The Outsider Series

Chapter 12-1

Chapter Twelve

Jed stared at the wheelchair parked beside his hospital bed. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in blue jeans and a brown flannel shirt, waiting for Diana to pick him up, because today he was going home. Today he’d finally see his baby boy, hold him, rock him, and play with him.

The door pushed open and Doctor Gordon strode in. She was a tall, dark-haired woman in her early thirties, with the most amazing shade of brown eyes that filled with passion every time she spoke. She wore a long white doctor’s coat over a pair of black slacks and black shirt. She watched Jed for a minute before kicking the door stopper down with her foot, leaving it open just a c***k. “So, today’s the day. How does it feel to be going home?” She stopped in front of Jed and crossed her arms.

“Good. Can’t wait to get out of here, see my boy. Hold my wife.”

She nodded and tightened her lips. “You have to take it easy. No heavy lifting. Stay off your horse, lots of rest, just like Doctor Hardy told you—”

Jed cut her off. “I know the drill, Doc. Both you and Doctor Hardy said it over and over. But I’m not lying around doing nothing. I have a ranch to run. I’ll do what I can.”

“Jed, you’re just walking, and I feel I need to warn you that if you push yourself too hard, you could be right back in here. You need to listen, Jed, to me and Doctor Hardy. You have a family to think of, and you know, Jed… that’s not the only reason.”

Jed didn’t want to think about his conversation with Doctor Hardy. “I already told you—”

She cut him off this time, resting her hand on his shoulder, and sat beside him on the bed. “Jed, this isn’t a death sentence. It doesn’t have to be.”

“Letting someone cut into a part of my brain, and with one slip of the knife I’m no longer a man, can’t look after my family, and suddenly become a burden to be looked after like a baby every day by my wife? Are you kidding me? It’s worse, and I’d never do that to Diana. She’d hate me, and she’d have every right to.”

Doctor Gordon titled her head and slid her hand over his shoulder, touching his cheek with her other hand. “You haven’t told her. My God, I can only imagine how she’d feel if she knew there was a chance. If you were my husband…”

The door banged, and Jed looked up. The doctor dropped her hand and stood up, jamming her hands in her coat pocket.

Diana stood in the doorway, arms crossed in front of her. Brad stood behind her. It wasn’t so much Brad’s questioning look that bothered him. It was the frown on Diana’s face, the pained look in her eyes.

She wore a jean jacket over a pastel t-shirt, worn jeans, and her red hair was tied back in a ponytail. She stepped in the room and went right beside Jed. He wrapped his arm around her waist, and she said nothing.

“Well, if you need anything, let me know. The nurse will be in with your discharge papers, and then you’re on your way.” The doctor started to leave.

“Thank you, Doctor,” said Diana in a curt tone, one she used the few times she did her lawyer thing, and she squeezed Jed’s hand a little harder than usual.

The attractive doctor slipped past Brad. He took a second look at the slim young physician as he strode in and raised his eyebrows, and then he cleared his throat as he glanced back at Diana. “So, you ready to go home, little brother?”

“Can’t wait to get out of here. To hold my boy, my wife.” He pressed his hand possessively against Diana’s waist, but she remained stiff and aloof, and he could feel the fire that stoked her temper simmering just below the surface.

Jed slid off the bed and stood up. “Let’s go.”

A nurse hurried in with a chart and then set the brakes on the wheelchair.

“You don’t expect me to sit in that thing. I’m walking out of here.”

The dark-haired, mousy-looking nurse glanced at Diana and swallowed as she stared back up at Jed, who towered over her.

“Jed, sit in the chair.” Diana reached for the chart. “These the release papers?”

“Yes. If you can sign, please, and if your husband will sit in the chair, I’ll wheel him out of here.” The nurse spoke to Diana. She was obviously a smart lady who’d let Diana deal with the brute who was trying to intimidate her.

Brad yanked open the small closet. “You got everything packed?”

“It’s all there in that duffel bag on the chair.” Jed pointed to the green canvas bag.

Diana handed the chart back to the nurse and gestured to the chair, her shimmering blue eyes dancing with fire and passion. Then she snapped her fingers and said, “Sit down in the chair, Jed, because you’re not walking out of here. There are policies in place, so decide whether you want to go home or stay and argue.”

Brad chuckled behind him. Jed scowled and then sat in the small black chair. “Let’s go. I want to get out of this place.”

Diana led the way to the elevator, head high, walking with purpose. He could tell she was irritated. Brad carried the duffle bag, and the mousy nurse pushed the wheelchair.