought as she tapped out of the room with her cane. And through them she would see that Baxter Dumont knew he had put a noose around his own neck, and that one false move would mean his career would come to an abrupt and unpleasant stop.
Nobody trifled with Colleen Calhoun’s family.
Nathaniel watched Colleen go then took the pill Coco held out to him and gulped it down. The movement sent fresh pain radiating up his side.
“Let’s get that shirt off.” Trying to sound cheerful, Coco attacked the torn T-shirt with kitchen shears. The angry mutters died away as Nathaniel’s bruised torso was exposed.
“Oh.” Tears stung Coco’s eyes. “Oh, baby.”
“Don’t pamper the boy.” Dutch came in holding two bottles. Witch hazel and whiskey. One look at Nathaniel had him gritting his teeth together so hard they ached, but he kept his voice careless. “He ain’t no baby. Take a shot of this, Captain.”
“He’s just taken a pill,” Coco began.
“Take a shot,” Dutch repeated.
Nathaniel winced once as the whiskey stung his lip. But it took the edge off a great many other aches. “Thanks.”
“Look at ya.” Dutch snorted and dumped the witch hazel onto a cloth. “Let ’em pound all over you, like some city boy with sponges where his fists should be.”
“There were two of them,” Nathaniel muttered.
“So?” Dutch gently swabbed the bruises. “You getting so outta shape you can’t take two?”
“I kicked their butts.” Experimentally Nathaniel probed a tooth with his tongue. It hurt, but at least it wasn’t loose.
“Better had,” Dutch returned, with a flash of pride. “Tried to rob you, did they?”
Nathaniel’s gaze flashed to Megan. “No.”
“Ribs’re bruised.” Ignoring Nathaniel’s curse, Dutch prodded and poked until he was satisfied. “Not cracked though.” He crouched, peered into Nathaniel’s eyes. “D’ya pass out?”
“Maybe.” It was almost as bad as another thumping to admit it. “For a minute.”
“Vision blurred?”
“No, Doc. Not now.”
“Don’t get smart. How many?” He held up two thick fingers.
“Eighty-seven.” Nathaniel would have reached for the whiskey again, but Coco shoved it aside.
“He’s not drinking any more on top of the pill I gave him.”
“Women think they know every damn thing.” But Dutch sent her a look, reassuring her that their charge would be all right. “Bed’s what you need now. A hot soak and cool sheets. Want I should carry you?”
“Hell, no.” That was one humiliation he could do without. He took Coco’s hand, kissed it. “Thanks, darling. I’d do it all again if I knew you’d be my nurse.” He looked back at Holt. “I could use a ride home.”
“Nonsense.” Coco disposed of that idea instantly. “You’ll stay here, where we can look after you. You may very well have a concussion, so we’ll take shifts waking you up through the night to be sure you don’t slip into a coma.”
“Wives’ tales,” Dutch grunted, but nodded at her behind Nathaniel’s back.
“I’ll turn down the bed in the rose guest room,” Amanda stated. “C.C., why don’t you run our hero a nice hot bath? Lilah, bring that ice along.”
He didn’t have the energy to fight the lot of them, so he sat back as Lilah walked over and touched her lips gently to his. “Come on, tough guy.”
Sloan moved over to help him to his feet. “Two of them, huh? Puny guys?”
