Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“If you join me, you can take the place of this pillow.”
I lean over to pepper kisses on her face and neck. “Soon. You rest, and I’m calling Blake.”
She doesn’t argue this time. “He probably should have a look. But he’s never seen all of the scars, Tucker. No one has.”
“He’s a doctor, he’ll be okay.”
She closes her eyes and sighs again, and I leave the room to call my brother-in-law.
“Where is she?” Blake asks when he walks in the house.
“She’s in bed, asleep, but she knows you’re coming.” I drag my hand down my face and pace away from him, then turn back. “Did you know? Back then?”
Blake sighs and sets his bag down.
“We knew it was bad, yeah. It would come in waves. Everything would be quiet for a while, and then suddenly Holden would show up with his sisters, all of them with blank, hollow eyes, and they’d stay with us for the day, sometimes for a few days, until their dad calmed down.” Blake’s hands ball into fists. “But I was a kid myself, Tuck. So, I didn’t really understand the extent of the psychological and physical damage that was going on. I love those girls, and Holden is like a brother to us. They’re all so fucking brave.”
“Yeah, they are. Look, Darby didn’t want me to call you to see this, not because of the wound she got today, but because of the scars you’re going to see from before.”
His brows pull together and he goes very still.
“What kind of scars?”
“Her father whipped her often when she was young. Her back is a mess, man.”
Blake’s jaw goes slack, and then he shakes his head and turns to look out the window.
“Fuck.”
“She’s nervous for you to see them because aside from me, no one else ever has. Even her family.”
“Understood. Let’s do this. Fuck.” He paces once in the room and then takes a breath and nods. “Okay.”
I lead him upstairs and into the bedroom, where Darby’s breathing softly, still curled around the pillow. Her back is exposed, and Blake stops in his tracks about five paces from the bed, his eyes moving over her skin, and he has to turn away for just a moment to gather himself.
“Jesus,” he whispers.
I move to the other side of the bed so I’m in Darby’s line of sight and ghost my fingers over her hair and down her jawline.
“Hey, sweetheart.” I kiss her hair and feel her stir. “I need you to wake up just for a minute because Blake’s here.”
“I don’t want him to see,” she whispers without even opening her eyes.
“I know, baby. He’s right here, and he’s going to check out the gash you got from protecting that horse this morning.”
She snorts at that and pries one eye open, looking at me. “So brave, I know.”
“Yep.” I glance over at Blake, who’s got his doctor face back on.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Blake says. “No need to get up, you’re in a good spot for me to have a look. It got you good.”
“I know, it hurts like a bitch.”
“I’m sure it does. I’m going to prescribe some pain cream to help with this, and I think you should have an antibiotic, just in case.”
“We cleaned it pretty well,” Darby informs him.
“And did the do-it-yourself sutures, too, I see.” His gaze snaps to mine and then back to the injury. “I think this will do for now. No need for stitches. Keep it clean and dry, use the pain relief and antibiotics.”
His eyes roam over the rest of her exposed back, and he swallows hard.
“I’m sorry, Darby.”
“You didn’t push me in front of that guy,” she says, but she’s holding my eyes, and she knows what he means. “I’m fine, Blake.”
She sits up and holds the blankets to her as she turns to him, and when he sees her bruised face, his jaw clenches.
“We would have done more,” he says roughly.
“And it wouldn’t have mattered. You and I both know that. I’m really okay. Today sucked ass, I won’t lie, but I’ll be just fine. How are Harper and Belle?”
He doesn’t answer her at first. He reaches out, and to my surprise, Darby doesn’t flinch when he brushes her hair from her face.
“They’re perfect,” he says softly. “And Harper could probably use some company that isn’t me hovering.”
Darby snorts. “I’ll come over soon and get some baby snuggles in.”
“Good. We’d like that. Get some sleep, beautiful.”
My girl yawns and then settles back on the bed, and I follow Blake downstairs.
“Mother. Fucker.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ll pick up her prescriptions today.”
He nods and looks grim as he says, “Watch for swelling and redness. Fever. Call me the second you suspect infection. It looks like you did a good job of cleaning her up. The Steri-Strips will need to be replaced every couple of days. This shouldn’t scar quite as badly as some of the others on her back, and fuck my life, I want to hit someone so fucking hard right now.”