CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Pat opened her eyes, ignoring the pain shooting through her cheek, her face. She was on her back, the rain and wind lashing at her. She had no idea how long she'd been there. The pillowcase was still on her stomach and it was warm against her. She rolled over, feeling light-headed, but she shook it off. She had to get back. Now. She sat up, shaking the rain from her face, feeling, she was certain, her brain as it banged against her skull.

She couldn't walk against the wind, that much was certain. So she crawled. She could feel the scrapes on her knees as they dug into the wet earth but she pushed on. Limbs were breaking and crashing around her and she had a brief moment of humor as she realized she could very well be in a disaster movie. Only in the movies, it was all for play. The wind roaring around her was nothing to play with.

It was with great joy that she spotted the barn. It was still a long way off but in her heart, she knew she would make it. She was soaked through and through but it didn't matter. She had the birds. And soon, they would all be safe. She tucked her head against her chest and crawled on, ignoring the constant pain in her cheek.

As she crawled around the corner of the barn, the back door to the ranch house flew open and Carly was standing there, shielding her eyes against the wind and rain. Then she was running towards her and Pat finally relaxed.

" Made it, " she said. " Never doubted it for a minute."

Then Carly fell to her knees in front of her, her eyes wide as she saw blood running down Pat's face.

" Jesus Christ, " she whispered. " Can you make it to the house? "

" Piece of cake, " Pat said with a grin. But it hurt to smile.

Carly grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, struggling against the wind towards the house. Finally, the door slammed shut and the sudden silence startled Pat.

" Oh my God. You're hurt. Sit down."

" I'm okay, " Pat said. " Here." She lifted up the pillowcase, now as wet as she was, and handed it to Carly.

" You found them? "

" Safe and sound. Or they were, " she said as she collapsed into a chair and wiped the blood away from her eye.

Carly opened the pillowcase and peeked inside, meeting two pairs of wild eyes.

" I can't believe you did this, " she said. She glanced at Pat and grinned. " My hero."

She went to the box she'd prepared, just in case. She lifted out the birds and settled them inside, then covered it with a towel. She would tend to them later. Right now, someone more important needed her.

She cupped Pat's face gently, her frown deepening as she saw the deep cut above Pat's right eyebrow.

" What happened to you? "

" I think it was a baseball bat, " Pat said.

Carly touched her cheekbone and Pat pulled away.

" It hurts, " she said.

" You'll be lucky if it's not broken." Then she lightly touched Pat's lips with her own. " I was...I was so scared, " she admitted. " I didn't know what to do."

" How could you think I wasn't coming back? " Pat asked. " I haven't seen you naked yet. You think I'd miss out on that? "

Carly closed her eyes, then bent and kissed Pat again, her lips lingering this time.

" Okay, enough of that mushy stuff, " Pat said. " I'm bleeding to death here."

" I'm sorry." Carly stood back. " Sit up there, " she said, pointing to the counter. " I'm going upstairs for my bag. Don't move."

Pat did as she was told. The throbbing in her face was nearly unbearable but it beat the constant roar of the storm. She glanced at her watch, surprised to see that over two hours had passed since she'd left the ranch house. No wonder Carly had been frantic.

She heard her running back down the stairs, then she reappeared with what looked like a medical bag in her hand.

" Jesus, Pat. At least take your rain coat off, " Carly said. She moved to Pat, sliding the wet jacket off her shoulders. " You're absolutely soaked. What did you do? Take a dip in the pond? "

" I may have. I don't really remember, " Pat murmured.

Carly frowned. Pat's face was flushed, cool. She seemed to be in shock.

" Lift your arms up, " Carly instructed quietly. Pat did and Carly pulled her wet T-shirt over her head, leaving Pat in only her sports bra. Carly raised her eyes, meeting Pat's. Now was no time to stare, she knew, but Jesus the woman was beautiful. She threw the wet shirt into the sink, then opened her bag.

Pat cringed as Carly dabbed at her cut. It burned and she squeezed her eyes shut against the pain.

" I'm sorry. I know it hurts but I've got to clean it. You need stitches."

" Stitches? No."

" Yes."

Carly spread Pat's legs and stood between them, wiping at the cut. The bleeding would not stop. She put pressure on it and held it, seeing the pain in Pat's eyes. Then she felt Pat tremble, felt the pressure as Pat's legs tightened around her hips.

" What? Too hard? "

" Why are you doing this to me? " Pat whispered.

" I'm trying to stop the bleeding. I know it hurts."

Pat suddenly gripped Carly's hips and pulled her tightly into her opened legs. Carly gasped at the intimate contact.

" No, this is what you're doing to me, " Pat murmured. She leaned forward and captured Carly's lips. Despite the pain in her face, the ache between her legs was greater.

Carly melted into the kiss, letting Pat hold her close. But she pulled away finally. This was not the time or place to start this.

" Behave, " she said. She dabbed at the wound again, pleased that the bleeding had nearly stopped. " I need to close this." She reached into her bag again and pulled out a suture. She ignored Pat's gasp.

" That's for dogs, right? " she asked.

" Well, I was training to be a vet, " Carly said.

" Maybe you shouldn't use that on me. Right? "

Carly nearly laughed. It was at times like this that she just wanted to take Pat in her arms and hold her. Not kiss her. Just hold her.

" Be quiet. You're such a baby, " she said.

" Surely you have something to deaden it, " Pat said.

" I didn't think you'd need it."

" Of course I need it! I'm not completely insane."

This time Carly did laugh.

" Will you hold still? I put a topical on it. I don't have anything else."

" Dr. Cambridge, and I use that term lightly, because I'm not a dog, " Pat said. " But I'm really a wimp when it comes to pain."

" You could have fooled me." Carly dabbed again at the wound and this time Pat didn't pull away. " See. Can't even feel it."

" I'm sure I'll feel a needle and thread."

" Suture, " Carly said. " But maybe I should just put a butterfly on it. It's not a clean cut and I'm a little out of practice. It may leave a scar. We can take you to a doctor tomorrow."

Pat met her eyes, then took her hand and brought it to her lips. She closed her eyes as she kissed Carly's palm.

" That's okay. I don't mind a scar. Years from now, it'll give us something to talk about. I'll remind you of how you tried to kill me, all for a couple of egrets. And we'll have hundreds of egrets out here then, just because of these two little guys. So I won't mind a scar, Carly."

Carly stared at her, again diving into her eyes. She reached out and touched Pat's face gently.

" Sometimes, you say things...you just take my breath away."