“Neither can I.” Their eyes met in silent understanding.
Natalie was hurting for Kit, but she experienced a feeling of liberation to walk outside and know there was no danger lurking. The surveillance van had gone. Amy stopped and started many times, exploring this new world. It caused both women to laugh. Several times she stumbled. Natalie let her pick herself up.
Already too hot to stay out for long, they headed back to the condo. Their return coincided with June’s cell phone ringing. She pulled it out of her pocket. “It’s Brandon.”
“Go ahead and talk while we get ourselves some water.” Amy followed Natalie into the kitchen, where Natalie got down a glass and filled it for her. The little girl drank from it very well. Before long she wouldn’t need her sippy cup.
June joined them. “I’m going to drive over to the hospital to talk to Brandon, but I’ll be back.”
“You go and be with your sons. You all need each other.”
“Thank you for being so understanding. You’re a sweet person, Natalie. I promise I won’t be long and I’ll bring any news.” She gave Natalie another hug and leaned over and kissed Amy’s cheek.
“Bye-bye, Amy.”
“’Bye, June.”
Incredible.
Kit’s mother laughed. So did Natalie, who felt as though ten years had just been added to her daughter’s life. They walked June to the door and watched as she drove off. Natalie would give anything to go to the hospital with her, but that wasn’t her place. Not until Kit either phoned or got word to her that he wanted her to come.
She closed the door. Only now was it starting to sink in that everything was over and the murder case involving her mentally ill husband had been solved. Life could get back on track. Everything was going to change. No more Kit in the house. She was free to go to work again.
But Natalie realized she didn’t want things to change. She wanted to go on living in a world where Kit stayed with her and Amy forever. Her thoughts flew to him. This shooting could have had a life-changing effect on him.
What if the damage to his arm was bad enough that he couldn’t be a fully active Texas Ranger anymore? He had to have a full recovery. He had to.
Chapter Ten
The doctor walked into Kit’s hospital room and approached the side of his bed. “How are you feeling?”
Kit had awakened again and was surprised to discover it was four in the afternoon. “No pain.”
“That’s good. I’m here to tell you that the bullet perforated your upper arm in the best place it could have. It missed the bone and artery, so there’s no need for surgery. We’ll be able to treat this as a flesh wound.”
“That’s the news I’ve been waiting for. I’ve got to get back to work.” I’ve got to get back to Natalie.
“Not so fast, Ranger Saunders. I won’t be releasing you from the hospital until the day after tomorrow. You need bed rest while we tend to your wound and pump you full of more antibiotics. Infection is your biggest enemy. We don’t want to give it a chance.”
“I can do that at home.”
“No you can’t. We’re keeping you on the IV and the dressings and wound care need to be handled here. I want your blood pressure to go down.”
Kit could see this doctor meant business. “Can I have visitors now?”
“Only your immediate family. The whole department of the Texas Rangers has kept our phone ringing off the hook, but none of them except your closest friends are allowed to visit before tomorrow. After I’ve done my rounds and can see that you’re improving, I’ll lift the ban. Have I made myself clear?”
He sounded like TJ. “Understood.”
“Before you’re released, a therapist will be in to discuss your recovery and rehabilitation.”
“How long will I have to do therapy?”
“That depends. Several months. I’d say no active field work for at least four, and only on my say-so.”
Four? “Be honest with me. When all is said and done, do you think I’ll be able to pass the Ranger physical?”
The doctor’s brows lifted. “I honestly don’t know.”