Tucker’s stomach dropped. He hadn’t even thought about spinal injury.
The doctor must’ve noticed his expression. “I think it’s unlikely. Just trying to cover all our bases.” He carefully peeled back the bandages and checked the sutures. Maryn stirred but didn’t awaken. The doctor gave a nod to Braxton. “Experienced hand.”
“In another life,” Braxton said, but allowed himself a small smile of pride.
“These aren’t too deep, they should heal nicely. I wonder if she hit her head when the bear threw her.”
“Possibly,” Tucker said. “She was up against the fence when I got there.”
The doctor nodded. “What have you given her for the pain? Was she lucid enough to take anything?” He smoothed antibiotic cream over the wounds and covered each one back up with fresh gauze.
“No.” Braxton studied the winter wonderland outside. “I had some morphine.”
“Where did you get morphine?” The doctor arched an eyebrow.
“Mexico.”
Both the eyebrows shot up. “Not always the most reliable source for medication. When was her last shot?”
“Three a.m.”
“I’ll leave another dose for you to administer around ten. Then try to let her wake up and see how she does. I’ll leave some oral pain killers. I have Lortab and OxyContin to get you through until you can bring her in tomorrow. If this storm abates. I’ll give her a shot of antibiotics and then we’ll just watch to make sure no infection manifests. Watch her for nausea, confusion, headaches, the typical concussion signs. Call me if she manifests any of those.” He sighed. “The cuts aren’t as deep as I feared. She’ll be one sore little lady, but if she doesn’t have head or spinal injury, she should recover just fine.”
Tucker watched silently as the doctor gave Maryn the shot of antibiotics. She didn’t respond to the needle at all. Handing all the supplies over to Braxton, the doctor snapped his bag shut and stood.
“What if she doesn’t wake up?” Tucker asked.
“There is that, but her vital signs are good and the morphine is keeping her pretty sleepy. Give her until that next dose wears off and if she doesn’t start coming around, call me.”
Tucker nodded. “Thank you.”
The doctor shook his hand then left with Braxton. Tucker sank into the chair again. He recognized his body needed sleep, but he just couldn’t allow himself that luxury… not until Maryn opened those blue eyes and reassured him she was okay.
ChapterSix
Everything was hazy. Maryn hated the confusion and cloudiness, but it was so much better than the pain when the bear had ripped her apart and battered her around like a toy. She remembered them stitching her up, though she’d been too worn out and drugged to respond to the ouchiness of the needle pulling in and out of her sensitive skin. After the major pain of the bear attack, the stitches weren’t worth complaining about.
There were different voices swirling around her throughout the night, but one was always there, a low almost gravelly voice and the delicious smell that she associated with Tucker. She loved it when she could sense him near, gently touching her, talking to her about who knows what, but it soothed her when she came out of the fog long enough to feel the pain. It felt like the night would never end, but then the room lightened and she sent up a silent prayer of gratitude. She’d survived.
The entire bed smelled like Tucker—a citrus, maybe lime, and she thought it was jasmine and just a hint of salt, like the ocean. She’d never taken the time to dissect how a man smelled, but decided this scent had to be her favorite.
Her feelings were as muddled as her brain, full of pain, fear, and yet that bit of hope. Tucker was her own personal hero. As she dreamed throughout the night, the bear would be chasing her and then Tucker would step in his path, standing as big and burly as the eight-foot bear in her memory. He was her protector.
The feelings of fear she’d associated with him when she saw the photos of those children were now muddled with gratitude and an attraction she couldn’t deny. James was always so polished in his suits with his fake-tanned skin and blond hair slicked back. He was definitely a dapper kind of handsome and she had thought she was attracted to him, but the raw masculinity that was Tucker Shaffer couldn’t be competed with.
Maryn wanted to climb out of this fog and find out more about the man. There had to be an explanation for what was written on the back of those photos and his reaction to her seeing them. She just knew it and maybe tomorrow she’d be awake enough and brave enough to chat with Tucker and he’d reveal everything she was dying to know. But for now whatever they’d injected into her arm was taking effect and sleep sounded wonderful.
* * *
After Braxton had given Maryn more morphine and Mama Porter had refreshed Tucker’s untouched drink around ten, he’d heard Brax and Mama Porter talking just outside the room.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” Mama Porter said.
“Do you think he cares for her?” Braxton asked. “I thought he might be past caring for anyone but the three of us.”
“A body can only hope something will crack his heart,” Mama Porter said.
Tuck ran a hand through his hair. It didn’t matter what he thought about the beautiful creature suffering in his bed. Maryn thought he was a monster, and he doubted anything would change her mind.