MacKenzie Fire(51)

She smiles vaguely. “A couple times. With Mack.”

“Okay, then. So you know that you can sometimes have shit happen and you just need to deal with it.”

“So what happened?”

“Didn’t Ian tell you?”

“No. He got mad at Mack and Angus and stormed off before they got the whole story from him.”

“Probably because you guys were accusing him of something he didn’t do.” I try to cross my arms over my chest but the IV in my arm gets in the way. I stare down at it, and it reminds me of a leash. “Someone needs to get this junk off me so I can leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have to go find Ian, of course.”

“Why?”

“Because!” Now that I think about it for a split second, I realize I don’t have any reason to go find him. But I do have a reason for getting back to his house soon. Poor little Candy. What if she’s starving? She needs me! “I have responsibilities back at the ranch.”

Andie laughs.

“That’s not funny. I’m serious.” I lift my chin a little. It just so happens I have a newborn to take care of, not that it’s any of her business. Or maybe it is, but now I’m too mad to tell her about it.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What are your responsibilities? Are you in charge of wardrobe selection?”

“No.” Her statement makes zero sense. I’m staring at her like she’s stupid.

“Do you need to do someone’s hair?”

“No. Why are you saying that?” I’m pretty sure she’s mocking me right now, but that’s not something that Andie would ever do before. It makes my chest hurt to think she’s doing it now.

She shrugs. “I’m just trying to figure out what you could possibly need to do back home, that’s all.”

I feel like crying. “For your information, I’m needed for a lot of things, not just color-matching and hair.” Now I am, anyway. Thanks to Ian. My heart fills with warmth just thinking about what he did for me today. He made me a cow momma.

Andie’s face falls. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yes, you did. You meant it exactly like that.” I press the red button on a wire looped around the edge of my bed.

“What are you doing?” she asks as I swing my legs over to the opposite side of the bed and move to the edge of it.

“I’m leaving.”

“What do you mean, you’re leaving?”

“Where’s my phone?” I ask, looking around.

“In a plastic bag in your top drawer over there.” She points to the side table next to my left leg.

I stand and get into the drawer, finding my phone. When I turn it on, I’m relieved to find that it still has a charge. I send off a quick text.

“Who are you calling?” Andie asks.

“I’m not calling anyone. I’m texting.” My clothes are in the bag too, but I can’t very well wear the jeans. They smell rancid. I keep them in the bag with the rest of the stuff, and send another text.

“Who are you texting?”

Before I can decide how to answer her, I get a response.

Be there in a few. I’m in town. What size are you?

I text him back the details and then sit on the bed, looking over my shoulder at Andie. “Do you have a brush?” I ask.

“Sure.” She pulls one out of her purse and hands it to me. “What’s going on?”

I take my time brushing my hair, not saying anything. I need to figure out how I’m going to handle this situation without making Andie freak out. She has the baby to think of and I don’t need her worrying about me. I can handle this, no problem.

The nurse comes in as I’m stalling for time. She’s not the same one who was taking care of Andie but she has the same expression on her face. Why do all nurses act like they hate me?

“Did you need something?” she says, her mouth all twisted up and wrinkly when she’s done talking and waiting for my answer.

I hold up my arm so she can see the IV needle. “Yes. I need you to take this out.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that right now.”

I give her a tight smile. “Either you do it or I will.”

She glares at me. “The doctor is the one who gives the orders around here, missy, and he says you need the fluids and the meds.” She looks up at the clear bag hanging above me. “When that’s done, we’ll come back and take a look.”

“Wrong-o, Nurse Ratched.” I pull at the tape on my arm, wincing when it yanks a few of my fuzzy armhairs out. “I say I’m done, so I’m done. My body, my decision.”

Andie stands and leans over, putting her hand on my shoulder. “Sweetie, maybe you should wait.”

I shrug her off. “Nope. I’m not waiting. I have to get my hair brushed out and my face fixed before Ian gets here. I can’t do that hooked up to this contraption.”

The nurse walks over and tries to get in my way. “You need to wait.”

I pause and glare at her. “You so much as touch me, and you will be one sorry mofo.” I want to tell her that I wrestle with mountain lions and win, but I keep it to myself. It probably won’t help to convince anyone I’m ready to be discharged.