Eleanor looked up at Wes and nodded. Though acting, her cheeks flushed from the kiss. The kiss was not passionate, but protective and reassuring. “C’mon, baby, let’s get you into bed. The doctor said you still need to rest.”
“Only if my best nurse takes care of me,” Eleanor giggled.
“I know what my girl needs,” Wes said as he scanned the room.
The sound of a creaking floor caught their attention. “Who’s there?” Eleanor asked.
“You don’t look too worse for the wear,” her brother Tripp said.
“I’m not anymore. Tripp, this is Wes. He realized I was more fun than my eternal virgin sister,” Eleanor said. “He’s sympathetic to our cause. A month in their clinic and we got to know each other real well.” She batted her eyes.
“I guess you pulled it off.” Malachi Drake joined them.
“Hi, Daddy. Well, sort of. After Wes shot me, and I went to the hospital, the surgeon put me back together, then they transferred me to the clinic. My bad luck, the surgeon knew Ellie.” Eleanor stood on her tiptoes and kissed Wes. Looking down, she said, “He helped me get through that first bad week. I hurt so bad.”
“I wanted information, so I sat with her. My heart began to open up as she was suffering. And then Ellie died. It hurt, but Lindy, well, she’s remarkable.” He kissed her.
“I guess we didn’t reduce you to using a sippy cup.” A change in personality came over Malachi’s face. “Wes, I heard my Lindy tell Tripp you are sympathetic to our cause. Why is that?”
“I’m a white male. All this crap about white privilege. I grew up in Montana. I had to outscore on my test because of affirmative action, and now in healthcare, I’m sick and tired of hearing about healthcare disparity. Whose fault is that? We have a government on one side who wants to pocket everything for themselves while cutting all services, and on the other side, a government who wants to give away the store. Both sides suck.”
“You talk a good game,” Tripp said. “Can you handle yourself in battle?”
“I don’t think I’ll have a problem, considering I’m a SEAL. What do you want from me?” Wes stared Tripp down.
Adina’s comment about everyone being scary if necessary popped in her head. Wes looked feral. The gentle man who rode with her, made love to her and cuddled her children was now the warrior.
“I need a shower and to put on real clothes,” Eleanor said.
“You do that, Lindy. We have the car around the block. We can leave tonight,” Malachi said.
“Yes, sir. Um, who am I supposed to be? This way I’ll dress right,” Eleanor asked.
“You are my Lindy.” Malachi smiled.
“Come on, Wes, you can help me shower.” She grabbed his hand and led him up the stairs. She walked down the hall and stared into her bedroom. Belinda’s blood staining the carpet remained. IV tubing, used gloves and defibrillator wrappers littered the floor.
Wes pulled her against him and led her down the hall toward Belinda’s room. He closed the door, and Eleanor sat on the bed, her lip curling into a sneer. “I’ll give them a damn sippy cup,” she whispered.
Wes chuckled. “So far so good. Now we wait.”
