In Shining Whatever (Three Magic Words Trilogy #2)(17)

"You sure? I'll stay until he's in a room," Sophie offered.

"Theron is a big boy, and Dessa is there," Fancy said.

"He's not dead or dying, and they're only keeping him tonight. I just lied to that woman over there behind the glass and told her I was his wife. I won't hear a word from either of you!" Kate said.

Fancy giggled nervously, and Sophie guffawed. Kate couldn't help but join in the infectious laughter. Three friends giggling and one woman staring at them as if they were crazy. That's how Mr. and Mrs. Ducaine, Hart's parents, found them.

"Kate?" Mrs. Ducaine stopped in the middle of the room. She was a tall woman with gray shot through her short blond hair. She had a round face that defied wrinkles. She wore jeans and a button-up pink shirt with a zippered pink sweatshirt over it.

"Yes, ma'am. That's me. I'm sorry we were laughing. It's not funny that Theron was hurt but ... anyway, he's only got a few stitches, and I'm staying with him tonight to wake him up if he falls asleep.... I'm sorry we were laughing," Kate talked too much and too fast.

"You don't have to explain. And please call me Elisa," she said.

"And you can call me Patrick." Mr. Ducaine extended his hand before asking, "Where is he?"

Hart had inherited his genes from his father. The man was over six feet tall, broadly built, thirty pounds heavier than Hart with the weight carried around his middle; he had light brown hair and hazel eyes. It was evident he'd just come in from doing chores, because he still wore overalls, a buff-colored work jacket, and scuffed work boots.

To save Kate from replying to Patrick's question, a nurse popped his head out of the emergency-room doors at that moment. "I'm Steve. We've got him settled in. I'll take you to his room."

Fancy hugged Kate. "See you tomorrow"

Sophie hugged her. "Good luck."

Steve led.

They followed.

Hart was flat on his back. His eyes opened when he heard them in the room.

"Hello. Are we having a party?"

"What happened?" Elisa went to his side and lightly touched the bandage across his forehead.

"Big truck was sideways in the road. I tried to swerve, but it caught me broadside and flipped the truck. I hate to lose that old work truck. Grandpa would cry if he could see it now."

"Always told your momma that if you had to go hit something, it ought to be your head. Always been hardheaded. Hardest thing on your body." Patrick spoke gruffly, but his eyes said he was teasing.

Elisa touched Kate's arm. "Don't be paying these two no never mind. They both go on like that when they're nervous. Too big in their manhood to admit they're worried, so they tease about it."

Kate nodded. "I'll go and..

Hart reached out from the blanket and grabbed her hand. "You said you'd stay with me. You promised that doctor. Momma and Daddy, y'all can go home. Kate's already said she'd stay. She told that woman that she was my wife so she could come back into the room"

"But. . ." she stammered.

"That thing under the bandage any worse than the one on your cheek where the bull gored you?" Patrick ignored the remark about Kate.

"Only hurts when I frown," Hart said.

"Well, that's simple enough. Don't frown. Don't know why you would anyway, with a pretty girl like this to keep you company all night"

"Maybe I'm keeping her company, and maybe she'll need an alibi come daylight," Hart said.

Kate blushed deep scarlet.

"Call me if anything changes," Elisa whispered to Kate.

"I will. I promise."

"I was hoping the stitches would be on the back of his head so they'd cut those sissy curls off," Patrick said.

"I like them," Kate said, then wished she could reach out and suck the words back into her mouth.

Patrick laughed out loud. "She's got spunk, son. Let's go, Momma "

They were barely out of the room when Hart pushed the button to raise the head of the hospital bed to a sitting position. "So you like my curls, do you?"

"That just slipped out."

He drew his eyebrows down. "Ouch!"

"Your dad told you not to do that," she said.

"I should have listened. I'm hungry. Did you have supper? Call the Dairy Queen and go get us some food"

"Is that an order or a request? I'm sure they can brew up some instant chicken broth and Jell-O in the kitchen if you are starving," she said.

He changed his tune. "Would you please go get me food? I'll be dead by morning of starvation if I don't eat."

"I'll check with Steve."

"Who in the devil is Steve?" Hart was careful not to frown.

"He's the nurse who took care of you. I figured you'd remember the fellow who cut that fancy vest and your chaps off for you," she said.

"You let them destroy my vest and chaps?" His eyes bulged.

"I wasn't here or I would have said, `Hey, y'all, don't hurt the vest and chaps. Let him die but don't lay a finger on his precious toys.' Just goes to prove I was right all along. The only difference in men and boys is the price of their toys"

"I get testy when I'm hungry," Hart said, by way of explanation.