My left arm aching happened to be the first thing I noticed when I finally decided to open my eyes. As my eyes adjusted to the low light the second thing I noticed was that from my shoulder to my elbow my arm had been bandaged.
"Mia, you're supposed to be lying down." Pru told me as I raised myself up by my right elbow letting out a breath when the PALS set down their playing cards.
"What happened exactly? I remember Grayson visiting me but that's all." I replied, rubbing at my forehead when I noticed Abigail grinning at me. "I think I've missed something."
"How is it you forgot all about getting shot by Butch Lepray but not Grayson coming by to check on you?" Pru asked and I could feel my cheeks heating up as I fiddled with the blanket lying over me.
"Aww, Pru you're embarrassing her." Abigail scolded and Pru just shrugged as Lucky grinned at me. "Still why don't you remember getting shot?" She added as an afterthought and I shrugged only to immediately wince.
"Doc Wilkins said you're lucky you didn't lose that arm. If that bullet had hit you any closer..." Lucky trailed off when I sighed, resting my bandaged arm in my lap. "Grayson left a note for you too." She added, picking up a piece of folded paper I hadn't even noticed before she handed it to me.
"Ohhh what does it say?" Abigail asked, standing near the couch I was currently occupying and after noting all three girls watching me I rolled my eyes. Shifting over I patted the couch and they sat beside me, looking on in silence as I unfolded the note. After several seconds of watching a small smile creep onto my lips Pru finally sighed.
"Okay enough with the suspense. What did Grayson say?" Pru asked and I blinked at the girls, clearing my throat as I thought carefully about what to tell them.
"Grayson just told me to get better soon." I finally answered and they rolled their eyes at me, whispering among themselves until I rubbed my eyes. "Okay, okay. Grayson wanted to thank me for doing something equal parts brave and stupid for him and he also said that as soon as I'm up and about he wanted to go riding with me."
"That's all? No romance of any kind?" Abigail asked and I just shook my head a faint smile still on my lips as she shook her head, her arms crossed now. "Well that was a waste."
"Yeah he should be a lot more grateful. You took a bullet for him and he thanks you for that?" Pru added and Lucky just shrugged at her friends.
"This is Grayson we're talking about. He'd never come out and say he really likes Mia. Even if she did put herself between him and a loaded gun. Which was incredibly brave." Lucky told me as Pru and Abigail started to come up with better ideas for thanking me.
"Grayson isn't like the men my father introduced me to while I was living in the city, expecting me to choose one to be my future husband." I told them as I pulled my knees against my chest. Resting my chin on my knees I smiled. "He lives the way he wants and doesn't rely on anyone to take care of him. Plus he doesn't rely on his parents to provide for him."
"You really like that about him don't you?" Pru asked and I just sighed not caring if they noticed the goofy smile on my lips. "So stubborn and mean's your type?"
"He's not mean, Pru. At least not to Mia anyway." Abigail insisted and I coughed, finally remembering that we were talking about Grayson. Despite the redness of my cheeks I realized that it was true; I did enjoy spending time with Grayson now that I'd gotten to know him better.
"You're very lucky he didn't take Thunder away." Lucky interrupted and I sighed, closing my eyes and she blinked looking at her friends when I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "He's in the stable with our horses so don't worry. Once you can go outside I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."
"Thanks for understanding how much he means to me." I replied, cracking open an eye to find Pru, Abigail and Lucky grinning at me. "I meant Thunder not Grayson." I added with an eye-roll, pretending to be annoyed until they started laughing and I joined in finding some humor in my first meeting with Butch Lepray.
After playing several games of cards I finally set down my hand, looking towards the front door of the Prescott residence with two wide eyes until Lucky shook her head having noticed me chewing my lower lip. "Dad told me that you can't go outside until you're strong enough to walk." Lucky explained, climbing from one of the chairs, and I sighed as Pru walked over. Now standing beside my makeshift bed she frowned at me.
"Lucky's right, Mia. Mr Prescott told us to make sure you didn't go wandering off." Pru explained and I turned my head one eyebrow raised at them which lasted until she gave me an awkward laugh. "Not my rules."
"I might not be able to ride Thunder right now but I can definitely walk." I pointed out, pushing myself with one arm though as I soon as I planted both feet on the floor I wobbled and Lucky quickly stood, helping me sit which I did with a groan. "Alright so I'm not up to walking just yet." I finally admitted and Abigail started to giggle right until Pru fixed her with a raised eyebrow this time.
"Don't let it upset you, Mia. Think of how brave you were against Butch Lepray. Not many people can say they stood up to her and got away with only a bandaged arm to show for it." Lucky pointed out as I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers.
"Yeah and got shot for their trouble." I added with a weak laugh not seeing the look on Lucky's face right away though I did pick up an awkward silence and I sighed again. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Not really, Mia." Lucky replied and when I stared at her she cleared her throat. "Well it happened during my dad's wedding to Kate." As Lucky told me about the wedding and her father's kidnapping I blinked, amazed as she explained how Grayson chose to help after finding out who had kidnapped Mr Prescott. "So that's when I found out about Judge Grayson." She finished and I chewed my lip, both of my hands resting in my lap.
"So Butch Lepray murdered Grayson's dad?" I whispered and Lucky nodded, the PALS watching on silently as I rubbed the edge of the blanket between my fingers. "He never even told me what she did."
"He fought Butch Lepray so I could find my dad and help stop the train. Most of the time he's just a jerk to everyone but he has his moments." Lucky agreed and I barely nodded too busy wondering why he never told me.
"I wished I'd helped him recapture Lepray but she's probably miles away by now. All because I tried to play the hero." I whispered looking the blanket for a few seconds though I looked up when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"He probably didn't want you to know because it would upset you. Besides it's not your fault Butch Lepray escaped; she tried to shoot Grayson and you put yourself between him and that lousy outlaw." Pru added and I nodded, wondering silently where Grayson was right now.
"He's probably back at his ranch." Abigail answered and I blinked, staring at her. "What?"
"You just read my mind." I explained after a pause and she blinked, a big smile appearing on her face as she tapped my forehead.
"Does this mean I can read your mind now?" She asked, excited as I shifted trying to make myself comfortable. "Oh I know. You're wondering why your back hurts."
"Abigail, you don't need to be a mind-reader to see that." Pru answered but I smiled happy to have something else to focus on rather than my aching arm. Despite believing I had had enough sleep I started awake to find the house quiet and dark though once I glanced towards the window I noticed the blinds drawn.
In my drowsy state I still noticed that night must have fallen sometime after I'd dozed off so I decided to go back to sleep, resting my head on the pillow someone had slipped behind my head. Pulling my blanket under my chin I closed my eyes with a yawn, not waking until someone opened the blinds and I winced from the bright sunlight.
"Good morning, Miss Davis." Kate said, the smile on her face fading as I struggled to sit barely managing it as she crossed the room. "I'm sorry if I woke you but I forgot for a moment you were sleeping in here."
"That's okay, Kate. I should really be awake by now anyway." I told her, stretching my right arm above my head with the left resting on my lap.
"Jim did say you need your rest. I can't believe Butch Lepray kidnapped you and tried to hold you to ransom." Kate answered and I gave her a one-arm shrug giving the front door a sad smile. "It wouldn't be a good idea to go outside, Mia. You did get injured and you need to heal."
"I know but I'm just so bored. Sitting around doesn't really suit me especially since Uncle Richard gave me Thunder." I replied in a small voice, looking down at my hands when I realized Thunder was outside and I was stuck inside. "I hope Thunder's okay. He's never been far from me since I got him."
"He'll be fine, Mia. Thunder's probably having fun with the other horses right now. How is your arm by the way?" Kate asked as she walked over, sitting beside me on the closest armchair.
"It does ache a little but it could be worse. I just wish Grayson hadn't left me here without at least saying goodbye." I muttered, picking up the note he'd left me. "Still at least he took care of me. That's three times now he's looked after me."
"Mr Grayson must really like you, Mia." Kate agreed and I just nodded, unable to hide a blush when I remembered how gentle his hands were when he bandaged my arm.
"Everyone talks about Grayson like he's the worse person in Miradero but aside from our first meeting he hasn't been all that bad to me. He took care of me when I cut my hand and when I ran away from my parents he went looking for me." I explained getting two wide eyes from Kate until I cleared my throat. "I wasn't supposed to leave Capital city so my father came to Miradero to get me to come home. I refused and he disowned me, telling me he'd only speak to me when I came to my senses."
"That sounds awful, Mia. Have you tried to speak with your father since?" Kate asked and I sighed, trying to find the words but as soon as I thought about how angry my father was at me I felt myself tearing up. "Here you go." She added handing me a handkerchief and I took it with a grateful nod wiping at my eyes.
"Thank you, Kate. I was just so angry and I ran away on Thunder. When Grayson caught up to me on Xerxes I had heatstroke so he took me back to his ranch and took care of me until I wasn't sick anymore. After that I started to see Grayson in a different light, despite everyone telling me he's trouble." I finished, scratching at the bandages covering my arm until I grimaced. "He's been very kind of me so far."
"I can see you really like him." Kate said as I wiped at my eyes more tears threatening to fall the more I wondered why he'd left me. "He's probably working at his ranch right now but I'm sure he'll come and see you as soon as he can."
"I really hope so, Kate. Despite what everyone thinks about him I can see what they don't. That he's kind and gentle when he's with me. If he hadn't looked after me when I got shot I wouldn't even be here." I answered looking up when I heard whispering coming from behind a door and after I frowned at it the whispering stopped. "You can come out now." I called out, rolling my eyes when the PALS entered through what appeared to be the kitchen.
"Mia, just for the record we were not spying on you. Lucky heard you talking about Grayson and that's all." Pru explained as I fixed the girls with a blank stare until Abigail chewed her lip.
"We didn't mean to spy on you but you said Grayson's name and we couldn't help it." Abigail apologized and Pru rolled her eyes.
"Grayson tried to take Thunder from you the first time you met right?" Lucky asked and when I slowly nodded she gave me a smile. "That's what I mean, Mia. He can't be trusted."
"If my father doesn't approve of Grayson then he's perfect in my book." I answered with a faint smile on my lips thinking back to the look on my father's face when he met Grayson. "He only wants me to marry a man he chooses for me but all of the men he's introduced to me just aren't for me. They're nice but we don't even share any interests."
"That sounds rough." Kate told me and I sighed, absentmindedly scratching at my bandages until I forced myself to stop. "You must have been so lonely."
"I was until Thunder came into my life. After that day I started to spend all my time with Thunder and not getting dressed up just to meet the next man my father tried to set me up with." I said, noting that the PALS were sitting on the other sofas now. "After I ran away from home I thought he'd finally understood that I wanted to live my own life."
"Fathers don't always know what's best for you but he means well. After you risked your life to save Grayson maybe your father will finally understand that you can handle yourself." Kate suggested and I nodded, suddenly hopeful that for once my father would realize just how strong I was and that I didn't need someone to take care of me.
Even after making a promise to Kate and Jim Prescott that I wouldn't try and leave the house until I was strong enough I found myself growing bored. With the PALS attending school and the newly weds on a date in the town I sighed, deciding that now would be a good time to find Thunder.
"Even if I can't go for a ride I can at least get some exercise. Anything's better than being cooped up in this house. I mean it is nice but it's so boring." I muttered as I pushed myself up by one arm and even with a slight wobble in my step I managed to make it across the room. Just as my hand closed around the doorknob there was a knock at the door and I blinked, wondering if the newlyweds were checking up on me.
After a few seconds I frowned, turning the doorknob before I pulled open the door to find Grayson standing there looking just as confused. "What are you doing here?" I asked Grayson once the shock at seeing him standing on the porch wore off and his lips curled into a smirk.
"I should be asking you the same question, Mia. I'm sure that the Prescott's wouldn't like it if you wandered off." Grayson commented as I stared past him. "You know I didn't stitch up that arm just to see you run off again."
"I know that, Grayson but I was getting bored just sitting around." I replied as I made my way very slowly onto the porch. Shaking his head Grayson draped an arm around my shoulders and with a sigh I allowed him to lead me towards the porch rocking chair. Once I was settled I gave the seat a pat and he fixed me with a smirk. "So I was getting a little lonely since the PALS are at school and Mr and Mrs Prescott left on a date." I added in a quieter voice and he nodded taking a seat beside me.
"You honestly missed me that much, Mia?" Grayson asked and I just snorted looking at my hands now resting in my lap so I wouldn't have to look at his face when he chuckled. "How's the arm?" He added and I sighed, trying to lift it only to wince. "Hey take it easy would ya? Can't have you injuring yourself again can we?" Grayson teased staring at me with wide eyes when I sniffed.
"It's not funny, Grayson! I got shot and all you can do is laugh at me." I snapped, turning my head but I wasn't quick enough to hide my tears. Shaking his head at me Grayson chewed his lip until I felt an arm around my shoulder and I coughed, looking up in time to find him giving me a tiny smile.
"You saved my life, Mia. That bullet was meant for me and even after you got shot you tried to stop Butch. I wanted to thank you but there were too many nosy people around." Grayson explained as I wiped at my eyes with my sleeve.
"You mean Lucky and her friends don't you?" I asked and he nodded, staring at me when I leaned in planting a kiss on his cheek. "Well there's no one else around so if you have something to say to me you can say it, Grayson." I pointed out and after a slight pause he leaned in kissing me full on the mouth. Once we broke apart I could feel my cheeks burning and I coughed, trying to string two words together.
"Those weren't words, Grayson." I finally managed and he chuckled, kissing me before I could think of anything else to say to him though this time I draped my arm around his shoulders finally finding the silver lining in being shot by an escaped bandit.
