Free The Vigilante by Ramona Forrest

Don’t sell yourself short.” Lizzie waggled her head for emphasis, and added, “What’s the purple stuff on your arm there?”
    “I don’t know what I got into. Looks like the gram stain solution we used in training, but I don’t remember going near the lab. Whatever, it’s fading now.” Martha shrugged. “Sometimes when I come home, I have about every stain there is on my uniform.”
    “Good enough. Girl, you seem to need me just now. Why is that, Martha? You can tell me anything, you know that.” Lizzie’s hazel eyes darkened significantly. They delved too deeply and were too knowing for Martha’s comfort level.
    She drew herself up, unable to speak of her fears. She barely eked out a weak reply. “Lizzie, you are without a doubt the best friend I’ve ever had. But for now, I have a lot of worries on my mind, mostly about my grandson, but that’s not all of it. In time, I’ll get things sorted out.”
    She felt a tear welling up, “This latest thing on the news set me off all over again. Now two more children have learned to fear for their safety because the law can’t seem to protect us anymore. Where’s it all going to end?” She felt hot salty tears drip down her cheeks.
    “God, Martha, you are upset. If I can do anything to help, you know I will. I’d like to be the one to fix those guys myself.” Lizzie couldn’t stop the giggle escaping her lips at the thought of what happened to Callahan.
    Martha found herself caught up in it, too. “You’re good for me, Lizzie. You really are.”
    They both laughed until tears escaped down their cheeks.
    “Lizzie, you are the ever lovin’ limit!” Martha dabbed at her eyes and reached over to give Lizzie a big hug. “I love you, girl. I’m so glad you came over. You’ve saved my life today. Don’t ask me why—you just did!”
    After a hasty lunch neither of them really tasted, Lizzie took her leave and Martha felt several degrees lighter for the visit.
    She showered and headed to the hospital. “Another shift and I couldn’t care less. I can’t hide my worries, and I’m tired as hell. Hope my patients won’t suffer for it.” She parked her car and went to her assigned ward.
    During report, she noticed Bob scoping her out more intensely than usual. Then he quickly looked away. She felt furtive for having noticed and decided she’d speak to him later if she found the time. He seems concerned. Do I look that bad ? Does it show that much ?
    Her patients kept her running the entire shift and she had no chance for a supper break. Heaving a sigh of relief, and with great fatigue, Martha headed out of the hospital toward the sanctuary of her car. Keys in hand, she was about to click it open when felt a solid, warm hand on her arm.
    “How about a bite of supper, Martha?”
    Bob had moved so close, right next to her elbow. In her worn condition, she hadn’t noticed his nearness, not even the masculine scent of him.
    “Oh, hello there,” she mumbled in a voice that sounded weak and thin to her own ears. Startled at how close he stood, she managed a subdued response of refusal. “I’m not hungry, Bob.” She wondered how that sounded to him, but didn’t care. Was he was making a move on her, perhaps a dating overture? In her present state she couldn’t emotionally handle any sort of an intimate relationship. She desperately wanted to go home, go to bed and get away from everything.
    “Look, I know you’re worn right down to your toes, but we need to talk. Come on, a bit of dinner might do you good. I happen to know you didn’t have time to eat.” His soft voice held a strong note of urgency and he directed a concerned look deep into her eyes.
    His tone, so gentle, yet insistent couldn’t be denied. Martha saw only a look of kindness in his eyes. Realizing she sorely needed a friendly voice just now, she replied, “Okay, I’d love it, where?”
    “Oh, Denny’s would do, wouldn’t it?”
    At the sound of that name, Martha froze.