Page 34 of The Drifter's Bride
She heard footsteps running down the hall. The noise was too much, so she closed her eyes again. She heard a chair scraping next to her bed and then someone picked up her hand.
“Addison?” Warm lips pressed a kiss against the back of her hand. “Addison, my dearest daughter. Papa’s here.”
“Papa?” Her eyes fluttered opened again, and she turned her head to see Papa looking at her with a slight smile on his face. His eyes were red from crying, and she watched him wipe away his tears with the back of his hand. “What are you doing here?”
“Weston sent me a telegram inviting me out to visit.”
“You wouldn’t come out just for a visit, Papa.”
“It was a strongly worded telegram. I’m seeing, now, what kind of man my sister married.”
“When did you arrive?”
“A week ago. Weston sent the telegram a few days after you arrived. He let me know about your foot, and your young man.”
“Where’s Mama?”
“I’m right here, my darling.” Mama’s face peered over her husband’s shoulder. “We were so worried. I’ve not been able to sleep for days.”
Her parched throat made it difficult to talk. “May I have some water, please?”
“I’ll be right back,” Aunt Ingrid said from the door.
“Where’s Lukas?” Addison tried to push herself up in the bed, but she fell back down. Why was she so weak?
“Let me help you. Mama, if you can fluff her pillows.”
Her father leaned over and lifted Addison underneath the shoulders while Mama adjusted the pillows, so she was comfortable. Taking the glass of water offered by her aunt, Addy finished it in slow sips.
“My arm hurts.”
“Caleb went to go get the doctor,” Aunt Ingrid said. “You’re going to be sore for a while. The doctor said it didn’t look like it was getting infected, which is a good thing.”
She looked around the room and couldn’t find the one she was looking for.
“Has anyone seen Lukas?”
Why wouldn’t he be there when she woke up?
“I’m here, Addy.”
Addison spied him leaning against the doorway. His face looked haggard, as if he hadn’t slept in days, but he was still as handsome as ever. “How long was I asleep?”
“Nearly three days,” he replied.
“Three days? I don’t remember anything but that woman and her gun.”
“Can you give us a moment?”
Papa looked at Lukas and then at Addison before giving a reluctant nod. Leaning over to kiss his daughter’s forehead, he whispered to her. “He’s a good man, Addison. He never left your side all this time. You chose well.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“I’ve already given him my blessing for a marriage.”
“Wait,” she asked before her parents left. “How long are you staying?”
“For a while. I sold the company to your cousin. Mama and I are looking at a house in town, but first we want to go see your brothers. That’s a conversation we can have later.”
