The Rancher's First Love by Brenda Minton

Author:Brenda Minton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-07-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The alarm for room 212 went off as Samantha sat behind the desk finishing paperwork. She glanced at the monitor, at the flashing light and her heart ached. “Danny again.”

Samantha pushed aside the papers and hurried down the hall. When she entered the room Danny was shaking his head, pushing away his mother’s hand. His poor mom. She tried to comfort him, rubbing her hand up and down his arm, telling him it would be better.

Danny moved away from her, his face tightening in pain. “No.”

“Danny, it’s okay.” Samantha glanced at the monitor, at the vitals that continuously flashed. A monitor his mother probably never stopped watching, no matter how often they told her to ignore it and focus on her son. That monitor meant life. It meant a blood pressure that was either too high or too low, it meant a heart still beating. It meant breaths still being taken. And every beep, every pause, caused a parent’s heart to stop.

“It hurts,” Danny cried, his hand rubbing his leg.

“I know, sweetie, I know. I’m going to up your pain meds and we’re going to turn down the lights a little. Let your mom hold your hand. Let her pray.”

He reached for Samantha’s hand and squeezed. “Stay?”

“I’ll stay.”

She closed her eyes as Danny’s mom prayed. For wisdom, for the right treatment to help her son, for strength for her family. For the staff. Samantha felt Danny’s fingers relax in her hold. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. He had closed his eyes and though his jaw was still clenched he seemed calmer.

“I’m okay,” he whispered. The pain meds were already at work. His mom’s prayer had calmed him.

“Of course you are,” she assured him, and he managed a smile. “You’re going to be fine.”

He nodded and glanced at his mom, who looked away but not before Sam saw the tears pool in her eyes and break free. She kept Danny busy, talking in quiet voices until his mom regained her composure.

“I could call someone,” Sam offered, taking herself by surprise. “A minister. Danny, would you like it if Remington Jenkins stopped by tomorrow if he isn’t busy?”

“Would he?”

“I think he would.” She looked to Danny’s mother.

“That would be nice,” his mom said.

Samantha left his room, waiting until she was in the hall to brush away her tears. As she stood there, taking deep breaths and getting hold of herself, a hand touched her back.

The other RN on duty, Annie Jeffers, glanced her way. “You okay?”

Samantha shook her head as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “No, not really. But I will be.”

“That’s what we keep telling ourselves. It’ll get better. Or we’ll get used to the pain. Why don’t you clock out and head home? I can handle things until the next shift gets here.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Go. I’m the charge nurse and I’m telling you to go home and get some sleep.”

“I won’t sleep,” Samantha admitted.

Annie Jeffers, tall and thin, brown hair shot through with gray, smiled knowingly.

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