Heart At Risk. Ana Leigh
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habit I picked up in the military,” he said.
“Army, navy or marines?”
“Navy.”
“How long have you been in?” she asked.
“I enlisted right after graduation.”
“What’s your rank?”
“Actually, I’m not in the navy anymore.”
Her surprise was apparent. “What do you do for a living?”
“I work for the government.”
He was spared any more of the interrogation when she pulled into the driveway of a two-story, cream-colored house with black shutters and roof.
Scotty appeared none the worse for his near drowning. He jumped out of the car and raced ahead into the house.
Beth stayed behind to offer a helping hand to Kurt, who appeared to be the only casualty of the incident.
Beth insisted he shower to cleanse the quarry water off him. By the time he finished, the painkillers had kicked in and eased the pain considerably.
“Give me your wet clothing and I’ll wash it with Scotty’s.”
“That’s not necessary. I’ll pack up and get out of here.”
“I won’t hear of it,” Beth declared as she took the wet clothes from him. “It won’t take long and in the meantime I’ve made a fresh pot of coffee. So just sit down and relax.”
She returned a few moments later, put a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table and poured them each a cup of coffee.
Beware of maiden aunts bearing chocolate chip cookies. What was she up to?
Suddenly the door burst open and Maddie rushed in. Kurt doubted she even noticed his presence. “Where is he?” she asked breathlessly.
“Relax, dear. Scotty’s taking a bath. Kevin gave him a clean bill of health.”
Beth could have saved her breath. Maddie rushed past and up the stairs. She returned moments later.
“The bathroom door’s locked and he won’t open it. He said he prefers privacy when he bathes.” Her mouth curved in the barest suggestion of a grin. “Privacy! I’m his mother! That little munchkin! I ought to warm his bottom when he comes out.”
“I know, dear, I got the same response, and I’m a nurse. So sit down and have a cup of coffee with us.”
For the first time since she arrived, Maddie looked directly at him. Kurt cut her some slack. Her concern for her son was understandable.
“Thank you, Kurt. Aunt Beth told me on the phone that you’re responsible for saving Scotty.”
“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Besides, if I hadn’t waved at him, he probably wouldn’t have fallen.”
“If anyone’s to blame, I am,” Beth protested. “I never should have let him get that close to the rim of that hole.”
Maddie took a deep draft of the coffee. “Please, neither of you are to blame. Accidents happen. I just thank God Scotty’s okay.”
“We all are, dear,” Beth said. “Except for Kurt. He aggravated his knee injury when he jumped into the water.”
Despite her anxiety for her son, Maddie looked contrite. “I’m sorry, Kurt.”
“No sweat. It’s happened before. I just have to take it easy for a while. I’ll have the doc check it out when I get back to the VA hospital.”
Beth handed him the plate of cookies. “It’s a long drive back to Milwaukee. And you shouldn’t drive after taking those pain pills. I think you should rest right here for a couple of days. There are twin beds in Scotty’s room, so you can double up with him.”
“It’s only a couple hours’ drive, Beth.”
“And you only took a couple pills. I won’t hear of it. We insist you remain right here.” Beth looked at Maddie for support. “Don’t we, dear?”
Aunt Beth was sniffing the wrong scent if she expected her niece to back her up. Maddie looked anything but supportive. “Well…ah…I understand why Kurt would want to get back to proper medical care.”
“I beg your pardon, Missy,” Beth declared, feigning indignation. “I happen to be a registered nurse.”
“But you don’t have X-ray eyes, do you, darling?” Maddie hurried from the room and went back upstairs.
They heard her pound on the bathroom door. “Scotty, you’ve been in that bath long enough. Unlock this door, or I’m getting the key and coming in.”
“Okay, I’ll be out in a minute,” the boy yelled back. “Boy, a kid’s got no privacy living in a house full of women.”
“Hasn’t any privacy,” Maddie corrected. “Furthermore, you’ll have even less if you’re not out of there in the next sixty seconds.”
“How can I have less of what I don’t have to begin with?”
“You’ll find out soon enough if you don’t listen to me.”
Beth smiled. “Hope you don’t get the wrong impression, Kurt. Right now Maddie’s aching so badly, she’s about to burst if she can’t get her arms around that boy and judge for herself that he’s okay. They’re very close and he’s her whole life.” She shook her head. “Lord, if anything would have happened to Scotty, Maddie would never have been able…”
Kurt reached over and patted her hand. “I understand. It’s not hard to tell they’re tight. What about his father? Is he alive, or is Maddie divorced?”
“Oh, he’s very much alive.”
“Where is he?”
“Right here in Vandergriff.”
“Does he know about the accident?”
“Yes,” she said. She looked up and smiled. “Scotty will be glad to hear that you’re staying for a couple of days. Now there’ll be another man in the house.”
“Beth, I didn’t say I was staying,” he said.
“But you will, won’t you, dear.” She smiled confidently and picked up their cups and carried them to the sink.
In the past ten years he’d been his own man, made his own decisions unless the military made them for him. But no one talked him into doing anything he didn’t want to do—and right now he wanted to get the hell out of there as quickly as he could.
With that firm resolution in mind he opened his mouth and said, “Okay, but just until tomorrow.”
Kurt glanced at Maddie who had just come down the stairs. She didn’t look happy—appalled would be more correct. He swung his gaze back to Beth. She looked like the cat who’d just swallowed the canary.
So why did he suddenly feel like he’d just stepped into a steaming pile of horse manure?
Chapter 3
“Boy, this is cool,” Scotty said when Kurt brought his backpack into the bedroom. “I never had a roommate before.”
“You mean you’ve never had a sleepover?”
“Oh, sure, but that’s not the same as someone staying for more than one night. How long you gonna stay, Mr. Bolen?”
“Sorry, pal, just for tonight,” Kurt said. Unless he could think of a good excuse for leaving right away.
“I cleaned out one of my dresser drawers. You can put your clothes in it, Mr. Bolen.”
“That’s not