“Ouch.” Gabe grimaced. “That must be a record.”
“What do you mean?”
“At least two spears chucked—my way...just within a couplea sentences. Huh. You’re gettin’ to be quite the expert—in your field.”
“Well, that’s the old familiar Gabe. You didn’t change a bit while you were gone.”
“Tried—not to. Otherwise, who’d recognize me, when I—got back?” Another grimace. “Any nurse worth her salt would—help me a little, here...”
Hannah raised both brows and offered a small grimace of her own. “But I’m not a nurse, you see. What is it you need?”
Wordless and frustrated, he gestured. She made the supreme sacrifice of catering to his wishes, rose, and gently fixed the pillows around until he felt situated enough to give her a grudging, “Thanks.”
Then, since a quick glance around indicated no sign of his belated dinner being prepared, he muttered something about being as hungry as a bear fresh out of hibernation.
“You certainly snore like one,” said Hannah with a laugh.
He laughed.
“How about some food, Bruin?” she asked.
“Huh. Dunno. Fixed by your own lovin’ hands?”
“Fixed by someone at the Sarsaparilla. You should realize by now that I’m not much of a cook. But someday, I will surprise you and make you the best meal around. But until then, Letty left a nice big bowl of beef stew for you. But she told me you need a lot of liquids. So you have to drink first.”
The usual gleam appeared in his green eyes as he surveyed his visitor. “Been askin’ and askin’ for a shot of bourbon, but there ain’t—”
“Oh, hush up about your bourbon. You know that won’t help you get better.”
“Then I’ll listen to you.”
“I just want what’s best for you.”
“I like you taking care of me. And I can see the compassion in your heart.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you know I have a heart.”
He smiled. “I didn’t at first.”
She softly touched his hand. “Now you stop.”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you when I was gone.”
“I was on your mind?”
“Always.”
She pondered and her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t know I meant that much to you.”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the first day we met.”
She smiled. “I thought about you too.”
His eyes gleamed. “Hearing those words... Now that has made my day.”
“Let me get you that stew.”
“You have feelings for me, don’t you?” he teased. “I can see it in your eyes.”