Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ZANE
The first thing I see when I open my eyes is Devin’s expression. I’ve never seen him looking so serious, and yet with a tenderness I’ve not noticed before. No one’s ever looked at me like that.
The second thing that strikes me is a wave of nausea. I don’t think the two are related. It passes and I try to sit up, but dizziness overwhelms me, and I fall back onto the bed and feel a stabbing pain.
“Ow.”
“Hey, take it easy,” Devin says, as I put my hand to my head and feel a dressing and a large lump.
“What happened?”
“You slipped and fell last night. You’ve cut your head but I don’t think it’s too bad. I think you have a concussion, though. How do you feel?”
“Like shit,” I reply and close my eyes, hoping the pain will go away. It doesn’t. Awareness cuts through and I force my eyes open again.
“The horses!” Again I attempt to rise, trying to ignore the sickness washing over me.
“They’re fine. I took care of them,” Devín says.
“You did?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.” I rest back against the pillows and manage a weak smile. He places a hand on my forehead, then grunts and wipes a cloth across my brow. It’s soothing.
“Have you been doing that all night?”
“Mostly. It seemed like the right thing to do.”
“I like it.” I close my eyes and the song my mom used to sing as a lullaby comes into my head, I don’t know why, maybe it was a dream.
“I was going to ride back for help,” Devin says.
“You did right not to, especially in the dark.”
“I should go and put the horses in the paddock,” he says, standing.
“No need, we’ll be leaving soon.”
“Not today we won’t. You need to rest. You can’t even sit upright, let alone get on a horse.”
He’s right of course, and I close my eyes.
“Will they come looking for us?” he asks. “If we don’t go back today?”
I crack open an eye and peer at him. “No, not for a few days at least.”
“Why?” He sounds confused.
“Sometimes the well needs more maintenance, so it takes a couple of days longer. We won’t be missed yet.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because I knew that with your help it’d be quicker, and you wouldn’t have come if I had.”
“Too right,” he says but the words have no bite and he gently wipes the cloth across my head. Then he goes out to the horses and I drift off to sleep.
I wake to see Devin stirring something in a pot on the range. It smells good.
“What are you making?” I ask, and he spins round and comes over to the bed.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” He gives me a concerned smile.
“Slightly less shit.” I move to sit up and Devin helps me. I want to tell him to stop, that I can manage, but I don’t have the energy right now.
“It smells good, what is it?”
“Chickenless soup. I wanted to make chicken soup. My mum’s recipe is the best. But of course, no chicken. Actually, we don’t have most of the ingredients, so I’ve improvised and it will at least be edible. Can I get you anything? A glass of water. A cup of tea?”
“Water, please,” I say, and he nods, bringing me a glass and placing it within reach. He goes back to his stirring and I close my eyes again. Then I hear him start singing quietly.
“I didn’t know you liked Dolly,” I say, and he stops abruptly.
“No, don’t stop.” He comes over and sits in the chair.
“I love Dolly. When I moved here, I discovered your country music radio stations and I loved them. Dolly became my favorite.”
“Did you sing while I was asleep?” I ask, and he gives a self-effacing shrug.
“I thought I’d heard some. My mom used to sing me that song when I was little. Dolly’s my favorite too.”
“I went to Dollywood last year, when my brothers came over to visit.”
“Was it good?” I ask, and I see his face light up from the memories. “Tell me about it, please?”
I rest and let his voice wash over me while he talks. It’s soothing, but I can also tell how much he enjoyed it.
“Maybe I’ll get to see it someday.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“I need to pee,” I say and try to sit up. The dizziness returns and Devin is at my side.
“I can manage,” I say.
“Sure you can,” he replies, but he fetches my boots and helps me up anyway. He holds me until I stop swaying and can focus on the door, then he lets go and steps away.
“Thank you,” I say, as much for him helping me as for also stopping. Now I’m upright, I don’t feel too bad, and I manage to make it outside and back though it takes all my energy.
“The soup’s ready. Would you like it at the table or in bed?”
The table’s closer, so I opt for that, sitting while he ladles soup into two bowls.
“That was delicious,” I say, spooning up the last mouthful.
“You sound surprised.” Devin smiles.
“I know what supplies we had, so I have no idea how you managed to make something that good.”
“I’m a decent cook. But this was nothing. I’d like to make you proper chicken soup one day.”
“I’d like that.” I mean it, and I catch Devin’s pleased smile as he removes the bowls. Now I’ve had some food, I feel able to make the short distance back to bed, and I’m proud that I manage it on my own while Devin goes out to put the horses away for the night.
“Thank you for looking after them,” I say when he returns.
“I’m getting used to them. Yesterday they crowded round me for their food, but today they didn’t try to knock me over.”
“We’ll turn you into a horseman yet.”
“I’ll stick with my trucks, thanks.” He smiles, but I’m reminded that this is all temporary until he has his license back and gets back out onto the road. He’ll probably be more than ready to move on by then.
He locks the cabin door and makes to settle in the chair.
“There’s room on the bed for you.” I pat the bed.
“I don’t want to disturb you. You need to rest,” he says.
“And how much sleep did you get last night? I bet you sat in the chair all night. You need to rest too, so come over here and share the bed.”
“Yes boss,” he says, which somehow sends a shiver through me. He pulls off his boots and settles down beside me. I fall asleep easily, glad of his solidity next to me.