For the next thirty minutes, Lord did everything the doctor asked of him, and listened as Astrid and the doctor talked.The cold had made Astrid sick, and he had to keep her warm and monitor her for the next twenty-four hours.If her condition worsened, she would need medical attention as it could develop into pneumonia.
Lord had loved the snow when it fell, as it had given him a chance with Astrid.Now, he hated it.All he wanted to do was take care of her.
The doctor ended the call, and Blake said goodbye.Lord went downstairs and started to warm up one of the bags of soup Astrid had premade and stashed in the freezer.The instructions were on the packet, and even though it came from the freezer, he couldn’t deny that it did smell damn good.Astrid was a fine cook.
He tried to distract himself and not think of the warning in the doctor’s voice.If this wasn’t controlled, Astrid was going to end up in the hospital, and he knew humans were at risk when it came to pneumonia.He couldn’t let that happen.
Carrying the tray of soup upstairs, he placed the tray on her lap and then picked up the bowl.
“You don’t have to do this,” Astrid said.“You could go and check on the cattle.”
“I’ll handle everything on this ranch.You don’t worry about a thing, and right now, focus on getting well,” he said.
He was not going to have her worrying about anything.
Slowly, he fed her the soup.She looked way too pale for his liking.
“You cooked,” she said.
“I know how to cook.Before you came along, I was doing a fine job of it.”
She let out a laugh.“I have no doubt.”
“But, I’m not as good a cook as you.”
“Is that why you’re taking care of me, so the ranchers don’t hate you?”There was a smile on her lips, and he looked at her.
“No, I’m taking care of you because I care, Astrid.I don’t want anything to happen to you, and I don’t give a fuck if my ranchers like me or not.I’m the boss.They don’t like it, they can fuck off.”
She offered him a small smile.“I don’t think I can eat any more.”
Lord finished off the last of her soup and removed the tray from her legs.
“I’m just going to get some sleep,” she said.
“You do that, baby.I’ll be right here.”Lord pulled up a chair, and he sat down and watched her.
Nothing could happen to her.He refused to believe that anything could happen to his woman.She had to be okay.
****
Astrid opened her eyesand looked over to where Lord was currently sleeping.It had been a rough couple of days, and Lord had been there for her.He wouldn’t leave her side.She knew he handled what was needed on the ranch, but only when she was asleep.
The snow had started to thaw.
Her illness had broken sometime through the night, and as she looked over at him, she knew the worst was now over.They had made it.
He looked absolutely exhausted.And she felt ...good.A little achy, but she felt good.
“You’re awake,” Lord said.
He sounded so sleepy.
“Yeah, I’m just going to the bathroom.”
“I can’t let anything happen to you,” Lord said.
This surprised her and she turned to look at him as he had snuggled against the chair.It was then she realized how tired Lord was.
