Surrender

by HELEN HARDT

  “Like shit.”

  She sat down on the edge of the bed and pushed his hair out of his eyes. He flinched.

  “What can I do for you, sweetie pie?”

  “Nothing. Chad’s here, and my ma’s on her way. I don’t need anyone else fawning over me.”

  “Surely there’s something I can do.”

  “Nothing.” Zach sipped his coffee, which was now lukewarm.

  “Now, Zach, Angie’s just trying to help,” Chelsea said.

  “And I don’t need her help, Chelsea.”

  “Honey, why don’t you and Angie wait outside for a minute,” Dallas said. “I want to talk to my brother alone.”

  “Christ,” Zach said, as the women left. “What is it?”

  “Are you going to believe me now?”

  “About what? Dusty being no good for me?” Yes, the woman had gotten herself and him injured, and yes, he was mad, but no way in hell would he clue Dallas in on that fact. “No, I’m not.”

  “She got on your bull without permission. She could have been seriously hurt, and she would have sued us, and—”

  “First of all, she’s okay, thank God,” Zach said. “And secondly, she wouldn’t have sued us. She doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body.”

  “She needs money, Zach.”

  “So? Who doesn’t?”

  “You don’t, for one, and she knows it.”

  “If she wanted my money, she wouldn’t be sneaking off with my bull.” Zach shifted, and winced. “She’d be trying to trap me into marriage, like Chelsea did to you.”

  Dallas’s mouth thinned into a grim line. “That’s hitting below the belt, little brother. Chelsea didn’t trap me. I wanted to marry her.”

  “You know as well as I do the Beaumonts were in financial trouble. Chelsea didn’t want to give up her heiress ways, so she married money. You.”

  “We were in love.”

  “Were? Past tense, Dallas?”

  “Are. I meant are.” Dallas fidgeted with his Rolex.

  Zach knew he’d hit a nerve. “Right. Whatever. Dusty is nothing like Chelsea.” He spied Chad in the doorway with a wheelchair. “Chad’s taking me on an…errand.”

  “I’ll be here when you get back.”

  “Please, don’t be.” He grimaced as Chad helped him into the chair. Zach didn’t look back as Chad wheeled him out of the room, IV rack in tow.

  * * *

  “This coffee is awful,” Chelsea said, wrinkling her nose.

  “I know. I hate hospitals. They’re full of…sick people.” Angelina examined her manicured nails.

  “Right now this one is full of the man you want as your husband,” Chelsea said, “so you’d better get used to being here.”

  “I know, I know.” Angelina sighed. “This is turning out to be a more difficult project than I had anticipated. With that little trashy cowgirl hanging around him. And now she’s put him in the hospital.”

  “It’s too bad your little trick didn’t work.”

  “You’re telling me. That stupid flare gun recoiled and gave me a nasty charley horse in my arm.”

  “You didn’t spook the bull?”

  “I spooked him all right. And she landed on her butt and just sat there crying. I was afraid she’d really been hurt, and I freaked out a little. I never wanted to hurt her.”

  Chelsea scoffed. “Why not?”

  Angelina looked at her friend’s perfectly made-up face and saw something she wasn’t sure she liked. Did Chelsea really want to see Dusty hurt? The little cowgirl was trashy, sure, but she didn’t deserve that. “I didn’t stick around to see what happened, but she raced today, so obviously she was fine.”

  “It didn’t keep her away from the bull then.”

  “No, and consequently, it didn’t keep her away from Zach.”

  “Well…you and Zach have a history. Can’t you seduce him?”

  “Tried it. I kissed him during the barrel race. I thought he was going to respond at first, but he pushed me away. Said he was sorry, but it was over.”

  “Hmm.” Chelsea raised her perfectly plucked brows. “How was he in bed?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Nothing.” Chelsea grinned, her lined lips curving upward. “I’m just curious.”

  “He was great, actually. I always thought things were good between us. How’s Dallas?”

  “He’s a cowboy, like Zach.”

  Angelina didn’t push, although Chelsea was obviously evading the question. One only had to look at Dallas to know he was a stud in bed. He was as good looking as Zach, only more rugged. If only he weren’t married—

  She stopped that thought abruptly. Chelsea was her friend, after all. She cleared her throat. “So what can I do now?”

  “What about Harper? He seems interested in her.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her at your party. Didn’t you notice?”

  “Not really.”

  “And he was with her when she rode the bull today. If you get him interested in her…”

  “You want me to sell out my baby brother for a man?”

  “Well”—Chelsea’s mouth curled into a smirk—“sometimes, when the stakes are high, one has to up the ante a little.”

  “But Harper?” Angelina shook her head. She had been willing to spook a bull, but sacrifice her brother to some low-class rancher girl? Of course, Chelsea did have a point about the stakes. She wanted Zach McCray. And Harper could charm the pants off just about anyone.

  “Exactly what do you have in mind?”

  Chelsea winked at her. “Come on. Let’s go shopping. There’s a sale on shoes at Nordstrom.”

  “And?”

  “And my mind is always at its best when I’m trying on shoes.”

  * * *

  Dusty lay on her hospital bed. “I don’t want to see him.”

  “I understand,” Harper said, standing next to the chair where Sam sat. “I just thought I should let you know he seemed downright determined to see you.”

  “What’s the problem, Dust?” Sam asked. “You do owe him an explanation, don’t you think? You hijacked his bull and put him in the hospital.”

  “I was perfectly fine. He didn’t need to come charging in like a knight in shining armor. I wasn’t some damsel in distress. I had Diablo under control.”

  Sam clenched his fists together. “I still can’t believe you let her get on that bull, Bay.”

  “She was on the bull by the time I got there. It would have been more dangerous for me to interfere.”

  “You didn’t have to unlatch the gate.”

  “I know.”

  Dusty recognized the anger in Sam’s eyes, but none of this was Harper’s fault. “I made him, Sam.”

  “Right. You had a gun to his head.”

  “Your brother’s right, Dusty,” Harper said. “I never should have unlatched the gate. But—”

  “No buts,” Sam said.

  “You’re right. It was just something in her voice.”

  “You’re both nuts,” Sam said.

  “He’s right,” Dusty said. “About me needing to be with Diablo.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Hey,” Harper said, “I just came by to warn you that McCray’s on his way. I’m glad you’re feeling better, Dusty. Hope to see you out on the grounds soon.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

  “No, you won’t, young lady,” Sam said, his tone parental.

  “Why not? I’m perfectly fine.”

  “You’re recovering from a concussion.” Her brother shook his head. “If I have to get the doctor to tie you down, I will.”

  Dusty huffed. Sam was right, of course. There’d be no more competing, either. She’d blown it big time. No winnings, and she had lost Regina. And there was the problem of that phone call, which she hadn’t told Sam about yet. “Fine.”

  “Now you’re talkin’ some sense,” came a voice from the
doorway. Zach wheeled himself into the room with one arm, dragging his IV stand with the other.

  He had an IV. Dusty’s heart collapsed, and she looked away, concentrating on the figures of Harper and Sam.

  “If you’ll excuse us, Harper, Sam, I’d like to speak to Dusty.”

  “That’s up to her, I think,” Harper said.

  “Damn it, Bay—”

  Sam grabbed Harper’s shoulder and ushered him out. “You’re entitled to a few minutes, Zach,” he said, “but don’t upset her.”

  “The last thing I want is to see her upset.” Zach wheeled himself over to Dusty’s head. Once Chad had shut the door, Zach leaned over and kissed Dusty’s forehead. “Thank God you’re all right.”

  Dusty’s throat tensed. He was going to be nice to her. It would be so much easier if he were angry. He had a right to be. As upset as she was with him, she hadn’t had the right to ride Diablo without his permission.

  “I’m sorry,” she said meekly.

  “I know.”

  “Why aren’t you mad?”

  He chuckled. “I am mad. My thigh hurts like a mother, I can’t compete, and someone I care about is hurt due to her own stupidity.”

  “Hey—”

  “Sorry, darlin’, but getting on Diablo all by yourself like that was stupid, and you know it. Even I can’t believe it, but I’m just so relieved you’re not seriously injured.”

  Dusty gulped, tears forming in her eyes. Why did he have to look so wonderful? His hair was tousled and sexy, his face unshaven and rugged, and he wore green flannel pajama pants and a silk robe. She was still furious with him, yet she burned for him. Her entire body trembled at his nearness.

  “It’ll be okay,” Zach said.

  “No.” She sniffed. “Nothing’s okay.”

  “I’ll make it okay. I swear it.”

  “You can’t.”

  “I can. I want to. If you’ll just tell me—”

  “No!” Dusty’s pulse quickened. “I-I’m glad you’re okay, Zach. I never wanted you to get hurt. But you can’t help me. Just go away. I don’t want you here.”

  “Damn it, Dusty. Why won’t you let me in?”

  Let him in? Oh, that was a good one. “I did. I did let you in. I let you into my body.”

  “I’m not talking about your body.”

  “I am. I gave you something I’d never given anyone, something that was mine to give only one time. I did it gladly. I wanted it. But you…you… Oh!” She turned over, away from him.

  Within seconds, he had wheeled himself to the other side of the bed. “Darlin’, what is it? Do you need money?”

  How humiliating. “You think this is about money? You’re infuriating!”

  “Dusty—”

  She clenched her fists. “I lost the barrel race because of you!”

  “Me?”

  “I lost my horse. I can’t rope tomorrow. And I only stayed on Diablo for six seconds. Six seconds, Zach! That’s three seconds longer than you’ve been able to ride him. But it’s still two seconds short, isn’t it? So I don’t get the purse, do I?”

  “If you need the money, I’ll gladly give you the purse.”

  “You will, huh? A cool half mil. Is that what a twenty-three-year-old virgin is worth these days? Makes me a damned expensive whore, doesn’t it?”

  God, she had gone too far. His blue eye darkened, and his brown eye smoked. Anger. Raw, crazy wrath. Well, let him be angry then. He should be. She had gotten him hurt. She was no stranger to anger, herself. She was damned mad at him. Damned mad at the whole world.

  “You’re so determined to push me away.” His voice cracked. “Fine, I can take a hint.” His hands clamped onto the wheels of his chair, his knuckles white with tension.

  “Don’t you get all high and mighty with me,” she said. “I’m not the one who was making out with Angelina yesterday. That was you. And during my race!”

  His eyes softened. “You saw that?”

  “Yeah, I saw that, and I lost because of it.”

  “Oh, God, darlin’.”

  “Don’t call me that. It’s nothing but a lie. Now get out.”

  “But if you’ll let me explain—”

  Sam opened the door and walked in. “You need to leave now, Zach. She’s all upset.”

  “I’m not done talking with her.”

  “Yeah, you are. For now. Go on.”

  When Zach looked back at her, Dusty looked away. He didn’t argue any more with Sam. “I’ll come by to see her later.”

  “Maybe not a good idea. There’ll be plenty of time for you all to talk when you’re both in better condition.”

  “All right.” The door closed with a gentle whoosh, and Zach was gone.

  Her mattress sank as Sam sat down next to her. “I’m sorry, Dust.”

  She sniffed. “No matter.”

  “What is this really about?” He took her hand.

  For a moment, Dusty flashed back seventeen years, to the day their father had told them about their mother’s terminal condition. Sam had grabbed her small hand and rubbed her palm with his thumb, like he was doing now. His thumb was callused now. She swallowed hard.

  “Is it the money?” Sam said. “Because if it is, stop worrying about it. That old ranch isn’t worth it. We’ll be fine.”

  Dusty swallowed. The time had come to tell him. “The ranch may not be worth it, Sam. But my life is. The hospital called yesterday. My white cell count is up.”

  Chapter Ten

  “God, Sis, I’m so sorry.” Sam’s grip on her hand tightened.

  “They want me back in three weeks for a recheck.”

  “That’s good.”

  Dusty let out a breathy scoff. “How exactly is that good?”

  “If they were overly concerned, they’d get you back in right away.” Sam loosened his grip, but tension shone on his face. “It could be something as harmless as your immune system fighting off a cold.”

  “Yeah, that’s what they said.”

  “So we’ll think positive until we know more.”

  “Easy for you to say.” Dusty sighed. “So close to my five-year mark, and now this.” The trickle of a tear tickled her cheek, and she wiped it away. “Plus, the bill for this stupid hospital stay, which is totally my fault, I know.”

  “It won’t be much. A couple thousand…”

  “A couple thousand that could have gone toward the ranch. But no worries. I can pay the bill.”

  “How? You didn’t win the barrel race.”

  “Regina. I sold Regina to Harper Bay.”

  “Dust…”

  “I didn’t have a choice. We need the money, and I blew the barrel race. If I need more treatment—”

  “You’ll get the treatment you need, if I have to work five goddamned jobs. We haven’t come this far to lose the battle now.”

  “I don’t want you working like a dog, Sam.”

  “It’s the least I can do. I’d take the treatment for you if I could, but since that’s not an option, I’ll at least see that we can pay for it.”

  Dusty reached for her brother, and he took her in his arms.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he said. “I’ll take care of you.”

  “You shouldn’t have to take care of me. You’re twenty-seven. You should be settling down, raising a family. Not burdened with a sick sister and a bankrupt ranch.”

  “You’re not a burden.”

  An anvil settled in Dusty’s stomach. “I sure feel like one.”

  “You aren’t. You never were.”

  She turned from her brother’s gaze. “Papa thought so.”

  “No, he didn’t. What Papa did had nothing to do with you.”

  “It was because of me he needed money.”

  “But it wasn’t your fault. You didn’t ask to get sick.”

  She sighed. “That’s the truth of it.”

  “I do have some good news. Your doctor signed your release papers. Can you get dressed by yourself, or do you need help?”<
br />
  “I can do it.”

  “Good. I’m going down to the billing office to take care of things.”

  “Tell them we’ll send the money within the month. Harper will probably pay me in the next few days for Regina.”

  “Will do. I’ll be back in a few.”

  Dusty felt a little lightheaded when she rose from the bed, but it passed. She changed out of the dreaded hospital gown and into the clean jeans and shirt Sam had brought for her, and she sat back down on the bed and waited for him.

  Within about fifteen minutes he returned.

  “I take it everything went okay?” Dusty said.

  “Yes. In fact, it did.” Sam sat down in the chair next to the bed.

  “Good.”

  “Dusty, what’s going on between you and Zach McCray?”

  His name made her heart thump. “Nothing.”

  “That night you didn’t come home. You were with him, weren’t you?”

  “That’s not really any of your business, Sam.”

  “I know you’re over eighteen and all. I can’t pretend I’m comfortable with my baby sister doing…that, but you certainly have the right. But I need to know. Were you with him?”

  Dusty sighed and nodded slowly.

  “Okay.”

  “Why? Why are you asking about that now?”

  “Well”—he cleared his throat—“it seems your hospital bill has been paid in full. By Zach McCray.”

  * * *

  Dusty took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Suite 2500 of the Windsor Hotel. After a good night’s sleep in her own hotel room, she was feeling almost like herself, and she needed to speak to Zach about paying her medical bill. When the door opened, she looked straight into the emerald-green eyes of Angelina Bay.

  “Hello, Angelina. I need to speak with Zach.”

  “Dusty, you’re just the person I want to see.” Angelina grabbed her arm and pulled her into the suite. “I’m so glad to see you up and around.”

  “You are?” Angelina was being nice to her, and using her actual name? Something was definitely up.

  “Of course. I was so upset to hear about your accident with the bull. Harper has talked of nothing else. He’s been so worried about you.”

  “He has?” Dusty wrinkled her brow.

  “Yes, he talks of nothing but you. You’ve certainly made quite an impression on him.”