Page 96 of Rocky Mountain Home

“Pretty much,” Dare agreed. “If there’s internet, I’ll be fine. I can get ahead of things on my blog.”

“Basic internet is doable. No porn, though.”

Jesse rolled his eyes. “You are a killjoy, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s me. Stick in the mud, no sense of ha-ha whatsoever.”

They’d arrived on the second floor. Dare was rolled down the hall and into a neat but very hospital-looking space. Light yellow walls, furniture made of shiny metal and pale particle board. The blue blanket-covered beds were separated by a green curtain until Tamara pushed it back to the wall.

Jesse placed the bag with her clothes on the chair beside a small closet before slipping up to the wheelchair and laying a hand on Dare’s shoulder. “Back in a few.”

“Okay.”

He pressed a kiss to her cheek then was out the door before she could say anything more.

Tamara helped Dare get as comfy as possible with just her T-shirt and undies because even her maternity jeans were too uncomfortable to consider wearing while sitting around for a couple days.

“If you’ve got them, a pair of sweats will be the most comfortable. If you didn’t bring any, I can loan you a pair. Make a list of the things you need to make your stay more comfortable, and I’ll make sure you get any approved items.”

“Approved?”

Tamara slid a tall, moveable tray into easy reach at the edge of the bed, adding a glass and a pitcher of water.

“No tuba practicing allowed, I’m sorry to say,” Tamara informed her brightly.

“Well, damn. There go my aspirations to win the world tuba championship.” Dare made an attempt to smile, which probably failed miserably. “Cell phones…?”

Tamara lost a bit of her shine. “Rotten reception most places except in a few corners and right outside the main doors, and the internet isn’t fast enough for Skype. I’m sorry. If everything goes well tonight, I’ll break you out for a while tomorrow morning. Okay?”

“Sure.” She tried to keep her disappointment out of her voice. No phone was shitty news. If she didn’t have a phone, she couldn’t chat with Ginny. “Jesse and I will figure it out.”

Tamara frowned, then glanced around the room. Dare realized she was looking for Jesse who hadn’t returned yet.

The woman marched to the door and poked her head out the door. She glanced back then shrugged. “Guys have the worst timing. He probably got lost in the cafeteria. I’ll grab you a few things.”

Tamara was back within a minute with some magazines and a pad of paper, and she piled them on the bedside table.

“I have to make my rounds now.” Tamara adjusted the backrest of the bed one notch higher without Dare having to say anything. “Buzzer is there on the right side of the bed. Sorry, but for now you’ll have to call when you need to pee so I can be on hand if you get dizzy. Otherwise, relax best you can. I’ll be back for the list in a bit and to give you the medication for your inner ear infection. If you want to chat.”

“Thanks,” Dare said sincerely.

Tamara left the room at full stride, the door closing with a soft swoosh behind her.

Silence.

The next second Buckaroo nudged her, and Dare’s soul clung to the sensation. She slid her hands under the sheets to caress the little rounded spot under which who-knows-what was going on. A miracle? A tragedy?

Another soft flutter teased her from the inside—the sensation that had barely begun to be familiar over the past couple weeks. A touch of reassurance from her baby—and it was perfect and exactly what she needed…

Yet not nearly enough because the room was empty except for her and shadows and unanswered questions.

The soft buzz of hospital life drifted from behind the closed door, itching in Dare’s ears. That and the sound of her breath, slightly ragged, echoed in the quiet. The longer she sat there, the more tension increased until her chest ached and her throat felt raw. The sheets were cold against her bare legs. In spite of the sunshine outside the window, in spite of the cheerful yellow stream of it falling across the bed where she lay…

She wanted it all to be a bad dream.

Coldness struck deep, dragging her into memories full of bitter loss and loneliness, and Dare closed her eyes against the stinging hurt striking her heart.

And yet…she wasn’t a teenager anymore, torn from her family and stung by shock. She was a grown-ass woman with the ability to survive and save herself.