Read Online Iron Cowboy by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online

carelessly. “He’ll look after your cat until you’re able to go home.”
    She was too groggy to wonder how Tony had gotten inside her house. The EMTs had locked it. She moved and grimaced. “I didn’t realize that an appendix could kill you.”
    â€œIt can if it perforates. Those stomach pains you were having were probably a symptom of chronic appendicitis,” he said.
    â€œI guess so. I never thought it might be dangerous. How long have you been here?”
    â€œSince they took you in to surgery,” he said surprisingly. “Tony and I went out to supper until you were in recovery, then we sat in the waiting room until they put you in a room.”
    Her eyelids felt heavy. “It was nice of you to come.”
    â€œWe’re each other’s family, remember?” he asked, and he didn’t smile. “I take responsibilities seriously.”
    â€œThanks,” she said weakly.
    â€œNot necessary. Try to go back to sleep. The more rest you get, the faster you’ll heal.”
    She stared at him a little drowsily. “Will you be here, when I wake up?”
    â€œYes,” he said quietly.
    She tried to smile, but she wasn’t able to get her lips to move. She fell back into the comfortable softness of sleep.

    It hurt to move. She tried to turn over, and it felt as if her stomach was going to come apart. She groaned.
    The big man who went around with the ogre came and stood over her. He had large dark eyes, and heavy black eyebrows. His dark, wavy hair was in a ponytail. He had an olive complexion. He was frowning.
    â€œDo you need something for pain?” he asked in a voice like rumbling thunder.
    Her eyes managed to focus. He looked foreign. But he had that Georgia drawl. Maybe he was of Italian heritage and raised in the South.
    He grinned, showing perfect white teeth. “I’m not Italian. I’m Cherokee.”
    She hadn’t realized that she’d spoken her thoughts aloud. The painkilling drugs seemed to be affecting her in odd ways. “You’re Mr. Danzetta,” she said. “I thought you were a hit man.”
    He laughed out loud. “I prevent hits,” he replied. “I’m Tony. Nobody calls me Mr. Danzetta.” The frown was back. “It hurts, huh?”
    â€œIt does,” she managed weakly.
    He touched the call button. A voice came over it. “May I help you?”
    â€œThis young lady could use something for pain,” he replied.
    â€œI’ll be right there.”
    Minutes later, a nurse came into the room, smiling. “Dr. Coltrain left orders so that you could have something for pain.”
    â€œIt feels like my body’s been cut in half,” Sara confessed.
    â€œThis will help you feel better,” she said, adding something to the drip that was feeding her fluids. “It will be automatic now.”
    â€œThanks,” Sara said, grimacing. “I sure never thought losing a tiny little thing like an appendix would hurt so much.”
    â€œYou were in bad shape when you came in,” she replied. She glanced at Tony the Dancer curiously. “Are you a relative?”
    â€œWho, me? No. I work for Mr. Cameron.”
    The nurse was confused. “Is he related to Miss Dobbs?”
    Tony hesitated. “Sort of.”
    â€œNo, he’s not,” Sara murmured, smiling. “But Mr. Cameron doesn’t have any family left, and neither do I. So we said we’d take care of each other if one of us got sick.”
    â€œThe boss said that?” Tony asked, his dark eyebrows arching.
    The nurse frowned. “How can you be deaf with ears like that?” she wondered.
    Tony glared at her. “I am not deaf.”
    â€œI should think not,” she agreed, paying deliberate attention to his large ears.
    â€œListen, I may have big ears, but you’ve got a big mouth,” he shot right back.
    The pert little brunette gave him a gimlet stare. “The