“Delta, you should know the truth. All of this is my fault.” Daniel tells her what Melody did with the bear and the guided tour and he waits for her explosion. “I hope you can forgive me.”
He is startled when she laughs. “Forgive you… oh, Daniel, you didn’t do anything wrong. The poor girl is obviously disturbed.”
Daniel isn't smiling; instead, he's staring at her with a strange look on his face.
“What?” Delta asks, and she starts stammering, “I mean for her to think I'm a threat…” he leans forward a hair from her mouth, and Delta freezes, forgetting about all of her pain.
“She was right to worry. No woman holds a candle to you, Delta Dawn,” he stands up and backs away to give her some space. “I snuck a look at your driver’s license, for the police report. For now, you should just get some rest. Abby is going to help you. I have to get to the police station and finish filing the report.” He spins and leaves a speechless Delta staring at the door.
“I’m in so much trouble, Jacob,” she whispers. Delta waits for the pain medicine to kick in and decides to clean up in the bathroom. The master suite is gorgeous. Solid wood pine floors, with a soft cream wall and sheer curtains over large windows. A full fireplace and couch. She hopes the bathroom is as nice as the bedroom. Scooting to the edge of the bed, she throws off the sheets and stares in shock. All she has on is a large male t-shirt and panties. Frowning, she vaguely remembers trying to take off all her clothes and Daniels sexy laughter. “Oh, God.”
Grabbing the t-shirt, she leans down and smells him, pine and man. Lord, he smells good. She reaches for the crutches and winces in pain when she tries to use them. Her arm is sore from hitting the animal, but nothing is fractured. “You had ten-pound babies, you can use crutches, Delta,” she snaps at herself.
Once she hobbles to the bathroom, Delta is stunned when she pushes the door open. It's amazing. A large, free standing, claw foot tub calls her name. In the corner is a massive tile shower with glass doors and twin sinks. “Wow,” she murmurs until she looks in the mirror.
“Holy crap!” Her curly hair is frizzy and going in every direction. She has bags under her eyes, and her thigh is wrapped in a large piece of gauze with padding underneath. Delta laughs and uses the bathroom before calling to Abby for help.
Abby runs in with Sasha hot on her heels. “Hi, sweetie. I need your help. I can’t seem to find my clothes?”
“Dad threw your jeans away, the doctor had to cut them off. You had on scrubs the hospital gave you, do you want those?” Delta shakes her head no.
“Would you go to my house and bring me a change of clothes and my bathroom bag?”
An hour later, with Abby's help, Delta manages to wrap her leg in a trash bag using medical tape under the sink, and she takes a quick shower. Leaving her hair to dry naturally she pulls on a long cotton skirt and t-shirt before collapsing on the couch with her leg elevated. Abby gets her an ice pack.
“Abigail, you are one amazing girl,” Delta praises her. “Thank you for all of your help.”
“You are welcome, Delta. My Dad really likes you.” She stares intently at Delta, “I've never seen him look at someone the way he looks at you. He was really worried yesterday. I'm glad you're okay.”
“Thank you, Abby. I like him too.”
“Just don’t break his heart,” Abby says with a grin and calls to Sasha leaving her to rest. Delta laughs softly more than a little impressed with her protective nature. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to an adult. Daniel is doing a great job raising Abigail.
Feeling more like herself, she calls Phillip on her cell phone. “Hello gorgeous,” he answers.
Delta laughs softly, “You wouldn’t say that if you could see me right now.” Phillip is instantly on alert.
“What’s wrong?” He demands.
“I’m fine, but I had an accident.” Delta struggles not to cry. “My guided tour wasn’t exactly guided.” She explains about the ghost town.
“That’s not a freaking accident. I’m on the next flight, Delta,” he snarls.
“Daniel is taking care of everything, Phillip. The stitches will be out in a week.”
“Stitches! What the hell, Delta!”
“Phillip, listen to me, I was very lucky. You don't need to come, I just wanted to hear your voice. They're taking really good care of me, I promise.”
“If you’re sure, Delta. Tell me about this cowboy of yours.”
“Daniel is… sexy, smart, funny and protective. A little overbearing and did I say, hot?” She laughs when she hears the grin in his voice.
“Really? Now I have to come! Is he taking care of all of your needs, Delta?” He teases her.
“Phillip! It’s not like that… yet.” He whoops causing her to laugh. “You’re an animal, what would Easley say if she heard you going on like that?”
“If I'm lucky, and I am, she'd put on a cowboy hat for me, and I can't tell you the rest. It would make you blush.”
“I love you, Phillip,” she whispers wiping a tear away. “When I was on the mountain… I didn’t think… I didn’t know if I’d see my boys again, all of you. I miss you.” Phillips sighs.
“I love you too. Do you have enough room for us at Easter? I'm thinking a holiday in Montana sounds perfect this time of year.”
Delta wipes her tears and whispers, “That would be amazing. You can email me the details. I don’t want the boys to know about this, not yet. If I call them and they hear me
