Promises of Mercy(Montana Promises-Book 1) Read Free

tie one on?”
    Stone’s shift started at 4:00 a.m., and he needed to be sharp. “I’ll take a rain check.”
    Cade nodded as if he’d expected Stone to turn him down. “You got it.”
    Stone finished his beer, dumped the bottle in the trash, and headed to his room to shower. His mind raced to that poor broken boy and his sister. Not that he believed in stereotyping, but he imagined that as an oncology nurse, Amber Delacroix would be a true caregiver who would give hell to any doctor who didn’t do the best for her patient.
    Once he undressed, he stepped into the shower and let the warm water cascade over his body. Too bad no amount of heat or scrubbing could erase the look on the boy’s face from his memory. The least he could do was try to help Amber, small though his effort may be. After he finished his shift tomorrow, he’d stop by the hospital to see Chris, then find the sister.

Chapter Two
     
    Amber spent her day off with Chris. Only when she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore, did she hug him one last time and return home. Her mom hadn’t called to check how Chris was doing, which added to her depression. Amber kept telling herself it was because her mom was waiting for her to call and deliver the news.
    With shaking fingers, Amber punched in her cell.
    No answer .
    Damn . Delivering the additional bad news about the hopelessness of Chris’s condition sucked, but it she were honest, had they connected, her mom’s insensitive attitude might have upset her more.
    The beep sounded. “Hey, Mom. The news isn’t good. Chris’s spine was severed at C7. He’s on pain meds, but maybe they can take him off the ventilator tomorrow. Call if you want to talk.” Her mom probably wouldn’t respond, but Amber harbored the slimmest of hope the accident might make her mother reach out for a change.
    Amber pulled a leftover casserole from the fridge and heated it. She managed to eat a few bites, but as soon as she thought back to Chris, her appetite disappeared.
    She had to get some sleep. After showering, she dropped into bed. Even after punching the pillow a few dozen times, she still couldn’t get comfortable or turn off her mind. Around three in the morning, Amber finally dozed off.
    By eight, she’d dressed and returned to the hospital. She probably wouldn’t be at her finest for her two to midnight shift, but she wanted to be close to Chris in case he needed her.
    As she entered his room, a fleeting rush of joy filled her. The ventilator was gone. Chris was asleep, his chest rising and falling gently. She pulled the chair next to his bed, lifted his hand in hers, and squeezed. “Hey, Chris. It’s Amber. Can you hear me?”
    When Chris didn’t move, blood pounded in her head. “Come on, Chris.” She pressed a palm to her forehead to help keep the impending headache at bay. “Wake up. You can do it.”
    If she had to sit there and carry on a one-sided conversation for hours on end, she would. He had to pull through. Chris was a fighter, and she’d be there for him every step of the way.
    Amber squeezed his hand while she talked to him, trying to stimulate his brain into rousing. She recounted some happier times when they were growing up, like when Dad would take them to ball games, but even those memories failed to bring the usual joy.
    It must have been close to noon when Chris finally groaned. Her heartbeat picked up. His lids fluttered and she placed a hand on his cheek and shook it gently.
    “Welcome back, Chris.”
    At the thought of having him wake up in a hospital, her stomach tumbled. Now she’d have to break the terrible news to him. Finally, he opened his eyes, but it seemed to take forever before he recognized her.
    “Amber?”
    “Yeah. It’s me, kiddo. You don’t have to talk.”
    “What happened?” His voice sounded scratchy, but that was to be expected from the throat tube.
    He tried to wet his dry lips. She reached for the water and placed the straw to his lips. When he sucked up