Raven lay with her eyes closed. Her head pounded like a drum on the warpath. Bang. Bang. Bang. The smell of disinfectant assaulted her nose, and her mouth felt as dry as one of her greenware pots. Where was she? Part of her didn’t care. That part wanted to sink back into the dark abyss waiting to embrace her. She was afraid to open her eyes. Laying here in the dark, even with the drum gig, seemed preferable to opening her eyes to what might lay ahead. Then she remembered.
“Fox,” she said, the sound coming out weak and hoarse.
Someone squeezed her hand. “He’s going to be fine. He’s demanding to see you as soon as you wake. But let’s give that some time. Seeing you right now would probably scare him to death.”
Aidan. She sighed. Aidan was holding her hand and her son was okay. Then Aidan’s words registered. “What do I look like?”
“Like hell.” A straw was suddenly at her lips. “Here, drink some water.”
She sucked water up the straw, quenching her thirst, until he took the straw from her.
“Small sips. You don’t want to throw up.”
He took her hand again and she felt him kiss her fingers.
“Where’s Fox?” She struggled to open her eyes, but the dim lighting in the room blinded, slicing shards of ice through her already pounding skull.
“He’s just down the hall. They’re keeping both of you overnight for observation.”
“What happened?”
“A lot has happened since you checked out. Why don’t you tell me the last thing you remember?”
“Fox tied up in the mine. Long ride back to the lodge.” A ride she didn’t think she’d survive.
“Fox has a minimal case of frostbite on his fingers and toes. Something he’ll have to compensate for when he’s outside. You on the other hand, have a serious concussion. How did you remain conscious when we were looking for Fox? The doctors said there was no way you could have achieved what you did with a head injury like yours. I wouldn’t have found Fox without you.”
She struggled again, trying to open her eyes. She wanted to see Aidan’s face, but darkness beckoned on the fringes reaching out with its numbing arms. Her lids fluttered, she saw his blurry outline sitting next to her bed, leaning forward over their clasped hands. “You would have found him,” she whispered.
He changed the subject. “By the way, congratulations, you’re an aunt. Eva had her baby early this morning. They’re following in Coho’s footsteps and naming her Meadow Lark.”
“A little girl.” She smiled, losing the battle on keeping her eyes open. “Is everyone all right?” she asked softly.
“Mom and baby are doing great. Lynx is still recovering. I’ll tell you more about him later. Right now I want you to rest.”
Raven relaxed. Fox was safe. Her family was safe. She let the darkness cradle her in its drug-induced grip.
Aidan watched Raven sink into sleep and breathed a thankful prayer. Her CAT scan had come back with swelling on the brain, and the doctors couldn’t tell him if she’d be all right or not. The longer Raven stayed unconscious the more dangerous her condition. She’d stirred a few times during the long vigil he’d divided between her room and Fox’s, but hadn’t totally awakened…until now.
Pike quietly entered the room. “How goes it?”
“She woke, we talked. She knows who she is and seems to remember everything.”
The gruff old man had to swallow hard before he spoke. “Good. I’ve come to sit with her for a spell while you get something to eat. I smuggled in some of Fox’s Fabulous French Fries. He’s waiting for you.”
Aidan stood, his muscles complaining. How long had he sat in this spot? “Thanks, Pike.” He reached the door and then turned back as a thought struck him. “Who’s watching the lodge?”
“Shut her down for the day. The whole family’s up here. I needed to be here with the rest of you.”
It was Aidan’s turn to swallow past the emotion thickening his throat. He hadn’t missed the inflection Pike had added to his statement. Aidan nodded his appreciation and quietly left the room. He walked a few doors down and entered.
In contrast to Raven’s dim, quiet room, Fox’s was full of color and noise. Balloons hung in a helium bouquet in the corner, delivered by Tern before she went to open the shop. The TV was set to the Cartoon Network where Batman was currently getting the best of the Joker. Fox sat crossed-legged on the bed, a stack of pillows propped behind him, while he dipped fries in ketchup. Besides the rope marks and bruising on his wrists and ankles, you’d never know he’d undergone the ordeal of the last twenty-four hours.