Kinsey’s mind filled with the image of Tyler from earlier in the day when he’d handed her the plate of breakfast and a mug of coffee. His brown eyes had been especially brooding and intense. But that hadn’t stopped her from noticing how good he’d looked with a dark layer of scruff covering his jaw and chin and his hair combed back and still damp from a shower.
Even if she didn’t like him, that didn’t mean she couldn’t admit he was handsome—if a woman was into the country-cowboy type, which she wasn’t. She’d always gravitated toward athletic men who were easy-going and funny, probably because she was driven and serious and such men tended to balance her out.
“Whatever the case, I need you to find me a replacement.” Kinsey closed her eyes against the sunshine streaming in through one of the room’s large windows.
“Already told that young man I don’t have anyone else available until the end of the week.” Pippa’s tone turned sassy. “And he told me he would find a different agency who was more accommodating.”
“He did not.” Kinsey pushed up, the same irritation at him from earlier in the day prodding her.
“Um-hmm. He did.”
“Then he really does hate me if he’s unwilling to wait.”
“I told him you’re in high demand and that I had to cancel one of your regular jobs so you could take the assignment with his father.”
“And…?”
“Like I said, he wouldn’t know the sharp end of a needle unless it poked him.”
Kinsey smiled. This was why she needed Pippa. Because the dear woman not only knew how to make her smile in the mostdisheartening of situations, but she always had her back. It had been that way since Madison had required palliative care during her last year of life and Pippa had been Madison’s nurse.
Kinsey had been working at Edward Hospital in Naperville at the time, since she’d wanted to stay close to home and close to her younger sister, especially once the leukemia had spread and Madison had dropped out of college.
At the time, their mother and father had done everything they could to find additional treatments, new tests, even experimental medication. Kinsey had done all she could too. In the end, Madison had died and left them all brokenhearted and even more fractured than they’d already been.
Through it all, Pippa had been there for Kinsey, as solid and steady as a mountain. She’d been the one to encourage Kinsey to apply to become a traveling nurse so that she could move on and find new purpose instead of staying stuck in the past the way her parents were.
Pippa had been right. Kinsey had found purpose in helping a variety of patients through their medical issues. Even though the long months and years of watching Madison suffer and eventually die had been extremely difficult, Kinsey was beginning to see the truth—that her hardships and pain hadn’t been a waste because now she could empathize with her patients and their families so much more easily.
“If you’re sick, girl, I’ll come replace you myself.” Pippa’s voice now radiated concern. “I’ll send you back to the Binghams. They love you.”
The older wealthy couple who lived in Portland, Maine, did love her and treated her like family. Even so, Kinsey wasn’t ready to give up yet. Maybe it was because she already liked T.W. Maybe she wanted a chance to prove herself, to show Tyler and everyone else she wasn’t a failure. Or maybe she needed to stand up for young nurses who deserved respect.
Kinsey forced her body up to a sitting position and blinked back the dizziness. She could do this. She had to do it. “From everything I’ve read about altitude sickness, it should go away within a few days.” At least, she hoped it would.
“You don’t have to do this.”
“I know. But I’d like to stay for as long as I’m able.”
Pippa was quiet for a moment. “Fine. I trust that you won’t do anything to jeopardize yourself or the patient.”
“Thank you.”
“You know I’ll do anything for you,” Pippa said passionately.
“And I’d do the same.”
Kinsey chatted with Pippa only a minute longer before ending the call. Then, even though she felt like she’d been given a dozen vaccines all at once, she forced herself to get out of bed. After taking ibuprofen and guzzling water, she washed up and changed into fresh clothing.
Her head still pounded, and she felt lightheaded, but she felt better than she had last night. Maybe her body was beginning to adjust to the higher altitude, or maybe the sleep had helped. Either way, she needed to check on T.W.
Hopefully the new prescription had been delivered by the local pharmacy. If it had arrived, then she would start the IV and administer it to him right away.
She tiptoed out of her room and down the short hallway that led to the main bedroom. The house was quiet—almost too quiet. While she hadn’t glimpsed much of the house in her haste to get to T.W. yesterday, she’d seen enough to know that it was gorgeous both inside and out—a mansion made of logs and furnished with tasteful western decor.
As curious as she was to take a better look, her patient took precedence. She’d come to assist T.W. on his road to pancreatic cancer recovery, and she wouldn’t let anything distract her from that.
She tapped lightly on the bedroom door to announce her arrival before pushing it open and stepping inside. T.W.’s wife, Leah, was sitting in the chair by the hospital bed, reading. At the sight of Kinsey, she smiled as she closed her book and placed it on the bedside table next to a vase of flowers.
