trying to wake her.
'That's right, try to help her, Ned,' Devon said unevenly.
But Sarah Logan had said that not all the patients had gotten better after the hospital visits with the dogs of summer. Two had still died.
She couldn't think about that now. She had to hold on to this slim hope.
Marrok and two white-coated men were coming toward them, and her hand instinctively tightened on Bridget's. 'Here we go. Hold on, Bridget. That's all you have to do. Hold on…'
DARKNESS.
Was this death? Bridget wondered. Wasn't there supposed to be a tunnel and some kind of light? There was no light, only this thick darkness.
She should be dead. She had felt herself slipping away, but someone had brought her back. But she wasn't sure that she could stay…
'Don't be stupid. Of course, you can stay. That's what this is all about.'
Jordan.
She must be alive. Jordan wasn't dead.
'You're bloody right I'm not. Can you see me?'
No, she could only hear him. The darkness was too intense.
'I'm on my way to you. But you have help there. They kept their promise. You made it through the operation. All you have to do is keep fighting. You've never had trouble doing that.' He paused. 'Why the hell did you jump out in front of her?'
Make a difference. What's the use of being able to see it unless you can make a difference?
'The difference could have been your death instead of hers.'
Make a difference.
'When this is over, we're going to have a little discussion. I never sent you there to be a human sacrifice.'
You sent me here because it was important, because it could make the biggest difference of all. You were right to send me.
'Not if you die on me,' Jordan said. 'So that's not going to happen. Get your butt in gear and keep fighting.'
Stop ordering me around. I'll do it for myself, not so that you won't feel guilty.
Silence. 'Guilty? I never feel guilty.'
Go away. I don't want to argue with you. I have to concentrate on keeping alive.
'I'll be there soon.'
She could feel him fading away. Yes, come soon, Jordan. She always felt safer when Jordan was with her. From the time she was a teenager, nothing was quite as bad if Jordan was there.
In the distance beyond the darkness, she could hear a dog whimpering. Ned?
And someone was holding her hand. It was a strong, masculine, firm grip.
Marrok.
Yes, they were keeping their promise.
Fight.
'HOW IS she?'
Devon looked up to see Janet standing in the doorway of the waiting room. 'I don't know. They managed to get the bullet out without too much damage to her vital organs. But that doesn't mean she'll make it. The doctors say she shouldn't have lived this long. Why are you here? Bridget isn't one of your favorite people.'
'No.' Janet frowned. 'But I don't want her to die. Maybe she's not as bad as I thought. Walt said she took that bullet for you.'
'Yes, she did.'
'Then she's probably… okay.' Janet put the overnight case she was carry ing on a chair by the door. 'I brought some of your clothes and stuff. Walt didn't think you'd be coming back to the ranch for a while.'
'Are you back at the ranch?'
Janet nodded. 'Marrok sent word that everyone should go home. Didn't he tell you?'
'No, he's been pretty busy. We've been with Bridget since she got out of surgery.' She nodded at the coffee machine. 'I just came out to get coffee.'
'Is there anything I can do?'
Devon shook her head. 'Thank you. Just go back to the ranch and make sure the other dogs are safe.'
'Well, that's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about,' she said awkwardly. 'Sid wants to know if Wiley's okay.'
'He's fine. He and Ned have been camped out in Bridget's room.' She studied Janet's expression. 'Did Sid tell you about the
'Yeah, sounds pretty nuts to me.' She moistened her lips. 'But Sid ain't stupid. So maybe there's something to it.'
'There's something to it,' Devon said. 'And I hope we'll have some concrete proof soon.' She rubbed the back of her neck. Lord, she was tired. 'Tell Sid we'll bring Wiley back to the ranch as soon as we can.'
'That's what I told him. I said you'd take good care of Wiley, but he's crazy about that mutt.'
'It sounds like you're getting along pretty well with Sid.'
'He's not a bad guy. He just had to be put in his place at first. We understand each other.'
Yes, Devon could see how they would come to an understanding. They were two loners, each of whose rough, hard pasts would strike an answering note in the other. 'And how is Gracie?'
'Fine. Follows me around, getting in my way. Sid's been taking her for walks. She puts up with him, but she likes me better.'
'I'm sure she does,' Devon said gently. 'She's always loved you, Janet.'
'Yeah, I guess so.' She shifted uneasily. 'I'll stay if you need me. You know that.'
'I know.' She walked across the room and put her arms around Janet. The other woman stiffened but didn't step back. So prickly, so afraid to show emotion. 'I'll need you more when we get Bridget straightened out.' She released her. 'Good-bye, Janet.'
A flush turned Janet's cheeks ruddy. 'You don't have to get all mushy.' She turned away. 'Me and Sid will take care of things. Don't you worry.'
Devon watched her walk down the hall before she turned back to the coffee machine.
Not worry? Maybe not about the ranch or the other dogs, but Bridget was an unending anxiety. It was over twelve hours since they had arrived at the hospital, and she couldn't see any difference in her condition. What frightened her was that the medical staff couldn't either. They were astonished that she was still alive and refused to encourage hope.
But Bridget had survived this long. She wouldn't give up, dammit.
Devon took the two cups of coffee and headed back toward Bridget's room.
AS DEVON ENTERED THE ROOM, Wiley's tail thumped the floor from where he was curled up in the corner.
Marrok looked up from where he was sitting in the visitor's chair by Bridget's bed. 'You were gone a long time.'
'Janet came by. I talked to her for a while.' She crossed the room and handed him his coffee, her gaze on Bridget's face. 'Does she have a little more color, or is that my imagination?'
Marrok shrugged. 'I don't know. I can't tell the difference.' His hand reached down to pat Ned's head. 'I'm not going to lie to you. I told you that I thought she'd make it. But sometimes it doesn't happen right away. She was too close to death, and because it was violent, there's trauma that's difficult to overcome. It's easier if it's only an illness that doesn't throw the body into shock.'
'Sarah Logan told me that Addie couldn't cure everyone.'
Marrok nodded. 'All I can say is that I've never taken Ned on any mission where he's failed. Does that help?'
'Yes.' She glanced back at Bridget. 'And there is more color. I won't believe anything else.'
He smiled. 'And if there isn't, you'll will it to happen.' He reached out and squeezed Bridget's hand. 'Do you
