Free Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 by Sable Hunter Page A

insurance.”   She looked down, then up into his eyes.  
    He wasn’t responding.   Disbelief stole his voice.         Trying desperately to comfort him, yet explain, she continued.   “That’s why I’m working at the library and the church.   When I graduated college, I couldn’t get a job in my field, because I couldn’t pass the physical.   Their insurance plans wouldn’t accept me because I had a pre-existing condition.   I work two jobs and take in sewing so I can afford the medicine, but there won’t be any dialysis and there won’t be a transplant.”
    Alex stood up in a rush.   He began pacing the floor.   “The hell there won’t.”   He shouted.   “The alternative is unthinkable.”   Alex’s mind was whirling.   He was a take charge kind of guy and he wasn’t about to sit around and watch this precious woman die; not if he could do anything about it.   He didn’t know what he was going to do.   But, by God, he was going to do something.
    “How about your family?”   Alex was grasping for solutions.    
    “Dad was a match, but mother and Annalise aren’t.   And Alex.”   Scarlet warned in a voice that brooked no argument.   “Annalise doesn’t know and I don’t want her to know.”
    “What do you mean?   She has to know.   How could you even consider keeping something like this from your sister?”   Alex stood with his hands on his hips; he didn’t know whether to spank her or cuddle up to her and never let her go.
    “I’ve kept it from her for seven years.   She doesn’t have to know, not until . . .” her voice trailed off.
    Alex couldn’t believe this.   Every word that came of her mouth tore another hole in his heart.   She had been so alone!   She had been bearing this burden all alone!   “What?   Until someone notifies her about the time and the place for the funeral?”   The words seemed to cause Alex physical pain.   “Who’s going to take care of you?”
    “I’ll take care of myself,” she emphasized sternly, lifting her little chin.   Alex marveled at her fearlessness.   His little soldier.  
    “What about the transplant list?”   Why was he just now thinking of this?   His mind wasn’t working worth a flip.   His divorce hadn’t caused even an iota of stress compared to what he was feeling today.  
    She didn’t answer him.   He asked again.   “You are signed up for a transplant, aren’t you?”    He was still desperately searching, trying to come up with an answer.
    “I’m on the deceased donor transplant list, but the chances of that happening before my time is up are about a million to one.”   She wished that she had never made the stupid bucket list.   The agony on his face was tearing her to bits.
    “How about a living donor, other than your sister?   Has everyone else been tested?”
    He was so sweet.
    Walking over to him, she framed his face.   “There is no one else; there will be no living donor baby.   Let’s talk about something else.”
    Picking her up, he kissed her neck, sucking gently.   “I‘m not giving up, I just need to think.   But, right now.   I want to make love to you.”   He started walking toward her bedroom.    
    She laid her head on his shoulder, resigned.   “No.   I can’t.   Not now.   I‘ve changed my mind.”
    “I’m not letting you change your mind.   Give me a couple of hours to get the RV ready and packed.   Gather a few things and tell your sister that we’ll see her this time tomorrow.   We’re leaving.   No argument.”   Another hard kiss and he was gone.  
    ************************
    She did as he asked.   It wasn’t hard.   She wanted to make love to him more than anything else in the world.   Still, she was more nervous than she could ever remember being in her life.   Annalise hadn’t seemed surprised.   In fact, she had seemed thrilled.   “This is what I dreamed of.   I love you so much, baby sister.   And I love