“Of course. Now let your cowboy take care of you and rest up. We will see you in two weeks.”
“Okay.” Delta hobbles to the bed and straightens it before lying back down on top of the covers to sleep.
Daniel listens from the hallway and sighs. He can’t believe she was in that kind of danger because of him. Watching Abby play with Sasha outside, he wonders if he would be as understanding as she has been. Easter at the lodge is always a great time. This year he will plan something special for Delta and her family. He turns away to talk to his father.
Two hours later Delta wakes up. “Time to get out of Daniel's hair,” she whispers. Delta is still struggling with the way she is feeling. Not sure how or what to think about this young woman going to such extremes. It's chilling to imagine that somebody would be willing to hurt you for no reason. Using the crutches, she packs, tossing the scrubs into the trash and stuffs her clothes into her bathroom bag and grabs her prescription medicine and tosses it in her backpack. Biting her lip, she straps on the backpack and hobbles out to the living room.
Chase and Daniel are talking in the kitchen when they hear her. “Your home is stunning, Daniel.” Delta is amazed. This is the first time she has seen it in the daylight. It is a modern open design with wide pine wood floors carried throughout. The living room has massive windows that allow the sunlight to stream inside. A massive stone fireplace with a large wooden beam for a mantle.
“Let me help you, Delta.” Chase removes her backpack and guides her to a leather chair and ottoman that flanks the fireplace. “Put your leg up,” he glances at Daniel who is moving forward with an icepack.
“The nurse said to ice your thigh for ten minutes at a time to help reduce swelling. Can I get you something to drink?” Daniel asks her quietly.
“Wow, you two are something else. You make a girl feel cared for, but I came out to tell you it’s time for me to go back to my cabin.” Daniel’s smile fades.
“You’re in no condition to be alone, Delta. At least not until your stitches are out.”
“Daniel’s right, and we have some bad news.” Chase sighs, “The police were not able to hold Melody or her cousin. It seems they have lawyered up and since you did schedule a guided tour, they said the kidnapping charges would not hold.”
“I see.” Delta doesn’t know what to think. “He never threatened me, he just dumped me and took my backpack,” she states softly.
“Are you always so calm? Don’t you want to hit someone, yell, cuss or throw something?” Daniel demands, jumping up, he moves to the fireplace and grips the mantle with his large hands.
“He’s always been prone to tantrums,” Chase whispers and Delta laughs. Daniel looks at the two of them in shock.
“I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find anything remotely funny about this. You could have died, and now, these two animals are loose and worse, they are angry! Perhaps it would be best if you went home to Carolina, Delta. At least you would be safe.”
“No, Daniel. I'm not going home yet. I'll admit, I thought about it, but no lovesick little girl is going to scare me away. The next time they come for me, I'll be ready, and we'll just make sure the charges stick.” Delta digs in her backpack and grabs her cell phone and pain pills. “I need a pain pill, and I would love a glass of ice tea.”
Chase hurries to the kitchen and gives Daniel a minute alone with Delta. He squats beside her and lifts her hand to press a kiss to it. “I wish you’d stay here for one more night. Let me take care of you at least until you are off the pain medicine.”
“I couldn’t intrude…” Daniel hisses at her stopping her midsentence.
“Delta, you know better than that by now. I need to know you are okay. I'm either going to follow you to the cabin and stay there, or you're going to stay here.” He leaps up from the floor and moves away.
“Just because I was hurt, doesn't mean I'm weak Daniel!” Delta retorts. She throws her pill bottle and glares at him when he laughs and catches it.
“I'm sorry, is that how you sound when you're angry? All southern and twangy. It's adorable.” He has a five o'clock shadow, and she can see the worry and stress in his eyes.
“You wait till I’m off these crutches and I’ll show you adorable!” Delta refuses to look at him one second longer. The temptation to smile is pushing at her, and that won't do.
“Stop riling up our patient,” Chase snaps as he hands her a glass of tea and snatches her pill bottle from Daniel.
“I would never for a second think of you as weak, Delta Dawn. Now give me a list of what you need from the cabin and Abby, and I will go fetch it for you.”
“I will go with you.” Delta starts to get up.
“No,” they both say, startling her back into her seat. Daniel moves to her side, kneeling beside her. “You're not to walk on that leg for a day or two, the Doctor said only to go to the bathroom. We wouldn't want to tear your stitches. Just make a list, and we will fetch it.”
“Lord help me, there’s two of you.” Delta is exhausted and hungry as she stares up at them.
Abby runs inside with Sasha, who immediately runs to Delta and sniffs her leg. “I'm okay, good girl, Sasha.” An hour later they return with her laptop, a pair of pajamas, and
