Page 33 of Running to You

So Sam paced on the deck. And waited.

She’d fallen asleep on the way back to his house, and he hadn’t been able to rouse her when they’d arrived. Propelled by panic, he’d carried her inside, calling for his brother.

Daniel had been as cool as ever, directing him to take her back to the guest room.

Had the second blow to her head done serious damage? Had her injuries the night before been worse than they’d thought? Was she bleeding internally? Slowly drowning in her own blood?

The thought had his gut churning.

The slider opened, and Camilla stepped outside, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Sam would probably be cold, too, if not for the fear.

“Daniel will be out in a minute.”

“What did he say?”

Camilla’s smile was patient. “That he’d be out in a minute.”

“We should call 911. Right?”

“Let’s wait and see what he—”

“What if he misses something? What if she needs tests? An MRI or…”

“Daniel knows what he’s doing. He treated all manner of illness and injury in a mission hospital in Sudan—without MRIs and CT scans or even X-rays. He can handle a concussion.” Her tone was soothing as she patted the seat beside her. “Come here and sit.”

“I can’t.”

“Okay, then.” She stood and approached him, grabbing his hand. And then she started praying, out loud, for Eliza. For her safety and protection. For her healing. For wisdom as they tried to figure out what was going on.

Sam didn’t add anything. He was too worried to put his feelings into words. And anyway, she knew what to say.

He just stood there thinking, Yes, and Please, and Amen.

The slider opened. Camilla cut off the prayer, and they both turned as Daniel approached.

“Well?” Sam didn’t mean to sound so demanding.

“She’s very lucky,” Daniel said. “Or, more likely, God protected her.”

“What are you talking about?” He was in no mood for cryptic answers.

“She was hit in the head again?” Daniel asked, though it seemed he already knew the answer.

“She’s awake?”

“Woke up while I was examining her.” Dan’s eyebrows lifted. “She said someone punched her—?”

“Long story.” Sam hadn’t told them about the attack at the house. He hadn’t told them anything except that she needed medical attention.

“She’s still recovering from her concussion, and getting another head injury on top of it… That could have been bad, but she seems all right. She passed all the cognitive tests, except she still has amnesia, of course.”

“You’re saying she’s fine?”

Daniel squeezed Sam’s arm. “She’s tired. She has a headache, and she’s resting. But she’ll be fine.”

Sam shook off his brother’s hand, spun, and walked to the railing, looking out at the waves. They were churning, higher than usual, boats bobbing and swaying. There must’ve been a storm out there, somewhere. A storm just beyond the horizon. Was it coming their way?

He squeezed his eyes closed. Thank God she was all right. But she might not have been. Anything could’ve happened.