Moyra Tarling - A Diamond For Kate

“Dr. Diamond. I’m the nurse who tended you earlier. I’ve brought your daughter to see you.” She tugged gently at Sabrina, who was standing behind Kate clutching her teddy.

“Sabrina? Sweetheart, are you all right?” Relief and excitement echoed in Marsh’s voice. He’d been fighting the urge to get up and go in search of Sabrina, foolish as he’d known it would be. But he’d needed to hear her voice, to know she was indeed all right.

Sabrina made no reply.

“Say hello to your father, Sabrina.” The nurse gently coaxed the child.

“Hello, Daddy.”

“Are you all right? Are they taking care of you?” he asked, trying with difficulty to keep his tone even, so as not to frighten her.

Silence followed his questions, and he had to bite back his frustration at her nonresponse. During the past four months, ever since he’d brought her home, she’d driven him to distraction at times by her unwillingness to communicate. He wished he could see her, see for himself that she was unhurt.

“She’s fine. Not so much as a scratch,” the nurse told him.

Behind them the door opened, and Dr. Franklin entered.

“The doctor man said you can’t see,” Sabrina suddenly announced, her natural curiosity winning the battle with her reserve.

Marsh’s mouth curved into a semblance of a smile. “If you mean Dr. Franklin, then he’s right.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Dr. Franklin said.

“Tom? Where did you come from? I didn’t know you were there.” But there was relief in Marsh’s tone at the presence of his friend. “I was telling Sabrina you were right about me not being able to see,” Marsh went on, attempting to make light of the situation.

“It’s only a temporary setback,” Tom said easily.

“Sabrina, why don’t you climb up here beside me?” Marsh suggested, patting the covers with his uninjured hand. Hearing his daughter’s voice had reassured him somewhat, but he had a longing to touch her.

“Kate can lift you onto the bed,” said Dr. Franklin.

“Kate?” Marsh repeated the name, and at the sound of it Kate felt her pulse wobble.

“Kate’s nice. She’s the nurse who’s been looking after me.”

“And me, too, I believe. Thank you, Kate, for all you’ve done.”

“You’re welcome,” she murmured, lifting Sabrina onto the bed.

Marsh felt the movement beside him, and instinctively he reached out to her. His hand made contact with warm, bare skin, and for a split second he felt a tiny jolt of electricity zip up his arm.

The air suddenly seemed rife with tension, a tension he didn’t understand. Puzzled, he curled his fingers around what he guessed was a forearm, but he knew by its size it didn’t belong to Sabrina.

Marsh heard a sharp intake of breath at the same time as the scent of jasmine assailed him. He instantly recognized it as being the fragrance he’d found strangely disturbing earlier. Once again a memory danced elusively at the edges of his mind, only to drift out of reach.

“Daddy that’s Kate’s arm.” Sabrina’s childish giggle effectively distracted Marsh, and he released his hold on Kate.

“Sorry.”

“That’s all right,” Kate responded, her voice a throaty whisper. She backed away, ignoring the tingle of pleasure his touch evoked, telling her all too clearly that even now he still affected her as no other man ever had.

“By the way, Marsh. I don’t know if Kate has had time to mention it, but your parents aren’t at the ranch. They’re out of the country.”

“What about Spencer? Surely he’s around?” Marsh had talked to his mother a few weeks ago, confirming their arrival at the end of August. He’d managed to wind things up two weeks early and so had decided to surprise them.

“Afraid not. Apparently they’ve all gone to Ireland. ”

“Ireland! Oh! Right. Spencer did mention something about the annual Thoroughbred sales. I didn’t realize my folks planned to go with him.”

“Unfortunately that’s going to complicate matters.”

“What do you mean?”

“Arrangements need to be made for Sabrina’s care, at least until your eyesight returns.”

“Hold on a minute.” Marsh tried to stay calm. “What kind of arrangements?” He reached out rather awkwardly in search of Sabrina and felt his fingers brush her hair.

“I’d offer to take Sabrina home with me,” Tom said, “but Amy, my four-year-old, has the chicken pox. I’m afraid we’re running out of options.”

“What about Mrs. B., the housekeeper?” Kate jumped in, recalling the older woman who’d worked for the Diamond family for a number of years.

Marsh slowly shook his head. “Mrs. B. retired earlier this year and moved to Arizona to live with her brother,” he explained.

“She wasn’t replaced?” Tom asked.

“No. My father’s taken over the kitchen. He likes to cook,” Marsh explained. “I was planning on putting an ad in the paper next week for a part-time sitter.”

“I’m afraid that leaves us with no choice,” Tom said.

“Wait,” Marsh said, knowing what Tom was referring to, but unwilling to let anyone hand his daughter over to Child Services. The upheavals she’d faced lately were quite enough for any five-year-old to be coping with. What Sabrina needed was stability.

“Tom—” Marsh began, as his mind scrambled to come up with another solution. “We both agree that my, uh, injuries, that is my, uh, eyesight will probably be restored by morning, and I’ll be able to go home,” he said in a positive manner. “Perhaps Sabrina could spend the night at the hospital? What do you think, Sabrina? You wouldn’t mind staying here would you?”

“Where would I sleep?”

“I’m sure Dr. Franklin could scrounge up a spare bed for you and let you sleep in here with me,” Marsh replied, pleased Sabrina hadn’t immediately rejected the prospect of spending the night at the hospital.

“Hold on a second,” Tom cautioned.

“Aw...come on, Tom! It isn’t too much to ask, is it?” Marsh cajoled softly. “And if you’re worried about hospital policy, you could always admit Sabrina overnight for observation. She was in a car accident, remember?”

Kate had watched the interchange with interest. She could have bitten her tongue when she mentioned the housekeeper, thinking for a moment Marsh might ask how she knew about Mrs. B., but he hadn’t appeared to notice.

She knew by the continuing silence that Dr. Franklin’s resolve was weakening. Marsh had offered a viable solution.

“I think that could be arranged. Kate, see if you can hustle up another bed and haul it in here. I’ll take care of the paperwork.”

“Yes, Doctor,” she replied and quickly withdrew.

Moments later, with the help of an orderly, Kate maneuvered another hospital bed into the private room. Dr. Franklin had already left.

“Kate?” Marsh began tentatively. “You don’t mind if I call you Kate, do you?”

“Of course, not,” she answered as she shook out a crisp, clean, hospital sheet.

“What time is it?”

“Nine-thirty. Why?”

“Sabrina was just saying she’s hungry. Is there any way you could get her something to eat?”

“Sure. After I finish making up the bed, I’ll pop down to the cafeteria and see what I can find. Would a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk be all right?” she asked as she deftly tucked in the sheet

“Yes, please,” Sabrina was quick to reply. “Can I eat it in bed?”

“Sure,” Kate replied picking up a pillow and slipping on its cover.

“Mommy had rules. She never let me eat in bed.”

“Here in Kincade the rules are different,” Marsh countered lightly. “Isn’t that right, Kate?” he added with a hint of humor.