The Guardian (The Wolfe Series) (15 page)

             
“Hopefully she won’t mind all of that attention,” Taggert grinned for the first time since hauling his brother and the woman out of the desert.

             
“You can leave now,” Jake said, fighting the possessive and unreasonable jealousy that coursed through his veins whenever his brother looked at Laurie.  “Go watch for Doc Edwards.  He should be here any minute.”

             
“Ole Doc is here, boys,” Doc Edwards said as he walked into the bedroom and toward the bed where his patient lay.  He was shocked to see a beautiful woman in the throes of a raging fever, her body tormented by unrelenting shivers.  “What’s going on here?  What happened to this girl?”

             
Jake looked at the old man who had nursed him and his brothers through many a childhood illness or broken bone.  The old man’s silver hair and stooped shoulders were offset by bright blue eyes full of intelligence and life.  Jake knew that the old man could keep a confidence if necessary, and in this case it was definitely necessary.

             
“She was attacked by a coyote,” Jake told the doctor.  “We found the coyote dead and laying not too far from where we found the woman.  I’m going to have it tested for rabies.”  He hoped the doctor wouldn’t ask him how the coyote had died.  For whatever reason, the old man didn’t question the Wolfe brothers as others might have.  Did he suspect they were more than they appeared to be.  Their genetics were human when they were in human form and wolf when in their wolf form so Jake didn’t think the doctor could have any idea he and his brothers were shape-shifters.

             
“How long has she been like this?  She needs to be in a hospital, Jake.”

             
“You think I don’t know that?” Jake snarled, running a hand through his dark hair.  “She refuses to go.  She’s running away from something or someone and until I found out who that someone or something is she stays right here at the ranch.” 

Jake gasped when the doctor took off the bandage Jake had applied when he’d first found
Laurie. 
The wound looked painful, red and swollen, with reddish streaks running up her leg that signaled the beginning of an infection.  A yellowish-green pus-like substance drained from the wound and Jake felt his stomach roil at the sight.

             
“You could be signing her death warrant, you know,” the doctor said.  “I’ll dose her with antibiotics and give her something for the pain, then hook up an intravenous so she’s getting fluids and medication.  I’m going to leave the wound open so it’ll drain, stitch it up later.  That’s the best I’ll be able to do for her under these conditions.”

             
“I’ll watch over her, doc, you needn’t worry about that.”

             
The old man looked at Jake Wolfe and shook his head. 
“Fever is a sign of systemic infection. An open wound can become infected, and if not treated promptly will continue to spread throughout the body,” he said as he cleaned the wound, wrapping a new bandage around Laurie’s leg and inserting an IV into her arm.

“Canine bites are
especially traumatic and dangerous events and present a high probability of infection, especially if the bite goes untreated as this one has. A canine’s saliva has a broad diversity of bacteria and harmful bacteria and other dangerous pathogens can be present and transmitted to the bite wound.”  Laurie moaned when the doctor pulled the quilt back over her trembling body.

“
You need to keep that wound clean and dry, and monitor it closely.  If the fever doesn’t break within the next 24 hours call me and I’ll come back.  With a posse if necessary and she will go to a hospital whether any of you Wolfe boys like it or not.” 

“Hey, I’m with you, doc,” Taggert said which earned him a glare from his older brother. 

“Good, I’m glad at least one of you has some sense.”  He snapped his medical bag closed and headed for the door, Taggert close at his heels.

Laurie could hear
men’s voices but couldn’t make out what they were saying.  The pain in her leg had been horrific and the tremors that were shaking her body unrelenting.  Then she’d felt a needle enter her arm and pain medication had started to work, thereby alleviating most of her pain and she had groaned in relief.

             
Jake felt his heart break when he saw tears slip from the corners of Laurie’s eyes.  He took her fragile hand in his, his fingers lightly caressing her pulse point and said, “No one will ever hurt you again, my love.  I promise you that.” 

             
Laurie felt Jake take her hand and run his fingers lightly over her wrist in a soothing caress . . . and she was comforted.

              Jake was beginning to think the doctor was right and that he’d made a grievous mistake in keeping Laurie at the ranch.  It had been twelve hours since the doctor had seen Laurie and the fever still hadn’t broken.  She hadn’t spoken a coherent word in all that time, had tossed and turned, her moans and groans tearing at his heart.  Sometimes she would look at him as though she could actually see him, but Jake knew that wasn’t the case when her eyes became unfocused and seemed to look straight through him.

             
“Want me to spell you for awhile?” Taggert asked as he walked into the bedroom knowing his brother hadn’t left their patient’s side since they’d brought her to the ranch.

             
“No,” Jake said sadly.  “I have to keep holding on to her.  I’m afraid she’ll slide into a coma and die if I leave her.”

             
Taggert could see the moisture in his brother’s eyes and was staggered by the sight.  He hadn’t seen Jake cry since they were children, not even when their mother had been killed.

             
“What can I do to help you?  Would you eat something?  I know I’m not great in the kitchen but I’ll give it my best shot and try not to poison you in the process.”

             
Jake managed to dredge up a small smile for his brother.  Leave it to Taggert to find humor in the darkest of situations.  “Yea, that would be good.  Sorry I’ve been such a bastard.”

             
“Hey, you’re entitled,” Taggert grinned and headed for the kitchen.  “Isn’t everyday a guy finds his mate.  Just keep your chin up, bro.”

             
Jake ran a damp cloth across Laurie’s forehead, neck and shoulders the same way he had done for the past twelve hours.  He’d removed her soiled sundress anda underclothes as soon as the doctor had left which had left her naked beneath the bed’s luxurious covers.  Jake had tried to remain emotionally uninvolved when he’d seen Laurie’s body for the first time but his libido was having none of it.  He had a feeling he might be finding himself in a perpetual state of arousal whenever she was near.  The fever had tinged her porcelain skin a delicate pink and the perfect globes of her breasts were crested with rose-colored nipples that peaked whenever he moved the covers to check the bandage on her left leg.  His erection bulging painfully against his jeans, Jake replaced the soiled bandage with a clean one and noticed that her wound was no longer draining.  He knew it was going to be a long night and the fact that he hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours only added to his fatigue.

             
Jake was nearing the point of exhaustion when the clock on the fireplace mantle struck the midnight hour and Laurie’s fever finally broke.  Tears rolled down his cheeks as he knelt down beside Laurie’s bed, his head bowed in prayer as he thanked the Lord for helping her to get well.

             
Laurie opened her eyes and saw the man who had saved her life knelt down beside her bed.  She didn’t know where she was or how long she’d been here but the pain in her leg had lessened and her body was no longer wracked by spasms for which she was grateful.  She guessed that she had a lot to thank this man for. 
Jake, his name is Jake, I think. 
Tentatively, and oh so gently, she reached out to stroke his silky hair and whispered, “Thank you.”  Her voice was hoarse from lack of use and it was a struggle just to keep her eyes open but the smile she saw on her savior’s face made the effort well worth while.

             
Jake’s head snapped up when he felt Laurie’s touch and he smiled with his whole heart.  “So, you’ve returned to the land of the living?”  He lifted Laurie’s hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.  “Welcome back.  You had all of us worried.”  She was too weak for him to confront about the hospital issue right now, but he would have the last say on that.  He would never allow her to jeopardize her life this way again.  He felt like he’d aged ten years in the last twenty-four hours.  He’d even considered turning her at one point during the night if that would have been the only way he could have saved her life.  As shape-shifters they healed quickly.  But it was against all of the rules by which he and his brothers lived.  They didn’t change a human unless the human was willing and understood the rules and risks involved.  It wouldn’t have been fair to Laurie and Jake was glad he hadn’t had to make that decision.

             
“You look tired.  Will you lay down with me?”  Laurie asked, her voice growing weaker as she patted the other side of the enormous bed.  Her eyes suddenly clouded with fear and darted around the lavish bedroom.  “I’d feel safer if you stayed in here with me.”

             
Jake smiled a wolfish smile and said, “It’s a hardship but I think I can manage to do that.”  He placed Laurie’s hand gently on the coverlet and walked around the end of the bed.  He removed his shirt and shoes but left his jeans on as he lay down beside her and took her hand in his once again.  He was relieved when he saw the fear leave her eyes to be replaced by trust.  He promised himself that she would never have reason to doubt that trust and that he would lay his life down for her before he would ever let anyone or anything harm her again.

             
“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you,” Laurie whispered, using the last of her small reserve of strength.  Her eyelids fluttered closed, her hand still in Jake’s, her even breathing letting him know that she had fallen asleep.  As though taking on a life of its own, Jake’s hand slid around Laurie’s waist, settling beneath her breasts as he pulled her back against his hard frame, their bodies spooning together as though they had been made for each other. 
Mine!
With his ever present erection pressed against Laurie’s backside, he had barely closed his eyes when he felt Laurie’s body stiffen and her hands assume a defensive posture. 

“Just let me go, Enrique,” Laurie whimpered as she snuggled closer to Jake’s hard body. 
“I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

Jake felt rage such as he’d never known before. 
So that’s the bastard’s name?
  Jake hoped he’d get a chance to confront the gutless wonder.  He’d make sure the man paid for what he’d done to Laurie.

“You’re a lying bastard, Enrique,” Laurie seethed.  “Come any closer and I promise I’ll make you pay.” 

The fear her could hear in Laurie’s voice tore at Jake’s soul.  “It’s okay, love,” he said soothingly.  “He can’t hurt you anymore.  You’re safe with me, I promise.”  Jake was relieved when he felt Laurie’s body relax and melt against his.  Jake groaned.  Sweet torture but torture never the less.

Laurie opened her eyes slowly trying to remember what had happened and where she was.  Dust motes danced in the sunlight streaming through the east facing bedroom windows and she guessed it was going to be a lovely day but she found it hard to concentrate with the hard male body pressed so intimately against hers. 

Jake, his name is Jake.
  Her face flushing, she turned toward the man who had saved her life as quietly as she could hoping not to wake him, vaguely remembering that she had been the one who had welcomed him into her sick bed.  

             
She couldn’t help but admire his powerful build.  Sleek hard muscles were toned to perfection and she found herself wondering what it would be like to make love to such a man.  They could have a little fling, not that she did that sort of thing, but with someone like Jake, what would it hurt?  She needed to let loose and have some fun for herself for a change.  Laurie immediately felt heat pool between her legs.  She was shocked by her bodies response to a man she barely knew and she slammed her legs together as heat suffused her face and neck.

             
Her eyes snapped to Jake’s face and saw his wolfish grin.  “A penny for your thoughts?”

             
Laurie’s face got even redder if that were possible.  “It’s not every day I wake up with a half naked man.  Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”  She saw the glint in his sexy eyes and her insides flip-flopped.  Goodness he was gorgeous and not at all bothered by his partial nudity.

             
Jake was surprised by Laurie’s response, glad that she hadn’t tried to come up with some lame excuse.  “Never, uncomfortable.  I’m at your service, mam, any ole time.”  He brushed a feather-light kiss against her slightly parted lips and slipped out of bed before he got any other cute ideas. 
Damn!

“I’m glad you’
re feeling better,” he said, struggling to get his libido under control.  “I’ll check your wound.  It probably needs a clean dressing.”