Hunt sighed. “I would have assumed that. What are you trying to say, Ava?”

“The crew who works in the ER kept saying that you saved my life.”

“Honey, I haven’t said much about that because Dr. Quick told us not to tell you anything, that you needed to remember it by yourself.”

“Oh.” She put both hands on her chest. “Am I sore because of CPR?”

“Maybe, but that isn’t what hurt you,” Hunt said. “You got hit in the chest. It cracked your sternum. After that, we did CPR.”

“I know I died, Hunt, so stop skirting the issue, okay? How did it happen?”

“To keep a long story short, Josh Ryman hit you in the chest so hard it stopped your heart.”

“Oh my God. Did they use the defibrillator?” she asked.

“Not at first. They were already using it on the Dillon girl. I did CPR until they freed it, and then Dr. Quick shocked your heart into a normal rhythm.”

Ava got up and sat down in Hunt’s lap and put her arms around his neck.

“You saved my life.”

“A whole bunch of people saved your life. I was just in on it. And on Ryman’s behalf, I will say he was horrified at what he’d done. I wanted to break his damn neck, but you mattered more than revenge.”

“This is the second time I’ve been physically hurt working in an ER. I thought coming to a small town would be safer, but I was wrong.”

“Fear makes good people do crazy things. Sometimes bad things,” Hunt said. “You don’t have to go back to nursing until you feel ready. You don’t have to go back at all if it bothers you. I make enough money that you wouldn’t have to work at all unless you want to.”

Ava nodded. “There are lots of things I can do with my nursing degree, including teach. I won’t waste it, and I love the work. But right now, I’m seriously reconsidering my options. I know one thing. I’ll never work ER again.”

“Then so be it,” Hunt said. “Now let all that go. What can I do to entertain you until Birdie shows up with our food from the potluck dinner?”

“I don’t know,” Ava said and buried her face against his neck.

“I think you need to stretch out in your bed for a bit, okay?”

She nodded, then slid out of his lap and let him walk her to her room. She sat down on the side of her bed long enough for him to pull off her shoes, then she eased down on her back and stretched out. Hunt pulled up the covers.

“Close your eyes, darlin’. Let all this shit go and just rest. Your mom and dad will probably be over this afternoon. You need to rest up for them.”

“Love you,” Ava said.