Diana Palmer Christmas Collection: The Rancher / Christmas Cowboy / A Man of Means / True Blue / Carrera's Bride / Will of Steel / Winter Roses

She sniffed, and he dabbed at her nose, too. “He was so mean,” she choked out. “But I really did love him.”

“We’ll get you a new rooster. I’ll train him to attack me,” he promised.

She laughed through her tears.

“That’s better. The way you looked just now was breaking my heart.”

She searched his eyes. He wasn’t joking. He meant it.

He brushed back her hair. “God, I don’t know what I would have done if you’d died,” he whispered hoarsely. He bent and crushed his mouth down over hers, ground into it with helpless need. After a few seconds, he forced himself to pull back. “Sorry,” he said huskily. “Couldn’t help myself. I was terrified when I saw you lying there so still.”

“You were?” She looked fascinated.

He shook his head and forced a smile. “Clueless,” he murmured. “I guess that’s not such a bad thing. Not for the moment anyway.” He bent and brushed his mouth tenderly over hers. “I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere.”

“If I tried to, three nurses would tackle me, and a doctor would sit on me while they sent for a gurney,” she assured him, her eyes twinkling.

He wrinkled his nose and kissed her again. “Okay. He stood up. “Anything you want me to bring you?”

“A steak dinner, two strawberry milkshakes, a large order of fries…”

“For that, they’d drag me out the front door and pin me to a wall with scalpels,” he assured her.

She sighed. “Oh, well. It was worth a try. They fed me green gelatin.” She made a face.

“When we get you out of here, I’ll buy you the tastiest steak in Texas, and that’s a promise. With fries.”

“Ooooh,” she murmured.

He grinned. “Incentive to get better. Yes?”

She nodded. “Yes.” The smile faded. “You don’t have to come back. Odalie, either. I’ll be okay.”

“We’re coming back, just the same. We’ll drop Great-Aunt Sadie off at the house, but she can stay at Skylance if she’s nervous about being there alone. She’s been a real trooper, but she’s very upset.”

“Can I see her?”

“For just a minute. I’ll bring her in. You be good.”

She nodded.

Great-Aunt Sadie was still crying when she went to the bed and very carefully bent down to hug Maddie. “I’m so glad you’re going to be all right,” she sobbed.

Maddie touched her gray hair gently. “Can’t kill a weed.” She laughed.

“You’re no weed, my baby.” She smoothed back her hair. “You keep getting better. I’ll bring your gown and robe and slippers and some cash when I come back. Here. This is for the machines if you want them to get you anything…”

“Put that back,” Cort said, “Maddie won’t need cash.”

“Oh, but—” Sadie started to argue.

“It won’t do any good,” Cort interrupted with a grin. “Ask my dad.”

“He’s right,” Maddie said drowsily. “I heard one of his cowboys say that it’s easier to argue with a signpost, and you’ll get further.”

“Stop bad-mouthing me. Bad girl,” he teased.

She grinned sleepily.

“You go to sleep,” he told her. “Odalie and I will be back later, and we’ll bring Sadie in the morning.”

“You’re a nice boy, Cort,” Sadie said tearfully.

He hugged her. “You’re a nice girl,” he teased. “Good night, honey,” he told Maddie, and didn’t miss the faint blush in her cheeks as she registered the endearment.

“Good night,” she replied.

She drifted off to sleep before they got out of the hospital. In her mind, she could still hear that soft, deep voice drawling “honey.”

The next morning, Maddie opened her eyes when she heard a commotion.

“I can’t bathe her with you sitting there,” the nurse was saying reasonably.

Cort frowned as he stood up. “I know, I know. Sorry. I only fell asleep about four,” he added with a sheepish smile.

The nurse smiled back. “It’s all right. A lot of patients don’t have anybody who even cares if they live or die. Your friend’s very fortunate that the two of you care so much.”

“She’s a sweet girl,” Odalie said gently.

“So are you,” Cort said, and smiled warmly at her.

She flushed a little.

Maddie, watching, felt her heart sink. They’d both been so caring and attentive that she’d actually forgotten how Cort felt about Odalie. And now it seemed that Odalie was seeing him with new eyes.

Cort turned, but Maddie closed her eyes. She couldn’t deal with this. Not now.

“Tell her we went to have breakfast and we’ll be back,” Cort said, studying Maddie’s relaxed face.

“I will,” the nurse promised.

Cort let Odalie go out before him and closed the door as he left.

“Time to wake up, sweetie,” the nurse told Maddie. “I’m going to give you your bath and then you can have breakfast.”

“Oh, is it morning?” Maddie asked, and pretended to yawn. “I slept very well.”

“Good. Your friends went to have breakfast. That handsome man said they’d be back,” she added with a laugh. “And that woman. What I wouldn’t give to be that beautiful!”