Her heart twisted and she dropped her head into her hands, ignoring the pain in her neck and joints, and wondering who knocked on her door.
Sniffing, she sucked in a sob, absently inviting her visitor in.
“Well, well, look who’s up.”
Cash’s drawl made Fee raise her head. He walked to where she sat and planted a kiss on her head. Following close behind, Stretch leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“You’re both here,” she cried, her excitement, joy, and fear sending her emotions into overdrive. “I’m so happy to see you two. I didn’t think I’d ever see either one of you here. I thought you were too angry with me. Maybe, that you hated me. Or that Christopher forbade you from coming to see me. He or Meggie hasn’t been here to see me. Neither has Johnnie or Kendall. Or…”
“Fee,” Cash murmured, kneeling in front of her and grabbing her hands. “Don’t talk, sweetheart.”
Stretch walked behind her and settled his hands on her shoulders. “Let your vocal chords heal.”
“Stop stressing,” Cash continued. “Meggie knows we’re here.”
“What about Christopher? Why hasn’t he been back to see me? Why won’t he allow Meggie to come?”
Stretch squeezed her shoulders. “How well do you know your brother?”
“Yeah, sweetheart,” Cash agreed. “You know how he is about family.”
Family meant everything to Christopher. Nothing would keep him away. Unless…“What’s happened to Christopher? Where is he? Is he all right?”
“Calm down, Ophelia,” Cash directed with sternness. “Don’t raise your tone and hamper your healing.”
“Yeah, Fee. Outlaw’s fine. Still in jail, but okay.”
At Stretch’s matter-of-fact statement, Fee’s heart stuttered. “In jail? Why? When did he go?”
“Cash and Outlaw were arrested for going after a Torp who burst into your room at the other hospital,” Stretch explained.
That sounded familiar. Moreover, it seemed as if she knew additional information about that, something that had to do with Charlotte Redding. And Kendall…? Foggy images danced in her head. Unable to make heads or tails of them, Fee abandoned the unformed thoughts. “You’re here, Cash,” she said instead. “Why is Christopher still in jail and you’re out?”
Cash smirked at her. “I don’t know if I should be hurt or not,” he teased.
“He’s the president,” she said primly, trying to contain her smile at Cash’s good mood, considering the seriousness of the issue. “He should already be out.”
“I agree,” Cash said. “It’s a point even your young nieces and nephews would understand.”
“Brooks is dumber than a branding iron,” Stretch grumbled, still behind her, while Cash remained in front of her, sandwiching her between them. “At least a branding iron leaves a mark. When Outlaw gets through with Brooks’ stupid ass, he’ll wish there was something left to brand.”
Thoughts of Charlotte hit Fee again. “Oh no! If something happened to Brooks, what would become of his wife?”
“You like that cunt?” Cash asked, lifting his brow.
“Yeah, Fee. What difference does it make what happens to her?”
Charlotte’s face morphed into Kendall’s, and Fee touched the bandage at her throat. “Actually, I was thinking of Kendall,” she admitted. “Whatever affects Charlotte would also affect Kendall.”
Abandoning his position behind her, Stretch sat at the edge of her bed and offered her a level look. “Worry about getting well. Those two are the last people anyone should waste sympathy on.”
Cash rose to his feet. “Stretch is right, sweetheart.” Their gazes collided and Cash shook his head, almost as if he offered a silent denial. “Fee,” he started, and closed his eyes, hiding his amazing blue irises for a brief moment. Raising his lids, he exchanged a glance with Stretch. “I have no words. None. Nothing, to express to you my fear of almost losing you. When Stretch delivered the news to me. Seeing him so broken up. Feeling so fucking helpless.”
Fee started to rise to her feet, but Stretch was at her side almost instantly. “Don’t. You need your strength back.”
“I have to move around,” she protested, hoarseness creeping into her words.
“Zoann told the staff to let you take it at your own pace, on Johnnie’s orders. He doesn’t want you to talk unless you’re ready.”
“But that’s insane. He doesn’t have a medical degree. Why would they even listen to him?” Although that did explain why she hadn’t been talking a lot.