Eve nodded, but anxiety was eating her alive. Travis tried so hard to hide his pain from her. She knew he didn’t want her to worry. But she’d seen how difficult it was for him to even walk.
The wait seemed interminable. And then finally Maren walked into the room, a reassuring smile on her face.
Eve surged to her feet, earning her a reproving frown from Donovan, who reached to steady her when she wobbled.
“How is he?” she asked anxiously.
“He indeed has some broken ribs, but they’re lower and didn’t do any damage to his lungs or other internal organs. His pulse is good and he’s not exhibiting any signs of internal bleeding, but Donovan will need to keep close watch on him for the next few days. I’ll look in on him daily until I’m satisfied that he’s recovering well.”
“Is that all?” Eve asked, afraid that there was more.
“Just a few bumps, bruises and scrapes. He’s very lucky. You all are. A tornado is nothing to sneeze at. You did right by getting them inside that culvert, but you should have been there yourself,” Maren chided.
“They’re more important,” Eve said fiercely.
Donovan touched her arm, rubbing his finger lightly up her skin to her shoulder.
“You’re important too, Eve.”
“Now how about I have a look at you, young lady?” Maren said in a cheerful tone to Cammie.
Cammie looked shyly up at Maren and then over to Donovan for reassurance. How quickly Donovan had gained Cammie’s trust. It was something that still shocked Eve. Cammie had even warmed to Swanny. She was grateful to Swanny and Donovan, and, well, all of them for proving to Cammie that all men weren’t to be feared. She just prayed that faith hadn’t been misplaced. It would crush Cammie and cement her fear of all men.
“I’ll be right here, sweetheart. So will Eve. Maren won’t hurt you. She just wants to help you feel better.”
Cammie nodded slowly and turned wide eyes to Maren. Maren smiled warmly at her and then began her examination. At times Maren frowned as she listened to Cammie’s breath sounds. Then she took her pulse and temperature and looked at her throat and palpated her lymph nodes.
When she was finished, Eve sat forward eagerly, looking to Maren for her diagnosis.
“She’s a sick little girl,” Maren said bluntly. “Normally I’d have her in the hospital on IV fluids and antibiotics, but I understand that isn’t an option for you. I’m going to start an IV on her here and Donovan can administer her meds at home until I see an improvement in her condition.”
“How sick is she?” Eve whispered. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She has the beginnings of pneumonia. I want to do a chest X-ray to confirm my suspicion, but her breath sounds are labored and she’s rattling when she breathes. Left untreated, she could get very ill.”
Though Maren didn’t say it in front of Cammie so as not to frighten her, Eve got what she’d left unsaid. Cammie could die.
Eve buried her face in her hands as sobs welled from her throat. Donovan’s arm went around her, pulling her into his embrace. He squatted on the floor beside Eve’s chair and held her, rocking her back and forth.
“I tried,” Eve choked out. “I’ve tried so hard and it’s not enough. It’s my fault she’s so sick. I should have done more but I couldn’t. You don’t understand. He would have found us and I can’t let that happen. I can’t let her and Travis go back to him. No matter what happens to me, I can’t let them down.”