by Ciana Stone
Naomie tapped on the door and waited. After a couple of seconds, she heard his voice. "Come on in."
She opened the door to find Mace sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing only boxers, looking a little pale and holding a towel to his side. "You pulled a stitch, didn't you?" She asked as she walked over to him and set her bag on the bed beside him.
"I did."
"I would offer to sew it back up but I don't have anything to numb you. But your doctor said on the off chance this happened, I could glue it."
"Glue?"
She couldn't help but smile at the look that came on his face. "I know it sounds wrong, but it's done all the time and aside from a few seconds of sting, it doesn't hurt. Now show me."
Mace moved the towel. Sure enough, he'd popped two stitches. She took what she needed from her bag. "I'll fix this before I check the rest of the stitches. How are you feeling this morning?" She knelt on the floor between his legs and went to work cleaning the wound.
"Ouch!"
"Sorry," she tried to be as easy as possible. "So, you didn’t answer. How are you feeling?"
"Like I got into a fight with a cougar. Sore as hell."
When she looked up at him, she could see he wasn't lying. The strain of being strong, not complaining and for him, not succumbing to pain meds, showed in the dark circles beneath his eyes and the overall tension in his face.
"There's nothing shameful in taking the pain medication, you know. If you need it."
"I'm making it, and I hate drugs."
"I know. Just stating the obvious, I guess. Even though you're Superman and all that, I worry about you. What you went through was no small thing."
Mace put his hand on hers to stay her motions. "Every time I go to sleep, I live it again."
Naomie nodded, finished gluing the wound and then raised up on her knees and took his hands. "Me too."
"How do we make it go away?"
"Time. I know that sounds clichéd, but it's all I know that truly works."
"How do you know that it does?"
She looked at him for a few moments, battling indecision. Her need to help him overrode the instinct to protect herself. "Once upon a time, I made a horrible mistake and became involved with a monster. I didn't know it at the time, but I soon discovered it. I spent six months in a cage, beaten and abused and three times I tried to kill myself just to escape. Three times I was stopped. In what I called my gift from God, my monster traded me to another beast and I managed to escape. It wasn't easy or pretty, and a life was lost, but with the help of a very dear friend, I made it out alive."
"Damn, Naomie, I had no idea."
"No one does, and the point of me telling you is to let you know that while you may never forget it and there may be times it comes back to haunt you, but its power over you fades as long as you keep reminding yourself that you're the one who survived. You have a good life, people who love you and life is damn good. That's how you beat it. At least in my experience."
"Does Dad know?"
She shook her head. "Not yet. He will. When the time's right."
"You know it took a lot for him to announce that you and he are involved."
She smiled. "Yes, I do. Now let's check the rest of your stitches and change the bandages."
"Okay. He loves you, Naomie."
"I'd like to think so."
"I know so. He told me. Last night I had trouble sleeping, and he must have heard me moving around so he came in and sat with me. We talked about a lot of things, including you. It scares him to think one day you might decide you don’t want him anymore, you know? That the age thing will come into play."
"I know, but hopefully, in time he'll trust what I feel and know that age is irrelevant."
"I feel the same. It's what's in here that matters," he touched his chest.
"Indeed it is. And speaking of what's in your heart, I guess you know Bailey nearly lost her mind when you went to war with that cat. By the way–damn. I mean holy shit, I've never seen anything like that in my life. It scared the holy hell out of me, but dear Lord were you ever like some mythological god come to life, going to battle with that beast."
He smiled and shook his head. "Hardly, but I swear, like I told Dad, you were like an avenging angel, diving in with that knife. And don't laugh, but I swear when you stabbed that cat, I could have sworn I saw the life leave it. It was like some light in its eyes went out."
"I wouldn't laugh at that. I'm part Gypsy remember? We hold the spirit in high regard and see the light of the life force in every creature."
"And do you see it go from one creature to another, because God as my witness, a split second after the light went out of it, I could have sworn I saw it flare in your eyes – kind of like it took root inside you."
Naomie was a bit surprised by his words, and his perception of things, and also touched. "Wouldn't that be wonderful? It'd mean the Universe knew my intent wasn't malicious and gave the cat's spirit a place to go until it was time for it to return to the Source."
"Maybe. I tell you, Naomie. This thing has made me see life in a whole new light. I really thought I was a goner. And I know I would have been without you. First with the cat and later in the helicopter. Dad told me how you kept me alive. I don't know how to repay you for that."
"You already have."
"I have? How?"
She put her hand on the center of his chest. "You shared this with me, made me family."
"I do love you, you know."
"Yes, I do know, just as you know the feeling is mutual."
He smiled. "Wonder what would have happened if it'd been you and me who got together?"
Naomie chuckled. "Honey, you'd have felt like you tangled with a cat. You're one hot as hell guy, you know."
He laughed. "You sure know how to flatter a man."
She laughed as well. "I think the Universe knew what it was doing. You and Bailey are perfect together."
"I agree, and I have a secret."
"One you're going to tease me with or share?"
"Share. I'm going to propose to her. I have a picture of the ring and the jewelry store in Cotton Creek has one in her size. I just have to get there to get it."
"Want to go this morning? I'll drive you."
"Really?"
"Hell yeah. We'll just tell everyone you popped a stitch, so we're going into town."
"I notice you left out any mention of seeing a doctor? They'll infer that you know?"
"I'm quite careful not to lie, my friend."
Mace put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Then let's do it."
"Okay. As soon as all these bandages are changed. You want to stand so I can get the ones on your hip?"
She stood, offered her hand and helped him rise. It surprised her when he wrapped his arms around her. "Thanks for saving me, Naomie."
Naomie hugged him back, thinking how fortunate they were he'd survived, and how happy she was he was going to propose to Bailey. Now, if they could just find a way to end all this trouble that was falling on the Walker family and Kal, life would be fine indeed.
*****
Mace and Naomie had just returned from town. On the drive home they came up with a plan. She would take Minnie for the night so he and Bailey could have some time alone. He was going to try and talk DeLyn into fixing dinner, take it to Bailey's and have a candlelight meal, then propose.
When they pulled up in front of the main house, Nash's truck was parked out front, loaded with furniture. He and Harley were standing on the front steps, talking with Russell and DeLyn. "What's up?" Mace asked as he got out of the truck, unassisted.
"What did the doctor say about you pulling stitches?" DeLyn immediately asked.
Mace looked at Naomie who'd just walked around the front of the truck. "He's fine and dandy. No infections, the skin is mending, and he's moving around on his own."
He gave her a grateful smile, and she returned it before looking at the rest of the folks. "So, what's up here?"
"
We had a ton of stuff in the attic that we've meant to get rid of for years and haven't done it, so we gave it to Harley for her new place. She hasn't had time to shop for furniture, and with the National Little Britches rodeo coming up so soon, she probably won't get to it until she gets back."
"I closed on the ranch. It's officially mine," Harley said, and Naomie squealed and ran over to hug her.
"Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. So, you're moving in today?"
"Well, partially. Thanks to Russell and DeLyn, I have a bed frame, couch, table, and chairs. Nash and I were going to take the stuff over then run into town and pick up some things like towels, sheets – a mattress. With luck, I'll be sleeping in my own home tonight."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Help entertain Rusty?" Nash asked. "Dad and Gigi were good enough to volunteer to let him spend the night."
"Oh!" Naomie looked at Mace then at Russell. "Well, what would you and DeLyn think about adding another to the party? I volunteered to take care of Minnie tonight. Mace and Bailey haven't had any time together since the cougar attack, and I thought it might be nice for them to have an evening."
"Fine by me," Russell agreed.
"Oh, you know I love that baby to bits," DeLyn added. "So absolutely."
"Just one more tiny thing," Naomie added. "I sort of volunteered us to make dinner so Mace could take it over and surprise Bailey."
DeLyn put her hands on her hips. "Volunteered, did you?"
"Yes, ma'am. You can scold me later, but would you please help me?"
"You know I can't say no. Okay, so everyone's set with their plans?" DeLyn looked around.
"Yes ma'am," Nash said. "And thank you."
"My pleasure, honey. Now go get Rusty and bring him on over so you and Harley can get busy. And Mace?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"You call Bailey and tell her we're going to need her to come over to the house around five and to call you when she's on the way. You and Naomie can go over and set things up when she leaves, and I'll keep her occupied until you're ready."
"Thanks, Gigi," Mace went over and hugged her. "You're the best."
"Thank your friend who volunteered us for this," she said with no condemnation in her tone.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Okay, off with you. Go sit, or you won't be worth a hoot tonight. Naomie, get your butt inside, and we'll get started figuring out what to fix for Mace and the rest of us."
"Yes ma'am," Naomie smiled and hurried up the steps.
"Come on," she took Russell's hand.
"Where am I going?"
"To help in the kitchen, silly man. You don't think the women-folk are going to do all the work do you?"
"Well, I guess not." He smiled and let her tug him along. Once inside, she tossed her purse on the sideboard in the kitchen and turned in toward him to wrap her arms around his waist and stand on tiptoes to kiss him.
"Hey, handsome. It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you. What're you and Mace up to? I heard you go upstairs to his room this morning, then Rich called, and by the time we were done talking you and he were gone. Did you really take him to see a doctor?"
"No. He did pull a stitch but I glued it and it's fine. His doctor said the glue would work fine if he pulled one. There's no sign of infection from any of the wounds, and his heartbeat is regular and strong, his blood pressure is that of a twenty-year-old and aside from some PTSD and general soreness, he's fine."
"PTSD?" She could see the concern that brought to his face.
"What he went through was awful. It makes me sick feeling every time I remember, and I struggle not to cry," she cleared her throat and blew out her breath. "That cat was clawing the fire out of him, blood flying and it screaming and biting. I don't even know how Mace managed to hang on. When they went down, and the cat managed to turn toward him, I thought it was over. I can't even imagine the fear and pain he suffered."
"Until you buried that knife in its head."
She ignored the comment. This wasn't about her. It was about a man who risked his life and suffered greatly, to protect the people he loved. "That cat would've killed the kids, Russ. Mace saved them from a horrible death and in doing so suffered terribly. It's going to take some time before he can put this behind him, and it won't ever truly be gone. So, we all need to be patient with him and understand if he's jumpy or grumpy or out of sorts."
"I understand," he shook his head and corrected himself. "That's not true. I can't imagine going through what he did, and I'll do anything I can to help him recover. But I'm confused. If you didn’t' take him to see a doctor, where did you go?"
"He went to buy an engagement ring."
The surprise on Russell's face made her smile. "He's proposing to Bailey?"
"Yes, tonight."
"Ah, so that explains things. Do you think now's the time he should do that, though?"
"I think it's the perfect time. That attack made him face mortality, you know. He knows he almost died. Something like that makes you evaluate your life and what you want. We all know he and Bailey are crazy in love, and he wants to have a life with her. So, he said he wanted to get a ring and propose, and I helped him."
"I'm guessing I'm not supposed to know?"
"Oh, I don't think he'd care, but we should probably not bring it up in front of anyone else, just to be safe. I'd hate to have the surprise ruined."
"That'll be two of my kids."
"Huh? Oh! Yes, Cici and Mace, both getting married. Cici's and Dillon's babies are coming, and your family is growing just like you said you'd always wanted."
"You know, it hasn't gone unnoticed that things started to change when you showed up in our life. Do you have a bit of Cupid about you? You've done some match-making, after all."
"Cupid? Honey, is there anything that looks Cherub-like about me?"
Russell chuckled and hugged her. "I stand corrected. There's nothing Cupid-like at all about you. Now, some witchy Gypsy? That I can see."
"What can you see?" DeLyn's voice from the door had them moving out of the embrace.
"That if we don't watch out, she's going to turn us into a weekend child care."
Delyn smiled. "And you're complaining?"
"Not one bit," he replied. "Now either put me to work or cut me lose. I have a ranch to run."
"Then go on with yourself, " DeLyn made a shooing motion with her hands. "We got this."
"Yeah?" he looked at Naomie.
"Well, yeah," she smiled and gave him a noisy kiss. "Skedaddle."
She then turned to DeLyn. "All right then. I'm all yours. Tell me what to do."
"Pour us some coffee while I get a notepad."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm on it." Naomie smiled as she thought about the night Mace had planned. It was literally going to be a dream come true for Bailey, and Naomie wanted it to be perfect. For Bailey and for Mace. This was the night that everything for them changed.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bailey pulled out her phone and called Mace as soon as she walked out of the main house. "Hey," she said when he answered. "Are you at the main house? I'm just leaving there."
"What's up?"
"I don't know for sure. DeLyn asked me over and started talking about making sachets for Cici's wedding and then got off on having a baby shower. She and Naomie are cooking dinner. Apparently, they're all having an evening with Rusty while Nash helps Harley move."
"Oh? Tell me about it."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
She told him nearly everything they'd talked about and how excited DeLyn seemed to be about the upcoming wedding. By the time she finished, she was almost to her cottage.
"I'm sure she is excited," Mace said. "Gigi's a romantic. So, what are you up to tonight? Do you have plans?"
"No. As a matter of fact, that's why I called. DeLyn asked if Minnie could stay there with them tonight and so I thought maybe we could get together."
"Now that sounds like the
best plan I've heard in a while. Want to have dinner?"
"With your family?" She loved his family and would say yes if it made him happy, but would really like an evening alone with him.
"I was thinking more private. Like your place?"
Bailey frowned and actually lowered the phone to look and make sure she hadn't somehow switched to the speaker. It sure sounded like an echo or something. Then she looked at the cottage.
There stood Mace with the front door open and his phone to his ear. "Hey, gorgeous."
Bailey slid her phone into her pocket and ran to the door. "God it's good to see you standing. Can I hug you?"
"Sure. Just no bone crushers yet."
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed up to him. "I've missed you so much."
"We've seen each other everyday sweetheart."
"But not alone and I haven't been able to hold you, and I really need to do that."
Mace leaned down to kiss her, soft and slow. "And I really needed to do that."
"Same here. So, what do you want me to fix for dinner?"
"Nothing."
She looked up at him, confused. "But I thought you wanted to have dinner?"
"I do." He backed into the cottage and gestured to the small dining area. The table was covered with a linen tablecloth, there were china plates, crystal glasses, and covered silver serving dishes, along with candles.
"Oh my god, did you do all this?"
"I had some help from DeLyn and Naomie."
"I can't believe you did this," Bailey walked over to the table. It was beautiful. Perfect in fact.
"It feels like another lifetime ago since I was able to have you to myself." He held out a chair for her, and with a smile she sat.
"What're we having?" she asked.
"I don't have a clue."
Bailey smiled. "Well let's see." She uncovered the serving dishes and they filled their plates. "I hope you don't mind not having champagne," he said. "I'm not cleared to drink yet."
"That's fine. I don't need alcohol. Just you."
Before she left the main house, she'd had an appetite. Now, to her surprise and dismay, she found she could barely swallow. She and Mace had never suffered from a lack of things to talk or laugh about, and yet here they sat, struggling to make conversation, picking at their food and about as uncomfortable as two people could be.