Chapter 16Staten Kirkland
Chapter 16
Winter Changes
Staten Kirkland
S taten Kirkland stayed three days at the clinic. His concussion wasn’t too serious. The head nurse said she would have sent him home sooner if other patients had arrived. Staten figured she just needed someone to care for and he was it.
By the third day, he had lost patience. “I’m ready to go home,” he said to no one. He’d figured out Jake told the nurse to make sure Staten was well because he’d be riding full out the day he was free.
The three or four ranch hands who visited kept saying they had work to do at the Double K, but every morning they were back. Staten knew it was Granny’s doing. She wanted her boy to get the best care, and she guessed they might have to sit on him to make sure Staten stayed.
Quinn was true to her word also. She was in his room by eight o’clock every morning and didn’t leave until dark.
Amalah called every morning and evening but never stayed on the phone more than a few minutes.
Every night, he’d swear the next day he was going home no matter what the doctor said. He’d break out if he had to. Now he knew how J.R. felt with everyone hovering around him all the time.
The third morning Staten got his wish.
He and Quinn were both reading, waiting for his discharge papers, when Amalah rushed into his hospital room. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She had presents for him and more sweets than would fit on the bed. Amalah acted as if he’d just come from war. Staten couldn’t stop grinning.
He felt whole, as healthy as ever. He caught Amalah as she flew onto his bed and into his arms. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath but Staten held her solid. The aches faded. All he felt was her soft, warm body pressed against his battered and bruised one. They hadn’t seen each other for more than a month, but she was here to take him home. A perfect Christmas present.
The nurse charged in carrying a clipboard and a stack of papers. “You’re not going anywhere until you sign these.” She passed a pen to Staten, then looked at Amalah. “He will get better if you take it easy on him. I’m sure he’ll heal faster here, but the doc says he’s ready to go.”
“I’m fine. I just needed my gal.”
Now that Amalah was here for winter break, they’d finally have some time together. His head still ached, but he felt as healthy as a stock horse.
Even the nurse could see this beauty of a young lady would bring him sunshine.
While he struggled to get his boots on and fill out papers, Amalah laughed at him. “Slow down. You don’t want to be stuck here because you hurt yourself trying to put your boots on.”
Quinn’s quiet chuckle drifted behind him. Staten watched as Quinn quietly slipped out of the room. Neither Staten or Quinn said a word, but their eyes met and held for a few seconds. She was a great friend. She’d stuck by him when he needed her, and he’d never forget it.
He handed the paperwork back to the nurse, who barely seemed to notice. She was watching the ranch hands gather Staten’s things to load up in the truck outside as if she thought they’d take the clinic’s furniture with them too.
Staten sat on the bed waiting for Amalah to come back. For a minute the room looked abandoned and bare. The disjointed melody of beeping machines had stopped, and all was quiet.
He heard a clatter of footsteps in the hall outside. It was Quinn coming back in the room.
Her shy smile broke over her face. “Forgot my book.” She stepped to the armchair she’d sat in for the last three days and grabbed a worn paperback. “Are you glad to be going home?”
“Yes.” He picked up the candy Amalah brought. “Glad Ama came home too.”
“Me too.” Before he could move, she leaned in and gave him a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks for staying with me, Quinn,” Staten said.
She pulled away, a slight pink tingeing her cheeks. “No problem. Amalah told me to watch over you. But I would have anyway. You’re my friend.”
“I figured she did. You’re a great friend. Always have been.” He reached out to grab her hand and gave it a squeeze. “If that teacher in New York turns out to be a jerk, I’ll go up there and knock him out for you.”
She looked down at her fingers, and Staten wondered what she wasn’t telling him.
“I mean it, Quinn. Don’t let him pick on you. A teacher can still be a bully. And you deserve better than that.”
“Thanks,” she whispered as Amalah came back in the room.
“Ready?” Ama smiled.
“You bet.” Staten let go of Quinn’s hand and reached for Amalah’s.
He was ready to get back to the ranch. The truth was he loved working the land as much as he loved the beautiful girl beside him. The Double K had always been part of him, and he was ready to get back to work.