Page 13 of Healing Creek
Samantha straightened, then laughed and shook her head. “Just a little tired. It’s already been a long day.”
Before she’d even finished the words, Diablo was at her side, a hand on her shoulder. “You should sit,” he rumbled.
She sighed heavily and laid her hand over his and squeezed. “I’m fine…but sitting isn’t a bad idea.”
Diablo wrapped his big hands around her waist and lifted her onto Feeona’s bed. It was wide and long with plenty of room for the petite woman. He eased Samantha into a sitting position at the foot of the bed. They spoke in soft whispers and Grace followed her heart over to Creek where he lay on his belly, letting the medic use a mender on his damaged tissue.
“Kidney?”
The medic didn’t look when he answered. “Just a contusion. Not ruptured.”
“That’s good.” She slipped her hand into Creek’s—large and calloused, its warmth reassured her, calmed her. She spoke softly. “You’re all right. But you must start taking better care of yourself. Promise me.”
Creek made a noise in the back of his throat that could have been agreement. Then he squeezed her hand. It was as if they’d developed a bond in those brief moments sitting together on the floor of her room. She decided to be satisfied with that.
Chapter Four
TheAbundance
EarthAllianceBetaSector
2210.191
Grace helped the medic stow the mender and reset the rest of the equipment while Creek got to his feet. She’d rather he stay in the med-bay awhile, but he insisted he was fine now that the contusion had been mended.
Medic Shawber put a hand on his hip as he stretched. “Thank you for your assistance, Grace.”
“Thank you for taking good care of my new friend.”
Creek huffed at the description and Grace choked on her embarrassment. He must think her presumptuous to claim his friendship. Creek’s damaged beauty, his gentle strength, the bossiness that warred with his stoicism, it all drew her in. But it wasn’t as if he would find anything to admire in someone like her—fragile, flawed, and keeping secrets.
“You have some training,” said Shawber.
“Yes. My brother is a clinical researcher. I work with him sometimes.” She’d floated from sibling to sibling through the years. It had been the easiest way to get out of her parents’ control, but it hadn’t exactly given her the freedom she’d hoped for.
Shawber instructed Creek to get plenty of water and rest to support the accelerated healing then covered a yawn with the back of his hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take what chance I have for a little rest. My usual shift was over hours ago.”
“Of course.” If he was the only medic that Samantha had deemed acceptable, the man would be on call until they could find him some help.
As the man stepped away, Creek took gentle hold of her shoulders and pulled her close. “I need to return to my task, but I’ll walk you to see Mercury first.”
His hands were warm against her skin and she thought about what it might be like to step into him and feel that warmth pressed all along her body. Instead, Creek released her and Lo joined them from across the room. “No, my friend. The clearing of the ship is complete.”
Creek’s head tilted as he studied Lo. “You’ll need guards for—”
“Everything is covered for now,” Lo cut him off. “Several of the others are taking their rest. You should both go and get some rest, too. She can speak to Mercury in the morning.”
A wave of lightheadedness swept through Grace. It seemed to be getting harder to stay on her feet. She hoped it was just the adrenaline of the day wearing off. She swayed.
Creek reached out to steady her. “When was the last time you ate?”
“I think it’s after midnight, ship’s time, so yesterday morning. You?” She did need to eat frequently to function. Morgan knew that and made sure her meals came regularly, but Morgan was dead.
Creek tilted his head. “We’ll both eat.”
Grace couldn’t suppress a grin at his concession—then instantly drowned in the guilt of letting her sister slip from her mind for a short time. She made a fist then tucked it behind her back. She couldn’t let her worry for Jennifer show. She didn’t need any difficult questions.
“Any of the freed slaves who aren’t assigned a station now are gathering at the observation point on this level. They have food there, too.” Diablo followed his statement with a soft noise Grace interpreted as insistence.
