Maya’s Triple Dare(Divine Creek Ranch 6)(112)
The nurse turned to Maya to finish her task with one hundred questions in her twinkling eyes. “So all three claimed you? Do they have any single brothers?”
Maya giggled and shook her head.
“Cousins? Distant relations?”
With a laugh Maya replied, “I don’t think so, but I’ll put in a good word for you.” The laughter made her grimace and she put her hand to her side.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have got you laughing. Those pain meds will kick in soon.” Turning to the guys, she said, “She’ll get loopy soon and probably be out like a light for the rest of the night if y’all want to go rest. I might be able to wrangle a cot, but no more than one in a room this size.”
Boone replied, “That’s all right, ma’am. We really don’t mind. We’ll just watch over her tonight and let her sleep. Don’t put yourself to trouble on our account.”
The nurse shook her head and smiled. “My name is Ruth. I’ll be around tonight if she needs anything.”
“Thank you, Ruth,” Maya replied quietly, sighing as a dreamy, peaceful feeling descended upon her.
“Yep. She’s feeling better already,” Ruth said as she turned out the light over Maya’s bed.
They clustered around her as soon as Ruth left.
Gesturing at the windowsill, she said, “The roses are wonderful. Who are they from?”
Boone replied, “Kendall sent the red roses, Richard sent the white and pink roses, and I sent the multicolored orange roses. Like them?”
Maya nodded and murmured, “They’re perfect.”
Their color choices communicated a lot to Maya. Red roses for desire, white roses for loyalty and sincerity, pink for love, and fiery, multicolored orange roses for passion.
Kendall sat on the left edge of the bed, and Boone occupied the right side. Richard got another blanket from the closet when he noticed her shiver. He spread it over her, smiling as Kendall and Boone each kissed her forehead.
“You should go home and get some sleep. You’re going to be worthless tomorrow,” she said as she caressed their cheeks.
Boone replied, “Chance gave me and Richard the day off tomorrow and said to tell you he and Clayton hope you feel better soon.”
“We’re staying here with you tonight. We’ll rest some more tomorrow. Right now, I—” Kendall had to clear his throat when his voice cracked. “I don’t want to leave. We came so close to losing you today.”
Normally so playful and verbose, he looked down and picked at the blanket and said no more. When he looked up at her, Maya saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. Because of the clunky full-arm cast and bandage on her left shoulder and arm she had to reach across her body for him, which pulled at the stitches on her right side, and she grimaced.
“Don’t, babydoll. You’re going to hurt yourself.” He leaned close to her, gingerly slid his arms around her, and sighed when she ran her fingers through the short hair at his nape.
Maya kissed him and said, “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Ruth tapped on the door and quietly handed Boone three pillows when he opened the door for her.
She released Kendall and put her palm on Boone’s thigh when he returned to the bed. “It’s over now, and we’re going to move on. I hope Frank gets whatever is coming to him. I wish this bed was bigger. Then I could cuddle up with all of you.”
“Even though we still smell skunky?” Kendall asked with a chuckle.
Maya laughed and said, “I probably do, too. I want a shower first thing in the morning.”
They talked until Maya’s pain meds started to take effect. The men kissed her one at a time and grinned when she got her words mixed up trying to tell them how much she loved them. She fell asleep holding their hands.
Early the following morning Ruth came in and shooed them out to check Maya and help her bathe. Maya could tell they were disappointed by that news.
Kendall said, “We’ll go get cleaned up and come back after breakfast.”
Richard added, “We need to call the deputy who took our statements and tell him about the GPS Reeves may have put on your car.”
Boone patted his pockets and said, “Where did I put the keys to the truck?”
“Keys!”
The men returned to the bedside. “Did you remember something else?” Richard asked.
“Yes. He said something about a key. He threatened me, like once he got the key he was going to…” She didn’t finish the thought because it obviously troubled them to hear it repeated.
“Key to what?” Boone asked, chewing on his lip.
Kendall’s face lit up. “Didn’t Morgan put a key to a safe-deposit box in the last letter to you?”