but just as obviously, she clearly believed someone was out to kill her and she needed comfort or something to calm her down.
“It’s a conspiracy.” Brianne grabbed her head with her hands and began to rock.
“What’s going on in here?”
Brianne screamed. Sarah stumbled backward. Hands settled on her shoulders, steadying her. She spun, pain snagged her side, and she pressed it as she came face-to-face with Dr. Kilgore. Her doctor and obviously Brianne’s as well. His brown eyes flicked from her to Brianne. “Sarah? Brianne?”
“I heard her crying,” Sarah said. “No one was helping her.”
Dr. Kilgore dropped his hands. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’ll help her. Go on back to your room.”
“No!” Brianne cried and once again set up a violent struggle to get loose.
Blood seeped from under the restraints, and Sarah started forward, only to have Dr. Kilgore’s hand clamp on her bicep and pull her to a jarring halt. “You can’t, Sarah. She’s dangerous. Go back to your room.”
“Where’s Max?” Brianne cried. “Max! Help me, please!”
Footsteps hurried in the hallway.
“Dangerous?” Sarah asked. “More like hurt, frustrated, and confused, but not dangerous.”
The doctor’s eyes hardened. “You don’t know the situation here. Go back to your room. I’ll be in shortly to check on you.”
That was the third time he’d made that statement. This time it sounded like an order. What would he do if she refused? She was tempted to press the issue, but the pain in her side had intensified to the point that nausea churned.
A nurse rushed into the room, holding a syringe.
“No! No more drugs! Please, make them stop! They’re trying to say I’m crazy and I’m not. I’m not. What have you people done to me?” The last two words were drowned in sobs.
Sarah’s heart thudded, and if she could have ripped the drugs from the nurse’s hand, she would have, but the doctor was ushering her out of the room and into the hallway. She lasered him with a frown that had intimidated many, including her two brothers. “What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m not allowed to discuss that with you. Any more than I’d discuss your issues with her.”
Okay, that was a fair answer. Sarah sighed. “Right. Sorry. I just feel so bad for her.”
His eyes softened. “I understand. She’s in a sad state right now. In the morning, she’ll feel much better, I promise.”
“Of course.” The initial adrenaline rush Brianne’s screams had sent coursing through her had faded. Now weakness invaded her. “I think I’m just going to get back in my bed.” Before she fell flat on her face.
“Good idea. I’ll have the nurse bring you something to help you sleep.”
“That’s all right. I’ll pass.”
Sarah returned to her room under the watchful eye of the doctor. He really was a nice man and he was right. She didn’t know what was going on with Brianne, but she’d rather have the nightmares than put drugs in her body. She shuddered. That was one thing she could relate to.
When the nurse stepped into her room, Sarah shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep, and the woman left without administering the medication. Sarah let out a low sigh of relief.
She lay there and let the minutes tick past, unwilling to drift back off—mostly because she didn’t want to dream, but also because Brianne’s desperate cries continued to echo in her mind. More time passed and she wondered where Caden and Gavin were. She wanted one of them to check on Brianne and make sure she was really okay.
She stilled and drew in a breath. Then again, she’d never been one to wait around on someone else to get something done. Once more, ignoring the pain, Sarah pushed herself out of the bed and made her way to the door.
CHAPTER
SIX
Gavin had stepped out of Sarah’s room intending to call his sister, only to find the general in the hallway.
“Follow me, son. We need to talk.” Curious, Gavin followed him down the hallway and through a door marked Private.
“Sir?”
“You might want to sit down for this.”
Gavin had taken a chair but soon found himself on his feet, pacing as the general laid out his thoughts. He stopped near the door of the conference room and turned, while Sarah’s father stood ramrod straight, his hard, green eyes watchful, missing nothing. “You want me to act as her security?” Gavin asked. “Secretly? If she finds out, she’ll be spitting mad.”
“I don’t plan for her to find out. And if you’re creative enough, you can stay by her side without