Kit Ehrman: At Risk

"He got smarter."

"What? Oh, yeah. Robert managed to stay clean until now."

The florescent tube above my head hummed softly. "What about Elsa?"

Ralston shrugged. "There's nothing to indicate she knew what her husband and brothers were up to, but the fact that she warned you implies otherwise. As far as the cousin's concerned, the one who owns the trailer, I don't think he knew they were using it for anything illegal. Oh, and the District Attorney's office is investigating Sanders. So far, they've found claims on four different horses "

"Wow." I shifted my pillow. "Heard anything about Robby?"

Ralston shook his head. "Nothing."

After lunch, I fell asleep. Sometime during my nap, the pain medication wore off. I floated upward on a rising wave of pain and jerked awake with a start. Rachel was sitting beside my bed, her fingers entwined in mine, and she looked scared. Her face looked stiff, and a tremor worked at the corner of her mouth. I could only guess how my face must have looked before I'd come fully awake.

"Hey," I mumbled.

She stood up. Her skin was pale in the florescent light. "Oh God, Steve. Should I get a nurse?"

"No." I squeezed her hand. "I'm okay, really. When I first wake up, sometimes it's rough, but I'm better now."

"Oh, Steve." She hugged me.

I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She rested her head on my chest. Her arms trembled in little spasms, and I could tell she was crying. I ran my fingers through her hair and closed my eyes. Her warm tears seeped through the hospital gown.

"Hey, it's okay," I said.

She lifted her head, and her black hair swung forward and brushed against my chin. When I smoothed it back behind her ear and kissed her cheek, she moved her lips over mine and kissed me, then she looked into my eyes.

"I love you," she whispered.

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