Chapter 14

It was the dead of night and Lindsay dozed in the rocking chair by the guest bed. The oil-lamp was turned down to its lowest, throwing minimal light onto Danny face as he slept. His breathing was shallow but at least it now appeared painless. The slight movement of his head woke Lindsay from her fitful vigil and she leant forward to check on him. She tested his temperature with the back of her hand on his forehead and was pleased to find he was no longer feverish as he had been when they brought him in earlier. Running her finger through his hair, gently so as to wake him, she reassured herself that he was still alright.

She had been out of her mind with worry earlier; after Danny had been trampled by the horse they had managed to get a passer-by to fetch the doctor from the town. With no hospital or clinic nearby the doctor had taken Danny back to the farm in his truck, where Mrs Monroe quickly organised the guest room for him to be put to bed. The doctor had spent an hour on his own with Danny, assessing the extent of his injuries and she was finally allowed back in with him after that. He had been so pale when she went in, small looking in a freshly pressed pair or pyjamas, drifting in and out of consciousness and groaning in pain. She held his hand for hours, reassuring herself that he was still there with her.

People popped in and out all evening but she stayed, and after stating firmly to her mother that she was not leaving him to go to bed she was left alone with him for the night. At one point she gently undid the buttons on his shirt, and revealed an angry red horseshoe shape in the centre of his chest over his sternum. But mostly, she sat, and thought: about him, about her, and about them together as a couple. About their future, whatever that might be.

It was just touching 3am when Danny awoke. He blinked in surprise at finding himself in the unfamiliar room, and then groaned as the pillow of pain bloomed from his chest. The shock of the pain took his breath away, and the deep breath he reflexively took in response exacerbated the problem. He struggled to control his breathing and did not realise that he had woken Lindsay in his effort.

"Hey", she whispered. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah", he replied, his wince as he spoke belying his words.

"No you're not, sorry that was a stupid question. Don't speak ok. I'm just glad you're finally awake". She took his hand again, entwining their fingers as she thought about what she was about to say. "I know this might not be the best time, but I've been doing a lot of thinking whilst you were asleep Danny. There are some things I want to say to you."

"I didn't realise until you were lying there and I almost lost you, how much you really mean to me. My life has changed so much since you strolled up to this farm. I've never been this happy before, and I've never been this uncertain and scared, so I'm just going to say it and get it all out. When I'm with you, I feel like I have an ally, you're the first person who's ever really listened to me and cares what I have to say. And I can't wait to spend time with you at the end of every day, and I love showing you around the countryside on Sundays, I love how you have never complained about how much pain you must be in, despite having not grown up doing this work, and I love your gentleness and kindness to Frank when the others shun him. And I trust you Danny; I never thought I would be able to trust anyone else in this community. I knew growing up here that certain things would be expected of me, and that I was not going to be able to fit into that mould, but when I'm with you I feel like I can be myself for the first time ever. I know I'm being a rambling woman right now," she laughed with tears in her eyes, she looked over at him lying in the bed and clutched his hand harder, "but, I think I love you… I'm in love with you Danny."

Danny's smile had been growing wider as she spoke, and he pulled her towards him and she gently lay down next to him, tucked into his side.

"Well I'm a man of few words," he joked whispering, as he kissed the top of her head, "I love you too."