Driven to Matrimony by Barbara Barrett

Author:Barbara Barrett [Barrett, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Around twilight, as evening shadows consumed the room, Dina came to. She sat straight up in bed, alert and rested. Then she noticed the dark figure seated across the room from her and gasped.

From the shadows, Ben said, “I should’ve put on a light. Didn’t realize it’d gotten so dark.” He rose and flipped the switch on the table lamp near her bed. “Feeling better?”

After rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she gave him a groggy smile. “I did a real Rip Van Winkle on you. What time is it?”

“After eight the last time I checked. Hungry?”

“Now that you mention it, yes. And thirsty.”

“Why am I not surprised?” He started for the door. “Be back in a flash. I made some chicken salad for sandwiches. Iced tea okay?”

Something wasn’t equating. Why was he fixing her something to eat? Where was everybody else? And why had he kept vigil in her darkened room while she slept? She knew him well enough by now to know he wasn’t a pervert, so what was going on?

Too many questions. Dina allowed herself a few more minutes to wake up before she reached under the covers to feel her leg. Still there. It no longer throbbed, although it ached somewhat when she moved it. Through the pants leg of her pajamas, she probed for the bite area. It wasn’t as swollen and no longer hot to the touch.

While she waited for Ben to return, she attempted to sit up and get out of bed. It had been hours since she’d attended to personal needs. The minute she placed the foot of the affected leg on the floor, a sharp pain shot through the back of her thigh. What was this? Hadn’t the doctor said she’d be fine by tonight?

“What’s wrong?” Ben asked from the doorway. He placed the tray he’d brought on a nearby table and rushed over to her.

“I can’t get up without this horrible pain ripping through my leg. How long is this supposed to last?”

Ben shook his head, apparently puzzled. “I don’t know. Do you want me to call the clinic?”

“I’ll give it ’til morning. Were you able to fill the prescription for painkillers the doctor gave you?”

“Yeah. I was lucky to find a pharmacy that delivered, because I didn’t want to leave you alone.” He popped open a vial, shook out a tablet and handed it to her along with a glass of water.

“Where is everyone?”

He hesitated, as if the question required a more detailed response than downstairs. “Your mother and Rick are staying at the inn.”

“What! What on earth for?”

He didn’t reply at once. “When your mother called to check on you, she seemed to think you are under quarantine, so she and Rick have to stay away.”

Dina nearly dropped her glass of water. “Where did she get that idea?”

Ben placed a gentle hand under hers to support the glass. “I have no idea. She didn’t give me a chance to find out. She hung up immediately after announcing their location.

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