Read Online Seduced in September (Spring River Valley Book 9) by Clarice Wynter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Clarice Wynter
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excellent cook? And she used to be quite the ballerina when she was young.”
“Like when I was five. Aunt Maddie, are you delirious? Maybe you need some medication to keep you calm.”
“I’m very calm, dear. I’m in pain, but I’m not out of my mind. I just think two nice young people like you and Quinn should get to know one another. That’s all.”
Quinn turned a knowing look at Lily. “I agree. Mrs. M, why don’t you tell me more about Lily’s ballerina years?”
“Could I have some sedation, then?” Lily asked. “Anything you’ve got to ease the pain of hearing about how I looked in a tutu.”
* * * *
“Shouldn’t we be there by now?” Circles of fatigue darkened the areas under Mrs. Moriarty’s eyes. It was clear to Quinn that the pain of her injury was weighing on her, though she had tried, for almost half an hour to maintain good spirits. He wasn’t able to give her any pain medication without a doctor’s authorization, so they’d been trying to keep her mind off of her discomfort by talking about Lily’s unfortunate adventures in classical dance. He had to admit, despite the dire situation, he’d been enjoying watching Lily blush.
Lily squeezed her hand. “We’re almost there, aren’t we?” She looked at Quinn for reassurance.
He wanted to tell her everything would be fine, but Tanner was far too quiet up front. He’d been on the radio with dispatch getting an alternate route for the trip across town which should have taken less than ten minutes on a typical day, including evening traffic. Tonight, even with no other cars around, they’d already been on the road three times as long as normal. “I’m going to check. Hang on back here.” With a skill borne of years of practice, he maneuvered from the back of the rig to the passenger seat, his presence signaling his concern to his partner.
Tanner’s expression was grim. “How’s the patient?”
“Uncomfortable but okay. Where are we?”
“I took a detour on Baxter. There are power lines down on Commerce Street. We should be coming up on the dry end of Lakeside in about—”
“Tanner, look out!” Instinctively Quinn braced for impact when a tangle of broken tree branches tumbled across the power lines near the next intersection. Tanner hit the brakes, and the rig swerved while sparks rained down into the deepening puddles on the debris-strewn road ahead. All along the south side of the street, lights in homes winked out. Quinn imagined he could hear the collective groan of the residents who probably thought they’d been spared the worst of the storm.
He let out a low whistle, and Tanner threw the vehicle into reverse. “That was close.”
“I’m going to cut over on to Wilson. There aren’t as many trees there.”
“Quinn!” Lily’s voice rose in concern, and he darted into the back, swinging himself into the seat across from her just as the rig changed direction again.
Mrs. Moriarty was grimacing in pain, and beads of sweat had broken out on her forehead.
“What happened?”
“The sudden stop. She shifted her position, and she gasped. She hasn’t been able to say anything since then.”
“I’m sorry about that bump back there. We have some turbulence…don’t worry. Tanner’s got it under control. What I want to do is try to shift you back into a better position. Do you want to try that?” She only nodded, her features drawn.
He glanced at Lily. “Can you help me? I’ll tell you what to do.”
“Okay.”
Lily obeyed Quinn’s instructions and together they were able to shift Mrs. Moriarty’s lower body just enough to ease her discomfort. Once they settled her, the older woman sighed heavily and smiled at Quinn. “Thank you. I thought I was going to faint.”
“I’m going to tighten up these straps so it won’t happen again.”
“Thank you,” Lily said. “I don’t know if she could have made it the rest of the way like that.”
“We’ll be there soon.”
“Hang on
“Like when I was five. Aunt Maddie, are you delirious? Maybe you need some medication to keep you calm.”
“I’m very calm, dear. I’m in pain, but I’m not out of my mind. I just think two nice young people like you and Quinn should get to know one another. That’s all.”
Quinn turned a knowing look at Lily. “I agree. Mrs. M, why don’t you tell me more about Lily’s ballerina years?”
“Could I have some sedation, then?” Lily asked. “Anything you’ve got to ease the pain of hearing about how I looked in a tutu.”
* * * *
“Shouldn’t we be there by now?” Circles of fatigue darkened the areas under Mrs. Moriarty’s eyes. It was clear to Quinn that the pain of her injury was weighing on her, though she had tried, for almost half an hour to maintain good spirits. He wasn’t able to give her any pain medication without a doctor’s authorization, so they’d been trying to keep her mind off of her discomfort by talking about Lily’s unfortunate adventures in classical dance. He had to admit, despite the dire situation, he’d been enjoying watching Lily blush.
Lily squeezed her hand. “We’re almost there, aren’t we?” She looked at Quinn for reassurance.
He wanted to tell her everything would be fine, but Tanner was far too quiet up front. He’d been on the radio with dispatch getting an alternate route for the trip across town which should have taken less than ten minutes on a typical day, including evening traffic. Tonight, even with no other cars around, they’d already been on the road three times as long as normal. “I’m going to check. Hang on back here.” With a skill borne of years of practice, he maneuvered from the back of the rig to the passenger seat, his presence signaling his concern to his partner.
Tanner’s expression was grim. “How’s the patient?”
“Uncomfortable but okay. Where are we?”
“I took a detour on Baxter. There are power lines down on Commerce Street. We should be coming up on the dry end of Lakeside in about—”
“Tanner, look out!” Instinctively Quinn braced for impact when a tangle of broken tree branches tumbled across the power lines near the next intersection. Tanner hit the brakes, and the rig swerved while sparks rained down into the deepening puddles on the debris-strewn road ahead. All along the south side of the street, lights in homes winked out. Quinn imagined he could hear the collective groan of the residents who probably thought they’d been spared the worst of the storm.
He let out a low whistle, and Tanner threw the vehicle into reverse. “That was close.”
“I’m going to cut over on to Wilson. There aren’t as many trees there.”
“Quinn!” Lily’s voice rose in concern, and he darted into the back, swinging himself into the seat across from her just as the rig changed direction again.
Mrs. Moriarty was grimacing in pain, and beads of sweat had broken out on her forehead.
“What happened?”
“The sudden stop. She shifted her position, and she gasped. She hasn’t been able to say anything since then.”
“I’m sorry about that bump back there. We have some turbulence…don’t worry. Tanner’s got it under control. What I want to do is try to shift you back into a better position. Do you want to try that?” She only nodded, her features drawn.
He glanced at Lily. “Can you help me? I’ll tell you what to do.”
“Okay.”
Lily obeyed Quinn’s instructions and together they were able to shift Mrs. Moriarty’s lower body just enough to ease her discomfort. Once they settled her, the older woman sighed heavily and smiled at Quinn. “Thank you. I thought I was going to faint.”
“I’m going to tighten up these straps so it won’t happen again.”
“Thank you,” Lily said. “I don’t know if she could have made it the rest of the way like that.”
“We’ll be there soon.”
“Hang on
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