Shadow of My Heart - By Caryn Moya-Block Page 0,33
man-made fibers.
“As a matter of fact, clothes are being fetched for you. Until then, perhaps Dr. Rick has some scrubs you can wear. Or I can fetch you a terrycloth robe.”
“Whichever is quickest. I just want to wash up.”
“I will help Cara with getting her shower. Can you tell Quiet Thunder and Gwen to give us a half hour or so?” Raven asked.
“Of course,” Dr. Rick said. “I’ll have a robe brought down for her. Raven insists that each guest room has two of these blue robes with the Isanti logo embroidered on them. They are very comfortable. I’m sure housekeeping has a few extras on hand.”
Cara nodded and waited for everyone to stop fussing. All she wanted was for them to get out. She felt so dirty. Those men, touching her, wanting to rape her, all because she was dating a Shadow-walker. Could she be a part of this world?
Dr. Rick pulled the curtains around the bed and left. Raven slipped from the bed and walked around it to help Cara get up.
“Raven, you aren’t wearing any clothes.”
“Neither are you, tehila.”
“Yes, but . . .”
“I will dress after I get you settled in the shower. Besides, no one should be walking in on us. Careful, you mustn’t pull the sutures on your thigh. Let me hold you a minute,” Raven said, helping Cara stand and then steadying her.
“That pain medicine must be really good. I feel a little woozy.”
“Let’s see if it passes. I don’t want you injuring yourself trying to shower.”
“Raven, I need to shower. I need to wash them off,” Cara said, her tone of voice going up an octave.
“All right, Cara. We’ll get you washed up, baby.”
“I just feel so awful,” Cara said, bursting into tears.
Raven swore as he lifted Cara into his arms and carried her into the bathroom. He set her carefully on the bench inside the shower and turned the taps on to warm. He took off the showerhead and handed it to Cara before picking her up and setting her on his lap.
He just held her and let her cry as she rinsed her hair. Then, he handed her a washcloth and soap, and she scrubbed her skin. When she would have continued to rub her skin, he took the cloth from her hands and washed her gently, while murmuring how much he adored each part of her body that he washed.
Finally, he soaped her hair with shampoo and rinsed it out.
“All right, tehila. All clean. Let me get some towels.”
Cara rubbed her eyes and tried for a watery smile. “I’m being such a baby.”
“You are my baby, and you can be any way you want. I love you, Cara.”
“I love you, too. Thank you for saving me last night.”
“I will always come for you, Cara. No one will keep us apart for long.”
Raven dried Cara off gently before squeezing the water from her hair and wrapping a towel around it. Then, he picked her up and carried her back to the hospital bed. Sitting on the end of the bed were two terrycloth robes still wrapped in plastic. Raven opened one and helped Cara into it before tying the sash around her waist. He slipped on the second one just as there was a knock at the door.
Raven walked over and opened the curtain. Nurse Eschback stood on the other side of the glass door with a tray of food in her hands. Sighing, he opened the door.
“Dr. Rick thought Miss Hamilton might need something to eat,” she said defensively.
“I’ll take it. Can you ask Mr. Quiet Thunder and his daughter to come down now?”
“Of course . . . Sir,” she said, adding the honorific as an afterthought.
Raven watched the nurse walk down the hall. Why did she have such animosity toward him when they had just met? He’d have to call Joe and have him check into Nurse Eschbach.
§
Isanti Quiet Thunder walked into the room just as Raven finished moving a table over to hold the food tray he held in one hand. Cara was struck anew at the quiet dignity of the older man. His long, silver braids made her think about how he must have looked as a young brave. He removed his hat and walked over to the side of the bed, taking Cara’s hand in his.
“You have suffered much, Little Mother. I have brought you one of my special tonics. Please drink this. It will help with the healing of your injuries.”
“Thank you, Sir. You are