Triple Dare County, South Dakota 7
Fearless Fighters
Heather Carrick injured her leg in a car crash, and her career ended. Beck Colley and Gavin Melwyn meet her when she comes to South Dakota to find her new direction. They hoped to convince her it was in Triple Dare County with them.
But Heather finds out her car wreck was no accident. Someone wanted to hurt her. A friend of Heather’s is accused of hiring the attacker. Then Heather’s friend would be the lead dancer. Heather doesn’t believe this. She returns to Chicago, where her parents live and where she danced. Gavin goes with her for protection and to seek out answers to whether there is any hope for her to return as the lead ballerina.
After talking with the detectives on her case, Gavin called Beck. He and a friend come to the city to find the true assailant. How all this is resolved will impact Heather’s future and Beck and Gavin’s.
Genre: Contemporary, Multiple Partners, Western/Cowboys
Length: 47,687 words
FEARLESS FIGHTERS
Triple Dare County, South Dakota 7
Paige Cameron
EVERLASTING POLYROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Polyromance
FEARLESS FIGHTERS
Copyright © 2014 by Paige Cameron
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62741-797-6
First E-book Publication: May 2014
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my wonderful husband. The first thing I noticed that night was your cowboy boots, and then your blue eyes. I’m so glad you were sitting at the table next to mine. Meeting you changed my world.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
About the Author
FEARLESS FIGHTERS
Triple Dare County, South Dakota 7
PAIGE CAMERON
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Heather Carrick was tired, but it was a good tired. The ballet had gone well. She loved the show and having the lead part. Everything in her world was just right. She’d be glad to get home, have a hot bath, and sleep.
Only two more blocks, she was almost there.
A loud boom resonated in her ears, tires screeched and her car spun. Fear grabbed her in the throat as pain racked her body. A loud crack, her SUV jerked to a stop, and it all went black.
“Heather, can you hear me?” A woman’s voice came through a long tunnel. “Blink your eyes, Heather, if you hear me.”
I can hear you, but I’m too tired to open my eyes.
“She’s not responding verbally, but she took a hard hit. It’ll take time. She’ll come around.”
Damn, didn’t she hear me?
“But she will be all right?” Mrs. Carrick asked.
“If you mean will she regain consciousness, I think so. The accident just happened and right near our hospital. She’s gotten immediate care and nothing serious showed on the X-rays of her head except the doctor said she has a slight concussion. The orthopedic doctor will talk with you soon. He’s studying the leg X-rays.”
“Thank you,” her mother said.
When a hand took hold of hers, Heather sighed with relief. Her mother squeezed her hand.
“Wake up sweetheart. Daddy and I are both here.”
A larger, work-worn hand rubbed her arm. “Hi, honey. We called Joe and Traci. They’ll see you tomorrow.”
Joe’s coming from Washington D.C. and Traci from North Carolina?
“Am I dying?” Heather asked as she forced her eyes open. Her head throbbed and her parents were blurry at first, and then her vision cleared. “Mom and Dad, what happened to me? Joe and Traci only come home for holidays. I’ve been the one to remain in Chicago close to you and Dad. Oh, my head hurts, and my leg really hurts. My leg!”
She jerked and moved restlessly. Her mother held her hand tight. “The doctor will be here soon, Heather. He’ll fix your leg.”
“Do you remember the car crash?” her father asked.
“I was in an accident?”
“Yes, an idiot ran a red light and hit you on the right side and then sped off. They said if you hadn’t been in a heavy vehicle like our SUV you’d never hav
e survived,” her father said.
“Oh, gosh, I wrecked your SUV. I’m so sorry, Dad.”
“Thank goodness your car was in the repair shop. I’m glad you had the heavier vehicle to protect you and all the seat bags deployed which also helped.”
“My head really hurts.” Heather put her hand on her forehead.
“You have a knot there, but no serious injuries.” Her mother smiled. “I always did say you had the hardest head of my three kids. You challenged everything and were very stubborn, but it’s come in handy.”
Heather’s hand touched the contraption they’d put on her right leg to hold it in place. “What did the doctor say about my leg?”
The curtain around her bed was pulled back. A stocky, gray-haired man stepped into the cubicle. “I can answer your question. I’m Dr. Kendrews. I’ve been looking at the X-ray pictures of your leg. It’s broken in two places, but one is a crack rather than a complete fracture. I’m going to do surgery and put it back together with external pins I can remove later.”
“I’m a ballet dancer. Will it be as strong as it was?”
“Too be honest, I doubt it. But we’ll see. I’ll do what I can.” Dr. Kendrews walked closer. “I’ve seen you dance. You float across the floor. My wife and I have gone to your last ballet, twice. So, I promise I will do my very best.”
“Are you the best?” Heather asked.
This time the doctor gave her a big smile. “I’m as good at my job as you are at yours. Yes, I’m one of the best.”
“When do I go to surgery?”
“As soon as we have all your blood work and Dr. Staples, your internist, says you’re ready. It won’t be long.
“Momma, call my director in the morning and tell him what’s happened. My understudy will have to take over my part. Pamela’s been working hard. She’ll be glad to have this opportunity.”
“What do I tell him when he asks when you’ll be back?”
“Explain the injury and that we don’t know about my recovery yet.” Heather blinked the tears away. She was alive, and she wasn’t giving up her hope of dancing again.
* * * *
Gavin Melwyn stopped at the barn when he got home. His best friend, Beck Colley, was brushing down his stallion, Mischief.
“How’s the ranch doing?” Gavin asked.
Beck turned his head and raised an eyebrow. “Fine as far as I know. Have you heard different?”
“Just making conversation.”
“You don’t make conversation. Old man Jessup must have called you after I stormed at him for the poor feed he sent this time.”
Gavin glanced around the barn. “Your temper’s been a bit short lately. Do you want to talk with me? I’m a good listener.”
“Damn.” Beck frowned at Gavin. “Can’t a man get angry without the whole town thinking he’s having a crisis?”
“Remember these are the same townspeople that supported you emotionally after you lost your good friend during the war, and then came home and got hurt in the rodeo ring. They’re all sensitive to your moods.”
“Gavin, it’s been over three years.”
“And you’re better, but still much more of a loner and less talkative than when you grew up here.”
“I’m a thirty-four-year-old man, not a bright-eyed, bring-on-the-world youngster.” He glared at Gavin. “And neither are you.”
Gavin laughed. “No, I’m not. But Mr. Jessup said you were unusually sullen and gruff. I’m only telling you what he said. You can ignore it, if you want.” He turned to walk out of the barn. “I’ll start supper.”
“Gavin.”
He turned toward Beck. “What?”
“Why do you put up with me?”
“I’m not sure, except you’re my best friend, even when your sullen moods return.”
“Pete would be thirty-two tomorrow, if he’d lived.”
“Ah, I understand now. It’s more difficult to deal with grief on special days. I’ll go cook supper. See you inside.”
In the kitchen, Gavin floured chicken and put it in the hot grease. While it fried, he cut up potatoes. He’d cook and mash them with lots of butter and milk. Maybe comfort food would raise Beck’s spirits.
What he wished is they’d find the right woman for the two of them. Their friends had been lucky lately, but the last long-term relationship they’d had was over a year ago and no one interesting was in sight.
He measured flour and began to make biscuits. Gavin liked to cook. It relaxed him at the end of the day. He chuckled to himself. It was a good thing he did like cooking or they’d starve. Beck hated anything to do with the kitchen. He didn’t mind cooking outside, but definitely not in.
After tomorrow Beck would be better, he hoped.
* * * *
Heather dressed to go see Dr. Kendrews. It’d been four months since her accident. She was seeing a physical therapist to gain back strength in her muscles and mobility in her knee. Today, they were going to discuss her prognosis.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” her mother asked from the doorway of Heather’s bedroom. She’d let her apartment go and moved back to her parents’ home when she was released from the hospital.
“Mom, you’ve been great, and I appreciate the offer. But I need to absorb what he tells me alone. I’ll stop at the coffee shop next door to his office and call you if I need you. I’m sure you’d join me.”
“All right, I guess.” It was evident her mother accepted Heather’s decision reluctantly.
Heather studied herself in the mirror. She’d gained a few pounds sitting around. Her pink sweater reflected some color to her pale face.
I know what to expect. No matter how much I wish it, my leg isn’t the same and never will be. Still, I need to hear what he has to say. Dr. Kendrews and his wife had become friends with her and her parents, and she respected his knowledge regarding her injury.
She drove herself. The car was automatic and her left leg was fine. There was a space just two doors down from the office. After parking, she took her cane and walked slowly to the door.
“Come in, Heather,” Dr. Kendrews said when his nurse brought her into his office after he’d examined her leg. “Have a seat.” He motioned to the dark maroon chair in front of his desk.
When the nurse left, he opened her chart. “You’ve come a long way in four months. You being in such good physical shape certainly helped your body heal more rapidly than some others with your type of break. I have the physical therapist reports. She says you’ve been working hard.”
“I have, but it will take longer for the full strength to return to my leg.” Heather stared across at him. “Tell me the truth.” She swallowed around the tightness in her throat.
Dr. Kendrews sat back in his chair. His eyes looked sad. “You may or may not continue to have that slight limp when you walk. Therapy will hopefully help get rid of it.” He glanced at his hands and then at her. She saw the tears in his eyes.
“You will never dance as you did before. The leg will not have the enormous strength required for all the beautiful moves and jumps you had to do in the ballet.”
“I knew. I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew.”
“It’s difficult to give up a successful career. Especially one you loved and had devoted yourself toward being the best. But I believe with your determination, beauty, and intelligence, you’ll find another dream to chase and succeed in it.”
“Right now I can’t imagine anything else I’d want to do. I’m at a loss about where to turn.”
“Give yourself time. Your leg is healed. Don’t jump on it, but regular use is fine.”
“Then I could drive from the airport in Minneapolis to a small town in South Dakota?”
“I don’t see why not. It’s spring and the snow is gone from most places. You might want to check the weather report before you leave. But why do you want to go so far into the wilderness?”
“My mother’s sister Bella lives there. She has a small
bed-and-breakfast and it’s going into her busy season. She said I could help her and have time to think.”
“It sounds like an excellent idea.” Dr. Kendrews stood and walked around his desk. He hugged Heather. “Keep in touch. Let me know the rest of the story.”
Heather tried to smile, but didn’t succeed. “I have to come to terms with this part of the story first.”
She felt his eyes on her as she walked out and closed the door. Then she took the elevator downstairs and walked to the café. The waitress led her to a seat in back as she’d requested.
Once Heather sat down and gave her order, the pain of his words resonated in her head. All her life her identity had been tied to being a ballerina. Who am I now? What do I do?
Before she changed her mind, she punched in her aunt’s phone number. “Hello, Aunt Bella.”
“Heather, it’s good to hear from you. How are you, darling?”
“I’m not a dancer, Aunt Bella. I’m so confused.”
“Come visit us. The wide open spaces and fresh air will be good for you, and you’ll have plenty of time to imagine what your future holds.”
“What if I can’t think of anything to do?”
“You will. Get your plane ticket. Jack and I will pick you up in Minneapolis and drive you to our home.”
“All right, but you don’t need to meet me at the airport. I’ll rent a car and enjoy the solitude of the ride.”
“I understand. Then we’ll see you when you get here.”
“I’ll call when I’ve made the reservations.” She clicked off and stared at her phone.
Her last visit to South Dakota had been nine years ago. She’d been twenty-one. Aunt Bella and her husbands had visited Chicago several times since then. But when Larry died two years ago, Heather hadn’t gone to his funeral because of her demanding work. She was sorry now. She’d given a lot up for her dancing.
Fearless Fighters [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 7] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 1