by Jenny Penn
“Sorry, Sally.” Nicholas shrugged but Sally didn’t buy his denial. The boy was focusing way too hard on how much chocolate she was pouring into his glass. “I like my chocolate milk to be really chocolaty. Thanks, Sally.”
“You’re welcome,” she responded as she upended the bottle of syrup for an extra thirty seconds. “Well, if you had remembered Molly, than you’d also remember me telling you how she owns a little catering business that specializes in sweets.”
“Hmm.”
“And she really is just a lovely lady.”
Even as Sally spoke she knew she should shut up. Not only was she pushing too hard but she’d just given Molly the worst of all recommendations. Lovely lady, bakes, goes to church—these were not selling points for Nicholas. She had to think of something that would impress her nephew.
“She even knows how to shoot a gun.”
“That reminds me, I have to clean dad’s old shotgun. I promised Lindsay I’d show her how to use one. I’d like to have it ready for her when she gets back.” Nicholas offered Sally a smile that grew into a grin as she slipped a straw into his glass and passed it over to him. “Thank you.”
Clearly he wasn’t going to take the bait. If Sally wanted to make her point she’d have to do so more bluntly. Carrying her own glass around the island, she slid into the stool next to Nicholas so she could take his hand and look him right in the eye.
“Honey, we need to talk about Lindsay.”
“What about her?” Nicholas perked up with instant alarm. “Did something happen? Did you hear about something?”
“Maybe I should have said we need to talk about your fixation on Lindsay.”
“Oh.” Nicholas settled down. He even managed to smirk as he shook his head at Sally. “That’s why Cooper’s hiding. You’re in one of those moods and here I let myself be cornered with cookies and chocolate milk. I guess I don’t have any choice but to sit through the lecture.”
“This isn’t a joke,” Sally cautioned him, knowing that Nicholas used his humor as a way for deflecting his real emotions. “You’ve left the military, which means it’s time to start thinking about your future.”
“Actually I have been thinking about my future.” Nicholas met Sally’s gaze and hit her with the most shocking confession. “I was thinking I might like to get a degree in education.”
“Education?”
“Yeah. I was thinking I might like to be a teacher.”
“But…I mean, you don’t want to consider law enforcement?” Sally knew the second Nicholas frowned that she’d brought up a sore subject.
“I’ve spent enough of my life seeing the horrors of this world.” The shadows that passed through Nicholas’s gaze lent volumes to his words. “I think I’d like to try to make a difference in a new way.”
“Then good for you.” Sally was honestly proud that her nephew always wanted to help. “But if you’re thinking of getting a degree then you’re thinking of leaving, because there isn’t any college near here.”
“There are online degrees.”
“And once you get your degree, you could probably go anywhere in this country,” Sally forged on ahead, not bothering to address his correction. “The bottom line is that you have options.”
“And I’m choosing to stay here,” Nicholas insisted.
“If that’s your final decision…”
“It is.”
“Then I’ll invite Molly over for dinner.”
“But—”
“Some matches are better than others.” Sally patted Nicholas’s hand, knowing he was about to bring up Lindsay again. “Trust me, Molly is a much better fit for you than Lindsay.”
“And how would you know—” Nicholas’s jaw fell open as the answer to his unfinished question hit him. Sally could see it in his eyes.
“Now, Nicholas—”
“Ohhhhh noooo.” He wagged a finger at her as he slid off his stool and stumbled back away from Sally. “The cookies. The chocolate milk. The women at the bar tonight. You’re trying to distract me, Aunt Sally.”
“I had nothing to do with those women—”
“And Cooper. Where the hell is Cooper?”
There was no avoiding the truth any longer. Standing up and facing Nicholas calmly, Sally explained the situation. “Your brother is over at the Howell ranch assisting Lind—”
“I knew it! She’s back!”
Nicholas whipped around with that joyous shout and raced for his boots. Sally trailed after him, desperately trying to figure out how to make him see reason. Hoping to buy herself some time, Sally blocked the back door and stared him down as stomped into a pair of boots. It didn’t even take him fifteen seconds before he was towering over her.
“Get out my way, Sally.”
“Not until you calm down and listen to what I have to say.”
Nicholas’s jaw clenched at her command. Sally could see him fight down his irritation to give her what she asked for and knew he did so only of respect for her, something she owed him as well.
“Go on. Get it said then.”
“I met Lindsay.” Not daring to strain Nicholas’s patience, Sally got right to the point. “She’s a bright, attractive, creative young lady and she may be all sorts of perfect for you but, Nicholas, you are not perfect for her.”
“You don’t know that.”
It killed her to witness the pain that flashed through Nicholas’s gaze, but he’d left her no choice.
“I do. That girl has suffered. What she needs is a stable, patient man who will be there for her, one that’s already settled.”
Reaching out to cup Nicholas’s cheek, she tried to soften the blow as she gave him the hard truth. “That’s not you. You’re wild like the wind in a storm. Molly needs that kind of enthusiasm pumped into her life, not Lindsay. She needs the quiet.”
More than aware of the pain she caused him, Sally could only hope he could see past it to the truth. She stepped boldly aside, leaving the choice to Nicholas. It was one he didn’t hesitate to make. Reaching for the door handle, he paused only long enough to glance over and offer Sally an assurance she only wished she could believe.
“You’re wrong. I might not be the rock Cooper is, but he’ll never make her laugh the way I do. That’s just as important as the quiet.”
The door slammed shut behind Nicholas, leaving Sally standing there staring after him. She was so lost in thought she started hard when Thomas spoke up from behind her.
“The boy might as well have saved his breath. I’ve been trying to convince you of the same damn thing for what feels like forever. Let’s hope Lindsay is better at listening than you are.”
Chapter 13
Lindsay swatted at the gnats buzzing all around as she listened to the rumbling sound of thunder rolling in from the east. Rodents of all sizes and stripes scurried back into their shadowed crevices as Mr. Jack followed her out of the barn and into the clear night. No clouds marred the sky but lightning was breaking over the pitted ruts of the lane. It grew brighter and brighter, condensing into a set of blinding high beams.
Shit!
Given the lateness of the hour, it had to be Cooper or Nick. Lindsay had to wonder, though, what had taken them so long. After Sally’s departure, she’d fully expected one if not both of them to show within the hour. Anticipating their imminent arrival had motivated her to work hard and fast.
Still it had taken her hours and dozens of wooden planks to lever up the generator inch by inch until the cart she’d built could slide beneath. She’d set up ramps and attached wenches, building a pulley system she’d devised to help lower the generator to the ground. Everything was done. All she had to do was start cranking the bottom wrench and set the generator into motion.
Lindsay knew neither Nick nor Cooper would let her do that. They’d probably both have a meltdown if they saw what she set up. No doubt they’d take over and she’d never have a chance to prove that her ideas could work. That couldn’t happen. She was close, too close
to allow either brother to interfere.
Rushing across the yard to where she’d backed her truck up next to the cabin, Lindsay didn’t bothered to run down her checklist and spared only a quick glance over everything before reaching for the wench she’d attached to the side of the cabin. She offered up a small prayer before she began to crank the wench’s handle.
The little wheels of the cart screamed in protest as the generator lurched forward. The sound was almost lost beneath the growing roar of the oncoming truck’s engine. They were coming on fast, but not fast enough. The headlights swirled, cutting across the yard as the truck whipped into her drive but it was too late.
The generator’s cart had reached the edge of the tailgate. The small wheels dangled precariously over the edge for a nearly endless second before settling onto the ramps beneath. Lindsay released the breath she’d been holding as the big machine began to slide downward toward the platform waiting at the bottom. It was working.
No sooner did she have that thought then the generator lurched, gaining speed rapidly as it descended in a fast hurl. Lindsay’s momentary joy evaporated as it dawned on her that she’d forgotten to lock the second wench into place. The chain linked to the back of the generator held no tension, offering no resistance as the generator crashed downward.
Unbound and unchecked by any restraining force, the generator smashed through her homemade cart and split her unsupported ramps wide and sending shrapnel whipping through the air. The debris flew faster than the sound of cracking wood and twisting metal, leaving Lindsay no time to duck. Catching a hard blow to the side of her head, she went down as starbursts of pain exploded through her.
Lindsay curled into herself as she fought to breathe through the excruciating streaks of pure, unadulterated agony pulsing through her. Her own heartbeat became a punishing pound that sent new waves of pain echoing through her with every beat. It was all she could do to hold back the nausea as the world spun around her.
“Are you out of your ever lovin’ mind?”
Lindsay flinched as Cooper dragged her to her feet.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m about to throw up if you don’t let me go.”
The fingers gripping her arms released her almost immediately. Without Cooper’s strength to support her, Lindsay slumped back against the cabin and then slid all the way to the ground. If she could only have rested there, maybe even caught a little nap, she’d be fine. Cooper, though, wouldn’t let her be.
“Hey, Lindsay…Lindsay, look at me.” The rage that had moments ago hardened his voice gave way to a harsh concern that barely hid the fear beneath it.
“Why?” Feeling peevish about the whole situation, she kept her eyes firmly closed, finding the darkness made it easier to cope with the headache. “This is all your fault.”
“Open. Your. Eyes.”
“Make. Me.”
“Lindsay!”
“Fine, just stop yelling.” Cracking one eye open, she glared at him as she continued to bicker. “You’re giving me a headache.”
Cooper’s jaw tightened as he managed to hold back whatever sharp retort sprung to his lips. For a moment Lindsay thought she actually heard his teeth grinding against each other but it might have been the pain still buzzing in her head.
“Do you know your name?” Sounding like rocks grinding against each other, Cooper bit out each word in a clear warning that his patience had come to an end.
“How could I not when you just yelled it at me?”
“This is why you and Nick get along so well,” Cooper muttered. “You’re both smart-asses.”
“But you’re not a paramedic,” Lindsay retorted, flinching away from the fingers probing the edge of her hairline. “So you can just stop playing doctor because I’m not your patient.”
“You’re bleeding and I do happen to know a little bit about head wounds.”
“Well, that certainly inspires confidence.” Lindsay rolled her eyes.
The effort cost her the last of her strength, and the exhaustion she’d been fighting finally began to overwhelm her. It became harder and harder to keep her eyes open, much less keep up with Cooper’s commands. For a moment he faded away along with all her aches and pains.
“Lindsay! Damn it! Open your eyes!”
The sharp demand in Cooper’s tone pierced the Lindsay’s haze. Her eyes snapped open as she instinctively obeyed Cooper’s command. Almost instantly she regretted it as the world blossomed around her with a clarity sharp enough to cut. Her head throbbed as her mind pounded with the burden of processing so many details.
It took her a moment to notice Cooper. Shrouded in shadows and highlighted by the harsh wash of the truck’s headlights, his features looked strained as he fumbled with his cell phone.
“Who are you calling?” Lindsay scowled, not interested in more of an audience than she already had. Actually if she could find a way to get rid of Cooper, she would. Then maybe she could get some sleep and escape the discomfort of being awake.
“An ambulance. Stay still.”
“What?” Pure, undiluted terror shot through her system. Like a blast of arctic wind, the freezing cold sensation contracted her muscles, giving Lindsay the strength to straighten up and slap the phone out of Cooper’s hand. “No! I don’t want to go to any hospital.”
“Too damn bad. You’re going,” Cooper snapped unmercifully as he shifted to retrieve his phone as he kept her pinned against the cabin with his other hand. “And stay still. You don’t want to hurt yourself worse than you already have.”
Lindsay twisted beneath his hold, refusing to obey his command. “No! No hospital.”
“Lindsay—”
“You call that ambulance out here and I’ll just send them away.” Too weak and hurting too bad to put up a true struggle, all Lindsay could do was threaten him. “Then I’ll send you the bill, too. Nobody’s going to make me go to the hospital and that is that!”
She knew the second the words left her lips that she’d made a mistake. The hard determination that overcame Cooper’s features warned her that she’d pushed him too far. Even when he dropped his phone back into its holder, Lindsay knew she hadn’t won.
“Fine. You want to do this the hard way, then that’s the way we’ll do this.”
Before Lindsay could ask what that meant, she had her answer. Bending down to scoop her up, Cooper tucked her against his chest in a hold that would have been impossible to break even if she had been at full strength, which she wasn’t. She tried anyway, wiggling with all her might.
“Damn it, Cooper! Let me go.”
“Make. Me.”
That obnoxious reply helped fueled her resistance, not that it got her anywhere. All her struggles accomplished was to cause the pounding in her head to intensify. It was too much. The day, the accident, Cooper, the pain and now her weakness, her inability to save herself—all of it was just too much for Lindsay to handle. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to overflow her lashes.
“Damn it, Lindsay! Don’t you dare do that. Don’t you dare start to cry.” The panic in Cooper’s tone twisted into a plea as he both commanded and begged in the same breath.
As if she could control the flood rolling down her cheeks. She hated to cry, having a witness only made the moment even more humiliating. There was no stopping the tears though she did try to smother them by burying her face in Cooper’s chest.
“Oh, come on, lil’ bit. I have to take you to the hospital.”
“No, you don’t. You don’t have to do anything,” Lindsay grumbled against his shirt, feeling somewhat comforted by his intoxicating scent. It infused her with warmth that had her sniffling as her tears began to dry up. “You could just leave and let me handle things my way.”
“Leave? Leave you like this?” Cooper sounded appalled by the very idea.
“I can manage my own problems, Cooper.” Lindsay tipped her head back to glare up at him, hating how sullen she sounded. “I don’t ne
ed a caretaker.”
“How about a friend? Could you do with one of those?”
Lindsay’s breath caught as a longing so old it was dangerous welled up inside of her. The very idea of a friend, of having a confidant she could trust and rely on, enticed her. Instinctively she knew Cooper would be a good friend. That didn’t make him any less bossy and arrogant…and caring. Whatever his reason, whatever his motivations, there was no masking or faking the concern in tone.
“You’re hurting,” Cooper stated, sounding ready to murder over that fact.
His grip tightened, tucking her deeper into the hard strength of his chest. Beneath her ear the steady pound of his heart lulled her back toward sleep as his musky scent filled her head, leaving Lindsay too drowsy to remember her complaints. The world faded away as the exhaustion pulling on her senses overwhelmed her. For a minute that felt like it lasted a lifetime, she was at peace.
“Damn it, Lindsay! Wake up!”
“Wh–what’s going on?” Lindsay blinked in confusion.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Cooper assured her as he tucked her legs into his truck.
“But where are we going?” Lindsay glanced around as if the answer lay somewhere in sight. The movement set her head to pounding and in an instant she remembered it all—her plan, her failure, Cooper’s insistent demand that she needed help…his plan to take her to the hospital.
“No.” Reaching for his hands, she tried to shove him away along with the seat belt he wrapped around her. “I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
“You’re going,” Cooper stated in a flat tone that brooked no argument.
Each word held a determination that assured her that she wouldn’t change Cooper’s mind, and she didn’t have the strength to stop him. It was hopeless. It always was. Already worn down by the long day and the disastrous evening, Lindsay broke down. Sobs began to gather in the back of her throat, trembling through her words as the wretched cries began to break her voice.