Cowboy Up(90)

Slowly, the rest of my body starts to connect back with my groggy mind, the weight on my hand forgotten when the burning sensation in my leg comes into focus. I groan and try to open my eyes.

“Linney,” I hear whispered, but the only thing I can focus on is the pain in my leg, which is getting more and more intense with each passing second. “Darlin’, please calm down.”

“Hurts,” I moan, my voice gravelly and thick, like I just woke up.

“God, baby.”

“Carrie, stop fightin’. You’re safe. Calm down before you hurt yourself more.”

At Luke’s words, my body stops moving. I hadn’t even realized I had been thrashing against the bed. My eyes are still not opening, but more around me registers now. I hear sniffles, some farther from me than others and some right next to me. I hear the beeping of machines and soft, pleading whispers at my side.

Clayton.

Knowing he needs me just as much as I need to see him is what helps me to push the cobwebs away and take control of my mind and body. It takes a couple minutes, but I finally pry my eyes open. I blink frantically as my pupils adjust to the dim light. Luke is standing at the end of my bed, his sister in his arms while she cries against his chest. I turn my head when I see movement to see Maverick in much the same position with Leighton, standing under the TV mounted in the corner. Next to them, Tate is standing behind Quinn, his arms around her shoulders as she wipes her eyes.

Then, when I look away from them, my handsome husband fills my vision.

His hair is wild, like he’s done nothing but run his hands through it. The stubble that had been on his jaw when we went to bed is even darker now. And his red, swollen eyes look like they’re glowing as he openly and silently cries. Tears spill over his lashes and fall down his face before landing against our joined hands resting next to my side. He doesn’t look away, doesn’t dry his tears. He just stares at me, breathing heavily, like he can’t believe I’m right in front of him.

“Hey,” I whisper.

His eyes shudder closed and he sucks in a jerky breath before dropping his forehead against my belly. He shakes his head as his strong shoulders hitch as he loses whatever control he’d been holding tightly to.

“Clayton,” I plead, my heart breaking over seeing my strong husband falling to bits in front of me. “Please, honey.”

He mumbles something against me, the words muffled. I look around the room, frantic to get help in easing his pain, but I see not one dry eye as they witness the strongest man we all know unable to keep himself together any longer.

“Cl-Clayton,” I wobble out, my chin quivering and my eyes filling with tears. “You’re breaking my heart.” My chest literally feels like someone is pulling my heart from my body with each second that passes.

His body shudders and I hear him suck in a breath. “I thought I lost you,” he admits, lifting his head and looking down at our hands. “I saw you there, blood everywhere, and knew if I lost you I’d be losin’ myself too.”

“I’m okay,” I gasp, needing him to stop. “I’m here.”

“There’s nothin’ for me on this earth without you by my side,” he continues. “She almost took you from me.”

I choke on a loud cry as it bursts from my throat. I gasp for air, but I can’t stop wailing. Through my tears, I see Clayton jump to his feet, and then his hands push under my shoulders as he pulls my upper body off the hospital bed and into his arms. I wrap my arms around him the best I can with the IV and cling to him, soaking his shirt while he drenches my gown, the early-morning events coming to a head as we hold each other.

“I’m so sorry,” he mumbles against my neck after we both calm.

“For what?” I question, opening my eyes. The first person I focus on is Maverick. His jaw clenches and his eyes are just as wet as I imagine mine are.

“I should have done better at protecting you.”

I gasp, pull back, and stare up into his tortured eyes. “This is not your fault. No one, not even you, could have seen this comin’. You did protect me, honey. All I heard in my mind was your voice remindin’ me to fight. Your strength filled me up without you even bein’ there. I remembered you tellin’ me where you keep your firearms, and that gave me a chance. You might not have been there, but it was you nonetheless who protected and saved me.”

“It’s because of me you were in this situation to begin with, Caroline.”

I frown. “No, it was because of your crazy ex. Don’t you dare take this on, Clayton Davis.”

“Linney,” he breathes.