“Daddy?”
Ryder’s gaze flew to Mel’s. The pain furrowing her brow, marring what should have been a carefree easy expression.
“My hat, daddy.”
“It’s okay, honey. I’ll get you another one.”
She tried to shake her head but was prohibited by the strap around it. “I want that one.” Mel swallowed and closed her eyes. “You gave it to me.”
Ryder’s heart broke again. His brave strong girl was lying in pain, broken, and she only cared about a hat he’d given her.
“As soon as we get you better, I’ll find it, sweetheart. I promise.” It had probably fallen off when her mare bolted.
“Promise.”
He smoothed a piece of hair. “Cross my heart.”
The ride was taking longer than he liked, but he trusted the medical personnel knew what they were doing. He’d been smart enough to grab a walkie-talkie when they set out this morning and when he’d radioed in her fall, the experienced ranch hands had responded quickly. By the time they’d brought her down, the ambulance had arrived.
Beeps sounded as the vehicle backed up to the emergency doors of the small Fly Creek hospital. Maybe he should have demanded she be taken to Cheyenne. Is that what Peyton would have done? He mentioned calling her, but his mother, who had been wringing her hands beside the ambulance, informed him she’d taken care of it.
The back doors opened, and two nurses stood ready to assist the ambo guys with lowering Mel’s gurney. He tried to hold on to her but the awkward position meant he had to release her small fingers. Her eyes flew open.
“Daddy?”
“I’m here, sweetheart. We’re just getting you inside. I’m not leaving.”
He hovered as they rolled her down a small hallway and into an alcove. A doctor came in and peppered him with questions. Questions he should have known instantly but required him to think, because he’d been her father for all of two weeks. After he relayed the accident and what had been done until the paramedics took over, the doctor ordered an x-ray, and the next thing he knew, Mel was wheeled right back out. Ryder tried to follow only to find himself stopped by a petite nurse. “You can’t go with her. Stay here and she’ll be back soon.”
The sympathy in her eyes ripped through Ryder in a burst of anger. He didn’t deserve sympathy. He deserved wrath and anger and expressions of disappointment. It was his fault.
The door at the end of hall flew open and Peyton spilled through it. Her legs unsteady as she used the wall for support. She met his startled gaze and suddenly strength and purpose infused her. She stalked toward him, pure anguish lining her face.
“What did you do to our daughter?”
“She fell off her horse. There—”
“How could you? Were you even paying attention or were you being a playmate again? A friend rather than a parent.”
Ryder let Peyton’s harsh words and accusations flow over him. It was the least he deserved. He didn’t correct her. Didn’t plead his case, because there wasn’t one. Everything boiled down to the fact that their daughter got hurt on his watch.
Eventually she deflated and tears streamed down her cheeks. He reached for her and she recoiled. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”
She spun around and went back through the door. Presumably in search of Mel.
Ryder sank to the floor, leaning against the stark hospital wall. He’d failed. Everyone and everything. Peyton had asked him to take care of Mel and he hadn’t. His father’s expectations had never been met. Even his mother seemed to view him differently.
And Mel? She’d wanted a father. A day of fun and he hadn’t even delivered on that.
The pale-green walls closed in on him. He lurched up off the floor and staggered toward the exit. He needed to get away. The failures pressing on his chest were making breathing impossible. Bursting through the door into the cool sunshine, he ran into his mother.
“Ryder? What’s wrong? Is it Mel?” Tears coursed down the weathered cheeks.
He’d failed her, too.
“Can I have your keys?”
She opened her mouth.
“Please.” The rawness of his voice shocked even him. She handed the clinking metal over to him and he hurried to her dually like the life preserver it was.
He didn’t stop until he reached the shores of Sky Lake.
The lake opened up in front of him, mocking him with its sparkling surface and serene glass top. How had he gotten to this point? He’d returned to his home to find everything upside down and nothing turning out the way he’d planned.
His triumphant return, or, more specifically, his moment to show his dad what he’d become, was a joke. His father hated him more now than when he’d left ten years ago. Mitchum had refused to even look at the blueprints on the cabins or offer any suggestions.
The woman he loved, the mother of his child, couldn’t look at him without disappointment and betrayal. He’d failed her ten years ago when he left her to handle Melanie on her own. And he failed her today by not ensuring Mel’s safety. Her trust was fragile, and he had shattered it.
He failed his mother all those years ago by leaving her to worry and wonder and deal with Mitchum on her own and he’d failed her in moving home, his only motive to show his father just how wrong he was.
Hammering echoed across the lake and he could just make out the beginning footprint of the first cabin. Had he failed Sky Lake, too? Was this idea making it something it was never meant to be?
Ryder stepped closer to the shore and picked up a rock. It was thin and smooth—perfect for skipping. He let it fly, and the beautiful reflective surface broke with ripples left by the hard movement.
That was him. Ruffling the peacefulness that Sky Lake had developed in his absence.
He picked up another.
“Do you think of anyone but yourself?”
He hadn’t heard his father approach but the ice-cold hatred pouring through the accusation hardened what little bit of a heart he had left.
“You destroy everything you come in contact with. Today that included your daughter. Haven’t you done enough? Leave. Go back to whatever you’ve done these last years and let us be. These cabins are ruining Sky Lake and your presence is ruining us.”
Ryder smoothed his thumb over the river rock in his palm. He turned to look at the man who helped give him life. Who had loved him at one time but had turned cold in the blink of an eye with no rhyme or reason. What he saw on the sun worn face froze his thoughts and rearranged them into something that made even less sense than before.
“What happened to you, Dad? What happened to Sky Lake?”
The man looked desperate, tired. He looked like Ryder felt. Drowning in a sea of emotions with no life preserver. He’d long thought that emotions beyond hate were something Mitchum Marks no longer had.
“Nothing happened to me and the only thing happening to Sky Lake is you.” Ryder clenched the rock, the pressure building in his palm and giving his pain a focus. There was nothing left to say to a man who didn’t care. “I’m wasting my breath. You don’t care for anyone or anything.”
His father turned and left. His old man moved slower, each step more hesitant before taking another. Hard work took its toll on a body, but this was more. This was emotional as well as physical.
Not that anything his father did or didn’t say changed anything. Ryder was still a failure, and to be honest his father was probably right about one thing. It would be best if he left.
Chapter Seventeen
Packing took no time. He had very little in personal possessions that he carried with him. Alex and he had traveled a lot in recent years, handling things in Alaska and Canada and the Northwest. What he couldn’t bring he stored and none of that had been moved here yet. Now it never would.
He threw the last bit into his truck. Now he just needed to find Vista. He’d left letters for his mom, Peyton, and Mel in his parents’ house. And had an email waiting to be sent to Alex. His partner could handle the d
etails here and Ryder could scout out their next move. The rock was removing himself from the surface.
A couple barks had him looking behind him only to see Vista trotting happily in front of Dan. Crap, the last person or conversation he needed was from the man he knew would slide right into his boots as soon as he cleared the Fly Creek town limits.
Despite the jealousy, he knew Peyton was better off with Dan than him. Melanie, too. Dan wouldn’t have gotten his daughter hurt playing a simple game of hide and seek.
“Found this beast down by the lake.” Dan smiled and ruffled the dog between her elfin ears. He glanced at Ryder and the bed of his truck and the smile dissolved into tight thin lines.
“Going somewhere?”
Ryder whistled, and Vista hopped up into the cab of the truck. It had taken considerable willpower to not unleash on his old man back at the lake, despite the awareness of something not making sense. Nothing was left to prevent him from unleashing on Dan.
Dan sighed. “Man, why didn’t you tell me?”
The question was soft. Nothing about it accusatory and Ryder knew it had nothing to do with him leaving.
He pinned his surrogate brother with all the anger looking for an outlet. “Tell you what?”
“Tell me what it was like at home. What was going on with your dad?”
And like an overinflated balloon, Ryder popped. All the past, present, and possible future flew out of him on a whoosh. His limbs felt like they were encased in concrete. His shoulders no longer able to support anything.
Why hadn’t he talked? Why hadn’t he told Peyton or his mom or even someone like Dan? Why had he chosen to leave and why was he leaving now?
Pride. Arrogance. The I-know-I’m-right-and-I’m-going-to-show-you attitude.
Well, he may have been right, or at least partially, but he had gone about it all wrong.
“I don’t know.” The confession flew out on a breeze.
Dan shook his head. “All these years, I’ve wondered how you could up and leave Sky Lake. Leave Peyton. Your Mom. These were all the golden parts of my life. All the things I didn’t have growing up and would do everything in my power to ensure remained safe and intact.” He paused and took off his hat. “If you faced even an ounce of what I just overheard down by the lake, I can see clearly what sent you away. Dude, I know what it’s like to feel unwanted, and I’m guessing you got a sucker punch of that dose a time or twelve from your old man, but I can also tell you that there are plenty of people here who do want you and need you and that includes Sky Lake and Peyton.”
Ryder snorted. “I’m surprised Peyton hasn’t strung me up by my toes as I rightfully deserve. Mel got hurt today.”
“I know.”
“Of course you do,” Ryder muttered.
“I also know you would never do anything intentional to hurt her. That day in the roping ring I knew your intentions were good even if executed poorly and rashly.”
“Intentions don’t matter.”
“Maybe they don’t in some cases, but I do think in this case they are a big detail. Did you tell Peyton how it happened?”
Ryder shook his head.
“And you just left the hospital? Just like you’re planning on leaving now.”
Dread and regret nailed a one-two to his heart. He had left. He hadn’t talked to her. Just like ten years ago. He’d walked out of the hospital focusing on himself, because he believed the pain and hurt were his penance, and he left Peyton to deal.
“Did ten years and Alaska knock out what little sense you had left in you?”
Ryder shook his head. He had sense, he just didn’t know what to do with it. Hadn’t he just promised Peyton that he wouldn’t hurt her? That he wouldn’t leave? And yet, his staying was causing all kinds of ripples in a pond that he loved. He loved Peyton. He loved Sky Lake.
“Are you going to do something about that?”
He would. He had to. His whole future depended on him getting this right. On getting Peyton and his mother and maybe even his father to understand no matter what came his way, no matter the pain or self-doubt, he would stick it out. Be someone they could count on.
What had Peyton said at his parents’ that day? You have to forgive yourself first.
“Dan, I owe you more than I can say right now, but I need to figure some things out.”
Dan smirked. “Just make sure if you feel the urge to run or leave again, please talk to someone. Even if it’s just a damn horse.”
Dan opened Ryder’s truck door and Vista hopped back out. “I’ll find this fluffball some food.” The pair walked down the driveway, his dog happily circling and snuffling.
What on earth could he do? Go back to the hospital, and say what?
Dan whistled and twirled his hat up on one finger and flipped it onto his head.
Hat.
He would find Mel’s hat. He’d promised her and he would start there. One step. One moment, and then when the time was right he would talk with Peyton and apologize. Explain and let her know everything that had happened. Then maybe they could begin to find their way back.
Because in all the chaos and mess he knew one thing. Peyton Brooks was his end game. She and Mel were where his future lay. Nothing about Fly Creek or Sky Lake or his company would amount to a hill of beans without them.
…
Peyton shifted in the hardback chair, desperately searching for a position that didn’t cause her butt to numb and her back to howl in protest. You would think hospitals understood the waiting aspect and would plan their furniture accordingly. Surely their surveys mentioned something time and again about it. Clearly, their marketing or PR person was not listening to the target audience. Namely the damn family and relatives who were stuck waiting endlessly for their loved ones to return.
Metal rings shifted and the curtain flew back. Mel, lying on a gurney, was wheeled in immediately. Peyton choked on her breath. Her helpless daughter. Her vibrant and full of backbone daughter looked small and meek lying in the middle of white sheets. Dr. Warren followed Mel in and smiled when Peyton stood.
“Peyton, always nice to see you, even if it is under these circumstances.”
“How is she?”
“She’s fine. No head or neck trauma that we can see. She did fracture her left elbow and wrist. We’ve put a soft cast on it and given her some medication to help her rest. She was in a lot of pain, but she’ll be fine. Full recovery and there should be no permanent damage.”
Peyton nodded, unable to speak. Relief clogged her vocal cords.
“We would like to keep her a little longer just as a precaution with her head, so we’ll be moving her upstairs to her own room in a few. Room 206.” He glanced around and back out through the curtain. “Will you tell her father?”
Peyton nodded again, this time afraid the anger pulsing through would startle the doctor right out of his scrubs. Ryder didn’t deserve the title of father. Hell, he’d damaged his daughter and then left her. Not that Peyton was surprised to find him gone when she returned. Things get tough and Ryder runs. Same MO as ten years ago.
Shelby rounded the edge of the curtain and pounced on her granddaughter. She smoothed a lock of black hair off the forehead and wiped a tear off her cheek.
“I’ll leave you two alone.”
Shelby spared no glance for the departing doctor, despite Peyton knowing the woman had him set in her matchmaking headlights.
“She’s fine?” Shelby’s voice cracked.
“Dr. Warren said a fractured elbow and wrist but nothing that won’t heal.”
“Thank God.” Shelby collapsed in the other chair in the small room. “I’ll let Ryder know. I’m sure he’s home worried. When he left here, he looked like he’d seen a ghost.”
Peyton gripped the edge of the chair and took several breaths. Melanie was in the room and Shelby was upset. Telling her her son could give two shits and that he’d left because that was what he did best would serve no purpose. The truth would come soon enough.
Mel was okay.
She would be fine.
The bones would heal.
Now that the rush of panic for Mel had flushed out of her system, she allowed herself to think about Ryder. To think about him without the fear over their daughter muddying the common sense waters. To remember that moment in the hallway when she heaped blame upon blame on his head, and she realized he hadn’t argued. He hadn’t defended himself, offered one word to bolster his side. What did that mean?
Deep down, she knew he wouldn’t have done it on purpose. Knew he loved Mel as fiercely as he could despite only just getting to know her. She jumped to the wrong conclusions all those years ago and now understood what he’d been facing.
His words from before, when she’d questioned why he hadn’t confided in her ten years ago, came back to her.
I was afraid you wouldn’t have listened.
Would she have listened an hour ago? She shook her head. No. She wouldn’t have. But it wasn’t just that. The look on Ryder’s face. It had been of a man who’d lost. Who’d admitted defeat and welcomed everything being launched at him as if it was his punishment.
Mel stirred and batted her eyes a few times, glancing here and there before meeting Peyton’s gaze.
“Hi, Mom,” she croaked out, and Peyton released her hand to pour a small glass of water.
“Little sips, sweetheart.”
Satisfied Mel wasn’t going to suffer through dry mouth, she placed the cup on the table and smoothed her daughter’s forehead.
“Where’s Dad?”
Peyton fought back a wave of hurt. She was here and all her daughter cared about was Ryder. But she knew Mel wasn’t intentionally hurting her feelings. Ryder had brought her here. He’d been with her. It would be natural she would ask for him. But she didn’t want to hurt her. Tell her daughter that her father may have walked out on her again.
“He had to get something. But he’ll be back soon.” Mel nodded and shifted a bit, a grimace spilling across her face.
The Cowboy's Homecoming Surprise Page 16