Authors: Paige Cameron
“That’s true.” She waited to let him think more on the idea.
“I’ll drive by the hospital this afternoon and talk with Jack. I understand he just got back from his honeymoon.” A weak smile crossed his face. “Lang will give me the time off. I’d rather see what Jack says before talking with Liz.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I’ll leave it up to you.”
“Thanks, Rae. I appreciate the thought.”
“Thank your daughter. Cassie was furious and demanding help for her mother when I saw her earlier.”
“She called me and told me about the visit. She does love her momma,” Ralph said. “I hope Jack has good news for us. I may call Cassie and ask her to go with me to see him.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll talk with you later.” She waved and drove home. She’d done what she could for now.
* * * *
Cassie sat on the edge of her seat waiting to hear what Dr. Jack Talisman would say about helping her mother. They’d given him all the information they knew, and he’d called Dr. Castor and gotten a report from him.
Jack leaned back in his chair and reached for a large book off the shelf behind him. “Let me check something. I do love a challenge and”—he flashed them a smile—“I like saving lives.”
“Here’s what I want.” He read several pages while they watched.
“All right. Here’s the plan. If Liz is agreeable, bring her to my office this evening. I see my last patient at four, so have her here at five. I’ll run some lab work. I’ll have the results later tonight and talk with several of our scientists, including my wife, Ellen. Tomorrow I’ll have a better idea whether we can even attempt using any new, experimental drug on her.”
“Use it,” Ralph said. “She’s dying anyway. It may help. If it doesn’t it won’t make her worse. She’s already as bad as she can get.”
“I understand your frustration. But we can’t work that way. There has to be at least a possibility that the medicine will help. Otherwise it might cause her a great deal of pain and shorten what time she has.”
“Dad, he’s right. We’ll talk with Mom this afternoon, get the tests, and see what happens tomorrow.”
“I may need you to be involved.” Jack looked across at her.
“How?”
“Are you the same blood type as her?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Good. If we start the treatment and she reacts, giving her your blood might bring her around. I’ll have my nurse draw blood before you leave for a type and crossmatch to be sure you are totally compatible.”
Jack buzzed his nurse, and she led them out and to the nearby lab. Ralph stood by as the nurse drew some blood from Cassie.
When they got in the car, Ralph turned to Cassie. “You’ll come home with me now to help me explain all this to Liz.”
“Of course, Dad. I’ll do whatever it takes to make Momma better.”
Ralph grinned at her. “It’s good to have you home. It’s been a long time since you called your mom Momma.”
“I know. I feel like a little girl who wants to sit in her lap and be comforted, be told everything will be all right.”
“I understand, and maybe it will.”
Cassie sat on a chair by her mother’s bed while Ralph sat beside her mother and held her hand. He told her about the possibility of a treatment, giving her all the facts they knew. “We’ll know more after your blood tests tomorrow, if you agree.”
She looked at Cassie. “What do you think?”
“It’s your decision, Mom. I don’t want to influence you.” Cassie had called her three brothers and asked them to come to the house. They stood in the doorway.
“What do you think?” her mother asked them.
“Whatever will make you well, Mom.” The oldest, Ralph Jr., spoke for all three.
“I know I want to live to see you all married.” Her two unmarried sons gave a laugh and a shrug. “You’ll change your mind in a few years.” She turned her attention back on Cassie. “But you should already be married. I worry about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Stay here and go with us at five to see the doctor,” her mother said. She held on to Cassie’s hand.
“I planned to. I’ll go cook dinner for you and Dad.” She looked at her brothers. “Do you plan to stay and eat?”
“Judy will be waiting for me to get home,” Ralph Jr. said.
It still amazed Cassie that he was married. He was only nineteen, but he and Judy had been an item since they were fifteen. They didn’t want to wait for anything, so six months ago they’d married. Cassie had missed the wedding. Cassie nodded at him and kissed his cheek.
“What about you two?”
Her single brothers grinned. “We won’t say no to a meal.” The middle brother spoke for both of them.
“Just as I expected,” Cassie teased back. She went into the kitchen. Cooking would keep her busy until they could return to Dr. Jack’s office. It was going to be a long night.
* * * *
Cassie was surprised to see Ellen with Jack. Hope and fear raced through her. Was Ellen being here a good sign?
“Have a seat. I hope you all don’t mind that I asked Ellen to join us. She’s knowledgeable on the scientific end and might be better able to answer those kinds of questions.”
“Not at all,” Ralph said. “The more help, the better.” He smiled at Ellen.
“Liz, I’m going to have my nurse draw a small amount of your blood for some tests.” He buzzed the front office, and his nurse came in. She was quick and efficient. When she left, Jack faced them again.
“Once we have the results, Ellen and I will study them and discuss possible plans of action. You all need to know if we do decide to treat Liz it will be more dangerous than the conventional medicine. Even with antibodies her chemical makeup is still human. You need to fully understand the higher risks and ramifications.”
Jack leaned forward, all of his attention focused on Cassie’s mother. His voice lowered and became gentler. “Liz, it may mean either complete recovery or death. I’m almost certain under the best circumstances it will be either-or. I won’t give you the medicine unless the odds are somewhat in your favor, and you have utilized every other possibility first. I want Dr. Castor to tell me he has nothing further to offer.”
Cassie watched her mother’s face closely. Her mother tipped her chin up and stared back at Jack.
“I have faith you will do the best you can, Dr. Jack.” She tightened her mouth and blinked her eyes. “I’m dying.” She put her hand on her chest. “I can feel it inside. The medicine I’m getting is making me weaker. I’ll think about what you said. Right now, I’d say go ahead. But I’ll”—she glanced at her husband—“talk with Ralph tonight. We’ll decide together.”
Cassie’s mom took her dad’s hand and looked across at Ellen. “You know how lucky we are to have found one or two”—she smiled at Ellen—“of these special men to love us. I want to be with him and my children as long as I can.”
“I do understand, and that is Jack and my goal for you,” Ellen said.
“Well, honey, we’ve taken up enough of these kind folks’ time. Let’s go home.” Ralph supported Liz as they walked to the door. Cassie followed behind, after thanking Jack and Ellen and arranging the appointment for ten o’clock in the morning.
“I’m going to head home, Mom and Dad. I’ll meet you here tomorrow at ten.” She was tired, not physically, but exhausted emotionally. The fifteen miles to town seemed very far. She’d been walking toward her car with her head down when she sensed she wasn’t alone.
Nick stood beside his truck parked behind her car. “Ready to leave?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m headed to town.”
“Nope. You’re going home with me. From what Lang relayed, you probably have to be back here early. Staying with us will be easier than driving back and forth.”
She moved on forward to her car. There was no energy left to deal with the emotions he and Lang created inside her. She’d face one thing at a time.
As though he’d read her mind, Nick stepped in front of her car door. “It isn’t going to happen. Give in, sweetheart. We’re going to take care of you tonight, tomorrow, and we’ll be here for you through all of this.” His deep, caring voice soothed over deep aches.
Cassie stared up at him. “I can’t.”
“Sure you can. See how easy it is?” He lifted her into his arms. “You put your arms around my neck and your head on my shoulder, and I’ll take care of you.”
“I’m too tired to fight.”
“Good, because you’d lose.” He grinned. “I fight to win.”
Her head sank onto his wide, strong shoulder as her arms curled around his neck. He smelled of pine, and the outdoors, and his own special essence. She took a deep breath and, without thinking, kissed his neck.
The rumble of his laughter vibrated against her chest. Through all the tiredness and stress of the day, the desire for him still rose, flooding her system with warmth. Gently, he sat her in the passenger seat of his truck.
“I’ll have you home in a moment.” Walking briskly around the front of the truck, he got in and drove toward the cabin. She’d been there once long ago.
She saw lights in the windows and smoke curling out of the cabin’s chimney, as they got closer. A welcoming sight that beckoned to a feeling buried deep.
Nick carried her to the door. Lang stood in the entryway. “Take her on to bed. I’ll bring her tea.”
“I can walk,” Cassie protested.
“Let us look after you.” Nick’s soft voice had her under his spell. She didn’t want to move. Just stay cuddled up against his warm body and feel safe.
He sat Cassie on her feet and pulled the spread back on the king-size bed. She glanced around at the room. “Your bedroom?”
“What gave it away? All the pictures of towering buildings and unusual bridges?” His hands touched the top button of her blouse. “I’ll help you undress. Lang will get the water adjusted and you can soak in the tub before going to sleep.”
Lang set the teacup on the bedside table. “Take a sip of this while your bathwater is running.”
“Sit,” Nick instructed and handed her the cup.
“I really am a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
But I don’t want to. I want to let them baby me and hold me close. I want to stop thinking for just one night and only feel.
“Are you going to sleep sitting up?” Nick raised her head and looked into her eyes. He held the cup in front of her.
“Sorry. My thoughts took me away for a minute.” She sipped the sweet, hot tea.
“Water’s ready.” Lang walked to her, set the cup to the side, and pulled her up. He finished unbuttoning her blouse before she got the energy to protest. Nick unfastened her bra, and both were thrown to the side.
Shivers of desire brushed across her skin, puckering her nipples. Lang’s gray eyes darkened. He lowered his head and took the nearest nipple into his mouth. His tongue swirled around the tip.
“Ah.” The sound barely escaped her lips. Her legs went weak, and Nick’s arm pulled her against his hard frame.
“Do you want us to continue, babe?” Nick asked. “We can stop, let you bathe, and put you in bed.”
Surrounded by their scent, the heat from their bodies radiating against her skin, all her mind could comprehend was her desire, the feeling of safety, the overwhelming need swamping her.
“Hold me, take me.” The words whispered out through her tight throat. “I’m starving.”