Ellie held her little hand, still so cold. “Daisy, sweetie, can you hear me? It’s mommy. I’m right here, honey.”
They’d flown the two of them via Life Flight to Children’s Hospital in case it became necessary to perform a cardiopulmonary bypass on Daisy, using a heart-and-lung machine to warm her blood and restore her body temperature. But Daisy’s little heart was beating again, her body temperature slowly rising.
“You’re a fighter, Daisy Mae.” Ellie kissed her forehead.
“Your parents are here,” said one of the nurses. “They’re out in the hallway.”
“Thank you.” Ellie didn’t ask for them to be brought back. She didn’t want to talk to them right now. They’d somehow let Daisy wander off, and she’d almost died. She might still die—or have brain or cardiac damage.
If it hadn’t been for Jesse…
He had rushed forward when everyone else had stood by, frozen by fear or shock or indecision. He’d jumped into the water without a moment’s hesitation, risking his life for her precious girl.
She’d asked how he was doing, but no one here knew. She would have called or texted him, but her cell phone was in the first-aid tent back in Scarlet. He’d been so weak when they’d taken him out. Hypothermia could kill. She’d seen it happen. She couldn’t bear to lose him, either.
Her father came up beside her, his gaze on the monitor and Daisy’s vitals. “Thank God. Is there anything we can get you, Ellie?”
Ellie struggled with her anger. “How could this have happened?”
“Your mother and I feel terrible about it, just awful.”
You should.
Ellie bit back the hurtful words. “Could you please call Mountain Memorial and find out how Jesse is? I have to know.”
“Yes, I can do that.” Her father nodded and walked out of the treatment room.
Chapter 22
Was Daisy alive? Was she okay?
No one would answer Jesse’s question. They said they didn’t know.
“They were still doing CPR when Life Flight flew her to Children’s Hospital,” one of the nurses had told him.
“She’s in the best place possible,” said another.
“We’ve all worked with Ellie. We’re praying for her.”
That was great—but it didn’t answer his question.
His cell phone was shot—it had been in his pocket when he’d jumped into the water—and there was no phone in his little treatment room. He’d asked the nurse and the doctor and the guy who’d drawn his blood to call Children’s Hospital to find out how Daisy was doing, but no one had come back to him with news.
Jesus.
He’d tried. God, he’d tried.
Ellie.
He couldn’t imagine what she was going through. He’d seen the terror on her pretty face when he’d come up for breath, and he’d vowed to himself he wouldn’t come up again, not without her baby girl. And when his right hand had finally touched that pink tassel on Daisy’s hat…
Jesse wanted to rip the fucking IV out of his arm, get out of this damned bed, and drive to Denver. The only thing that stopped him was his core temp. He was still hypothermic—drowsy and chilled to the bone. He didn’t want to get into an accident and hurt someone in the hour-and-a-half drive to the city.
What the hell was everybody doing? Could no one help him?
Fuck this.
He climbed out of bed and walked out of his treatment room, dragging the IV pole with him. He was going to find a goddamned phone and call Ellie. He walked over to the nurse’s station. “I need to use the phone.”
A nurse in green scrubs looked up at him, a startled expression on her face, phone pressed to her ear. She held out the receiver. “This is for you.”
Jesse grabbed the phone. “Ellie? How is Daisy?”
“This is Troy Rouse, Ellie’s father. Daisy looks like she’s going to pull through, thanks to you. I don’t know how we’ll ever repay you.” The man’s voice cracked. “Her little heart is beating—normal sinus rhythm—and she just started breathing on her own. She’s still very hypothermic, but her core temp is rising.”
Jesse sagged against the counter, relief making him boneless, tears blurring his vision. “That’s good. That’s such good news.”
“Ellie wanted me to call and find out how you’re doing. She’s with Daisy and doesn’t have her cell phone.”
“I’m fine. My core temp is still a little low. I jumped in the water with my cell phone in my pocket, so I don’t have a phone at all.”
“You did an incredible thing today. You saved my granddaughter—and my daughter. Ellie…” His voice cracked again. “Ellie wouldn’t have made it through losing Daisy. Let me give you my number. You can let us know if there’s anything you need.”
“I appreciate that. Thanks.” Jesse grabbed a piece of note paper off the desk, along with a pen, and took down the doc’s number. “Tell Ellie…” I love her. “Tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can be.”
Jesse handed the receiver back to the nurse. “Daisy’s breathing on her own. She’s going to make it.”