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

“She sings like an angel, too,” Maddie said.

“My, my, as handsome as he is, can you imagine what beautiful children they’d have?” the nurse murmured as she got her things together to bathe Maddie.

“Yes, wouldn’t they?” Maddie echoed.

Something in her tone made the other woman look at her curiously.

But Maddie just smiled wanly. “They’ve both been very kind,” she said. “They’re my neighbors.”

“I see.”

No, she didn’t, but Maddie changed the subject to a popular television series that she watched. The nurse watched it, too, which gave them a talking point.

Later, Sadie came in with a small overnight bag.

“I brought all your stuff,” she told Maddie. “You look better,” she lied, because Maddie was pale and lethargic and obviously fighting pain.

“It’s a little worse today,” she replied heavily. “You know what they say about injuries, they’re worse until the third day and then they start getting better.”

“Who said that?” Sadie wondered.

“Beats me, but I’ve heard it all my life. Did you bring me anything to read?” she added curiously.

“I didn’t. But somebody else did.” She glanced at the door. Odalie came in with three beautifully illustrated fairy-tale books. After breakfast, both Odalie and Cort had gone home to change, and then picked up Great-Aunt Sadie when returning to the hospital.

“I bought these while I was in college,” Odalie said, handing one to Maddie. “I thought they had some of the most exquisite plates I’d ever seen.”

And by plates, she meant paintings. Maddie caught her breath as she opened the book and saw fairies, like the ones she made, depicted in a fantasy forest with a shimmering lake.

“Oh, this is…it’s beyond words,” she exclaimed, breathlessly turning pages.

“Yes. I thought you’d like them.” She beamed. “These are updated versions of the ones I have. I bought these for you.”

“For me?” Maddie looked as if she’d won the lottery. “You mean it?”

“I mean it. I’m so glad you like them.”

“They’re beautiful,” she whispered reverently. She traced one of the fairies. “I have my own ideas about faces and expressions, but these are absolutely inspiring!”

“Fantasy art is my favorite.”

“Mine, too.” She looked up, flushing a little. “How can I ever thank you enough?”

“You can get better so that my conscience will stop killing me,” Odalie said gently.

Maddie smiled. “Okay. I promise to try.”

“I’ll settle for that.”

“I put your best gowns and slippers in the bag,” Sadie told her. “And Cort brought you something, too.”

“Cort?”

She looked toward the door. He was smiling and nodding at the nurses, backing into the room. Behind his back was a strange, bottom-heavy bear with a big grin and bushy eyebrows.

He turned into the room and handed it to Maddie. “I don’t know if they’ll let you keep it, but if they won’t, I’ll let Sadie take him home and put him in your room. His name’s Bubba.”

“Bubba?” She burst out laughing as she took the bear from him. It was the cutest stuffed bear she’d ever seen. “Oh, he’s so cute!”

“I’m glad you like him. I wanted to smuggle in a steak, but they’d have smelled it at the door.”

“Thanks for the thought,” she said shyly.

“You’re welcome.”

“Bears and books.” She sighed. “I feel spoiled.”

“I should hope so,” Odalie said with a grin. “We’re doing our best.”

“When we get you out of here, we’re taking you up to Dallas and we’ll hit all the major museums and art galleries,” Cort said, dropping into a chair. “Culture. Might give you some new ideas for your paintings and sculptures.”

“Plus we bought out an art supply store for you,” Odalie said with twinkling eyes. “You’ll have enough to make all sorts of creations when you get home.”

“Home.” Maddie looked from one of them to the other. “When? When can I go home?”

“In a few days.” Cort spoke for the others. “First they have to get you stabilized. Then you’ll be on a regimen of medicine and physical therapy. We’ll go from there.”

Maddie drew in a long breath. It sounded like an ordeal. She wasn’t looking forward to it. And afterward, what if she could never walk again? What if…?

“No pessimistic thoughts.” Odalie spoke for the visitors. “You’re going to get well. You’re going to walk. Period.”

“Absolutely,” Sadie said.

“Amen,” Cort added.

Maddie managed a sheepish smile. With a cheering section like that, she thought, perhaps she could, after all.

Chapter Eight (#ulink_f6135426-8a87-5d47-8ac3-85ba83418495)

The third day was definitely the worst. Maddie was in incredible pain from all the bruising. It was agony to move at all, and her legs were still numb. They kept her sedated most of the day. And at night, as usual, Cort and Odalie stayed with her.

“How are you getting away with this?” Maddie asked Odalie when Cort left to get them both a cup of coffee.

“With this?” Odalie asked gently.

“Staying in the room with me,” she replied drowsily. “I thought hospitals made people leave at eight-thirty.”

“Well, they mostly do,” Odalie said sheepishly. “But, you see, Cort’s Dad endowed the new pediatric unit, and mine paid for the equipment in the physical therapy unit. So, they sort of made an exception for us.”