Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Desire Their Queen [Wyoming Warriors 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (22 page)

“No. Her heartbeat is irregular.” The men returned with an empty stretcher. They put her on the gurney and hurried out. “I’ll give her medicine on the way,” the medic called back to them.

“You all go on to the hospital. I’m going to fly there.”

Kira hugged Hakan. “I’ll see you, soon.” She threaded her way through the many warriors and, once outside, shifted. Soaring up into the early-morning sky, a sense of freedom shot through her. She dove and then went straight up, she made wide circles, and she screeched loudly at the world.

Aleron, in his eagle persona, joined her.
“Hello.”

“Go away.”

“No. You’re hurting. I’m not leaving you alone. Talk to me.”

“I didn’t save Lonato from getting hurt. He’s angry at me and the world. I need time to think.” Her guilt was overwhelming. If only she hadn’t hesitated. She knew what needed to be done. The woman had to die, and yet taking a life was not easy and had left her feeling sad.

Kira dropped into a nosedive. The wind whistled by her body. Almost at the ground, she shot straight up. But the eagle didn’t let her get away. Aleron stayed right behind her.

Finally, she slowed, and he flew beside her.
“You’re also upset because you hated to kill someone. Mother Aileen said it had to be done.
You do whatever is necessary for our people, regardless of the consequences to you.

“Mother Aileen’s been a witch many more years than you’ve been alive. I bet when you’re her age you won’t think twice at having to do whatever is necessary to save us. Or maybe you will never get used to the times you have to protect us with force. It may not be in your nature.”

He flew around her and returned to her side.
“You have many other ways of helping us, like you did at the hospital, and those are the skills we’ll need most. I’m looking forward to you being the head of our three tribes. I’m going home. You’re needed at the hospital.”

She watched him fly out of sight, and then turned in the opposite direction. She landed on the hospital roof, shifted, and took the stairs down to the top floor. The nurse looked surprised to see her come in from the roof entry.

“May I help you?”

“Which floor do I go to for surgery and ICU?”

The nurse told her. She punched in the number on the elevator, and in seconds she was there. Luck was with her. Hakan had his back to the elevator. He stood at the desk writing in a chart.

She inched her way toward him and put her arm around his waist. He jumped, and then smiled when he saw it was her.

“You startled me.” He held her away from him. “You’re all in one piece.”

“What’s happening with Lonato?”

“The nurses are getting him ready for surgery. One of his colleagues, Dr. Chandler Larsson, who specializes in repairing damaged nerves and tendons, is flying here to try and repair his arm. He’s the best in his field. If he can’t do it, then Rex may have to change his specialty, and he won’t be happy.” Hakan handed the chart to the nurse. “Do you want to see him?”

“Does he want to see me?”

“Ignore his testiness. He needs to see you whether he’ll admit it or not.” While they walked to Lonato’s room Kira asked about Cindy.

“She’s doing well. Rex did a good job on her and finished just in time to rush to his parents’ house. I knew he’d do that once he heard the news of where Pearce and his mother had been found.”

Hakan opened the door and escorted her in. Lonato didn’t open his eyes. His face was pale, and he lay still on the bed. “Rex, we’re here, Kira and me.”

“Tell her to go away.” He turned his face toward the wall.

“Do you blame me for what happened at your house?”

He jerked his head around to face her. “Where were all your great skills when my family and I needed them? Why did you hesitate? You could have blasted them from the start. You held back.” His angry words and his glare scorched her, inside and out.

He looked from her to Hakan. “Are my parents all right?”

“They will be. They’re being admitted to the hospital. Your father has a slight concussion. We’ll keep him for a few days to be sure he’s completely recovered before going home. Your mother is in shock from all she heard and saw. I’ve asked our best psychiatrist to see her. It will take her longer to fully recover, mentally.”

“As soon as I’m able to get up, I want to see them. Is Chandler on his way?”

“Yes, he flew out of Houston on his private jet. He’ll be here soon.”

“He’ll fix me. I refuse to believe I’ll never operate again.” He closed his eyes and turned his face away from them again.

Hakan put his arm around Kira and escorted her out into the hall. “He’ll get over this. You did all you could.”

Kira shook her head no. “He’s right. I did hesitate. I’ve never killed anyone before, much less burned them alive. Take care of everyone here. I need to be alone for a while.”

“Go to our house. I won’t be home until late, if at all today. You can be all to yourself there.”

She nodded, but that wasn’t where she wanted to go. She called her dad, and he brought her truck to her.

“You can drop me off at the barn,” her dad said.

“No problem. I’m going in that direction. I want to talk with Mitch.”

“Are you going back to California?”

“No. Right now I just have to find a place to be alone and think. There should be a place on the ranch where I can go.”

She parked the truck by the barn. Her dad got out. “Be careful. We’ll miss you until you get back. Averil called and said they’d be home later today. She was upset you hadn’t called for her help, but I explained she and her husbands deserved their time together. She needed the rest, and we all knew she wouldn’t get it if you had asked her to return. Things will look different to you in a few days.”

“I hope so, Dad.”

He waved and walked into the barn. Kira drove to the main ranch house. Daren and Mitch were standing in the foyer. “Just the two people I need to talk with. Do you have time?”

“We always have time for you. You saved us all today.”

“Just barely. Lonato may be permanently injured.”

“He’s strong and has better recovery powers than most of us,” Mitch said. “Give a pint of your blood to him, and he’ll really heal fast.”

“Good idea. I’ll go downstairs and have one of the lab techs collect my blood to send to the hospital. But afterwards, I have to get away.”

“Sahale won’t mind if you use his place again,” Mitch reminded her. “By the way, I called the helo back that we’d sent for Nanna. I phoned her and told her it was over, finally.”

“I want to go where no one can find me. I love the area around the canyon. Do you have some acres I can buy? I’ll camp out there and later have a cabin built.”

“Thank goodness you aren’t leaving for good. I was afraid all of this mess might have made you want to go back to California.” Daren hugged her. “You had me worried. We want you to bring the three tribes together.”

“No, I considered California for about a minute or two.” She smiled at Daren.

“Come to my office. I have a map of the whole ranch. We’ll look at the land around the canyon. Most people have chosen acreage in other areas because of the distance from here. There are several good choices,” Mitch said and led the way.

Kira and Daren followed him. He spread a large map over his desk. “Here’s the canyon. The red marks are where a few people have built, including me. Except I’m not right on the edge of the canyon like Sahale is.”

She followed the line of a small road around to the opposite side from Sahale. “What’s this, a stream?” she pointed to a blue line.

“Yes, let me see.” Mitch put his finger on the line and followed it to the end. “Here, it ends in a waterfall and a small lake. I rode by there one day. It’s a beautiful area, lots of wildlife, trees and the water.” He looked across at Kira. “Perfect for you and whoever you might invite to visit.” He smiled.

“Lonato hates me. He thinks I hesitated. I did. It was hard to kill someone.”

“It should be. If we ever think it’s getting easy, we need to retire and put our weapons away. This was your first time. Rex will come to his senses when he’s better physically. How about Hakan?” Daren asked.

“He’s always supportive, but I don’t want either of them to know where I am. I need to clear my thoughts without their influence.”

“Do you have camping gear?” Mitch asked.

“Not here.”

“We have all you will need. Daren, put our stuff in her truck. I’ll write out the directions.”

“I could just fly there, but I’ve gotten soft, and I want to have the gear with me.”

“Call us if you need us. Our reception is good even there.”

“I know, thanks for everything. I’ll go give the pint of blood and head out. If I leave now, I might make it by late this evening.”

The blood donation didn’t make her weak. She finally had her full strength back. Daren had filled her truck with gas and more supplies than she’d ever need, including a small generator.

She waved at him, Mitch, and Sara, as she drove off. The farther she got from the main ranch, the more she relaxed. This was going to be good for her.

It was late afternoon when she arrived at Nanna’s. Nanna came out on the porch. “Come in. I have dinner ready.”

Kira grinned. “Mitch called to say I was coming.”

“No, I knew it, in here.” She put her hand on her heart.

“The food smells delicious,” Kira said.

Nanna led her to the kitchen. “Have a glass of wine. It will be good for you. I’ve added a few of my special herbs. You won’t taste them, but they’ll help you calm and find your center.”

“How did you get so wise, old woman?” Kira teased.

“I am old and gifted. You will find as you age your gifts become more powerful. You learn more about yourself, and about how to use them.”

“What will we do when you are gone, Nanna?”

“Ah, I have many years yet. Long enough to train Sahale’s daughter. She has the gift. My other grandchildren are special, but she has my gifts.”

“I don’t want anything to happen to you, Nanna, but it is good to know about your granddaughter.”

“She is Sahale, Jack, and Ellen’s daughter. Three very special people in their own right.”

“I have gotten to know Ellen fairly well. She is smart and has good ethics.”