Diana Palmer - Ethan

A rabella was drifting. She seemed to be floating along on a particularly fast cloud, high above the world. She murmured contentedly and sank into the fluffy nothingness, aware somewhere of a fleeting pain that began to grow with every passing second until it was a white-hot throb in one of her hands.

No! she exclaimed, and her eyes flew open.

She was lying on a cold table. Her dress, her beautiful gray dress, was covered with blood and she felt bruised and cut all over. A man in a white jacket was examining her eyes. She groaned.

Concussion, the man murmured. Abrasions, contusions. Compound fracture of the wrist, one ligament almost severed. Type and cross-match her blood, prep her for surgery, and get me an operating room.

Yes, Doctor.

Well? The other voice was harsh, demanding. Very male and familiar, but not her fathers.

Shell be all right, the doctor said with resignation. Now, will you please go outside and sit down, Mr. Hardeman? While I can appreciate your concern and that was an understatement, the physician thought you can do her more good by letting us work.

Ethan! The voice was Ethans! She managed to turn her head, and yes, it was Ethan Hardeman. He looked as if theyd dragged him out of bed. His black hair was rumpled, apparently by his own fingers. His hard, lean face was drawn, his gray eyes so dark with worry that they looked black. His white shirt was half-unbuttoned, as if hed thrown it on, and his dark jacket was open. Hed all but crushed the brim of the creamy Stetson in his hand.

Bella, he breathed when he saw her pale, damaged face.

Ethan, she managed in a hoarse whisper. Oh, Ethan, my hand!

His expression tautened as he moved closer to her, despite the doctors protests. He reached down and touched her poor, bruised cheek. Baby, what a scare you gave me! he whispered. His hand actually seemed to be trembling as he brushed back her disheveled long brown hair. Her green eyes were bright with pain and welcome, all mixed up together.

My father? she asked with apprehension, because hed been driving the car.

They flew him to Dallas. He had an ocular injury, and theyve got some of the top men in the field there. Hes all right, otherwise. He couldnt take care of you, so he had the hospital call me. Ethan smiled coldly. God knows, that was a gut-wrenching decision on his part.

She was in too much pain to pick up on the meaning behind the words. Butmy hand? she asked.

He stood up straight. Theyll talk to you about that later. Mary and the rest will be here in the morning. Ill stay until youre out of surgery.

She caught at his arm with her good hand, feeling the hard muscle tighten. Make them understandhow important my hand is, please, she pleaded.

They understand. Theyll do what can be done. He touched her cracked lips gently with his forefinger. I wont leave you, he said quietly. Ill be here.

She grabbed his hand, holding it, feeling his strength, drawing on his strength for the first time in recent memory. Ethan, she whispered as the pain built, remember the swimming hole?

His expression closed up. He actually flinched as her face contorted. My God, cant you give her something? he asked the doctor, as if the pain were his own.

The doctor seemed to understand at last that it was more than bad temper driving the tall, angry man whod stormed into the emergency room barely ten minutes ago. The look on those hard features as hed held the womans hand had said everything.

Ill give her something, the doctor promised. Are you a relative? Her husband, perhaps?

Ethans silver eyes cut at him. No, Im not a relative. Shes a concert pianist, very commercial these days. She lives with her father and shes never been allowed to marry.