Captive Heart (Cartwright Gals: A Romancing the Ponderosa Spinoff Book 2)

Chapter 14

"Candy, Candy." I jerk awake at the sound of Jewels' voice and her tug on my arm.

"What's wrong?" Worried, I look up at her from my chair next to Brie's bed.

"Nothing's wrong." Her smile lights up her tired face. "Brie's fever finally broke."

"Really?" I scramble out of the chair and bend over her sleeping figure. Gently touching her forehead to see for myself, I try not to wake her up. The skin under my hand is moist with sweat but thankfully cool to the touch and no longer burning hot. I turn my head and look at Jewels over my shoulder. The smile on my face matches her own, tired yet extremely happy and relieved, "Jewels, it's over, it's finally over."

"I know." She swipes at the happy tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'll go get Mama and Pa."

As she quietly runs out of the room and down the hall, I pull my chair closer to the bed. Sitting down in it, I watch Brie sleep peacefully. It's been a very rough and stressful two days since we got back here on the Ponderosa. That long night of running, the heat of the next day, and the little to no water Shane let her have really did her in. We've all been fighting to keep her earthside ever since her fever spiked high yesterday evening. Doc Martin told us we were at the crisis moment and that we had a fifty/fifty chance she would make it.

I'll probably never be able to erase from my mind the way she looked last night when she had that awful delirious fit. She had been slightly tossing and turning but when she finally drifted off to sleep, we all thought she would rest peacefully. As her breath had begun to even out, a smile slowly stretched its way across her face but then faster than you could drop a hat, she changed. She began thrashing like a wild woman and after few moments she screamed bloody murder. That scream turned into sobs and loud shouts telling Shane not to kill me. She nearly came off the bed and Ben, the Doc, and I had to physically hold her down so she wouldn't hurt herself. Talking to her, I tried to bring her out of the hell she was reliving and it thankfully seemed to work. When she opened her eyes and looked at me, it was like she didn't really see me but she seemed to hear me and it calmed her down. Once she was all of the way calm, she quickly drifted off to sleep again, only this time it was, thankfully, a natural sleep. Doc said it was up to God whether or not she'd make it.

Hearing voices behind me, I quickly shake myself out of that dark new memory and focus on the present. Ben steps up beside me and lays a hand on my shoulder, giving it a gentle, steady squeeze while Rose slides up on the other side of the bed and caresses Brie's forehead to check for fever. Jewels lays her head on her shoulder as Rose wraps an arm around her. All of us quietly watch Brie for a few moments before Ben, Rose, and Jewels slip back out of the room. Standing, I cross over to the window and pull back the curtain to look out at the early morning light outside. I watch a few of the ranch hands come out of the bunkhouse and go into the barn to start their day's work.

"Candy?" I drop the curtain and turn quickly towards the sound of Brie's voice.

"Brie, you're awake." Hurrying over, I sit back down in my chair beside her.

"Of course, what did you think that I was talking in my sleep or something?" She jokes, a small smile on her face.

"You've been asleep for so long," I grab her outstretched hand and give it a gentle squeeze, "it's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back."

"I'm glad you think so," I laugh quietly, "I was beginning to think you weren't going to come back."

"Why would I do that? We get married in two weeks."

"That we do." I give a smile and turn towards the small table beside the bed to pour some water into a glass from the pitcher. "Here, you need to drink."

I help her sit up a little as she takes a drink. After nearly drinking half of it, she sinks back into the pillow. I put the glass back on the table and sink onto the edge of the bed beside her, taking her hand again, "How're you feeling now?"

"Like someone wrung me through Hop Sing's washboard." She laughs, the sound weak and lacking its normal energy. "How long have I been sick?"

"About two and a half days."

"It feels like it's been longer than that."

"Trust me, I know," I sigh, "we all know."

"I'm sorry I put you all through this mess." Her voice begins to waver like she's tiring out.

"Don't go blaming yourself, none of this is your fault." I slowly stand, letting go of her hand and lay it back on the blanket. "You need to get some more rest, I'll leave you alone now."

"Wait, Candy," she grabs my hand before I step away from the bed, "one more thing."

"Alright, but make it quick."

"My locket, did you find it by any chance?"

I reach into my shirt pocket and pull it out. Laying it in her other hand, I watch her face light up. "You have Adam to thank for that. He found it on the trail and then bought a new chain for it in town yesterday."

"Oh, I'm so glad he found it!" She looks up at me and I watch her eyes fill with tears. "Will you put it on me?"

"Of course." I take it back from her and undo the hook as she leans forward. Gently putting it around her neck, I carefully clasp the hook behind her head. She leans back into the pillow again and fingers the silver heart, smiling up at me. I bend down and give her a quick kiss before walking over to the door. Doorknob in hand, I turn to look at her and playfully point my finger, "Now go to sleep, Brie."

"I will." As I open the door and walk out, I watch her eyes slowly close.