Heart of a Texan

by Charlene Sands

  Just then, the patient moved, rustling the bedsheets. Her breath caught in her throat as his eyes fluttered open. Eyes that were intense and captivating and ocean blue. Eyes that at the moment appeared completely confused.

  “Hello,” she whispered. “I’m glad to see you’re awake.”

  “You’re the angel,” he said, his voice weak and barely audible.

  She smiled and shook her head. “I’m...not an angel. I’m very real. And happy to see you’re better.”

  He winced and pain reflected in his eyes. “Not sure about better,” he whispered. “Feels like I was hit by a bus.”

  “Well, I didn’t see a bus. But something like that.”

  “What happened to me?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said. “I was driving along the interstate and saw your car in flames quite a distance from—”

  “Jared, my God. You had us scared half to death.” A blond man strode into the room looking too much like the patient not to be related. Up until this point, she had no idea of his name; the hospital wasn’t sharing that information.

  But...Jared? That was a good name for a strong man. It fit.

  The man walked straight up to Jared, looking like he wanted to crush the patient tight in an embrace and at the same time rip him a new one. “Hey, bro.”

  “Yeah, hey, bro.”

  The man peered at the bandages covering Jared’s body and shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. It was a touching scene and she felt like an outsider. She was ready to slip out of the room now that Jared had his brother here to look after him. “Sorry I wasn’t here sooner. The authorities had trouble tracking me down. But, man, you almost died last night. You have no idea how close you came to buying the farm.” He inhaled and paused, as if regrouping his emotions. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

  Jared nodded gingerly. The movement was probably too much for him right now.

  “You have two broken ribs and some contusions, but honestly, bro, if it wasn’t for this young lady, you wouldn’t be here right now.” He turned to her and put out his hand, finally acknowledging her presence. “I’m Cooper Stone. Jared’s brother.”

  “I’m...Bella.” She gave him her uninjured hand.

  “I understand you pulled my brother out of the car and got him to safety.”

  She nodded.

  “And the car was on fire at the time?”

  She nodded again.

  “Thank you. You were very brave,” he said, his eyes misting up again. “And you were injured, too.” He glanced at the bandage on her right hand.

  “It’s nothing. Just some scrapes.”

  “You did that?” Jared’s voice was a little stronger now. It contained a hint of disbelief. “You pulled me out of the car?”

  She understood his surprise. She stood five feet five inches tall and wore a size five dress. Hardly a match for such a big man. “How?” he mumbled.

  She shrugged, her face warming from Cooper’s and Jared’s awed expressions. She couldn’t go into the whole Paul thing or the fact that she couldn’t have left him to die in that car without trying to help. Her conscience wouldn’t have allowed it. “Protein, every day.”

  Cooper smiled.

  Jared tried to smile, too, but pain seemed to grip him and he frowned instead. “Thank you,” he managed.

  “I’d better let the nurses know you’re awake,” Cooper said. “Excuse me for a second.”

  Bella waited until he was gone before walking over to Jared. His eyes were clear and locked on her. Having his full attention gave her the good kind of chills, and she ignored them because the bond she had with Jared Stone would be broken now. He no longer needed her.

  She covered her hand with his, careful not to cause him further pain, and gave him a smile. “I’m glad I was able to help you.” She nibbled on her lower lip, thinking of Paul and somehow feeling that she’d evened out the score, in a way. Jared Stone would survive. “But since your brother’s here...well, I’ll be leaving you in good hands.”

  “You stayed because I had no one else.” It was a statement not a question.

  “Yes, and to make sure you’d survive.”

  “I did, thanks to you.” He applied pressure to her hand, the squeeze only slight but enough to convey his emotions. Fatigue pulled the lines of his face down and his eyes began to close.

  “I’ll be going now. Have a good life, Jared.”

  She wasn’t sure if he’d heard her goodbye. Yet when she walked out of his hospital room, an odd sensation stirred in her belly. As she approached the nurses’ station, she noticed Cooper in a discussion with a floor nurse.

  Looking out the window, she saw a news van from a local Dallas station pulling up to the hospital. It wouldn’t do to be here when the journalists started doing interviews. She couldn’t afford to be recognized. She slipped past Cooper without being noticed and then exited the hospital.

  Two

  Sienna sat in the middle of Amy’s living room, stacking colorful plastic blocks on top of each other. “I make castle,” she announced.

  “It’s beautiful,” Bella said. The formation tilted far to the left, and as soon as Sienna’s chunky little hand attached the last block—shaped like a blond-haired princess—the whole thing toppled over.

  Sienna broke out in giggles and Bella laughed along with her. “Oh, no!”

  “Do again, Mommy. Do again.” Sienna’s wide green eyes beseeched her.

  “Okay, sweet baby. We’ll do it again.”

  Bella took a seat beside her daughter on the floor and helped gather up the blocks.

  Amy came out of her bedroom and plopped down on the sofa. Her home was the epitome of class and elegance, with its white furniture, glass fixtures and beautiful light-slate flooring. Amy had worked hard since their days at Berkeley, becoming a successful real estate agent. Bella could fit her small rental home where she’d lived with Paul twice over into this big luxurious condo. Yet, she’d never minded living on Paul’s salary alone. Her father’s form of punishment in withholding her funds had backfired on him. She’d actually loved living on a budget, as long as she and Paul were together.

  “No luck on that job interview, I’m afraid,” Bella told her, grabbing a few blocks and starting to build again. “I won’t be the new sous chef at the Onion Slice.”

  “Did you do as I said?”

  She shook her head. “No, I didn’t cover up my bruises with makeup. It wouldn’t have worked anyway. They would’ve seen right through it. Literally.”

  “I bet you didn’t tell them the truth, either. That you got those scrapes from saving a man’s life two days ago.”

  “The subject didn’t come up.”

  “You’re too modest.”

  “I just don’t see how telling them about the accident has anything to do with my culinary skills. If they don’t think I’m qualified for the job, then I’ll find someplace that does. I have another interview tomorrow.” She placed a pink block over Sienna’s lavender one.

  “Good for you. With Christmas coming, I’m sure the restaurants are busier than usual. You’ll find something. But you know you can stay here as long as you like. I love having Sienna and you here for as long as it takes. Makes this big place feel more homey.”

  “I do know that. You’ve been wonderful. But I need a job. I need to get back on my feet.” What she really wanted was to open a restaurant of her own. She’d worked toward that goal for a while. Now that dream had to be put on hold until she could make sense of her life.

  “Have you heard any news of your father at all?”

  “No, thank goodness. I didn’t leave a forwarding address with anyone I know in San Francisco and I have a new cell number. Your place is so brand-new that even if he wanted to find me through you, he wouldn’t be able to. He’s a stubborn old mule. And Yvonne is no help. She’s prob
ably grinning from ear to ear that we’re out of Marco’s life now.”

  “The evil stepmother.”

  “Hardly a mother. She’s only thirty-eight, ten years older than me. The thought of that woman ever raising my daughter makes me sick to my stomach.”

  “Your dad would never take Sienna away from you,” Amy said. “It’s an idle threat, Bella.”

  “I don’t know that for sure. He was eager to accuse me of having a mental breakdown when Paul died. I did my best to hang tough, but it was difficult for me.”

  “You were grieving. That doesn’t make you unstable,” Amy said. “And you bounced back, for Sienna’s sake.”

  A sigh blew from Bella’s lips. “We’re better off now. Starting fresh. Starting over. At least I won’t have to worry about Dad announcing my engagement in the society page to a man I’d barely dated. That was the last straw.”

  “That was pretty underhanded,” Amy said, lifting up the Dallas Tribune. “But it seems like you made the newspapers again, Bella. I found this last night on page three and thought maybe you’d like to see it.”

  Amy handed her the newspaper. The black-and-white photo of the accident scene jumped out at her first. It pictured what was left of the hot red Lamborghini and next to it was an image of Jared Stone. She skimmed the article, learning that the victim was an entrepreneur and rancher who lived on Stone Ridge Ranch quite a few miles outside the city limits. It went on to say that Jared Stone had multiple holdings and companies in and around the Dallas area and shared his ranching business with his brother, Cooper. The piece hinted at a privileged lifestyle, portraying a man who courted danger with fast cars, racing boats and motorcycles.

  “Seems like your guy has a need for speed,” Amy said, grinning.

  “Yeah, well. Hopefully he’s learned his lesson. When I think about what could’ve happened to him, I get flustered.”

  “Oh, yeah, that was a pretty gruesome scene. But you pulled it off. That guy doesn’t know how darn lucky he was that you were driving on that road at that exact moment. There’s a mention of you in there, but they didn’t print your name. You’re the brave mysterious woman who pulled him to safety and saved his life.”

  “Yeah, well, I ducked out of the hospital before the news crew arrived, I guess.” She tossed the newspaper aside. “I don’t want to think about it anymore. I have enough trouble sleeping at night.”

  “Oh, man, Bella. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was keeping you up.”

  “It’s nothing new. I’m a terrible sleeper. I envy people who can lay their heads down and fall asleep. That’s so not me.”

  She helped Sienna put the princess block on the very top of the castle and this time it didn’t topple over. “Yay! You did it!” She clapped her hands and Sienna mimicked her.

  “I did it, Mommy!”

  She hugged the baby to her chest. Sienna was growing up way too fast. She deserved a good life in a place she could call home, with a dog or a cat or a goldfish, and a backyard instead of a high-rise elevator.

  But for now, they had to make do living in Dallas.

  * * *

  Jared leaned against Cooper, his brother bracing him under the arm as they strode into the house. He was banged up pretty badly, but after two days in the hospital, he refused to enter his home in a wheelchair. He’d make it under his own power, with a little help from Coop, and that was that.

  “Man, I wish like hell you would’ve let me take you to my place,” Cooper said for the tenth time. “Lauren is a great nurse.”

  “Your new bride is also pregnant. She doesn’t need me underfoot and neither do you. Besides, I’ll be more comfortable here.” The last thing he wanted was to be a burden to the honeymooners.

  Jared’s home was on Stone Ridge land, a good half mile from Cooper’s place. They shared the stables and pastures and got along that way just fine. They were brothers and business partners, but they both needed their own space. “You can barely walk. And even if Marie could help you around the house, she’s getting too old to keep up with everything. It’s not fair to her.”

  “Don’t argue with me, Coop. It’s hard enough just to breathe with these cracked ribs, much less get in a pissing match with you.”

  “Fine, but think about Marie.”

  Their housekeeper shared duties between the two houses, splitting her time between both. Jared’s injuries would make it much harder for her to keep up. “Don’t worry. I won’t let Marie tax herself. I’ll think of something.”

  They left the foyer and Jared gestured toward the great room, wincing slightly. “Just help me to the chair.”

  His favorite leather armchair faced the back window, where he had a view of the vast amount of land he called his backyard. His home was modern in most respects, but this room with throw rugs over hardwood flooring and a massive flat-screen television was more lived in, a place he could unwind and not worry about disrupting the fine order of things.

  With Cooper still supporting him, Jared slowly lowered himself into the chair. He felt a sharp jolt in his chest and it took a good few seconds before the ache subsided. “I’m...okay,” he said breathlessly.

  Cooper’s lips pulled down in a stern expression.

  “You look like Dad when you do that,” Jared whispered.

  “And you look like a man who’s...in pain.”

  “Good observation. Sit a minute, will you?”

  Cooper took a seat on a matching leather sofa facing him.

  “Tell me about the woman.” The angel, whose voice calmed him, whose touch gave him solace when he might’ve panicked. The angel who’d risked her life to save his.

  Cooper immediately knew what he was asking. “The nurses told me her name is Bella Reid. She was driving on the interstate with her friend and saw the car catch on fire. Her friend called 9-1-1 and Bella rushed over to get you out of the car before...” Cooper let out a noisy breath. “You know.”

  Jared gave a tiny nod. He was aware of his limitations right now, what he could and couldn’t do. Mostly, he couldn’t do anything, but a nod he could manage. “I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “Are you having nightmares?”

  Jared blinked. “No. I can’t remember anything about the crash. Or after, really. Except that Bella was there, holding my hand, saying all the right things to keep me calm. I need to thank her properly. See how she’s doing.”

  “She slipped out of the hospital after I showed up, Jared. I didn’t get her number. I have no way to find her. Maybe you should let it go.”

  “No,” he said forcefully enough for Cooper’s eyes to snap up to meet his. “I need to see her, Coop. My God, that woman saved my life. I need to talk to her. Just once. I can’t let it go.”

  “What do you want me to do, ask the sheriff to give me private information. Or how about I hire a detective?”

  Jared’s lips quirked up. “Nothing that drastic. You have a wife. And she’s a nurse. And if she happened to see Bella Reid’s medical chart...”

  “I can’t ask Lauren to do that.”

  “You don’t have to. I will. She owes me a favor.”

  * * *

  “Paul, what am I going to do?” Bella mumbled under her breath, staring at the phone in her hand. She’d just hung up with the Beaumont Club. They’d needed a chef and she’d been a day late and a dollar short. They’d just called to inform her the job she hadn’t even had a chance to interview for had been filled.

  Whenever she needed guidance, she’d talk to her husband. If anyone heard her, they would understand. She was a widow with a beautiful child to raise, a woman whose heart was broken the day that helicopter crashed, and she liked to think that Paul was listening to her. That he would somehow see how hard she was trying.

  Her dream of working as a chef in some capacity was slowly fading.

  Yesterday she’d seen an ad
online for a dental receptionist. Maybe she should apply for that. The salary wouldn’t buy her a house, or rent her an apartment, but it would allow her some financial independence.

  Her shoulders sagging, she walked in to check on Sienna. Her baby was napping peacefully, her little olive-skinned cheeks rosy at the moment. Bella was ready to slide in next to her child on the tiny bed and try to catch a nap.

  If only.

  She was still debating that, watching Sienna’s chest rise and fall rhythmically, when someone buzzed from the lobby. She pushed the button before it buzzed twice. “Yes?”

  “It’s Cooper Stone. I’d like to speak to Bella Reid.”

  “This is Bella.”

  “May I come up to see you?”

  Bella leaned her shoulder against the door. “What is it? Is everything all right with your brother?”

  “That’s what I want to speak to you about. I promise it’ll only take a minute.”

  Her curiosity more than anything had her beeping him in. “Come up.”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  And just a few minutes later she was showing Cooper Stone to the sofa in Amy’s living room.

  “Hi,” he said, taking off his black cowboy hat as soon as he sat down. Bella sort of loved that about Texans. They wore hats like other people wore shoes. And only took them off when absolutely necessary.

  “Hello, Cooper.” She sat, too. “I have to admit I’m a little bit shocked that you’re here. How did you find me?”

  “Don’t be frightened,” Cooper said sincerely. “It’s nothing bad. It’s just that my brother—”

  “What about Jared?” She had a vested interest in his well-being and was anxious to hear about his recovery. It was sort of strange how she’d bonded with the person whose life she’d saved. She’d only been with him a few short hours, yet images of that night popped in and out of her mind at all times of the day and night. Thoughts of his health nagged at her.