Page 9

Brett’s nostrils flared as he searched the monitor for whatever warning Matt saw. “Is she gonna be okay?”

“She should be, but if she has internal bleeding, she’s in trouble. We’ll do everything in our power, but our healing abilities only go so far. Best to consult the Big Man for further assistance.”

Brett nodded and looked down at Thea. She’d been in his prayers in one way or another for years, but never like this. He closed his eyes and wrapped his hand around her thin wrist. “I’m right here, Thea. I won’t leave you.”

Surely, the Lord hadn’t brought her back to him just to rip her away again, but if prayer was all he could do for her, he’d give it his all the entire way to the hospital.

Chapter3

Thea

Asmall slit of light burned Thea’s eyes as she opened them. She quickly pressed them closed again as the pain shot to the back of her head. Then, it was everywhere. Her chest, arms, stomach, legs–everything hurt.

It hurt to breathe–a sharp and shocking pain that cut into her side. She had to get up. An urgency pushed her to get up. She had to run.

Why was she running? Wait, whycouldn’tshe run? Why couldn’t she get up? The pain in her chest was unbearable.

Opening her eyes again, the brightness stung again but not as badly this time.

A banging in her head had her eyes closing again.

“Did you do it?” a man shouted. His angry voice bellowed around her.

“Get your hands off me!”

She was dreaming. Had to be dreaming. Confusion followed the conversation in a dream-like world.

“Did you do it?” one man asked, lower and deeper than before.

Pain. The weight on her chest became heavier. Everything was uncomfortable. Different parts of her body vied for attention.

“I didn’t touch her, but I don’t answer to you. You probably did this to her.”

“I would never hurt her,” the other man said with a low warning.

“But you killed our dad. You didn’t have a problem hurting her then, did you?”

That voice was familiar. Gage? The thought of her brother carried fear and longing in its wake.

“I didn’t do it!”

A deep laugh. “I don’t believe you for a second.”

Another bang. “Who did this?”

That voice demanded attention. It was desperate and irate, but a broken sadness covered the words.

“You don’t have any business here. Get out.”

Gage? Who was he shouting at? Who did the other voice belong to? Something deep in her chest told her she already knew, but she didn’t let herself believe it.

Thea tried to lift her head, but it was too heavy. She opened her eyes again and fought through the blurriness. It took a few blinks before she focused on the two men. Her gaze darted back and forth between them, sending a shock of pain behind her brow every time her eyes moved.

ItwasGage. It didn’t make sense. He was in Wyoming.

Oh.Shewas in Wyoming. How had she forgotten? She was back in the place where her family had loved and hated her.

Gage lived here. She was the outsider.