Cowboy Up(92)

I hear some feminine giggles but give in to the tiredness and fall asleep, knowing that I’m safe, Clayton’s safe, and there isn’t anyone else out there who can hurt us.





29


CAROLINE


“My Best Friend” by Tim McGraw



“What?!” I screech, looking at the doctor like he’s lost his mind.

I woke up ten minutes ago when the doctor and the evil nurse who’d been torturing me all night clattered into the room pulling some equipment. Okay, so she hadn’t been torturing me, but each time she came in to wake me up, it sure did feel that way. Logically, I know head injuries aren’t anything to take lightly, but I’m exhausted and sleep is the only thing I want.

“Pardon?” the doctor questions, looking up from the chart in his hand.

“I get that I bumped my head and all, Doc, and I’m not tryin’ to tell you how to do your job, but maybe we should be checkin’ my noggin . . . or better yet, yours, because nothin’ you just said makes sense.”

Clayton’s manly chuckles tickle my fingers and I glance away from the doctor to see my husband hiding his smile behind the hand he’s been holding all night.

“Mrs. Davis,” the doctor says, and I look over from Clayton to narrow my eyes at him. “Tracey’s monitored you all night and we have no reason to believe that further testing is needed regarding your injuries. I’ve given your husband your care instructions and he knows what to look for in the event that more medical treatment is needed—which I’m confident won’t be the case.”

“So you’re just goin’ to let me leave without makin’ sure the head you’ve kept me here all night for is fine?”

Closing the chart, the doctor crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. I’m not sure what he thinks is so dadgum funny. At this point, I wouldn’t mind knocking him over the head. When his grin grows and two dimples appear, I make a mental note to find out if he’s single. He’s young, clearly successful, and handsome—though not as handsome as Clayton. Perfect for Lucy, even if I want to shake some sense into the crazy-talking man.

“We wouldn’t let you leave if there was even a slight concern, Mrs. Davis.”

“Well, clearly there’s somethin’ wrong with my head, Doc. I’m hallucinating, hearin’ things or somethin’! Either that or I’m dreamin’, because there isn’t any other reason you’d be standin’ there with Nurse Pokes-for-fun, tellin’ me I’m pregnant.” I take a deep breath, my eyes widening. “Oh, my God! I’m losin’ my mind, aren’t I? The fall knocked somethin’ loose and you’re about to ship me off to a home!” I turn my head to look at Clayton. “I don’t want to go to a home!”

His shoulders shake as he laughs at me. “Linney, love, no one is puttin’ you in a home.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Well, maybe we need to put him in one, then,” I snap, pointing at the doctor.

“Maybe it’ll be easier if we show you, hmm?” the evil, poking-me-all-night nurse says in a sugary sweet voice.

“Show me what?”

“Your baby.” She smiles and I stare, my mouth hanging wide-open.

I stop arguing and, with a huff, lie back on the bed. There’s no way I’m pregnant. I haven’t missed my period. Aside from the whole being-shot-and-passing-out thing, I feel fine. I haven’t been sick, tired, or sore.

Clayton sits up straighter when the nurse holds up some long, ET-looking finger and starts covering it with a condom. I frown when the doctor starts moving the sheets from my legs, taking the condom finger from the nurse. My hand is squeezed at the same time the doctor starts explaining to me that he’s about to insert the finger into my vagina.

“Whoa!” I swat at his hands when he moves my gown. “You can keep your kinky alien probe away from me, mister.”

“Mrs. Davis.” He sighs, his lips twitching as he obviously tries to keep from laughing at me. I’d like to see him be all calm and doctorly when someone wants to stick a long, skinny, condom-covered piece of plastic inside of him! “This is the most accurate way to determine how far along you are. Your numbers are high, but that could mean one of quite a few things. My guess is you’re somewhere between six to nine weeks along, which means this is the only form of ultrasound we can actually see the baby with.”

“This is such a waste of time. I haven’t even missed a period!” I pull the hem of my gown down, covering my naked sex. If I could reach the blanket, I’d put that back over me as well.