“I suppose so. I just—”
“Miss
Buchanan?” a nurse interrupted.
“Excuse me, Dad.” She turned to the nurse. “Yes?”
“Mr. O’Donovan is awake. He’s asking for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I hear I have you to thank,” Sam choked out.
Sydney spoke through tears. “Thank God you’re okay. I’m so sorry for all of this, Sam. This is all my fault.”
“You promised me you wouldn’t let me die.”
“You heard that?”
“I heard you. I knew you were there. I wanted to tell you so much, but I couldn’t.”
“I know. How are you? Are you in much pain?”
“I can’t see out of my right eye.”
Sydney smiled. “There’s a patch on it.”
His lips twitched. “Oh.”
“But you didn’t lose your sight, Sam. You were really lucky.”
“Lucky because you got help in time. Like you promised. Thank you.”
“Please, don’t thank me.”
“I—” He choked, and his words came out in a gurgle.
Sydney touched his parched lips with her fingers. “Don’t try to talk anymore. Just rest.”
“Will you stay?”
“Of course.”
Sam dozed off again. Sydney booked a room at a nearby hotel and called her father with the information.
“What have you told Duke about Mom?” she asked.
“Just that she’s sick and has to be at the hospital for a while. He misses her, but he’s doing okay. The virus is completely out of his system now and he’s eating like a horse.”
Sydney smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. Would you…would you consider bringing him to Denver to see Sam? I know it would mean a lot to him.”
“Absolutely. There’s no reason for us to stay in Bakersville any longer. The rodeo’s nearly over.”
“Great. You can stay in my room. I have two queen beds.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
She hung up and called Dusty.