Country Pride (Belle Ridge Book 1)

by Charlene Bright

  “Normal for him, you mean?” Nikki scoffed.

  “See?” he said ignoring his daughter and looking from Nikki to Kinsley. “I told you, I’m fine.”

  “But,” Dr. Foster continued, her voice taking on a scolding tone, “you should rest for the next couple of days. Concussions can turn into something much more serious.”

  “We’ll make sure he does, Dr. Foster,” said Nikki giving a pointed look at her father.

  “All right,” said Dr. Foster as she scribbled a signature on the chart. “I’ve got to get your paperwork turned in, and a nurse will be by soon to help you get checked out. You can get dressed.” She shook his hand again and turned to the two women. “The nurse will also bring you a number to use if he should become disoriented or have problems walking or talking. I don’t anticipate anything like that, but you need to observe him.”

  After the doctor had exited the room, Kinsley offered to step out while Jared got dressed. He laughed and squeezed her hind tighter. “A little late for us to be getting modest around each other, don’t you think?”

  She blushed and looked quickly at Nikki.

  “Oh please,” said the younger woman. “I’m a grownup. You’ve been sleeping in his room. If you haven’t seen each other undressed yet, then I’m terribly confused. Though, I guess there’d be nothing wrong with it if you guys are sleeping together but not sleeping together. I mean—”

  “We got it, Nikki,” said Jared, sitting up while Kinsley turned her attention back to helping him.

  “Well, I think you can handle this from here.” Nikki smiled at Kinsley and grabbed her purse, then walked over to Jared to kiss him on the cheek. “I’ll get your prescriptions and get them filled so you can go straight home.”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt,” she said as she hugged Kinsley, and then left the room.

  Fifteen minutes later, Jared and Kinsley were walking down the corridor when they spotted two sheriff’s deputies standing on either side of the door to a patient’s room.

  Jared put his arm around Kinsley and pulled her close to his side as they walked by. He peeked in the window as they passed the door and saw the man lying unconscious with monitors attached. As they turned the corner, he said, “I wonder how he’s doing. Terrible, I hope.”

  “While you were getting your MRI, the sheriff came by and told me that he suffered a lesion on his brain and would have to be observed here to see if they need to do surgery. I broke his cheekbone and knocked out a few teeth too.”

  Jared winced as he looked down at her. “Remind me never to piss you off.” Then he gestured with his head back at the door flanked by officers. “I hope he’s in a lot of pain.” He A concerned look spread across her face as he watched her closely. He stopped and pulled her in front of him, turning her face him. “Kinsley?”

  She wiped a tear from her eye. “I could have killed him.”

  “Better him than you.”

  Her eyes were shining and she chanced another look over his shoulder. “He’s obviously not well. No sane, rational person would have done all those things.”

  He pulled her to his chest and rubbed her hair. “You are too kind for this world. Everything that’s happened to him, to us, is because of his actions. You don’t have anything to feel bad about. Your heart is bigger than he deserves. I’m a lucky man that you’ve shared even a part of it with me.”

  She pulled back to kiss his chin. “Let’s go home.”

  Home. I like that sound of that, he thought as he put his arm around her and led her out of the building.

  22

  After returning to the Pride, Kinsley and Nikki made sure Jared ate a few bites of dinner and then urged him to go to bed. When they were sure he was asleep, Nikki headed to her bathroom to take a shower while Kinsley sat in the living room and called Carley, updating her on the Ralph saga.

  Kinsley became worried when Carley didn’t reply after she finished the story. “Are you there?”

  “I’m here.” It was a serious tone Kinsley was not used to from her best friend. “I just … oh God, Kinsley, what could have happened to you … I mean, thank God you’re all right, but the thought of something happening … I just can’t imagine what you must have gone through. I just—”

  “It’s okay, Carley. I’m okay. Everyone’s fine. No one except the attacker was hurt.”

  “I hope he’s hurt really badly. He deserves to be in pain.”

  “He is. Don’t worry.” Kinsley thought back to what the sheriff told her and nearly started crying again at the thought that she could have killed a man—and maybe still had—even if the man in question had been dangerous. But she did not want to upset her friend more than she already had.

  “We need to hire you a bodyguard!” her friend said suddenly.

  “Absolutely not!”

  “But—”

  “But nothing,” Kinsley interrupted. “I refuse to let this make me afraid of the world. It was one man, Carley. One man. Could it happen again? Sure. But could I also fall down the stairs and break my neck? Absolutely. There is no guarantee against tragedy. I can’t live my life looking over my shoulder.”

  “I know, but—”

  “And I can’t shut out the world because of one unstable man. I just can’t do that.”

  Carley sighed her tone softening in Kinsley’s ear. “You’re right. Of course you’re right. I just can’t stand the thought of something happening to you.”

  “I get that. I really do. When I let myself think of what could have happened to Jared and Nikki because of me, I want to do whatever it takes to protect them.”

  “And you blame yourself for what this man did.” It wasn’t a question. “What does Jared say about that?”

  Kinsley smiled and looked toward the stairs. “He says this is not my fault. That Ralph Schmidt is to blame.”

  “And how would you advise me if someone chose to hurt me or my family because they were obsessed with me?”

  Kinsley lay her head back onto the couch and closed her eyes. “I would tell you that you didn’t do anything to cause it.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I know that in my head, Car. It just doesn’t make me feel less guilty.” Kinsley raised her head again and pushed her hair back from her eyes.

  “Then you just have to keep talking to yourself as if you were talking to me.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’ll try that.”

  Carley’s bubbly laugh returned. “I should start asking for some of the royalties of those books of yours because I think I’m the real inspiration behind your sage advice.”

  Kinsley laughed in response and felt as if a weight had dropped from her shoulders. “I think that can be arranged.”

  “So, what’s next?”

  Kinsley thought of the book signing in three days. “I’ll stay here for another couple of nights to make sure Jared really is okay and then I have to head on to Carrollton, Georgia for that last book signing commitment.”

  “And then?”

  Kinsley bit her lip. “I don’t really know, Car. I need to come home, I guess.”

  “And is that home here in Chicago, or do you think you may have found a new home?”

  She breathed deeply and looked around the living room that was indeed starting to feel like home. “Again, I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about anything beyond this week, except for casual references to my spending more time in this area.”

  “Ready for some more expert advice from Best Friend Carley?”

  “Shoot.”

  “You need to make sure everything is clear between you and Jared before you leave. Don’t let this just slip away with the distance. I know it seems like it happened awfully fast, but that doesn’t make it less meaningful or have less potential. Find out exactly how he feels and decide now how you feel.”

  “You wanna write the next book?” she teased.

  Carley’s laughter rang out again. “Absolutely not. I don�
��t want any stalkers.”

  “Oh, that was over the line,” chided Kinsley.

  “What did you expect from me?”

  “Nothing less.”

  They spoke for a few more minutes about Carley’s kids before hanging up. Kinsley climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom, tiptoeing to the bed to check on Jared, making sure he was breathing regularly. Then, she showered before carefully crawling into bed next to his peaceful form.

  ***

  Time was running out. Kinsley would be leaving in less than twenty-four hours’ time, and Jared still had no idea when or if she might return. What was he waiting for? He slid out from under Ethel and sat up next to Kinsley, who was sitting on the ground next to him, her knees up and her arms around them.

  “I guess everything is okay,” he said and wiped his hands on the rag lying next to him, trying to keep disappointment out of his voice.

  “You didn’t trust J.J.? He gave her a clean bill of health yesterday. She’s tamper-free.”

  “Doesn’t hurt to make sure one more time.” He stood up and reached out his hand to hers to help her up. “You still planning on leaving after breakfast tomorrow?” he asked as she stood.

  She sighed and put her hands in her back pockets. “That’s the plan. It’ll get me there in time to have an early dinner before the event. I do better on a full stomach.”

  “And you’re going to call as soon as you get to your hotel, right?”

  She chuckled and stood on her toes to plant a kiss on his lips. “How many more times are you gonna make me promise that?”

  “Until I hear your voice over the phone saying you’ve arrived safe and sound.” He put his arm around her and walked her into the house. She had already started packing, and one of her bags was sitting on the couch. She’d had to buy a new bag for the new clothes and toiletries she’d bought during her extended stay. A deep ache flared through him, and he sighed with the knowledge that her presence would soon be gone from his home.

  Nikki walked into the room, her phone to her ear. “No, your mom’s peach cobbler should be plenty. Thanks, hon. … I love you too. See you in a couple of hours.” She looked up at the couple as she put her phone in her pocket. “So, it looks like we have everything we need for the cookout tonight.”

  “I really wish you wouldn’t make too big of a fuss,” said Kinsley. “It’s not like I’m leaving forever.”

  Jared’s stomach fluttered. He just wished he knew how long they would be apart.

  “You better not,” said Nikki, taking Kinsley by the arm as they walked into the kitchen to take out the frozen hamburger patties and hot dogs from Jared’s last trip to the slaughterhouse. “Anyway, it’s not a fuss. Just a few folks who want to wish you a safe trip considering how you got here.” After studying the food on the counter, she announced, “I’m gonna run into town to get some more beer and sodas. Tammi’s got all the fixings taken care of, J.J. and his wife are bringing buns, and Chance is the chips and dips guy, plus he’s bringing his mom’s famous peach cobbler.”

  “Sounds delicious. Okay if I ride into town with you? I want to pick up some flowers and a few snacks from the farmer’s market.”

  “I’d love for you to come with me,” said the excited young woman, grabbing Kinsley’s hand.

  “I’ll drive,” said Jared, pulling his truck keys from his pocket.

  Nikki turned to her father, shaking her head. “Nope, don’t forget you gotta meet Jackson in an hour to discuss the cattle he wants to buy.”

  He had almost forgotten. He didn’t have much more time with Kinsley and the idea of giving up a couple of those last hours was unpleasant, but remembering her promise to return, he decided to swallow the disappointment. It wouldn’t do to show her how easily it was for him to break a commitment, even if it was for her. “Oh yeah. Thanks for reminding me.”

  His daughter stared at him, her brows furrowed. “You’re not feeling bad, are you? Forgetting anything else, like my name? I’m still worried about that bruise, you know.” She put her hand to his forehead before grinning at her own jest.

  “Your name? Uh, is it Sandra?”

  She punched him in the arm with the hand that had been so caringly checking his temperature.

  “Ow, not so worried about that bruise that you won’t give me another one, huh?”

  “You better believe it.” She chuckled and then gently rubbed the place on his arm where she had punched him. “It’s okay to cry if you need to, Daddy.”

  When he thought about Kinsley leaving, he actually did feel like crying. He kissed his daughter on her cheek and then Kinsley on her lips before heading off to change out of his working-on-cars clothes.

  He stood in his bedroom and looked at Kinsley’s half-packed bag, listening to the front door shut. Then he lifted one of her shirts and breathed in the scent, thinking he just might need to take the moment to have a little cry after all.

  ***

  The dinner was perfect. As promised, Nikki and Jared had kept it intimate and festive. Around fifteen people were there, including J.J. and his wife Pat, Carl and Peggy, and a couple of neighbors who had been there the morning of the fire. Everyone had acted as though Kinsley were just going on a trip and would be back soon—as if she belonged there. Her face warmed. Did she belong there? Did Jared want her to come back for more than just occasional visits?

  She had been so afraid of the answer to that question that she still hadn’t followed her best friend’s advice and initiated a discussion on where they stood. She was sitting at the picnic table in the backyard, next to J.J.’s wife and looked at Jared, who was standing by the grill with a beer in his hand and chatting with Chance. He caught her glance and smiled in a way that made her want to get him into the bedroom. She grinned back but looked away before giving him ideas as well and forcing them to be rather rude to their guests, leaving them early.

  “It would be so much better for education in general. It’s amazing how much work the kids have to do to get caught back up after taking a three-month break,” Pat was saying. Kinsley returned her attention to her. She had really taken to J.J.’s wife right away. Her laugh reminded her so much of Carley’s. Pat was a schoolteacher and they had been discussing the possibility of the county schools transitioning to a year-round schedule. Kinsley thought Pat would make a wonderful school superintendent.

  “I know you’re right. I just remember how exciting summer vacation was when I was little,” Kinsley said before taking another bite of her burger.

  “And that’s actually part of the problem. So much energy is spent in anticipating summer each year that we might as well not try to teach anything during the last month before school’s out.”

  “I’m betting the kids would all get used to it. If it’s a better plan, you gotta start sometime.” Nikki took the last sip of her beer and stood. “I’m going to get a coke now. Can I grab another beer or something else for you two while I’m up?”

  “A Sprite would be great,” said Kinsley. “I should lay off the beer and caffeine if I’m gonna drive safely in the morning.”

  “None for me,” Pat replied and turned back to Kinsley. “So, when do you think your new book might be coming out?”

  “Well, since I won’t be on the road for a while after this next event, I’ll be able to devote quite a bit of time to it. I’ve already got the outline and the first couple of chapters written. I should have the first draft done in a couple of months, and then it’ll need to go through a few cycles of editing and proofreading. We should be able to get it on the market about this time next year, maybe a month or two sooner.”

  “I’m looking forward to reading it. I really enjoyed Standing Up to the Bully Inside. I’ve recommended it to so many people.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Pat. Thank you. I’ll be sure and get you one of the proof copies so you can be one of the first to read it.”

  “I’d love that.”

  Later, when she was hugging Pat goodbye, she had the sudden thou
ght that they would be very close if she lived here. If Adamson Pride became her home.

  ***

  It was after ten o’clock when Jared shut the front door and locked it. Nikki was cleaning up in the kitchen and had absolutely forbidden Kinsley from helping.

  Jared took her hand and gestured with his head toward the stairs. “I don’t want you to be falling asleep behind the wheel tomorrow, so let’s go on and get ready for bed.” His grin indicated they might not be getting to sleep right away.

  She nodded and followed him into the bedroom, steeling herself to bring up what had been on her mind for days. She had tried to imagine the worst that could happen if she started the conversation, and it had catapulted her into heartbreak no matter how many times she told herself that everything Jared had said and done could not point further away from a heartbreaking outcome. Still, her stomach tightened and her brain just would not let the question leave her lips. The psychologist in Kinsley couldn’t break through the barrier of fear to instill reason.

  He shut the bedroom door behind her and she gave herself a quick pep talk, envisioning ripping off a band-aid. But when she turned to him, all thoughts were lost as his lips met hers and he pulled her close enough to allow her to understand well what his intentions for the night were.

  23

  Kinsley had said goodbye, trying to convince herself that it would not be forever. That maybe a few days apart would allow them to be sure of how they felt. Maybe it would break the spell so that they were in their right minds when considering their future together. Even so, she cried for the first hour of her trip, reaching out to the passenger seat and patting Ethel reassuringly while she listened closely for any sputtering of her engine.

  She had talked to the sheriff just before she left and learned Ralph was conscious again, though refusing to speak, instead insisting he see a lawyer. The sheriff said they should be able to move him from the hospital into a holding cell in a few days and that they would keep her updated on the case, giving her plenty of notice to appear in a trial, should it come to that.