A Diamond For Kate

“Did the little one check out all right?”

“Yes. She’s fine. Do you happen to know if her grandparents have arrived to take her home? They have been contacted about the accident, haven’t they?”

“Well, not exactly, ma’am. I just talked to my sergeant, and he told me there’s no one at the ranch. No one, that is, except the stable manager and the stable hands. Apparently the family flew to Ireland yesterday to attend a sale of Thoroughbred horses.”

“Oh...I see,” Kate replied. She knew the Blue Diamond Ranch was known around racing circles for its stable of winning Thoroughbreds.

Kate felt a gentle tug on her hand. She quickly crouched down to Sabrina’s level.

“They’re not coming, are they?” the child asked.

“No. But that’s because—”

“I knew they wouldn’t come.” Sabrina continued in a voice that sounded cool and distant and much too grown-up for a five-year-old. “My mommy told me they didn’t like me,” she added.

“Oh, Sabrina! Surely not!” Kate reacted out of shock at the comment.

“Mommy said Daddy didn’t like me, either,” Sabrina blithely went on. “That’s why he went away. But my mommy’s dead, and I have to live with my daddy now.”

“Oh, Sabrina! I’m sure your mother wouldn’t have said such a thing about your father or your grandparents,” Kate chided gently, astonished and dismayed by the child’s comments.

“Yes, she did.”

Kate didn’t know how to respond. The little girl who’d been so anxious and concerned about her father earlier seemed to have vanished, and she couldn’t understand why the change had occurred.

“My daddy’s going to die, just like my mommy. Then I’ll be all alone!” Burying her face in the bear’s soft fur, she burst into tears.

Kate gently embraced Sabrina. “Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” she crooned softly. “Your father isn’t going to die. He’s going to be fine. I promise,” she added, lifting the weeping child into her arms.

“Should I contact Child Services?” the officer suggested.

Kate knew this was standard procedure when no family members were available to care for a child. But she was sure this would exact too high an emotional toll on the motherless child. Especially given the remarks Sabrina had made about her father and her grandparents.

During that summer ten years ago, when she and Piper had been friends, one of the things Kate had admired and envied about the Diamonds had been their strong family ties. She’d never forgotten the genuine warmth and love they’d had for one another. As Piper’s friend, she’d had a taste of what this felt like. She’d even thought they’d accepted her. But Marsh had quickly set her straight.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll handle it,” Kate quickly asserted, as Sabrina’s grip on her tightened.

Kate readily acknowledged she was being overprotective and that Sabrina’s welfare was really none of her business. But she remembered how frightening it had been once when she’d been placed in a foster home for a few days with strangers, well-meaning people who’d tried to be kind, tried to understand.

She’d been so terrified she wouldn’t see her father again, she’d learned to accept his drinking without complaint. He was all she had left of family, and she’d been determined to stay with him whatever the cost.

“Marsh, be reasonable. How can I release you tonight? Not only are you suffering from a concussion, a mild one I grant you, but you can’t see—” Tom Franklin broke off and let out a sigh. Closing his patient’s chart, he moved to stand next to the bed.

“You’re a damned good doctor, Marsh, one of the best, and I agree with your diagnosis, that your blindness is more than likely only temporary—”

“Then let me out of here. Let me go home,” Marsh quickly cut in, though he suspected from the tone of Tom’s voice the argument was already lost.

“You always were a stubborn son of a gun,” Tom remarked. “But I can’t, in good conscience, allow you to leave,” he went on. “Believe me, if the situations were reversed, you’d be reading me the riot act for even suggesting it.

“You know as well as I do, even if the swelling behind your eyes goes down and the pressure on the optic nerves is removed, your vision won’t necessarily return right away. You’re going to have to bite the bullet and spend the night. We’ll reassess your condition in the morning.”

“All right!” Marsh grunted. Much as he liked and respected his colleague, Tom’s voice was beginning to grate on him, compounding the headache still throbbing at his temples, the same headache he’d only minutes ago denied even existed.

“You concede? Well, this is a first,” Tom responded with a soft chuckle.

“I don’t have much choice, do I?” Marsh countered, suddenly drained. “But what about my daughter? Are you sure she’s all right?”

“I was in Emerg when you and the other driver were brought in, but I didn’t see your daughter. No doubt by now the police will have contacted your folks, and they’ll be on their way to the hospital. But, if it will stop you worrying, I’ll see what I can find out about your little girl.”

“Thanks. I just hope my folks are home,” he added on a sigh. “They didn’t know we were coming today. I wanted to surprise them.”

“I know they’ve been looking forward to your return. What about Piper? Is she home, or is she still in Europe working for that magazine?”

“She’s still in Europe,” Marsh responded, thinking it had been five years since he’d last seen his baby sister.

“Well, I’m sure we can figure out something. I’ll see what I can find out,” Tom said. “In the meantime I’ve arranged to move you upstairs to a private room.”

Marsh felt Tom’s hand on his shoulder. “Relax and try not to worry.”

“Easy for you to say,” Marsh mumbled under his breath. He listened to the sound of his colleague’s footsteps cross the floor, followed moments later by the hiss of the door as it closed.

A heavy silence descended, and instantly a feeling of panic started to build inside him like a summer squall. The darkness seemed to press down, entombing him, bringing home the stark and inescapable reality that he was blind.

Where there once had been light and colors, depth and delineation, people and movement, now there was only an all-encompassing blackness that seemed to devour him, thrusting him unwillingly into the role of prisoner.

His breath hitched and locked in his throat, causing his heart to beat against his ribs at an alarming rate. Pain pounded inside his head, and the sour taste of bile rose in his throat. Swallowing repeatedly, he fought down the nausea making him gag.

Angry at his body’s show of weakness, a weakness he couldn’t seem to overcome, he gripped the bedsheet with his right hand. He braced himself as another wave of panic slammed into him, sending his heart rate accelerating once more.

Muttering a litany of curses, Marsh concentrated on slowly and deliberately filling his lungs with oxygen, before releasing it in one long, cleansing breath. He repeated the action, only this time, mingled in with the hospital smell of antiseptic, Marsh caught the delicate and exotic scent of jasmine.

Momentarily distracted, he frowned. The scent was vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t for the life of him think why. A memory danced on the edges of his mind, just out of reach. He inhaled again, hoping to recapture the perfume and perhaps jog the memory free, but the scent was no longer detectable.

It had to have come from one of the nurses, he silently reasoned, probably the one who’d tried to stop him getting out of bed, the one who’d prevented him from falling.

He remembered leaning hard against her for support, feeling her strength as well as her softness, recalled how there had indeed been the scent of jasmine in the air.

He shook his head. Undoubtedly his sense of smell was heightened by his blindness.

Marsh gradually loosened his grip on the bed-covers and, wanting to keep the panic at bay, turned his thoughts to the accident

The last thing he remembered was seeing the flashing amber lights, warning them they were approaching Cutter’s Junction, a busy intersection to the south of Kincade. He’d been talking to Sabrina, telling her how much they were going to enjoy living at the Blue Diamond Ranch with her grandparents and her uncle Spencer.

But the happy homecoming he’d envisaged had taken a bad turn, and now he found himself trapped in a world of darkness. Nothing in his thirty-seven years had prepared him for this new and alien world, a world without vision, a world that left him feeling totally powerless and utterly defenseless. Was this his punishment for turning his back on his daughter?

Chapter Three

“Kate, why don’t you take Sabrina upstairs to see her father?”

Kate opened her mouth to object, then shut it again, knowing she should have anticipated Dr. Franklin’s request. After she’d found him and explained the situation, Sabrina had begged to see her daddy.

“Is there a problem? I have a few charts to write up before I finish here.”

“No,” Kate replied, darting a quick glance at Sabrina. “It’s just...well, I mean...” She floundered. “Is he able to—?” She ground to a halt, hoping Dr. Franklin would be astute enough to fill in the blank himself.

“Oh—right.” Dr. Franklin nodded in understanding. He turned to the child. “There is something you should know. When the accident happened your father got a rather nasty cut on his forehead as well as a few bruises and a black eye.”

“A black eye?” Sabrina repeated. “I’ve never seen a black eye before.”

“Oh...and that’s not all,” the doctor continued in the same light vein. “Because of the bump to his head and the bruising around his eyes, your father isn’t able to see.”

Sabrina threw Kate a worried look before turning back to the doctor.

“I know that sounds scary,” Dr. Franklin continued evenly. “And believe me, your father isn’t happy about it, either,” he added in an attempt to make Sabrina smile. “But once the swelling goes down, he’ll be just fine.”

“He’ll see again?”

“He’ll see again,” the doctor acknowledged.

The news of her father’s condition didn’t appear to have upset the little girl unduly, and silently Kate credited the calm, matter-of-fact way Dr. Franklin had explained the situation.

“Can I see him now?”

“Yes. He’s upstairs in Room 516,” he told Kate. “I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes.”

Kate carried Sabrina to the elevators and lowered her to the floor after pressing the call button. “Dr. Franklin’s nice, isn’t he?”

“Can I press the number?” Sabrina asked as she scampered inside the elevator that had just arrived.

“Sure,” Kate replied, pleased that the prospect of seeing her father had cheered Sabrina. She herself had mixed feelings on the matter.

When they got out on the fifth floor, Kate felt Sabrina’s hand slip into hers and glancing down at the child, she flashed her a smile. “Everything’s going to be just fine.” But she saw that Sabrina’s steps had already slowed, and a look of apprehension clouded her small features. Kate gave Sabrina’s hand a squeeze. After tapping the door lightly, she pushed it open.

“Who’s there?” Marsh asked, annoyed to hear a slight tremor in his voice. Since the nurse named Heather had left, he’d become restless and agitated, hating the continuous darkness.

“Dr. Diamond. I’m the nurse who tended you earlier. I’ve brought your daughter to see you.” She tugged gently at Sabrina, who was standing behind Kate clutching her teddy.

“Sabrina? Sweetheart, are you all right?” Relief and excitement echoed in Marsh’s voice. He’d been fighting the urge to get up and go in search of Sabrina, foolish as he’d known it would be. But he’d needed to hear her voice, to know she was indeed all right.

Sabrina made no reply.

“Say hello to your father, Sabrina.” The nurse gently coaxed the child.

“Hello, Daddy.”

“Are you all right? Are they taking care of you?” he asked, trying with difficulty to keep his tone even, so as not to frighten her.

Silence followed his questions, and he had to bite back his frustration at her nonresponse. During the past four months, ever since he’d brought her home, she’d driven him to distraction at times by her unwillingness to communicate. He wished he could see her, see for himself that she was unhurt.

“She’s fine. Not so much as a scratch,” the nurse told him.

Behind them the door opened, and Dr. Franklin entered.

“The doctor man said you can’t see,” Sabrina suddenly announced, her natural curiosity winning the battle with her reserve.

Marsh’s mouth curved into a semblance of a smile. “If you mean Dr. Franklin, then he’s right.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Dr. Franklin said.

“Tom? Where did you come from? I didn’t know you were there.” But there was relief in Marsh’s tone at the presence of his friend. “I was telling Sabrina you were right about me not being able to see,” Marsh went on, attempting to make light of the situation.

“It’s only a temporary setback,” Tom said easily.

“Sabrina, why don’t you climb up here beside me?” Marsh suggested, patting the covers with his uninjured hand. Hearing his daughter’s voice had reassured him somewhat, but he had a longing to touch her.

“Kate can lift you onto the bed,” said Dr. Franklin.

“Kate?” Marsh repeated the name, and at the sound of it Kate felt her pulse wobble.

“Kate’s nice. She’s the nurse who’s been looking after me.”

“And me, too, I believe. Thank you, Kate, for all you’ve done.”

“You’re welcome,” she murmured, lifting Sabrina onto the bed.

Marsh felt the movement beside him, and instinctively he reached out to her. His hand made contact with warm, bare skin, and for a split second he felt a tiny jolt of electricity zip up his arm.

The air suddenly seemed rife with tension, a tension he didn’t understand. Puzzled, he curled his fingers around what he guessed was a forearm, but he knew by its size it didn’t belong to Sabrina.

Marsh heard a sharp intake of breath at the same time as the scent of jasmine assailed him. He instantly recognized it as being the fragrance he’d found strangely disturbing earlier. Once again a memory danced elusively at the edges of his mind, only to drift out of reach.

“Daddy that’s Kate’s arm.” Sabrina’s childish giggle effectively distracted Marsh, and he released his hold on Kate.

“Sorry.”

“That’s all right,” Kate responded, her voice a throaty whisper. She backed away, ignoring the tingle of pleasure his touch evoked, telling her all too clearly that even now he still affected her as no other man ever had.

“By the way, Marsh. I don’t know if Kate has had time to mention it, but your parents aren’t at the ranch. They’re out of the country.”

“What about Spencer? Surely he’s around?” Marsh had talked to his mother a few weeks ago, confirming their arrival at the end of August. He’d managed to wind things up two weeks early and so had decided to surprise them.

“Afraid not. Apparently they’ve all gone to Ireland. ”

“Ireland! Oh! Right. Spencer did mention something about the annual Thoroughbred sales. I didn’t realize my folks planned to go with him.”

“Unfortunately that’s going to complicate matters.”

“What do you mean?”

“Arrangements need to be made for Sabrina’s care, at least until your eyesight returns.”

“Hold on a minute.” Marsh tried to stay calm. “What kind of arrangements?” He reached out rather awkwardly in search of Sabrina and felt his fingers brush her hair.

“I’d offer to take Sabrina home with me,” Tom said, “but Amy, my four-year-old, has the chicken pox. I’m afraid we’re running out of options.”

“What about Mrs. B., the housekeeper?” Kate jumped in, recalling the older woman who’d worked for the Diamond family for a number of years.

Marsh slowly shook his head. “Mrs. B. retired earlier this year and moved to Arizona to live with her brother,” he explained.

“She wasn’t replaced?” Tom asked.

“No. My father’s taken over the kitchen. He likes to cook,” Marsh explained. “I was planning on putting an ad in the paper next week for a part-time sitter.”

“I’m afraid that leaves us with no choice,” Tom said.

“Wait,” Marsh said, knowing what Tom was referring to, but unwilling to let anyone hand his daughter over to Child Services. The upheavals she’d faced lately were quite enough for any five-year-old to be coping with. What Sabrina needed was stability.

“Tom—” Marsh began, as his mind scrambled to come up with another solution. “We both agree that my, uh, injuries, that is my, uh, eyesight will probably be restored by morning, and I’ll be able to go home,” he said in a positive manner. “Perhaps Sabrina could spend the night at the hospital? What do you think, Sabrina? You wouldn’t mind staying here would you?”

“Where would I sleep?”

“I’m sure Dr. Franklin could scrounge up a spare bed for you and let you sleep in here with me,” Marsh replied, pleased Sabrina hadn’t immediately rejected the prospect of spending the night at the hospital.

“Hold on a second,” Tom cautioned.

“Aw...come on, Tom! It isn’t too much to ask, is it?” Marsh cajoled softly. “And if you’re worried about hospital policy, you could always admit Sabrina overnight for observation. She was in a car accident, remember?”

Kate had watched the interchange with interest. She could have bitten her tongue when she mentioned the housekeeper, thinking for a moment Marsh might ask how she knew about Mrs. B., but he hadn’t appeared to notice.

She knew by the continuing silence that Dr. Franklin’s resolve was weakening. Marsh had offered a viable solution.

“I think that could be arranged. Kate, see if you can hustle up another bed and haul it in here. I’ll take care of the paperwork.”

“Yes, Doctor,” she replied and quickly withdrew.

Moments later, with the help of an orderly, Kate maneuvered another hospital bed into the private room. Dr. Franklin had already left.

“Kate?” Marsh began tentatively. “You don’t mind if I call you Kate, do you?”

“Of course, not,” she answered as she shook out a crisp, clean, hospital sheet.

“What time is it?”

“Nine-thirty. Why?”

“Sabrina was just saying she’s hungry. Is there any way you could get her something to eat?”

“Sure. After I finish making up the bed, I’ll pop down to the cafeteria and see what I can find. Would a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk be all right?” she asked as she deftly tucked in the sheet

“Yes, please,” Sabrina was quick to reply. “Can I eat it in bed?”

“Sure,” Kate replied picking up a pillow and slipping on its cover.

“Mommy had rules. She never let me eat in bed.”

“Here in Kincade the rules are different,” Marsh countered lightly. “Isn’t that right, Kate?” he added with a hint of humor.

Kate felt her pulse skip a beat at the casual-but-friendly way he included her in the conversation.

“That’s right,” she agreed, smoothing out the blanket, glad he couldn’t see the blush creeping into her cheeks. “In fact, it’s a rule here at Mercy Hospital that you must eat in bed,” she added, and at the sound of Marsh’s soft chuckle a shiver chased down her spine.

“Wow! For sure?” Sabrina asked, obviously unsure whether or not Kate was teasing her.

“For sure,” Kate said with a smile.

“How long have you been a nurse, Kate?” Marsh suddenly asked.

“Seven years.”

“Have you worked at Mercy all that time?”

“No. I’m only filling in for nurses taking their summer vacations. My last shift is tomorrow morning, then I’ll be looking for another job to tide me over until the new wing opens in September.”

“You’ll be working in the new wing?”

“Yes,” Kate replied, not altogether sure why she was telling Marsh. “If you’ll excuse me,” she went on, “I’ll pop down to the cafeteria now, it closes at ten,” she said. “Would you like me to bring you something, too?”

“No, but thanks.”

“I’ll be right back.” Kate flashed Sabrina a smile before slipping out of the room.

The cafeteria, downstairs on the third floor, was almost deserted. Kate asked one of the kitchen workers for a peanut butter sandwich and while she waited, she remembered why she’d wanted to return to Kincade after her divorce.

Kincade hadn’t been the first place she and her father had moved to that year, and Kate had known from experience that it wouldn’t be the last. Her father rarely managed to keep a job for more than a couple of months, usually getting fired either for fighting or drinking, or both.

As it was they’d stayed seven months, twice as long as in most places. For the first time in her life Kate had not only felt at home, she’d made a friend.

Piper Diamond’s easy acceptance of her had been the one bright light in what had been a life of constant change, a life of struggle, a life of misery. Unlike some folks, Piper hadn’t judged Kate by her appearance or by the amount of money she’d had, she’d simply accepted her for herself. For a little while, Kate had tasted happiness. She’d even foolishly begun to hope that maybe this time they would put down roots, this time they would make a real home.

She should have known it wouldn’t last. And on the morning after Piper’s accident, her father had told her to pack her bags, they were moving on. Once again he’d been fired for drinking on the job.

They’d driven through Arizona and New Mexico, ending up in Texas, where her father had found a part-time job on a cattle ranch. By then, she’d applied for entry into a training program for nurses. Just before graduation, she’d received a letter of acceptance.

Her father’s job had ended and once again he’d told her they were moving. But this time Kate, old enough to fend for herself and wanting to strive for her own dream, refused to go with him.

After successfully completing her training she’d moved to Los Angeles. While working at a hospital there, she’d met and married Dan Turner. But she’d never forgotten those months she’d spent in Kincade.

Ever since her mother’s death, she’d dreamed of belonging. And Kincade had once embodied that dream.

When she spotted the ad for nurses to staff Kincade Mercy Hospital’s new wing, she’d leaped at the chance to come back.

She’d known for several years that Dr. Marshall Diamond worked in Chicago, so she’d felt reasonably sure the chances of running into him again were slim. The risk had seemed worth it.

“Here’s your peanut butter sandwich.” The voice cut through Kate’s meandering thoughts.

“Thanks,” Kate said and carried the tray to the cashier. Back upstairs she tapped lightly on the door, before entering.

“It’s only me,” she said, then came to a halt when she saw Sabrina lying across Marsh’s legs, fast asleep.

“She fell asleep,” Marsh said in a hushed voice. “At least I think she’s asleep. She hasn’t made a move in the past five minutes.”

“She’s asleep, all right,” Kate confirmed as she crossed to set the tray on the table at the foot of Marsh’s bed. “I’ll put her to bed, shall I?”

“I think we’ll both be more comfortable if you do.”

Kate carefully lifted Sabrina from her father’s bed and carried her to the one she’d made up nearby. Lowering the sleeping child onto the blankets, Kate carefully removed Sabrina’s shoes, socks and shorts, leaving only her T-shirt and underwear.

“She’s had quite a day,” Marsh said.

“You both have. You should try to get some sleep, too, Dr. Diamond,” she added as she eased Sabrina between the sheets.

After pulling the covers over Sabrina, Kate approached Marsh’s bed. She unhooked the call button from the wall behind him. “If you need anything during the night just press the call button,” she told him as she placed it in his uninjured hand.

Kate started to withdraw, but Marsh quickly curled his fingers around her hand to stop her.

“Thank you, for all you’ve done for Sabrina tonight.”