Blackstone Ranger Guardian - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,27
by now. Instead, her body remained weak. Human.
Her fox hissed, as if reminding her of who and why they were in this state. He hadn’t even been back in days, not since she told him what happened. Good, she told her fox, despite the tightening in her chest.
“Dutchy?”
Her head snapped up to meet Angela’s face. She had her hand out, waiting for her to take it. “Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
Angela helped her get up from the bed and then walked her over to the door where a nurse strode in with a wheelchair.
“No,” Dutchy said adamantly. “I can walk.”
“You’ll be feeling weak after a few steps, miss,” the nurse said. The nameplate on her chest indicated her name was Muriel. “It’s normal, seeing as you’ve been through major surgery and have been in bed for more than a week. You might fall over and hit your head, then we’ll have to admit you all over again.”
“Dutchy,” Angela began. “Please. It’s just a short ride to the exit.”
“Fine,” she grumbled as she sat in the wheelchair. “Let’s go.”
“It’ll be all right, Dutchy.” Angela placed a hand on her shoulder. “Your Aunt Rosie and I will take care of you. Your friends, too, promised to help.”
“Thank you, Aunt Angela.”
Though she hated being coddled like this, she didn’t really have much of a choice. The doctor said it might be another month before she could get her cast off. That, plus her surgical wounds and bruised ribs, she couldn’t even change her own clothes, much less drive around, and feed and take care of herself.
So, it was decided she would stay with Angela, who lived in a three-bedroom ranch-style house not far from Main Street. Rosie, Anna Victoria, J.D., and her other friends Kate and Amelia promised to help out when they could.
Muriel rolled her out to the front door, the large glass doors opening automatically as they strolled out together, stopping right at the driveway.
The brisk, autumn air was a soothing balm, and Dutchy was glad to be out of the antiseptic atmosphere of the hospital. She closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze calm her.
“Dutchy.”
Her head snapped toward the sound of the voice, and her eyes flew open. Krieger stood six feet away, hands held up. Her fox immediately went on the defensive, arching its back as its ears flattened and bushy tail curled.
“I promise I won’t get any closer,” he said.
“I thought we told you to leave?” Angela said, her hands planting on her hips. “I don’t want her upset.”
“I couldn’t,” he said somberly. “Please. I promised I wouldn’t try to get near her again. But I couldn’t stay away.”
Couldn’t stay away? But she had last seen him days ago.
“Dutchy?” Angela’s face was marred with concern. Of course, Rosie had already told her everything. “Do you want me to call security?” She met Muriel’s gaze, who nodded in acknowledgement.
“I …” She glanced back at Krieger. Despite her fox’s reaction, she couldn’t help the way her stomach flip-flopped. “It’s all right,” she said to the nurse, then turned to Krieger. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted to talk to you.” He glanced warily at Angela and the nurse. “Please.”
She didn’t owe him anything. Her fox, too, didn’t want him around. But maybe they could hash this out now and then he’d leave her alone. “Aunt Angela? Muriel? Would you mind?”
Angela hesitated but then said, “All right. I’m going to get the car.”
Muriel gestured to the bench next to the door. “I’ll be sitting over there,” she said before turning on her heel and walking away.
Her aunt gave her a last concerned glance before she, too, strode off in the direction of the parking lot.
“All right then,” she said to him when they were alone. “Talk.”
His dark brows drew together. “I … I’ve had a lot of time to think.”
“Yeah, you have.” She tried not to sound bitter, but damn it, he was making it so hard. He left her alone, just as she asked. But then, why did it feel like he abandoned her all over again?
“I deserve that.” He gritted his teeth. “But you need to know, Dutchy, everything I’ve done … the last couple of months … they’ve been for you.”
“Ha!” Her fox, too, barked sarcastically. “You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t believe you.”
“I’ve been trying to be better, Dutchy.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “I’ve been working on it. Trying … trying to be better. For you.”
A seething anger bubbled in her. “But why did