She didn’t have to wait long. Five minutes later, Kayden stepped into the waiting room. His eyes were almost black with anger and his hands were fisted.
He stopped in front of her, his gaze running over her face. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, then cringed, because even that hurt her head.
His anger deepened, and he slipped a surprisingly gentle hand to the small of her back before leading her toward the desk. The woman looked up. When she saw Kayden, her eyes widened, maybe because of the fury on his face. Either that, or the way he marched toward the desk.
She rose from her seat. “Kayden—”
“Why hasn’t she been seen?”
Tilly almost flinched at the fury in Kayden’s tone. It was so deep and dark, it almost didn’t sound like him.
The woman’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times. “Well…I mean…it’s been busy.”
“She’s been here forhours.”
“I’m sorry. I…there was a shift change and…I’ll get a doctor to see her right away.”
“Yes, you will—if you want to keep your damn job.”
The woman scurried off.
Tilly glanced up at Kayden. He kept saving her from this town, and a part of her wanted to object. She wanted to be able to save herself, or better yet, not need saving. But every time he did it, all she could feel was gratitude…and maybe a hint of relief that there was at least one person here who wanted her to be okay.
Kayden could barely keephis outrage in check. First, Tilly had been shoved into a goddamn doorframe. Then she was made to wait in the hospital all day just to have her wound seen. Would theyeverhave let her see a doctor if Kayden hadn’t come?
His fingers clenched.
He should have trusted his gut and gone in with her, but dammit, he kept expecting more from this town. For people to treat her with some respect. Denying her medical attention was the last goddamn straw.
“All right, Miss Taylor, the wound is all taken care of. Like I said, no need for stitches and no concussion.”
Tilly nodded from where she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, new bandaging on her forehead. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry you had to wait so long. Jadie said your form got missed?”
When Tilly didn’t answer, Kayden did. “It wasn’t missed. They intentionally didn’t allow her to see anyone.”
The doctor’s white brows pulled together. “What are you talking about, son?”
“People in this town don’t like me very much,” Tilly said, straightening her spine.
The doctor shook his head. “Oh, no, they wouldn’t—”
“They did,” Kayden interrupted.
The doctor huffed out a breath. “If that’s true, that you were intentionally denied medical care, I’ll personally make sure those responsible are reprimanded.”
“Itistrue,” Kayden pushed, his hand going to Tilly’s back. “And we appreciate you doing something about it.”
Frustration brimmed on the doctor’s face as he nodded and left the room.
“Kayden, I didn’t need you to speak for me,” Tilly said quietly.
He stepped in front of her, not missing the shadows under her eyes. “You’re tired. Let me take care of you, even if it’s just to let a doctor know what the staff at this hospital did.”
Her brows flickered, and when she didn’t respond, he knew how right he was…she was exhausted.
