Page 64 of Apple of My Eye

“Love you too,” I said. “Been waiting to say that.”

“Knox, hey, eyes open soldier. Stay here.”

“Not leaving.” My fingers moved, searching for her, grabbing onto what I hoped was her sweater, and not Liam’s thigh.

Her sobs filled my ears. I could hear but couldn’t see her anymore, my vision having made an executive decision to narrow considerably.

“Ambulance is here,” came Patrick’s voice above me. “You’re going to be fine, Knox. A true hero.”

That word… At some point I’d have to decide if I was worthy of it.

“Looks like a clean wound, in the front of the shoulder, out the back,” Liam reported. Other people worked on me.

Soon they rolled me out of there. Daisy’s hand found mine on the gurney, squeezing tight. The ambulance wailed down the road to the Lewistown medical center.

“When this is all over, marry me.” That wasn’t the delirium of being shot talking. Okay, maybe a little of the pain meds speaking for me.

She snorted. “We just moved our relationship out of thefriend zone. We showed everyone publicly tonight that we’re an item. I thought moving in together would be the next natural step eventually, later on down the road.”

“That, too. I want it all with you. Right now.”

“What happened to that patience of yours?” She quipped.

“Life is too short, sweetheart. I see that now.”

“Well, cowboy. If you want forever, you’ll have to put a ring on it.”

“First thing I’ll do when I get out of the hospital. You can count on it.”

I’d waited a long year for her. For us. I wasn’t waiting a second more for forever.

Chapter Nineteen

Daisy

The hospital room was small,and the entire group of us packed in it shrunk it even more. Knox lay propped against the hospital pillows, far too alert for a man who had been in surgery until two in the morning. The doctor had his left shoulder bandaged and immobilized. A couple of monitors beeped steady reassurances beside him.

He took one look at all of us piling in, and the corners of his mouth curved up. “You all look worse than I feel.”

“Good to see you with us on this side of the living,” Colt shook his hand carefully, right hand only. Ivy squeezed his forearm.

Sage stood at the foot of the bed and said, “Thank you for bringing Daisy home to us.”

“It was a team effort.” Like he couldn’t take credit for anything.

Ash shook hands with him as well. “Rest up. We’ll save some work for when you get better.”

“Thanks. And I appreciate everything you did last night.We all made a good team.” His eyes fell on me, surprisingly bright after everything his body had been through.

“That’s just what we do. We step up for each other. Brothers in arms. Brothers on the ranch,” Ash nodded.

“Oh, Ash, that was beautiful,” Willow kissed his cheek.

“I admit last night was incredible, being a part of the action. But after our experience with Seth, and now Trevor, I’m looking forward to the rest of fall and winter being a little more peaceful on the ranch.” Colt squeezed Ivy into his side.

“I think we all are,” Ivy added.

We talked more until eventually everyone filed out, giving us some space.