Chapter 7
The doorbell chimed. Marlee scooped up her backpack and duffel bag, then headed for the door. When she opened it, Colt stood there big as life, with a sexy grin on his handsome face.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He leaned in for the kiss, and she happily met it with her own. He smelled like fresh air and a cool breeze.
“It is a wonderful morning. She smiled and held up the two bags. He took them and she turned away. “I have the cooler in the kitchen.”
After Colt loaded up her backpack and duffel, he helped her with the large cooler. She grabbed her coat, scarf, and hat, and locked up the house as he secured the cooler in the back of the truck. Sunshine brightened the day, matching her spirits.
He opened the passenger side door for her, and she climbed in and put her things on the backseat before buckling her seatbelt. Colt hopped into the driver’s seat and secured his own seatbelt before driving away from her home toward the highway.
A sense of giddy excitement welled up inside her, nearly making her breathless. “I haven’t played in the snow in ages.” And she’d never been on a weekend trip with a man—and here she was with Colt.
“Last time I went, I was with my brothers.” Cody turned his right blinker on before he turned onto the highway. “We like to camp and fish in the White Mountains.”
“We used to go before my dad passed away.” Marlee’s mind turned back to the times that seemed so long ago. “I have a lot of good memories of fishing with him and my mom.” She smiled wistfully and her heart twisted a little. “Mom and I never went after he was gone. I miss my dad so much.”
“I’ll take you camping and fishing next summer.” His gaze met hers before he focused on the road again. “That’s a promise.”
She smiled as she thought of a future, doing things with Colt. “I so look forward to doing that with you.”
Colt checked his mirrors. “How’s your mama?”
“As busy as ever.” Marlee shook her head. “Mom is the original Energizer Bunny.”
Colt grinned. “That’s her.” He glanced at Marlee, a look of concern on his handsome features. “Think she’s forgiven me?”
Marlee thought about teasing him but decided to let him off the hook. “Mom said we were just kids when we broke up and it’s good we’ve made up.”
He let out an audible breath. “That’s a relief. I do not like being on the wrong side of your mama.”
Marlee grinned. “That makes two of us.”
He took the exit to get onto the freeway. “Are you still doing that embroidery thing?”
“I’m still crazy quilting.” She tilted her head to the side. “I get up early in the morning so I can do a little before my day starts. Otherwise, I’d never get anything done. Life is just too chaotic.”
“I admire what you do, but I don’t know how you have the patience.” He pulled the truck onto the freeway. “I can’t imagine doing something so detailed.”
“Honestly, I don’t know, either.” She shook her head. “In every other part of my life I’m impatient.” She scrunched her features. “When I think about it, getting up early in the morning to work on it daily shows my impatience. I never can wait to see the finished quilt.”
“I’d like to see what you’ve done.” He put on his blinker and guided the truck into the fast lane, taking the truck about five miles over the speed limit of seventy-five. “When we get back.”
“Sure.” The fact that he was interested in that part of her life made her smile. “I have one I just finished.”
Marlee looked ahead through the windshield at the traffic as it became thicker the closer they got to metro Phoenix, which they’d have to go through to get to Flagstaff.
She turned the tables on him. “Have you been making sculptures from horseshoes like you did when you were a kid?”
Colt opened his mouth to answer.
A huge, paneled truck slammed into the driver’s side.
Metal grated and screeched, and tires squealed.
Airbags exploded inside the cab.
Marlee screamed. She dug her fingernails into her seat.
Smells of burning rubber and fabric filled the vehicle.
The truck flipped onto its side and rolled. Everything spun and blurred.
The side windows shattered, spraying glass.
Items flew inside the cab with the roll of the truck and battered Marlee.
Marlee’s screams echoed in her ears along with the sound of grinding metal and the crunch of the windshield’s safety glass.
The world churned as the vehicle flipped over and over.
Colt’s body slammed into hers. His seatbelt had given way and his body bounced around the cab.
The vehicle came to a hard stop on the passenger side.
Something large struck Marlee’s temple, pain splintering through her head.
Her world went black.
Shouts filled Marlee’s head, and her mind felt fuzzy. She couldn’t think.
But she could feel. Her body was a huge mass of never-ending pain and she groaned. Every tiny bit of her hurt from her head to her toes. Tears wet her eyes as she fought against the powerful sensations.
Voices echoed in her head, but she couldn’t make sense of what they were saying.
Metal screeched, the sound grating along her nerves, and she clenched her teeth.
Cool wind washed over her skin, and she shivered. She smelled burnt rubber, gasoline, asphalt, and dirt that seemed inches away.
Sirens. The sound coming closer.
More voices.
“We need to get her out of the truck. It’s leaking gasoline.”
Hands grabbed her under her arms. She moaned as her head lolled to the side. Glass tore at her arms as her body moved through the shattered window.
Her body bounced along the ground as the strong hands dragged her away from the truck.
The night was so dark she couldn’t see anything around her. Shouldn’t she see headlights? Flashlights? The faces of the people around her?
She still couldn’t process anything. She seemed stuck in a perpetual loop of pain.
The people dragging her came to a stop. “We’re far enough away from the truck. She shouldn’t be moved any farther. She has a head injury, and she could have a spinal injury, too.”
“Paramedics should be here soon. Wait for them.”
Marlee tried to make sense of what was happening. Where was she? Why was it so dark?
A thought slammed into her. She’d been in an accident.
Her skin went cold.
She’d been with Colt. They’d been driving—where? Flagstaff. Then what?
“Colt.” His name came out in a harsh rasp. “Colt.”
Pressure on her shoulder and she winced. Someone was touching her. “The man you were with is unconscious.”
Fear had her trying to sit up, but hands held her down. “Don’t move.”
Marlee turned her face toward the speaker, but it was so dark outside she couldn’t see his face. “I need to get to Colt.”
“Others are with him.” The voice was firm. “He’ll be fine.”
Her eyes burned and tears leaked down her cheeks. She blinked as the warmth rolled down her face.
It occurred to her that she should see light. Hadn’t it been morning when they’d left King Creek?
Now only darkness.
“It’s so dark.” Her tongue felt thick, and more tears flooded her cheeks. “I can’t see.”
A hesitation before the male voice spoke again. “Everything will be fine.” The reassuring voice did nothing to calm Marlee.
Sirens reached them and were cut. The squawk of radios and the slamming of doors. More voices. More sirens in the distance. Hurried footsteps over asphalt then hard-packed earth.
Pain squeezed Marlee’s body with every breath she took.
But her thoughts were on Colt.
“Is he conscious yet?” Her voice trembled. “Is Colt awake?”
“The paramedics are here,” the calm voice said. “They’ll take good care of you and Colt.”
The presence moved away, and then different voices surrounded her.
“I’m Heidi,” a woman’s voice said. “I’m going to take care of you. What’s your name?”
“Marlee.” Her voice trembled. “Don’t worry about me. Colt needs you.”
“Other paramedics are taking care of him right now,” Heidi said. “We’ll concentrate on you.”
“I need to know…how he is…” Marlee heard herself say the words from a distance and she felt herself slipping away.
“Stay with me.” Heidi held open Marlee’s eyes, but she saw nothing. Heidi gave her vitals to what must have been the other paramedic. Marlee barely heard or understood her.
Heidi turned her attention back to Marlee. “We’re going to move you.”
Marlee struggled to maintain consciousness as the paramedics strapped her down to keep her immobile and moved her to a gurney. She felt Heidi place an oxygen mask over her face.
Shards of pain cut through Marlee’s body like broken glass as they moved her, despite the immobilization, and she groaned.
“Colt,” she said again, his name muffled through the mask.
“He’s already on the way to the hospital,” Heidi said as the paramedics moved her. “We’re taking you inside the ambulance now and we’re going to give you a first-class ride.”
Another burst of pain shot to her head.
And then she didn’t feel anything at all as she passed from consciousness.
Persistent beeping throbbed inside Marlee’s skull.
Her head felt stuffed with cotton. She fought to place where she was. Every square inch of her felt bruised and battered. Her head hurt like it was packed with cement.
The terror of the accident slammed into her, and she went rigid. Pain, like wood splinters tore into her with the movement.
Colt. What had happened to him?
She opened her eyes but couldn’t see. She still couldn’t see.
Panic welled up inside her, nearly causing her to vomit.
She raised her hand to her eyes and felt bandages over her face and head. Had she lost her sight?
“Marlee?” Mom’s voice and then a hand gripped her own. “I’m so glad you’re awake.”
“Mom?” Tears clogged Marlee’s senses. “How is Colt? Where is he?”
“Colt is fine.” Fingers stroked Marlee’s hair from her forehead. Ann Fox had a gentle touch when needed, and Marlee so desperately needed it. “You’ll get to see him when you’re up and around.”
Marlee was terrified to ask her mom if she’d lost her sight. Asking that would make it too real.
“What happened?” Marlee tried to remember but couldn’t. “Colt and I were driving to Flagstaff. Then I woke and voices were all around me. But I couldn’t see.”
Ann put her other hand over Marlee’s so that she gripped her tightly with both. “I don’t know. We’ll concentrate on you being well and healthy.”
Tears wet Marlee’s eyes, but the bandages absorbed them. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Of course.” A gentle smile was in her mom’s voice. “Where else would I be?”
“Since it’s cool weather, in your quilting studio.” Marlee smiled and her mom laughed. It was well known that if Ann couldn’t be found this time of year, she was in her quilting room. During warmer days, she would be either in her flower or vegetable garden.
The mattress dipped with her mom’s weight. “With those bandages, you can’t see all of the cards and flowers.”
Marlee sniffed the air at the floral scent mingling with the hospital’s antiseptic odor. “I can smell the flowers.” She frowned. “How long have I been here?”
“Two days.” Ann shifted on the bed. “You’ve been in and out of consciousness. This is the first time you’ve been fully awake and talking.”
Marlee thought about it. “I vaguely remember coming in and out.” She blew out her breath. “Other than my eyes, what’s the news?”
A light knock at the door and Ann moved away from the bed. “Dr. Murphy, Marlee is awake.”
“Hello, Marlee.” A woman’s firm but warm voice came closer. “How are you feeling?”
Marlee analyzed how she felt. “I hurt all over, but it could be worse.”
“Then the drugs we put you on are working,” Dr. Murphy said. “Otherwise, you would be in a lot more pain than you are.”
“Yay, drugs,” Marlee said with zero enthusiasm. “Give me the rundown, please.”
“You have multiple contusions, a fractured ankle, a concussion, and a head injury.”
“Is that all?” Marlee didn’t feel an ounce of humor inside her. “What about my sight?”
“You have experienced brain trauma, but we don’t see anything that would cause loss of vision,” the doctor said, “So we are cautiously optimistic. Your eyes are only bandaged due to the location of the head injury and the amount of bleeding. We required more coverage to stanch the blood flow. We’ll remove the bandages later today.”
“How is Colt?” The words rushed out of Marlee.
“Mr. McLeod is doing better,” Dr. Murphy said, but didn’t elaborate. “I’ll return this afternoon. It’s good to see you awake.”
“It’s good to be awake.” Marlee let out a long breath as a heavy weight pressed on her. It wasn’t like her to feel down or pessimistic, but right now that’s exactly how she felt.
“Mom, how is Colt?” Maybe her mom would tell her straight.
She could feel Ann’s presence as her mother moved closer to the bed. “He’s chomping at the bit to get out of his room and in here to see you. Only thing holding him back is the needle for the IV in his arm. I’m almost surprised that he hasn’t taken it out himself.”
“That’s only because I hate needles.” Colt’s rich, deep voice filled the room. “But I finally terrorized one of the nurses into taking it out.”
A thrill went through Marlee, filling her up in warm waves.
Ann laughed. “I don’t think you’d be able to terrorize any of these nurses. They’re made of tougher stuff than you, Colt McLeod.”
Colt laughed, too. “How’s our girl?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” Ann squeezed Marlee’s hand. “I’m going down to the cafeteria for lunch. Any contraband I can sneak in here?”
Marlee started to nod but her neck hurt too badly. “Anything chocolate.”
A grin was in Ann’s voice. “Always did say you take after me.”
She retreated and a moment later Marlee felt Colt’s presence by the bed. She could picture him so warm, so tall, so virile. Just having him at her side made her feel stronger.
“Hi, beautiful.” Colt gently kissed her, and she sighed as he drew away. “I missed seeing your gorgeous face the last couple of days.”
“Ha. Beautiful and gorgeous are not words that can be used in a hospital.” Marlee managed a smile, hoping like hell she’d be able to see hisface once the bandages were off. “Besides, you can’t see much of my face right now.”
“All I know is you’re the most beautiful woman in my world.” He sounded serious as he squeezed her hand. “Always.”
She squeezed his in return. “So much for playing in the snow.”
“I’ll make up for it.” He released her hand, and something scraped the floor, indicating he had moved a chair closer to sit down. “In the meantime, we’ll make more detailed plans since we’ll have to wait until your ankle is healed.”
“Ugh.” She hadn’t remembered the throb in her ankle until he’d said that. “Yeah, I’m not crazy about the idea of making a snowman in a wheelchair.”
He laughed. “I’m picturing the tracks the wheels will make in the snow.”
“Not.” She barely heard herself say, “And it all depends on if I can see.”
“Hey.” He squeezed her hand again. “One step at a time. Regardless, I’m taking you to play with me in the snow, so I’m holding you to that.”
She smiled at the gentleness yet determination in his tone. “Deal.”
Colt made her smile even more as he took her mind off scarier things. The nurses wheeled his lunch in with hers so that they could eat together.
After lunch, Dr. Murphy returned. “Now to take off those bandages.”
Marlee stilled and even her throat ached as she swallowed.
Slowly the doctor unwound the bandages.
Light started to leak through and Marlee relaxed as they came the rest of the way off. She blinked in what seemed like overbright light and then her eyes grew accustomed to it.
“Very good.” The woman in the white lab coat in front of her, a stethoscope draped over her neck, had to be Dr. Murphy. “Can you see clearly?”
Marlee nodded and the movement made her wince. “I can.”
Colt let out a long breath and she heard her mom give a sigh of relief.
Dr. Murphy instructed the nurse to attend to the wound at Marlee’s temple and rebandaged it with a gauze pad and tape. When the doctor and nurse left the room, Marlee sank back against the pillows, her muscles relaxing from relief.
She turned to Colt and smiled. “You’ve never looked so beautiful.”
Colt broke into laughter and kissed her forehead. “First time I’ve been called beautiful.”
Marlee grinned. “At least I didn’t say you’re pretty.”
Ann Fox smiled as she moved to the other side of Marlee’s bed. “You must be exhausted.”
Marlee nodded, every ache and pain making themselves known. “It’s hard work lying here doing nothing.”
Maria Ruiz, the nurse who had been on duty since Marlee woke bustled into the room. “Time for Marlee to get some rest.” Maria turned to Colt. “Dr. Holter will be going to your room shortly. Get back there before he does, mind you. He needs to see you before he can release you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Colt said respectfully. He kissed Marlee’s forehead again. “I’ll be back when you wake up.”
Marlee gave him a sleepy smile as she started to fade. “See you.”
Colt left the room and Ann squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right here.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Marlee closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.