Chapter 6
SIX
Bishop
I manage to get her out of the cardigan she was wearing underneath her jacket and get the sleeve of her blouse rolled up out of the way before I bring her to the bathroom.
We get her propped up on a stool Hazel has tucked under the counter in front of the mirror.
I’m too afraid to let her shower alone, and I know she won’t let me help with that.
Her reluctance for any help at all made it clear. I have to tread carefully.
I’m using a washcloth to gently cleanse the cuts and scrapes she has on her arms with soap and water.
The gravel and dirt from outside are still stubbornly stuck to her fevered skin, and the process takes longer than she’d like.
Her eyes dodge around the room, doing everything she can to not make eye contact with me.
“Is this what you do now? Rescue the Stocktons and carry them up mountains and steps?” She speaks softly, doing her best not to start another coughing fit.
“Seems like it. Gotta do what I have to to get back in your good graces, right?”
“You’re already in my brothers’. I’m surprised you weren’t going to the game.”
“I thought about it. But someone had to take care of the ranch, so I volunteered. I figured I’d be out of the way of a family weekend.”
“You are family,” she says softly, glancing up at me before she looks away again. It sends a wave of sentimentality through me that I’m not expecting, one I don’t want her to see any more than she does. So I change the subject.
“I think we’d better put some ointment on this one,” I say as I rinse the deepest of her cuts. “And maybe a Band-Aid.”
She nods silently and allows me to complete my ministrations without any further protest. I help her make her way to her old bedroom and get her situated on the bench at the foot of the bed.
“You have clothes you want to change into?”
“There’s some loungewear in that drawer there. Some shorts and a T-shirt. I’m too hot for pants.”
I grin at the way she says it, but I make quick work of bringing her the clothes.
“I’m gonna turn my back but still stand here in case you need me to help brace you if you get dizzy. Okay?”
“Okay,” she agrees easily, and it’s a relief that she trusts me this much at least. Her wheezing breaths as she works send another wave of worry through me.
“You sure you don’t want to go to the doctor? I can take you.”
“It’s just a cold or the flu. I’ll be fine.” She huffs as she sits down again. “Shit. I’m dizzy again.”
“You decent?”
“Yes.”
I whirl around and kneel at her feet, pressing my hand to her forehead.
“We gotta get some medicine and fluids into you then. See if we can bring this fever down. Anything you’re allergic to?”
She shakes her head. “No, but I’ve got some cold medicine in my purse. It’s in the car, I think. Or on the steps.”
“I didn’t see anything on the steps when I got you. I’ll check the car. How about you get into the bed?”
She nods.
“You want help?”
“I’ve got—” She starts to stand but immediately grabs her head, wincing and then bracing against my shoulder like she might pass out again.
“Easy, honey. Here.” I sweep her up into my arms again and carry her around to the bed, laying her down gently.
“This is ridiculous. I was fine a couple of hours ago.”
“Sometimes it hits you quick. I had a flu like this once myself. Just stay here, and I’ll get you meds and something to drink. You got any requests?”
“Something with ice?”
“You got it.”
I bring her back a tall glass of ginger ale with a splash of juice, like her mom used to make us when we got sick, along with a big bottle of water and the cold meds from her purse. She takes them and lies back on the pillows, letting me cover her up with the sheet.
“Anything else?” I ask, hoping the fever reducers work their magic because I hate how flushed her cheeks are and how glassy her eyes look right now.
“No. I’m perfect. You can go. I’ve got it from here.”
“Jones, I’m not leaving you like this. You shouldn’t be alone until we’re sure that fever’s coming down.”
“You’re dressed up. You should go wherever you were going.”
“Nah, I was on my way back. I went to see my grandmother. I’ve got nothing better to do than take care of you. I’ll be out in the living room if you need me. You’ve got your phone right here.” I pat it on the nightstand. “You need me, just text. I’ll be right up.”
“You don’t have to do this.” Her brow descends.
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.”
Her lashes flutter in response, like she might cry if I stick around too much longer. I don’t want to put that on her when she’s already feeling vulnerable, so I excuse myself.
“You need anything. Just text or holler. I’ll be listening.”
She nods, and I sneak out of the room, leaving the door ajar just in case.
It’s only a couple hours later, when I’m half asleep watching a documentary on the TV, that I hear what sounds like a shout coming from her room and then the faintest sound of crying.
I race for the stairs and make my way up the steps as fast as I can, terrified she’s hurt herself when she’s gotten up again.
But when I open the door, she’s still in bed in the dark.
I can see the outline of her curled up in the fetal position on her side, and the soft sounds of her tears.
“Aspen?” I say her name quietly, afraid to scare her.
She jolts anyway but barely seems to realize it’s me. Another sob breaks free from her. I turn on her bedside light, and I see her tear-stained face and her flushed skin.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. I can assume she’s miserable, but she doesn’t respond to me in a way that makes sense. Babbling instead as she thrashes her legs, her eyes still closed despite the tears. “Aspen? Are you still asleep?”
She doesn’t answer, and I reach out to comfort her. Her skin is burning hot to the touch, and I wince. I should have just taken her to the doctor. Insisted upon it the second I saw how dizzy she was.
“I think we have to get you to a doctor.” I’m certain I’ll be faster in my truck down these mountain roads than the rural ambulance, assuming we even find one that’s available.
Her eyes open abruptly, and she pulls away from me in shock.
“What are you doing here?”
“Getting you to the doctor, honey. You’re burning up.” I move to pick her up.
“No. No. I’m not going anywhere with you.” She pulls back from my grasp. “You’re a ghost. I know you’re dead. Get out. Get out!” she wails at me.
Fuck.
I have one other option. I grab my phone from my pocket and shoot off a quick text.
The doctor who serves as a medic from my former unit lives near here.
Closer than the hospital I’d be taking her to at this hour of the night, and he drives like a bat out of hell on default.
I get a quick response in the affirmative, and I fire off the address and directions, as well as the status of her condition.
When she thrashes again, I fire off another message telling him I’ll pay any speeding ticket he gets before running to grab ice packs.
Rey’s at the front door in less than half an hour, and I have him come upstairs with his bag. He makes quick work of assessing her condition and gets an IV set up for her.
“We’ll do the IV. Get more fluids and meds into her.
That and the ice packs you’ve got going should bring it down pretty quickly.
” He takes her in, brow furrowed, and shakes his head.
“If that doesn’t help, then I think we better get her to the ER.
But you did a good job with what you had.
Almost like I trained you well.” He flashes me a grin, and I can tell he’s trying to lift my mood.
I was nearly in a thrashing fit of my own when he got here.
Watching Aspen helplessly, when she looked so broken and vulnerable, was killing me.
I stripped the bed of the comforter, blanket, and pillows, leaving her with only a light sheet, and then I put ice packs under both her armpits to try to bring the fever down with what I had on hand.
She’d thankfully fallen back to a deep enough sleep that she’d forgotten I was a ghost that needed vanquishing.
But it hadn’t made watching her sweat and whimper in her sleep any easier.
“Can you stay for a while to be sure?” I ask Rey, nervous about being alone again if things go wrong. I’m used to being calm under pressure, but that’s a much easier thing when the people you’re trying to help are strangers and not the mother of your child. I need her.
“Of course.” He nods. “I’ve been up since the ass crack of dawn though. You got somewhere I can rest my bones for a few while we wait?”
“Yeah. There’s a couch out there in the loft.” I point to where I can see it from the door we’re standing at. “You can take a nap if you need. I’ll stay with her.”
“Sounds good. Just shout if you need me.”
“Thanks. Appreciate this more than you know.”
“Of course.” He takes off for the couch, and I settle into the chair at Aspen’s bedside. If I’m a ghost, then I’m committed to haunting her tonight. I’m not about to take my eyes off her.
“Bishop?” I hear the sound of my name, and I dare to open my eyes with the bright sunlight that’s pouring in from the window.
Aspen’s sitting up in bed, disheveled from a long night but otherwise looking much, much better than she did before.
“Yeah.” I sit up, the blanket in my lap falling to the floor before I can catch it. “You need something? How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” She holds out a hand as if to stop me from getting up. “I’m feeling better. Did I… did I imagine that someone else was here?”
“No.” Rey walks in, grinning as he sets a bottle of water and some cold meds on her nightstand. “Your guy here called in backup. I’m his medic.” Rey holds out his hand, and Aspen takes it, shaking it gently as she stares up at him.
Her eyes are wide and fall over him with curiosity or interest. I’m not sure which. He’s a big guy. Spends a lot of time in the gym and always had women clamoring for his attention whenever we went to the bar. But I didn’t think he was Aspen’s type.
“Sorry for pulling you out here in the night, but thank you for whatever you did.” She pulls her knees to her chest and gives him a sheepish look.
“Just gave you some fluids in the IV and some meds to help bring the fever down. You’re almost normal now. I think you just spiked last night when your body was trying to fight off whatever bug you have. You feeling better?”
“Much better. Thank you.” She offers him a small smile, and the formidable woman I know is replaced for a minute by someone much softer and sweeter.
“Don’t worry about it. I owe Bishop my life a couple of times over. So he calls and tells me his girl needs help, I’m here in a hurry.”
“Oh. I’m not his girl. We’re not—He’s not—” Aspen stumbles over her words and shakes her head.
“Oh fuck. Did I make this awkward? You all aren’t official yet?” He flashes me a look. “Well, just pretend like I didn’t say anything.”
“No. Bishop’s a friend. He grew up here, and he’s in charge of the ranch and saving Stocktons, apparently.” She flashes Rey a flirty smile, and I don’t like the way it makes my chest go tight.
“You doing a lot of white-knighting around here? Gorgeous women just dropping like flies at your feet?” Rey laughs as he looks at me, and I see the flash of recognition in his eyes when he sees my face.
He turns back to Aspen. “He’s got that kind of reputation, you know.
Anywhere we went, just women everywhere wanting his attention.
He had to fight them off half the time. If we were lucky, we got to be their backup plan for the evening. ”
“Is that so?” Aspen glances at me, her brow lifting in assessment, and it’s not good for me.
“That’s not how I remember it. I remember it being you who was always getting all the attention,” I volley back at Rey, giving him a look to tell him to drop the wingman routine. He clears his throat and shifts on his feet before changing the subject.
“You should continue to get lots of fluids today. Take your meds. Try to eat if you feel up to it. Jello if nothing else. Just take it easy. All right?” Rey looks at her, and she nods, a small smile on her lips.
“And listen to this guy, yeah? He was worried sick about you last night. Had to talk him down. And he never left your side.”
She looks at me and back to Rey.
“Well, I’m so grateful for both of you. I feel so silly that there was this much fuss when it was just a cold or something. But I’m glad you were here. Both of you.” She looks to me for the briefest of seconds before her eyes return to Rey.
“Of course. You let me know if you need anything else, and text if you’ve got questions.” Rey shoots me a look as he packs up. “I’ll keep an eye on my phone.”
“Can’t thank you enough.” I give credit where credit is due as I walk him back to the door downstairs. He pauses on the threshold and looks back at me, curiosity bright in his eyes and a smirk forming on his lips.
“Always. Worth it for the gossip I’m taking back to the rest of the guys.”
“What?” I give him a flat look.
“Never seen you so fucked up over a woman before. It’s almost like you’re human after all. It’s a mind-fuck, but I think I like it on you. What did she mean about saving Stocktons?”
“The guy we pulled out of that situation a while back. The one you patched on the helo?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s his sister.”
“Oh. Damn. You are well and truly fucked then.” Rey grins. “Does she know?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Yeah, I caught that.”
“She’s fresh out of a divorce. With a kid. You know.” I shrug, trying to make it look casual.
“Uh-huh. And you want to be Daddy. I get it. Is that why you’ve been on this break and talking about quitting? Oh fuck. It is. Isn’t it? You want to quit for her.” He laughs and flashes a bright grin. “Never thought I’d see the day you quit before me. That’s something right there.”
“Oh, fuck off.” I wave him out the door, and he makes his way to the porch. Apparently, Rey’s insisting on a Midwestern goodbye today.
“Nah, man. I’m serious though. Seeing you a complete mess over a woman. I like it on you. You deserve it after everything we’ve been through. I hope it works out.”
“Thanks for coming out here and for getting her back on her feet.” I nod at him.
“Of course. Anytime. I got you.” He waves a hand and makes his way out to his Jeep.
I close the door behind him, turning around to look up at the stairwell, only to see Aspen’s shadow disappear down the hall. I have no idea how much of that she heard. But I hope it isn’t going to get me into too much trouble.