Everyone shot to the windows, searching through the driving rain for a beam of light.
“There!” Sally yelled. “On the left. Someone has just turned into the driveway.”
“Thank God,” Jenny sighed.
Nathan headed into the hall, grabbing his jacket and ramming the zip up to his throat. He hoped to hell it was Amy and not the highway patrol bringing bad news.
“Where are you going?” His dad stood in the doorway, watching him with eyes that were far too knowing.
He pulled his boots on. “Outside to meet Amy. She might need help getting inside.”
An icy blast of wind pushed him backward when he opened the front door. He heaved it closed behind him, taking what little shelter the porch offered in the storm. The headlights were getting brighter. She must be driving slowly. What if she was hurt? Damn the woman, she should have phoned or answered her cell phone. What the hell had been going through her mind to drive in this weather?
Wiping the rain out of his eyes he moved to the edge of the porch, staring into the night. The truck was yellow. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing that at least she’d made it home safely. She stopped beside the house. He didn’t hear the front door open or the thud of boots coming down the stairs. All he saw was Amy, slumped over the steering wheel.
He ran through the driving rain, bending his body against the strength of the storms fury. He tried to open her door, but it wouldn’t budge. Banging on the glass, he yelled, “Unlock the door.”
Her arm moved slowly. She pushed a red button, then let her hand drop to her side.
He tried again. The wind caught the door, almost pulling it off its hinges. Amy’s pale face stared back at him. Her lips were blue and her brown eyes were so dark he could have sworn they’d turned black. He reached forward ready to lift her out of the truck.
“Stand back, son,” his dad yelled beside him. “We’ll carry her inside.”
Sean pushed between them. He turned Amy’s shaking body around so that her legs dangled out the side of the cab. Bending forward, he lifted her over his shoulders, holding her tightly against his body in a fireman’s lift. He moved toward the house, hauling Amy inside as fast as the storm allowed.
Nathan slammed the driver’s door closed and ran behind his brother. His mom stood at the front door pointing upstairs. Both child gates were open and everyone charged up the stairs after Sean. He carried Amy into Sally’s room and put her on a woolen blanket on top of the bed.
His mom started undoing the buttons on her jacket. “We need to take these wet clothes off her and get her warm. Turn the electric blanket on full bore, Sally. Paul, you go downstairs and heat up the hot-water bottles. Go and get me some more towels, Matthew.”
Matthew and his dad ran out of the room.
Nathan didn’t see them leave. All he saw was Amy’s white face, pale and lifeless in the soft glow of the bedroom light. He reached forward, holding her against his chest while his mom pulled her jacket off her shoulders.
“Lie her back down, Nathan. We need to get the rest of her clothes off.”
“Here are the towels,” Matthew said.
Nathan grabbed one of them, wiping the rain off Amy’s face and gently placing a towel under her head. Why the hell was she so wet?
His mom started unbuttoning her shirt. “You can all wait downstairs. Sally and I will call if we need you.”
“I’m staying,” Nathan said. There was no way he’d leave Amy when she needed him. His mom glanced over her shoulder, giving him the no-nonsense stare that meant she wasn’t backing down.
“He’ll be alright here, Jenny. Let him stay.” Nathan’s dad left a pile of hot-water bottles on the end of the bed and left the room.
“You might as well make yourself useful then,” she muttered. “Lift Amy into a sitting position. I need to get this shirt off her.”
Nathan pulled Amy into his arms while his mom peeled her wet shirt off her body.
Sally dropped Amy’s sneakers on the ground. “I might need some help with her jeans.”
Nathan reached for Amy’s waistband, but his mom shooed him away. “I’ll do that, you pull them down from the bottom.” Her frozen jeans stuck to her skin. Sally and his mom wiggled the denim over Amy’s hips and together they yanked the soaking fabric down her legs.
His mom glanced at him. “No arguments this time, Nathan. Turn your back while we get her underwear off.”
He scowled at his mom, but did as he was told.
“We’re done. I’ve put another blanket over her, but we need to pull the wet one off the bed. Hold Amy on her side, Nathan, while we untangle the blankets.”
He turned her over, lifting her cold body as much as he could while his mom and sister pulled wet wool away from her shaking body.
Sally put a hot water bottle under each of Amy’s armpits and another one between her legs.
His mum covered her from chin to foot in more blankets. “There’s not much else we can do for her at the moment. Nathan, you stay with Amy while I try and call the hospital. There’s chicken soup in the freezer, Sally. Put it in the microwave and heat it through. As soon as it’s ready I want you to give her some to warm her up.”
Sally frowned. “Will you be alright, Nathan?”
“I’m fine. Go and get the soup.” He gazed down at Amy. She’d closed her eyes and curled herself into a ball, shaking violently under the mountain of blankets. He stripped his jacket and boots off, leaving them in a wet pile beside Amy’s clothes. Picking up a towel he began to rub her head, squeezing as much water as he could from the limp ponytail at the back of her head.
“You’re going to be okay, Amy,” he whispered. “You’re safe now.”
Matthew walked into the room. “Mom told me to get Sally’s hairdryer out of her room. And I’ve got dry jeans and a sweatshirt for you.” He dropped the clothes on the end of the bed, staring at Amy’s shaking body. “She’s lucky she got home when she did.” He plugged the hairdryer in and handed it over to Nathan. “This might get the job done quicker. I’ll take the wet stuff downstairs and see if mom needs a hand with anything.”
Nathan sat on the edge of the bed. The drone of the hairdryer blocked the noise of the storm and the worry filling his body to overflowing. He undid the band holding Amy’s hair in a tight knot, slowly drawing his fingers through the wet strands, offering what little comfort he could. Hot air blew against her scalp, ruffling her half-dry hair against the pillow.
“Soups ready.” Sally walked through the door holding a steaming mug. “There are extra pillows in my closet, Nathan. Take out a few and stack them against the headboard so we can prop Amy up and give her something to eat.”
He turned the hairdryer off and headed across the room. “What did the doctor say?”
“Mom’s still trying to get through. The landlines are down so she’s using dad’s cell phone.”
Sally put the soup on the bedside table and gave him a hand to lift Amy onto the pillows. He pulled the blanket up to her chin.
“Th-thanks,” Amy whispered in a husky voice.
“Don’t thank us just yet.” Sally smiled. “Wait until you’ve tried mom’s chicken soup. It’s the best in Montana.” She lifted the spoon, tipping the liquid against Amy’s lips. “That’s it. A little bit at a time.”
“I’m so c-cold.”
Nathan reached for his sweatshirt, pulling it over his head. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He grabbed his jeans and headed into the hallway. Catherine’s door was slightly ajar. He nudged it open and walked across the room, staring down at the blonde headed baby sleeping in her cot. Her teddy bear leaned against the rail. Its ears flopped forward, squashed flat from too many cuddles and lots of determined chewing. His hands clenched at his sides knowing how close Amy had come to being in real trouble. How close Catherine might have been to not having an older sister.
With his hands jammed in his pockets he watched Catherine for another couple of minutes. Her hand fumbled through the blankets, s
earching for her mouth. She latched onto her knuckles, sucking for all she was worth.
For the last few months he hadn’t worried about anyone but himself. He’d locked himself away from the world, away from everyone that meant something to him. It was time he stood up and faced all the sorry ass excuses he’d made for himself. Amy could have died tonight, but she hadn’t. Just like he’d been spared in the barn fire for God knew what reason.
Catherine giggled in her sleep. Her red cheeks dimpled, chasing whatever happy dream she’d found. Maybe that’s what he needed. He needed to start living again, find the dreams that used to bring a smile to his face. But there was only one problem. He didn’t know where to start.
“There you are. I thought you’d gone downstairs.” Sally’s voice whispered across the room. She stood in the doorway, an empty mug in her hand. “Mom got through to the hospital. They said we’re doing all the right things. If anything changes we have to give them a ring straight away.”
“That’s good.”
“Is your back sore?”
“No. I’m just…I’m thinking about things.”
She walked over to the cot, wrapping her arm around his waist. They both gazed down at Catherine. “Amy will be alright, Nathan. And so will you, as soon as you get out of those wet jeans. I’ll stay upstairs while you change.”
“Are you heading back to your apartment tomorrow?”
“You really want to get rid of me don’t you?” She grinned. “If I can get through the mess on the highway I will. Otherwise you’ll have to put up with me for another day.”
He put his arm around his sister’s shoulder. “Better hope the roads are clear then.”
Sally pinched him.
“Ow.”
“Ssh, you’ll wake the baby. Be careful who you mess with,” she laughed. “I know all your soft spots.”
As Nathan glanced down at Catherine, his mind focused on her older sister sleeping in the next room. Sally didn’t know his biggest soft spot. He’d just discovered that himself. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. No more pinching.”
Amy felt like she’d been buried in the dessert. No matter which way she turned she couldn’t get away from the furnace surrounding her. She kicked a heavy weight off her legs, using her arms to push away from the heat and find something cold.
“No you don’t. You’ve got to keep these blankets on.”
Her eyes flew open. It was dark. No light. Panic roared through her body. She opened her mouth and screamed, scratching at the weight lying beside her.
“What the hell?”
A hand clamped over her mouth. She bit down hard. Pushing. Struggling. Crying.
He yelled, roaring through the blackness. Something heavy landed on top of her, pressing into her body, pinning her to the bed. She couldn’t move, couldn’t run.
“What happened?”
A woman’s voice. Her mom? No. Not her mom. A light blinded her. She tried to move her arm, cover her eyes, but her body felt too heavy. Too wrong.
“Amy, wake up. It’s Sally. You’re safe.”
She caught her breath. Sally? What was Sally doing in their trailer? The heavy weight rolled off her body, but she still couldn’t move.
“Is everything alright in here?”
Another voice, more feet thumping toward her. She opened her eyes, then shut them. She squinted into the room, staring at pink walls and frilly curtains. She wasn’t in her mom’s trailer. She wasn’t in her bedroom.
She frowned at Sally, standing over her with a worried look on her face. Nathan sat on the edge of her bed with his back to her. Jenny and Paul hovered just inside the room. Then she remembered the flat tire, getting soaked to the skin. Feeling like she might have made a big mistake.
She tried to swallow, but her throat felt raw. Oh God. She’d just made an even bigger mistake. “N-Nathan?”
“I’m fine.”
His muffled voice made her feel sick to her stomach.
“What’s going on in here? I thought someone had been murdered.” Sean stood in the doorway, scratching his sleep-tousled head. He frowned at Nathan. “What’s wrong with your…” He looked at Amy. “I’ll get an icepack.”
Jenny walked across to Nathan, holding his hand gently in hers. “You’ll need a bandage. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Amy gazed around the room. She’d made a fool of herself. But more than that, she’d hurt Nathan. Her body shook. She could still feel his body pushing her into the mattress, his hand heavy against her face. Acid rose in her throat as she remembered another man, another night, terrifying her beyond anything she’d ever known.
Her gaze settled on Paul, standing quietly in the room. His kind eyes calmed her, reminded her that she was safe. All through her teenage years, Nathan’s dad had shown her that good men still existed. He had been gentle and patient, not making a big deal out of her odd behavior. But sometimes the past came back uninvited, leaving a deeper mark with each visit.
Sean returned with his mom.
Jenny sat beside Nathan and unrolled a bandage. “I’ll get your hand wrapped up and then you can put the icepack on it.”
“Take these.” Sean passed Nathan a couple of pills. He swallowed them whole without an ounce of water.
Amy tried to reach out, to apologize, but her body wouldn’t cooperate.
“It’s okay,” Sally sighed. “You got a fright when you woke up, that’s all. Are you alright now?”
She nodded. God knew she didn’t deserve to be okay. Not after nearly biting through Nathan’s hand or waking the whole house up with her screams.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” Sally pulled the blankets around her shoulders.
Too hot, much too hot. She shook her head.
Sally kissed her cheek. “I’ll leave the light on in the hallway. Goodnight.”
“All bandaged up.” Jenny stood up and gazed down at Nathan. “Do you want me to stay with Amy?”
He glanced over his shoulder. His blue eyes were deep and unreadable, searching for something in Amy’s face. She stared at him, hoping he wouldn’t leave.
“I’ll stay, mom. You go back to bed.” A tight smile pulled at his face. “One of us will yell if we need help.”
Jenny frowned. “Take care. Both of you. Come on Sean, no one’s been killed so you can go back to bed.”
“I can’t believe Matthew slept through all the action. That guy wouldn’t wake up if the house fell down around him,” he grumbled.
Paul gave his son a gentle push toward the door. “Out, and don’t even think about waking him up. Matthew wasn’t the only one to stay asleep. It looks as though Catherine inherited the same genes.”
Amy’s heart lurched in her chest. She’d forgotten about her sister. She tried to get out of bed to check on Catherine, but her body felt like it had forgotten how to move.
Nathan moved across the room. “Stay here, I’ll go and check on her.” He looked exhausted. Black rings wrapped themselves under both his eyes and blonde stubble shadowed his jaw. But the frown on his face worried her the most.
He disappeared out of Sally’s room, reappearing a few seconds later. “Catherine’s fine. She’s snoring like a seasoned pro.”
Amy nodded. “Thanks.”
“Is there anything you need?”
“W-water.”
He sat beside her, holding a cup up to her lips. “Take a small sip.”
Water dribbled down her chin. She lifted her hand, only Nathan managed to catch the water first. Her arm felt like a lead weight attached to a fishing line. “I’m sorry.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Your hand.”
Nathan glanced down at the dressing. “It’s nothing.”
Silence filled the room, heavier and more suffocating than the blankets wrapped around her body.
“What the hell were you doing driving through a storm? You should have stayed at the Andersons not driven back to the ranch.” His voice sounded as rough as the weather pounding the
windows.
“It wasn’t so bad when I left.” She took a deep breath, pushing at the blankets on top of her. Nathan pulled them back up. “I’m too hot.”
“You’re still cold. And I wouldn’t push those blankets down if I were you.”
“Why not?”
“You’re as naked as the day you were born, so unless you want to give mom something to yell about you’d better stay still.”
Amy concentrated on the feel of the sheets against her skin. She frowned. If she had her pajamas on she wouldn’t be able to feel the cotton. And she did, from the top of her shoulders to the tips of her toes. A new rush of heat prickled every square inch of her bare skin. She tried to glare at him, but it took too much effort. “I got a flat tire.” As if that would explain the extra layer of color shooting across her body.
“Why didn’t you call us? We would have come and got you.”
She tried to wiggle to the side of the bed where it was cooler. Nathan stuck his hand out, trapping her beside him.
“Cell phone was flat.” She closed her eyes. Nathan had looked at her like she was an idiot. A naked idiot. She knew she’d go to the top of the class on both counts. No one in Montana traveled anywhere on their own with a flat cell phone. Especially at this time of the year.
“Why didn’t you keep driving? A stuffed tire is better than being dead.”
“Don’t yell.” She meant to sound annoyed, but her voice squeaked like a rusty hinge. “I didn’t want to damage the truck.”
“You could have died and you were worried about a tire rim?”
She felt tears spill down her cheeks. She never cried. Never. A sharp pain lodged deep in her chest. She turned on her side, away from the anger vibrating through Nathan’s body. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she tried to release the misery choking her until she couldn’t breathe.
He didn’t need to tell her she could have died. She’d known that. As soon as she’d slid out of the truck she knew she had to get the tire changed fast. But she hadn’t counted on the freezing temperatures slowing down her muscles, making her fumble with the wheel brace and drop each nut on the icy road.
Forever in Love (Montana Brides) Page 8