Page 58 of Redemption

“Most of it’s from Montaigne, but this damned bullet wound tore open in the scuffle.”

“You’re losing blood! Damn it, Caleb. Why were you hugging me when you’re hurt?”

He makes an adorably sheepish face, although his skin is starting to look pale again. The wound is bleeding way too much. “Hugging you was my priority. You can hardly judge me for that.”

* * *

We end up back at the hospital.

Because he reopened the wound, they hem and haw about his possibly staying the night so they can keep an eye on him, but he absolutely refuses.

I’m worried, but the doctor says he should be all right as long as someone is there to keep a close watch on him at home.

Even so, we’re at the hospital for hours.

We end up in an argument because he wants me to go home and clean up and get something to eat and go to bed instead of staying with him. That’s absurd, and I tell him so.

I’m not going to leave him.

He’s not happy about it, but there’s nothing he can do to stop me. I sit in the spare chair in his room in the ER, and a few hours pass filled with doctors and nurses coming in to check on him and do a variety of tests. And then the police come in to get our statements.

They’ve taken Montaigne into custody. He’ll get his injuries treated, but he’s not going to be going anywhere for quite a while.

Just when I think we might be able to get out of here, another doctor comes in. He explains that he just came on shift, and he needs to do his own assessment before he releases Caleb.

He asks Caleb a few questions about how he’s feeling, which are answered rather grumpily. Then the doctor turns to me and stretches out a hand for me to shake. “Nice to meet you, Ms.…”

“Worthing. Louisa Worthing.” I stand up to shake his hand with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too. You’re his partner?” He asks the question as if he’s just seeking confirmation for something he already knows.

So I give it to him. “Yeah. I am. You really think he’s going to be okay?”

“It looks that way. They’ve stitched the wound back up, and he’s strong and healthy. I don’t see why he won’t be able to heal fairly quickly.”

“Okay, great. Thanks so much.”

He checks Caleb out for a few more minutes and then concludes that he’s fine to be discharged.

It’s almost two more hours before we actually get out of there. The nurse who goes over the paperwork gives me a whole list of instructions I’m to follow to the letter.

Then I’m finally able to drive him home.

Caleb is quiet and grumpy on the drive back, and he’s quiet and grumpy as I help him inside and get him settled in the bed in my guest room.

After making sure he doesn’t need anything, I take a quick shower and change into a nightgown.

Mick and Trey fixed the broken window in my sunroom and have now returned to the hotel. They’ll be reassigned tomorrow. So my little cottage is empty except for me and Caleb.

Not that he’s much company at the moment.

He’s scowling at me when I return to the guest room and sit down in the side chair.

“What?” I ask.

“Go to bed.”

“I’m not going to bed. The doctor said I need to keep my eye on you. That’s the only reason he agreed to discharge you.”

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