SOPHIE SLOWLY SLID off the bed as Stephen and Andrew held her from each side. She was confused, her head hurt, and she felt sick to her stomach. The men lowered her onto the chest at the end of the bed.

“Gonna be sick,” Sophie rasped.

Christine grabbed the bowl and put it under her chin. Just in time.

She rubbed sore eyes. “I’m so tired. What happened? I want to sleep.”

“Samson kicked you and you have been unconscious. It’s important to stay awake. Can you do that for me?” Stephen’s voice was soothing and brother-like.

“Samson kicked me? He wouldn’t do that. What happened?” Sophie slurred.

“He got spooked. He didn’t do it on purpose.” Andrew squeezed her shoulder. “Sophie? Sophie, wake up. You can’t go to sleep.”

Stephen picked her up again and he and Andrew started moving her around the room. Sophie stumbled. “But I’m so tired.”

Andrew gripped her waist tighter. “I know you are, but we need to keep you moving.”

As the men continued to walk Sophie around the room, Christine made her answer questions. She became lucid about fifteen minutes into their little exercise session and was also able to hold herself up. Stephen took a moment to take another look at her and felt that the danger had passed, however, she was informed she needed to stay awake for the next four to five hours to be sure.

“Can I at least lie down? My head is throbbing.” Sophie grimaced.

“You may lie down, but don’t sleep.” Stephen leaned forward. “Do you understand?”

Sophie nodded, but groaned at the motion.

“I’ll sit with her, Dr. Henderson. Perhaps we can sit in the parlor. That way there will be noise to help keep her awake,” Christine suggested.

Stephen paused briefly before nodding. “All right.”

The men helped Sophie down the stairs and into the parlor. Stephen got her situated on the sofa and went to find her something to drink.

“I’ll check on Samson.” Andrew left quickly.

Stephen returned with hot tea and a couple of cookies, not happy with Sophie’s dazed appearance, despite Christine’s vigilance. “Sophie, you need to wake up.”

Sitting up slightly, she rasped, “I’m awake. I’m awake.”

“I have some tea and cookies for you.” Stephen held a cookie out to her.

One hand went to her mouth, the other to her stomach at the thought. “I don’t know if I could eat anything. My stomach is churning.”

“I’m sure it is but I’d like you to try please.”

“Your bedside manner sucks,” she retorted. Stephen didn’t comment as he handed her the tea and stood guard while she took a sip. She took a small bite of one of the cookies but pushed the uneaten portion away with a grimace. “Where’s Samson?”

Stephen set down the discarded teacup and cookie. “Andrew went to find out. He bolted after he kicked you and we’re not sure where he ran off to.”

Sophie grabbed his arm. “They won’t hurt him, will they? They understand it wasn’t his fault, right?”

Placing his hand gently on hers, Stephen smiled. “Yes, Sophie, I’m sure they understand. They will put him back in his stall and you can visit him as soon as you’re feeling up to it.”

Sophie nodded and went back to her tea. She and Christine sat in the parlor and talked for over two hours. Michael and Nona checked on her periodically but for the most part, they left her to rest.

Andrew returned in time for an early dinner and Sophie asked Stephen to stay as well. She knew Christine would never ask him and wanted to help in her own way.

“How’s Samson?”

“He’s well, Sophie. Your pet is back in his stall,” Andrew assured her.

Sophie frowned in confusion. “My pet?”

Andrew chuckled. “That’s what the men have begun to call him.”

“Funny.” Sophie rolled her eyes.

“Which is why Arville and Frank spent four hours tracking him down and coaxing him back to the barn.”

“Really?”

Andrew nodded and her heart swelled. Once the nausea and sleepiness finally subsided, she convinced Christine to take a walk with Stephen, and Nona insisted Sophie rest before dinner, so she reluctantly made her way upstairs.

As she walked through the foyer, she heard a knock on the door and reached to open it.

“What happened to your head, Sophie?” Jamie growled. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Sophie, answer me, please.” He walked in and quietly closed the door.

“Maybe if you’d been here, you wouldn’t need to ask,” she snipped.

“Baby, don’t be difficult. I want to know what happened to your head.” She burst into tears and he pulled her close as tears flowed unchecked down her face. “Sweetheart,” he whispered. “Tell me.”

She gave a halfhearted shrug. “Samson kicked me.”

Jamie cupped her face in his hands and leaned down so that he was nose-to-nose with her. “What do you mean, Samson kicked you? How did that happen?”

She pulled back slightly and took a deep breath. “He got spooked while I was walking him—”

“Why were you walking him alone, Sophie?” Jamie growled.

Sophie stomped her foot. “Because you weren’t here!”

He dragged his hands down his face.

“Anyway, he reared. When he came back down, his hoof grazed my head.”

Jamie scowled. “Who spooked him?”

“I don’t know.”

He continued to stare at her.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she muttered.

“Did you lose consciousness?” She lowered her head without answering, but he tipped her chin back up with his finger. “Sophie Jane Wellington Ford, answer me. Did you lose consciousness?”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Yes, I lost consciousness. But I’ve been forced to stay awake for the past three hours. Dr. Henderson was out at the arena when it happened, and Andrew and Christine have been hovering.”

Jamie frowned. “Maybe you should be in bed, resting.”

“But you just got home.”

“I’ll stay with you tonight.” He slipped her hair away from her temple. “This does not look good. What did Dr. Henderson say?”

“That I had to stay awake.”

Jamie smiled gently. “Anything else?”

She frowned and then shook her head. “Nothing else.”

* * *

“Okay. Let’s get you up to bed. I’ll let everyone know where you are.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her upstairs.

She pushed open her door and took a deep breath. “Oh! Going to be sick.” Pulling away from Jamie, she only just made it to the pitcher.

“Better?” Jamie grasped her around the waist and stroked her back. When she nodded, he lifted her and laid her on the bed. Gently sweeping her hair away from her face, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Sweetheart, you’re very warm. Are you feeling all right? Can I get you anything?”

Staring up at him, she shook her head. “I’m so tired. Sleep.”

Jamie sat back. “I don’t think you should sleep, sweetheart.”

“I’m hot.”

He rubbed her cheek and sat up further. “Sophie?”

Her words slurred and her eyes closed as she whispered, “Jams, tired, sweep.”

“Sophie, you need to stay awake.”

Her eyes fluttered and then closed. “Sweep.”

“Sophie?” No response. “Sophie, you need to wake up.” Still no response. Alarm hit him as he laid her down gently before leaving her to find either Stephen or Michael, rushing downstairs. Stephen had already left, so Jamie made his way to Michael’s office. “Dr. Wade?”

Michael looked up from his desk.

“Sophie’s upstairs in her room and I can’t wake her.”

Michael grabbed the smelling salts and led the way to her room. Neither one of them could wake her with verbal stimulation, so Michael put the vinegar under her nose. No response. “Lieutenant, I think this is much worse than we originally thought. Her temperature appears to be rising and she’s unresponsive. We must get her fever down and try to get her to wake up.”

Jamie went to work immediately. He started to unbutton her jacket. Michael left to find Nona, who arrived quickly with Betty in tow and immediately shooed him out of the room. He was left in the hall pacing and praying. Terrified she wouldn’t wake up. It must have only taken a few minutes for the door to open, but to Jamie, it seemed like hours before Nona stood in the open doorway.

“She’s resting, dear. We’re going to get ice, so you may sit with her if you like.”

Jamie went back into Sophie’s room and sat down on the bed. Laying his hand on her cheek, he felt the heat, and as he leaned over to kiss her forehead, tears filled his eyes. The thought of her in pain was almost his undoing.

Michael returned, and Jamie coughed in an effort to clear his emotion. They went to work, laying ice soaked linens over her body and changing them every twenty minutes. On the third change, she started shivering.

“This is a good sign,” Michael said.

Within minutes, Sophie began thrashing around, trying to take off the strips of cloth. “Jamie, don’t leave me.”

Tears streamed down her face and she appeared to be in the midst of a dream. Her breathing was labored, which concerned Michael, so Jamie climbed onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. “Shh, Sweetheart, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Sophie began to scream, “Jamie, please don’t go. I promise, I’ll be nice, just don’t leave me again. Jamie, where are you? Oh, God, Jamie, NO!”

She tried to sit up, but Jamie pulled her tighter to his chest and whispered, “Sophie, honey, listen to my voice. I’m right here. I’m not leaving you.”

As Jamie sang quietly to her and stroked her back, she calmed, so Michael put more cold cloths on her forehead and arms. Jamie wasn’t prepared to let her go, regardless of the fact the wet compresses were soaking him.

It took several hours for her fever to drop, and Jamie was forced to leave her once more so that Nona could change Sophie’s bedding and nightgown. He hated being relegated to the hallway and paced in frustration as he waited to be let back in.

He turned as Andrew limped up the stairs and stopped briefly. “Lieutenant. What’s happening with Sophie?”

“Her fever spiked and she’s been unconscious.”

Andrew sighed. “Did Nona kick you out of the room?”

Jamie nodded and sighed.

Just then, Nona opened the door. “Drew, how are you feeling?” Glancing to his knee, she frowned. “Did you overuse your leg?”

Andrew shook his head. “I’m fine, Nona, thank you. How’s Sophie?”

“Michael says she feels cooler, and her bedding has been changed, which will make her more comfortable, but she hasn’t woken up yet.”

Relief spread through Jamie as he pushed past her. “Thank you. Excuse me, Nona.” Jamie walked into Sophie’s room and over to her bedside. Laying his hand gently on her cheek, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, grateful that she felt cooler.

A knock came at the door, and Christine poked her head inside. “How are you feeling?”

Sophie turned her head toward her voice. “Much better now, thank you. What are you doing here so late?”

“I was worried about you, so I’m going to stay here for a few days.” Christine moved further into the room as she said, “I keep joking with Mama, that maybe I should move in here. I seem to be here every day as it is.”

Sophie giggled again. “Ow.”

“Sorry,” Christine said, looking guilty. “Can I get you anything?”

“I’m hungry. Am I allowed to eat anything?”

Jamie patted her hand. “I’ll check with Michael, sweetheart. Christine, you stay and visit.” He kissed Sophie again quickly and then stepped into the hallway. Andrew pushed away from the wall.

“Lieutenant? I think someone tried to hurt Sophie.”

“Walk with me.” Jamie motioned towards the stairs. “What happened?”

“There was a loud bang, which we all thought was a rock of some kind, but it appears to have been a bullet. It was not an accident. In fact, I believe they were aiming for Sophie.”

Jamie frowned. “That’s twice.”

“What do you mean, twice?” Jamie filled him in on the attempt by the lake and Andrew swore. “You take care of Sophie, and I’ll see what I can find out.”

Jamie nodded and went to find Michael. Trying to mentally force away the headache approaching, he retrieved the approved bowl of soup, and made his way up the stairs. He juggled the tray and pushed Sophie’s door open. “You’re allowed to have some broth.”

“Lucky me,” Sophie said sarcastically as she turned her head toward him.

“Do you need help to sit up?” Sophie shook her head and leaned against the headboard. Jamie laid a napkin across her lap and then set the tray in front of her. “Michael says the danger has passed and it’s safe for you to sleep after you eat.”

Jamie sat with her while she ate and then forced her to climb deeper under the covers and rest. He lay down beside her and stroked her back until she fell asleep, although her sleep was fitful, and she jerked awake less than an hour later. Sitting up, she called for Jamie, who was no longer in the bed with her.

He rose from the chair in the corner and made his way over to her. “I’m here, Sophie. Did you have a bad dream?”

She rubbed her eyes and laid back down. “No, I just thought I might have imagined you were here. Have you been here the whole time?”

“Yes.” He chuckled. “I wanted to make sure you rested, and I was having a difficult time lying next to you, so I thought I’d move to the chair. Can I get you anything?”

Sophie nodded. “Some water, please.”

He rose to his feet and brought her a glass of water. Leaning over, he felt her forehead. “Your fever has broken. How do you feel?”

“I’m still sore but I don’t feel as though my head is going to split open.”

“Why don’t you roll over and I’ll rub your back.”

“All right.” She handed him the glass and moved to her stomach. Jamie started to massage her shoulders and Sophie sighed in pleasure. “You were always so good at this.”

He leaned down and kissed the back of her neck.

Sophie gave a quiet laugh. “You didn’t say it was going to be one those massages.”

“That’s just a bonus.”

She reached up to move her hair away from her face and pain shot through her head. “Wait, Jamie, I think I’m going to be sick.” She rolled over and sat up. Taking several deep breaths, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Did I do something?”

“No. Ugh, it hurts.”

Jamie stood and found a cool, wet cloth, and then made his way back to her side. “Here, put this on, it should help.” He laid it gently over her eyes.

She laid down on her back again and sighed. “Mmm, yes, much better. Thank you.”

Jamie stared at her while she was essentially blindfolded. Her nightgown had ridden up her thighs and, despite the fact that the buttons at the front were fastened all the way to her neck, the delicacy of the fabric didn’t distract from her full breasts. Sitting slowly back down on the bed, he took one of her feet in his hands and started to massage it, working his way to her ankle.

“You’re so getting brownie points for this,” Sophie said behind her blindfold.

Jamie stretched out beside her. “How’s your head?”

“Improved, I think.”

He leaned down to place his lips gently on hers. The kiss became more urgent as his hand moved from her cheek to her neck. He loved the feeling of her body beneath his fingers. She’d lost so much weight over the course of her illness, but now, she was healthy and regaining her lush figure.

Jamie reached his hand to the bottom of her nightgown and pushed it up her body. When he reached her hips, he rolled her onto her back and pushed the nightgown higher, noticing her birthmark just below her navel, shaped like the state of Texas.

He chuckled, remembering when he wanted to venture south of the border, he’d shout “Remember the Alamo!” or make a corny joke like not remembering the state of Texas being so close to Virginia. Sophie’s quiet moan forced him back to the present and he pushed himself up from the bed.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

Pacing the small space next to the bed, he whispered, “No, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”

Sophie sat up and glared at him, a little irritated with the stopping and starting. Well, really just the stopping. “Don’t be sorry, come back to bed.”

Jamie shook his head and held his hands up. “No. You need to rest.”

Sophie slipped her nightgown off her shoulders. “Nooo, I need my husband to make love to me.”

Jamie had to turn away from the sight of her full breasts rising and falling with her quick breaths, begging to be touched and tasted. “Later. When you’re feeling better. Please put your nightgown back on.”

“No.”

Jamie sat back down on the bed, his back to her, and Sophie knelt behind him and laid her cheek on his shoulder. “I feel fine.”

He glanced at her. “Sophie, you need to rest and this is not open for discussion.”

Sophie pursed her lips and then gave him a slow smile. “How about just a kiss?”

Jamie laid a finger over her mouth. “One kiss. I mean it.”

Kissing her as he laid her back down on the bed, his hand seemed to find its way under her nightgown and up her thigh. She gasped as he moved further up her leg. “Yes, just one kiss—ohhhh.”

Jamie forced himself to pull away from her once again. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, we need to stop.”

“Wha-what? Why?”

Sitting up, he rested his elbows on his knees and ran his hands through his hair. “You got kicked in the head by a horse today, were unconscious, and fought off a really nasty fever. I think that making love to you might just overwhelm your body.”

“You have that much faith in your abilities, do you?”

“Ten-Cow,” he admonished.

“You wrote that in your note as well. You remember.”

“My ten-cow woman? How could I forget?”

Sophie grinned wide. “I won’t answer that.”

He chuckled. “How’s your head now?”

Sophie stared up at him and sighed quietly. “It’s a little worse actually.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He stood and made his way to the bureau. “Honey, don’t do that again, okay? I don’t want you in pain.” He grabbed the cloth, rinsed it, and laid it gently on her forehead. “How’s that?”

“Good, thank you. What time is it?”

“I think it’s almost midnight.” He sat next to her again and kissed her cheek. “And you need to rest. Time to go back to sleep.”

He leaned down and kissed her then stood and moved away from the bed.

Sophie grabbed for him. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere. I’ll stay right here but in the chair.”

Sophie grinned at him. “Chicken.”

“As your man, I’m sworn to protect you...even if it’s from yourself.”

“Whatever.”

He chuckled and lowered himself into the chair. Sophie forced herself to close her eyes and think of something that didn’t make her want to wrap her mouth around her husband’s cock.