“I know.”
“You say that, but do you believe it? I got here in time to see your expression when Shelby spouted off,” Nick said. “She didn’t mean it. All that...crap came from a dark place, from fear and anger after a long day of holding it together in front of a crowd of people who probably expected her to go ballistic at any moment.”
“I know that, too.”
Dean understood where Shelby’s words had come from, even though each one had hit him like body blows from a prizefighter.
He’d seen the pain and bewilderment swirling in a stormy haze that filled her eyes, the rigid way she held her body. She’d needed a reason for what had happened. He and the tiny kitten he’d gifted to her daughter had been a convenient answer at a moment when she needed it most.
But that didn’t mean she was wrong.
“Maybe I never should’ve pursued a relationship with her.” His heart ached as he spoke the words aloud, but they had to be said. “I knew from the start she was planning to move away and what do I do? Saddle her daughter with a pet. That was real smart. Some parent I’d make.”
“Are you kidding me? If there’s anyone who was made to be a father, it’s you. Jeez, you even made sure someone would take that kitten home tonight and care for it until Shelby and Caitlin are ready to— Hey, what’s going on over there?”
Dean followed his brother’s stare to see Nathan Crawford standing among a crowd of townsfolk from Rust Creek Falls who had caravanned to the hospital. The high school kids, who Dean found out just today had taken on rebuilding the bridge out at the lower falls to cowboys from the local ranches to the church ladies who had provided enough food to feed an army—all here to support Shelby and her daughter.
At least that was what he’d thought when he, Gage and Sam had first come inside to find the waiting room filled with people. Now he wasn’t as sure because the discussion had turned to the mayoral race between Collin Traub and Nathan Crawford.
“...and I’m telling you we need to make sure the children of our town are safe,” Nathan spouted, having pulled on a suit jacket and tie, looking every inch the candidate.
Dean did have to give the man credit as he’d been a member of one of the search teams today, but was now the time and place for a campaign speech?
“Just because you own private land doesn’t mean you aren’t responsible for all the buildings on that property,” Nathan continued. “If we need regulations to ensure that structures are maintained for the safety of all its citizens, then that’s something the town council, and the new mayor, will have to tackle.”
“It’s being tackled right now,” Gage Christensen said, having just walked through the doors that led to the E.R., his Stetson in his hands. “Yes, the barn where we found Caitlin was on Traub land. The reason you don’t see Collin or Dallas Traub here in this waiting room with the rest of you is because they stayed behind to make sure that barn was taken down. Tonight. Actions, instead of words, carry a lot more weight with me, and I would hope with all of you.”
A murmur went through the crowd as the sheriff departed again to answer his cell phone. Dean had heard that Gage wasn’t always Collin Traub’s biggest fan, especially when the man had become involved with his sister in the days after the flood last month, but it seemed the sheriff was firmly in his brother-in-law’s corner now.
“Well, that was interesting.” Nick turned back. “But back to that nonsense you were saying before. And it was nonsense.”
“I don’t know.” Dean sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe I should just forget about my plans to relocate and go home to Thunder Canyon.”
“Look, if anyone should be heading home, it’s me. Cade called last night. It seems Dad’s horse got spooked and threw him.” Nick waved him off when Dean started to speak. “A week ago. He’s okay, even though he did break his collarbone. He refused to let Cade or Holly tell us until now because, well, he’s stubborn. The thing is, the business just picked up a big order of designer furniture for a ski resort near Edmonton. Cade is going to be full-out busy for the next year, especially with Dad’s recovery time being unknown.” Nick pointed a finger at him. “You, on the other hand, belong here. You belong with Shelby and her little girl.”
“I used to think so. Maybe this thing with Dad is a sign—”
“Sign? What sign? Caution, stupidity ahead?” Nick demanded, cutting him off. “Look, the family business is going to be fine and you still love the town. More important, you want Shelby and Caitlin to be in your life, right?”
“She made her choice.”
“What choice? You’re letting her push you away without a fight.”
Dean opened his mouth to argue, but at that moment the doors that led back to the E.R. opened again and this time Vivian stepped into the room. She was immediately surrounded by people and questions were coming at her from all directions.
She smiled and held up a hand. “Please, Shelby asked me to share with all of you the news that Caitlin is going to be just fine.”
A cheer went up from the crowd and Dean’s heart pounded in his chest, as if it was coming back to life for the first time since he’d spotted the little girl lying in that dark hole.
“Caitlin is awake and talking, answering simple questions and asking for macaroni and cheese.” She smiled at the laughter, then continued, “She does have a broken arm and the doctors want to keep her overnight for observation, but that’s all.”
Vivian paused, laying a hand over her heart. She looked around the room and stopped when her gaze caught and held Dean’s. “I don’t have the words to thank all of you for everything you did for my family today. Shelby and I will be forever grateful for your time and efforts, your love and support.”
Dean and his brother stood when Vivian headed in their direction, stopping to accept hugs and well wishes of many in the crowd before most started to gather their belongings to return to Rust Creek Falls.
When she finally reached them, she tried to wrap her arms around Dean’s shoulders. “Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving my grandbaby.”
He stooped to return her embrace. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”
“The sheriff told us that you were the one who found her and the kitten, how you lifted that beam—”
“It was a team effort.” Dean cut off her praise. “Sam and Gage were just as involved in getting Caitlin home to you...and to Shelby.”
Vivian stepped back, concern in her eyes. “Shelby is trying so hard to be strong back there, but her emotions from today are churning just below the surface and I’m afraid...”
“You don’t have to explain,” Dean said when the older woman’s voice faded. “Shelby has every right to think and feel exactly as she does.”
Vivian nodded, pressing her lips together in a hard line. “I need to get back in there. Oh, Caitlin is asking about Princess, her kitten.”
“Bert, one of the cooks at the Ace, agreed to take her home earlier. He said he’ll take care of her until you all are ready for the kitten to come home.”
Vivian nodded again, gave Nick a hug as well and then crossed the room to talk to Rosey and Sam, who sat with the sheriff. The room had emptied fast, but quite a few people remained, including the two ladies Dean had seen talking with Shelby that day at the ice-cream place.
Nick took his seat again, but Dean waved a hand at him. “How about giving me a lift home?”
“You sure?”
Dean nodded, forcing the words, his voice miserable. “Yeah, I think it’s best if I’m not here. You know, in case Shelby comes out to talk with her friends.”
“You don’t think she’s going to want to talk to you?”
Sadly, he didn’t.
* * *
It was nearly midnight when Shelby finally found the courage to leave her daughter’s bedside.
And that was only because her mother slept curled up in the chair next to her, her hand resting on Caitlin’s hospital bed. Shelby knew exa
ctly how she felt. She didn’t know when either of them would allow Caitlin out of their sight again.
Her precious little girl slept soundly at the moment, but the staff was waking her every half hour or so to perform another test. Thankfully, one of the nurses had given her a stuffed bear the last time as Caitlin was getting a bit cranky.
She’d also been asking for Princess.
Caitlin had told them that the kitten had scurried out the front door when she had gone looking for Shelby’s car after finding her bed empty. She’d followed, scared her new pet would be lost. Only the two of them got lost. So she kept walking, carrying Princess, until she came across the old barn.
Thankfully, her daughter didn’t remember how she’d ended up falling down in the hole, only that she’d been tired, so she’d lain down to take a nap.
Then the sheriff had come back and given Shelby and her mother the details of how, thanks to the kitten’s cries, Dean had found Caitlin.
Dean.
Pausing at the doors that would take her out into the E.R.’s waiting area, Shelby leaned against the wall, the strength gone from her legs. Shame filled her as she thought back to those awful moments when Caitlin at first arrived at the hospital.
Boy, when she had told Dean on their first date that she could be a witch with a capital B...well, she’d certainly lived up to that statement last night.
How could she have actually blamed—blamed!—Dean and a helpless kitten for Caitlin being lost in the first place?
Then she made it worse by telling him this terrible thing had happened because he came into their lives. That was wrong. She was responsible for all of this, not Dean.
The truth was, because of him her girl had come to know what it meant to have a good man in her life.
As for Shelby...
In just a few weeks, Dean had shown her it was possible to overcome a past that had made her suspicious of a strong, caring and honest man...and she’d fallen in love for the first time in her life.
Pulling a deep breath, Shelby pushed away from the wall and squared her shoulders.
Her mother had told her repeatedly that many of the townspeople had stuck around and were still in the waiting room, even after they’d learned Caitlin was going to be okay.
It was time for Shelby to thank them for everything they’d done.
And to apologize to Dean for her foolish words.
She pushed open the doors and stepped out, surprised to find at least a dozen people still here that she recognized from Rust Creek Falls despite the late hour.
The first person her gaze landed on was Rosey, curled up in Sam’s embrace. He nudged her and she awoke with a start, then jumped up and hurried across the room to Shelby. Sam rose to his feet as well and followed.
“Oh, honey!” Rosey pulled her into in her arms. “She’s going to be okay! Your mom told us the wonderful news a couple of hours ago!”
Shelby accepted her friend’s warm hug, then said, “Yes, we’re very lucky.” She then moved to give Sam a hug of his own. “Thank you so much for coming back to help us, for being there when my daughter needed you most.”
“I wouldn’t have been anywhere else,” Sam said. “But it was your friend Dean who found Caitlin.”
Shelby nodded, suddenly feeling very nervous. She stepped back, her gaze darting around the room, searching for him. “Yes, I know. Have either of you seen him recently?”
Sam and Rosey joined her in looking around the waiting area. “I could’ve sworn he was just here, but honestly, this place was wall-to-wall people for the longest time,” Rosey said, then hid a yawn behind her hand. “It just thinned out in the last twenty minutes or so. Maybe he went down to the cafeteria for coffee.”
Holding on to that slim hope despite the thought racing through her head that he wasn’t here at all, Shelby forced a smile. “You should be heading home, as well. Both of you must be exhausted.”
“I tried to get her to leave, but Rosey wanted to talk to you first,” Sam said with smile, wrapping one arm around the woman’s shoulder.
“Talk nothing! I wanted to show you this!” Rosey held out her left hand and it took a moment for Shelby to notice the oversize ruby ring her boss had shown her that day in her office was now in place on her finger. “I finally said yes!”
Shelby blinked back the tears biting at the back of her eyes. “Oh, how wonderful for both of you.”
“She was wearing the thing when I found her in the waiting room,” Sam said, then smiled. “At first I didn’t know what to think.”
“Until I told him that today taught me life is too short not to grab all the happiness one can get.” Rosey aimed her sharp gaze at Shelby. “Don’t you agree?”
She nodded, unable to speak. She was thrilled for her friends, but as the minutes ticked by and Dean still didn’t appear...
“We’ll have to plan a spring wedding,” she said.
“Spring?” Rosey said in mock horror, then winked. “I’m thinking more of hopping on the bikes and zooming down to Vegas!”
“Speaking of zooming, if you need us to stay to give you a ride home, we will,” Sam said. “Seeing how Rosey was your ride here.”
“Oh, please don’t worry about that. My mom and I are going to be here until the doctors release Caitlin. Ellie Traub stayed behind to make sure our place was cleaned up and she had someone bring us the truck about an hour ago.” Considering her car was still parked at Dean’s trailer. “Besides, you have a business to open tomorrow, er, today.”
“You bet I do!” Rosey grinned. “I promised all the volunteers a free beer for helping in the search. We’re going to be busier than a mosquito at a nudist colony.”
Shelby laughed and hugged her friend again. After Rosey and Sam left, Shelby made her way around the room, taking a few moments to thank each person for their help while trying not to notice that Dean still hadn’t made an appearance.
In fact, she didn’t see him or his brother, causing her stomach to twist into a painful knot that she tried but failed to blame on hunger.
When she reached a group of ladies sitting in the far corner, she was surprised when two of them led her to one side after she’d let them know how much she appreciated their still being here.
“Oh, you sweet thing, we just have to talk to you. In private.” An older woman said in a hushed whisper, her gray curls bobbing as her gnarly fingers held tight to Shelby’s arm. “It just isn’t fair.”
“Certainly not, especially after all you have been through.” The other woman stood close by, a determined gleam in her eye as she crossed her arms over her ample breasts. “Not fair at all.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Confusion filled Shelby. These ladies were familiar to her from the church, but other than that connection, she had no idea why they wanted to speak with her.
“Auntie Louisa, Auntie Lauren, I moved the car closer. In fact, I’m parking in a handicapped spot, so we need to go—” Wanda Jefferson walked up, her jaw dropping in surprise when she saw Shelby standing there. “Shelby. I’m... How’s your daughter?”
“She’s fine.”
“Oh, I’m so happy to hear that. My family and I were at the church when the sheriff spoke and my heart just sank when he told us....” She blinked and Shelby was stunned to see tears in the woman’s eyes. “Being a momma myself, I just can’t imagine if my sweet Maggie were to... Oh, how awful today must have been for you.”
“It’s not anything I’d wish on my worst enemy.” Shelby paused, the truth of her words settling deep inside her.
The way the town had responded today, taking the unknown of her daughter’s whereabouts into their hearts and giving back in any way they could—searching for hours in the woods, supporting with food and beverages, coming down here and waiting until they heard Caitlin was going to be all right—it made her see Rust Creek Falls in a way she hadn’t in a very long time.
“Shelby, I know this probably isn’t the time or the place, but
I want to apologize.” Wanda kept her voice low but looked her straight in the eye. “I was rude to you that day in Crawford’s store for no cause. I never should’ve butted into your private conversation and the things I said...well, they were just wrong. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you for that.” Surprised, Shelby didn’t know what else to say. “And thank you for being here. Were you at my house earlier today?”
“We stopped by with a few casseroles for the volunteers.” Wanda waved a hand at the two women. “My aunts and I wanted to do what little we could to help. They also insisted on coming here after your daughter was found.”
“And we’re going to insist on telling her that despite that young man being a hero, he’s turning into a cad.”
“Auntie—”
“What young man?” Shelby asked, turning her attention back to the older woman.
“Why, Dean Pritchett, of course.” Wanda’s aunt pulled her tiny body up straight, even lifting her nose in the air. “And how he’s leaving town. For good.”
Chapter Fifteen
The hospital had released Caitlin with a clean bill of health and no residual effects from her ordeal in the woods. Shelby, her mother and Caitlin had arrived home Tuesday around dinnertime to find the house spotlessly clean, the refrigerator fully stocked and Shelby’s car parked in front of the garage.
All thanks to Rosey.
Her friend had left the bar in Sam’s capable hands for a couple of hours on Monday to come to the hospital with fresh clothes and other essentials for Shelby and her mother and a stuffed kitten that looked exactly like Princess for Caitlin.
The only thing missing had been Dean.
As Rosey shared that many people were still asking what else they could do to help Caitlin and her family, Shelby’s mind had kept wandering to the same question she’d been asking for the past several hours.
Why had he changed his mind about staying?
Shelby had somehow found the willpower to wait until she’d walked Rosey to her car to ask about Dean’s whereabouts. Despite what the local gossip mill had reported when she’d gone to the waiting room looking for him in the wee hours of Monday morning, she hadn’t wanted to believe he was really planning to leave town.
The Maverick's Summer Love (Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys) Page 19