“The doctor gave her pain medication. She’ll be asleep in a moment,” Mira told him.
Ari slipped his hand in Jace’s and looked up at him. “Is she really okay?”
Jace lifted the child into his arms. “She’ll be fine.”
“Let’s let her sleep,” Mira said.
Jace backed out of the room. Mira followed, closing the door.
“Is her leg sprained?” Jace asked. It had been thickly bandaged.
Mira nodded.
“But she’s always so active. And there’s a lot going on.” Jace should have been here. While he was off looking for a way to get the Kendall back, she was falling off a horse, one that he had brought to the farm. He felt responsible.
Ari loved Kelly. He’d taken to her almost from the first. Jace realized his son wasn’t just having medical issues. Those had cures or controls, whereas missing a mother was something entirely different.
He wasn’t sure he knew what to do about it. His feelings for Kelly were definitely there, but if he pursued the lawsuit for Ari’s sake as much as his own, he’d cause her pain. Worse.
She’d never forgive him.
* * *
KELLY MOANED AS she woke up. Her head ached and any movement made it worse. She opened her eyes. Jace smiled at her. He was sitting on the side of the bed. She was glad to see him. Even with the headache, she felt a little better knowing he was there and that he’d been close by.
“How long have you been sitting there?” she asked.
“Not long,” he said. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been kicked by a horse.”
He smiled. “You can joke, so you must be feeling better.”
“Where’s Ari?”
“In the kitchen with Mira.”
“She’s still here?”
“She wouldn’t leave until she knew you were all right.”
“How’s Ari?” she asked.
Jace frowned. “Why Ari? Was he hurt by the horse?”
“No,” she tried to shake her head, but the pain was too much.
“I have a headache,” Kelly said.
“You’ll feel better after you eat something.”
“I am hungry,” she said.
“Good, that’s a positive sign.”
“Is this your own diagnosis, doctor?” She tried to joke, but Jace looked really concerned. Kelly wondered if Mira had told him what happened.
“It is.”
“Don’t worry. The doctor said I’d be fine in a few days.”
“Mira said you fell off one of the horses.”
“Clumsy of me.” She smiled, even though the effort caused pain.
“I’ll go and get you something to eat,” Jace offered. He got up, allowing Kelly to move her legs toward the side of the bed.
“I’m sure I can eat in the kitchen.” She started to sit up. Pain gripped her. She fought through it and put her feet on the floor.
Jace eased her back into the bed. “No need. How often do you get breakfast in bed? Take advantage of it.”
Kelly was glad to lay back down. She didn’t want to move for decades or at least until her headache was relieved. Her leg felt tight, but better than her head. She wanted to see it, see if there was a bruise or any broken skin. After the horse kicked her, she’d grabbed for her leg. The severe pain had caused tears to flow from her eyes. Mira came running and after one look, she was on the phone, calling for help.
The doctors told her she was very lucky. Kelly knew it. She’d seen accidents with horses before and she was usually very careful. But when she saw Ari running toward her, his innocent body unaware of the danger, she miscalculated and tried to get down when she was in the process of getting in the saddle. Her foot caught and she scared the mare. It naturally balked and kicked out, clipping her on the ankle.
Ari had cried on the way to the hospital and his face was still damp when they’d wheeled her into the waiting room and pronounced her well enough to go home. He’d dried his eyes only when she hugged him and assured him she was all right.
Kelly pushed the covers back. She rolled onto her side and with effort sat up. She was still wearing her clothes, although one pant leg had been cut for the doctors. Carefully, she pushed the torn pant leg aside.
“Oh,” she gasped, seeing the black-and-blue marks on an ankle the size of a grapefruit.
“What are you doing?” Jace came in. Quickly, he set her tray on a table and rushed to her, lifting her back in the bed.
“According to Mira, the doctor said you need to stay immobile for at least twenty-four hours or until the swelling goes down.”
Kelly fell back against the pillows, feeling completely defeated.
“Can I see Ari?” she asked.