He crouched, peered into Nathaniel's eyes.
D'ya pass out?
Maybe.
It was almost as bad as another thumping to admit it.
For a minute.
Vision blurred?
No, Doc. Not now.
Don't get smart. How many?
He held up two thick fingers.
Eighty-seven.
Nathaniel would have reached for the whiskey again, but Coco shoved it aside.
He's not drinking any more on top of the pill I gave him.
Women think they know every damn thing.
But Dutch sent her a look, reassuring
her that their charge would be all right.
Bed's what you need now. A hot soak and cool sheets. Want I should cany you?
Hell, no.
That was one humiliation he could do without. He took Coco's hand, kissed it.
Thanks, darling. I'd do it all again if I knew you'd be my nurse.
He
looked back at Holt.
I could use a ride home.
Nonsense.
Coco disposed of that i.e. instantly.
You'll stay here, where we can
look after you. You may very well have a concussion, so we'll take shifts waking you up through the night to be sure you don't slip into a coma.
Wives' tales,
Dutch grunted, but nodded at her behind Nathaniel's back.
I'll turn down the bed in the rose guest room, Amanda stated.
C.C., why don't
you run our hero a nice hot bath? Lilah, bring that ice along.
He didn't have the energy to fight the lot of them, so he sat back as Lilah walked over and touched her lips gently to his.
Come on, tough guy.
Sloan moved over to help him to his feet.
Two of them, huh? Puny guys?
Bigger than you, pal.
He was floating just a little as he hobbled up the stairs between Sloan and Max.
Let's get those pants off,
Lilah said, when they'd eased him down to sit on the side of the bed.
He still had the wit to arch a brow at her.
You never said that when it counted. No offense,
he added to Max.
None taken.
With a chuckle, Max bent down to pull off Nathaniel's shoes. He knew what it was to be nursed back to health by the Calhoun women, and he figured that once Nathaniel got past the worst of the pain, he'd realize he'd landed in heaven.
Need some help getting in the tub?
I can handle it, thanks.
Give a call if you run into trouble.
Sloan held the door open, waiting until the room cleared.
And, when you're more up to it, I'd like the whole story.