Chapter 15

Dani's universe consisted of a dark ache that radiated from her head and seemed to paralyze her. She tried to open her eyes, but the brightness of the outside world only increased the hurt. Gasping, she closed her eyelids, returning to the safety of the dark ache.

She felt something warm touch her, felt it gradually penetrate the fog of pain. A soft touch brushed back her bangs from her forehead, and she heard a gentle voice whisper soothing sounds.

"Shh..." the voice said. "You're going to be okay. Just rest now."

Dani recognized the voice and wished she could open her eyes to see its owner. Caleb had told their captors that he loved her and she had never heard sweeter words.

Dani felt a gentle rocking sensation that calmed her. A stray thought -- We must be on a boat -- slid across her consciousness like the peaceful sound of surf against the shore, but it did not permeate her dark ache. Caring hands continued to stroke her, to comfort her, and she allowed the touch and the rocking of the waves to lull her back into unconsciousness.

Dani woke, reality rocketing back at light speed. The pain was almost gone, and all that remained was a dull ache at the back of her head. She scanned her surroundings, quickly recognizing the pale green walls and standard furnishings of hospital rooms around the world.

Dani sat up, nearly upending the contents of the narrow table that had been placed across her lap. She quickly fell backwards onto the bed again when her head spun. A machine at her bedside began beeping, and in seconds a wide-hipped nurse pulled back the curtain sheltering her bed and charged in, pushing a few buttons on the machine and turning to her patient.

"And how are we feeling?" she asked, strapping a blood pressure cuff around Dani's arm and starting to pump it full of constricting pressure.

Dani grimaced. "Dizzy."

"That will be the pain medication."

The cuff had reached a nearly unbearable pressure when the nurse finally released it. She checked Dani's IV, then clipped a monitor on her index finger. "Well, your blood pressure looks good."

The nurse gave Dani a smile that exposed front teeth large enough to fit a horse's mouth. "How about some lunch?"

Lunch consisted of a tasteless turkey sandwich slathered in mayonnaise. Dani hated mayonnaise. She picked at the dry meat, ignoring the accompanying boiled potatoes and the obligatory cup of orange Jell-O. Her mind was on other things.

The events of the day before were foggy, and she wanted desperately to bring them into focus. She remembered her capture, the hours spent in the cave, their daring escape, and recovery of Caleb's cell phone. She remembered making it to the entrance and pressing "Send" on the cell phone. After that, things started getting blurry.

Dani sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the hospital bed. After carefully maneuvering her various tubes and wires out of the way she was able to stand, and then to pace. They'd been recaptured, and Caleb had been beaten and bound. The ringleader of the illegal mining operation had arrived, and Caleb told him that he loved her. Dani's steps faltered, and she froze at the memory.

He'd said that he loved her and that he'd do anything to keep her safe. Dani was overwhelmed by the rush of happiness that flooded her body at the thought of the ranger loving her.

The handsome, sexy ranger who made her feel things she'd never felt before. His kiss ignited her skin and inflamed her heart. She burned for him, and it was frightening.

Dani resumed her pacing. He'd said that he loved her, but how did she feel about him?

I love him too, she thought without hesitation. I have for some time now.

It was strange to acknowledge that, to realize that she'd given him her heart shortly after she'd accepted him into her body. I love him more than I've ever loved anyone or anything.

And it terrifies me.

But why? Why was she so frightened? Could it be because she feared him distracting her from her work, from her carefully constructed life plan? It was plausible, but Dani felt like that wasn't really the reason, just the excuse. Caleb would encourage her in her work, not stand in its way. So what could be the reason?

Dani thought back to that night in the hunting shack, when she'd mentioned Only Child Syndrome and started him down the path of revealing his deepest family secrets. She'd told him she'd been lonely, and that she'd thrown herself into science to find solace. That was true.

But she'd also said that once she got to college, she'd gone out and made friends. This was only partially true. She'd made a few friends in some of her classes. People to study with, to play Scrabble with on drunken evenings. But had she really let them in? Or had she kept them at a distance?

Her sophomore year she'd told herself that she would join a sorority. Here she would find the close friendships she'd been lacking her whole life. After a few weeks she'd quit, insisting that mani-pedi parties and gossip about frat boys hadn't been her cup of tea, but really, she'd never even given it a try.

Why?

Because she was afraid to let down the walls she'd built around herself. After living in the ivory tower of her books and her hobbies for so long, she'd forgotten how to let anyone in, to let anyone near her heart. Just as Caleb had hidden himself in the forest of Oregon, she'd hidden herself away in a metaphorical forest, one whose tall, dark trees were so forbidding, no one would dare attempt to enter.

Dani returned to her bed, dropping down on her mattress with a great big exhalation. She was exhausted by the walk and the deep reflection. It wasn't until she'd met the ranger, she realized, that anyone had braved the forest path to her heart.

They'd found each other out in the woods, both hiding from the world, both hiding from themselves. They could set each other free, and it was a fantastic feeling.

Dani reclined, pulling the thin blankets up over her tired body. He loved her, and soon he would come to her and take her into his big strong arms. His lips would drive away the foul memories of her captor's touch. His kisses would make her forget the fear she'd felt, fear of violence, of rape, of her own death.

Of his.

She couldn't wait to see him again, but her eyelids were drooping. She'd take a short nap, just to pass the time until he came.

With her mind focused on his bright blue eyes and beautiful smile she slipped into a deep sleep.