Read Online Battlefield of the Heart by E. A. West - Free Book Online

changed the way they treated others.”
    She laughed and nodded. “The good old ‘kill them with kindness’ trick. I learned that one when I caught the attention of a bully in second grade.”
    â€œDid it work?”
    â€œBy the end of the school year, she avoided me instead of picking on me.”
    He chuckled. “Sounds like it worked.”

 
Chapter Seven
    Â 
    Cindy followed Danny through New Castle Community Hospital to a mostly empty, spacious surgical waiting room furnished with cushioned chairs and a few tables with out-of-date magazines. How had he become so familiar with the place if he didn’t like hospitals? The sight of Corbin and Josh talking in the corner chased away her thoughts. They both looked surprised to see her, and Josh turned to Danny.
    â€œHey, Danny, I didn’t know you were bringing Cindy.”
    â€œShe’s my sanity-giver,” he said, leading the way over to them.
    Josh exchanged a glance with Corbin then refocused on Danny. “You told her?”
    â€œLacey talked to her.” Danny turned to Corbin. “How you holding up?”
    He sighed, scrubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “It’s rough, man. They said I can see Monique for a few minutes before they take her to surgery, but they had to do a little prep first.”
    â€œAny idea how long it’ll be until you get to see her?”
    â€œThey said they’d let me know.” He walked over to a chair and dropped into it. “No one told Delario anything, did they?”
    â€œNo, he thinks he’s spending the night at Lacey’s for fun,” Danny said, taking a seat across from him. “I let Lacey know what’s going on, though.”
    Corbin nodded. “That’s fine.”
    Cindy sat down near Danny as Josh sat beside Corbin. After a nurse called Corbin back, Josh turned his attention to Cindy.
    â€œI take you it you’ve been filled in?”
    â€œYeah.”
    Josh nodded and looked away. He had the same kind of expression he’d had in the hall outside Dr. Brixton’s office before excusing himself. Was being here as difficult for him as it was for Danny?
    A nurse escorted a tearful group into the waiting room before Corbin returned. From what Cindy overheard of their conversation, the father had been in a nasty accident and needed emergency surgery to have even a chance of survival. Josh moved to the seat between Danny and Cindy and spoke softly so his voice wouldn’t carry to the family.
    â€œThe surgeon’s going to have a hard time saving that guy. I treated a guy in better shape who ended up dying on the operating table.”
    â€œDon’t tell the family that,” Danny said. “I don’t think they’d appreciate it.”
    Josh grinned, the teasing expression at odds with the haunted shadow in his eyes. “Maybe I should mention the guy whose guts were falling out. He lived, but only barely. He lost half his blood because of the abdominal wound and the arm that got sheared off in the blast.”
    Cindy couldn’t suppress a shudder.
    Josh glanced at her sheepishly. “Sorry. I forgot you’re not used to hearing stuff like that.”
    She waved off his concern. “Don’t worry about it.”
    â€œMost people would tell me I was morbid and needed to keep stories like that to myself.”
    â€œSo call me weird. I’m here to offer moral support, not act as a censor.” She prayed for the strength to deal with whatever they needed to talk about.
    Josh raised his eyebrows at Danny. “She’s as easygoing as Monique, isn’t she?”
    â€œIt looks that way.” Danny shifted his gaze to Cindy. “So, you don’t mind morbid discussions?”
    â€œI can’t say they’ll ever be my favorite, but I can deal with them.”
    He laughed, earning dirty looks from the distressed family across the room. “Yeah, she’s as easygoing as