Missy's Moment (The West Series Book 4)

by Jill Sanders

  “That’s a great idea,” Holly said. “Hang on a moment.” She rushed from the house. “Here,” she said loudly, “everyone get together.” The men groaned when they saw her shiny new camera hanging around her neck.

  “We’ve been working outside all day,” someone complained.

  “And you all look absolutely masculine and damn sexy.” Holly smiled and pushed Grant closer to everyone. “Just do this.”

  Missy laughed when the men all moved closer to one another, carrying their full plates of food with them.

  “You too.” Holly pushed Melissa towards Reece.

  “Oh, no.” She tried to walk away. “I’ve been cleaning for the last hour. I look a mess.” She tried to get away.

  “That’s the charm of it all,” Holly said, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t make me get upset. You know what happens if I get mad.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Holly Hulk,” some chimed in.

  In the end, Holly won out and everyone, including kids and babies, was shuffled in front of the fireplace for a picture, food and all. She even set her camera on the end table and set the timer for a couple shots.

  In several shots, people had full mouths, which only added to the charm of the picture.

  “These are great,” Lauren said, looking over Holly’s shoulder at the screen.

  “Thanks. I just got this camera last year and it was my New Year’s resolution to start taking more pictures.”

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about getting some family pictures…” She paused when Chase groaned. “Oh, stop your grumbling,” she told her husband with a smile. “You look good even covered in dust and dirt.” He laughed and went back to shoving food in his face.

  “Are you asking me to take your family pictures?”

  “Holly’s Bookstore, Coffeehouse, Wine Bar, and Photography Studio,” Melissa piped in. Holly chuckled.

  “What’s all that?” Haley asked, rocking one of her sleeping boys.

  “Oh, Holly’s new idea for the bookstore.” She smiled over at her friend.

  Holly told everyone her plan for improvements, and they all loved the idea.

  “Does Mr. Nolan know your plans?” Grant asked.

  “Mr. Nolan?” Alex frowned and looked at her husband.

  “Sure, he owns the building.” He turned to Holly, who nodded.

  “Yes, he’s owned the building since before my mother opened the bookstore.

  “I didn’t know that,” Melissa said.

  “None of us did, except my husband apparently.” Alex looked over at her husband who was holding their sleeping daughter.

  “He owns a lot of the empty buildings downtown. When he was mayor, he had big plans to update them. He wanted to see downtown restored to its former glory.” He shrugged. “At least that was the plan before…” He looked down at his sleeping girl and frowned. Alex walked over and wrapped her arms around him.

  “Don’t,” she told her husband. “Let’s not think about it.” Grant looked up at her, nodded his head, and smiled.

  “I’m sure I can convince him to let me make the changes.” Holly said. “The last time I talked to him, he was excited about my ideas.”

  “Well,” Lauren said, standing up from the folding chair she’d brought along. “It’s past the kid’s bedtime.”

  The cleaned up the plastic plates and put the leftovers into the old fridge.

  “Let us know if you need any more help.” Grant looked around the place. “There are good bones here. All it needs is some work and some fresh paint.”

  Melissa and Reece stood on the front porch and watched everyone drive away. When the road was quiet and dark, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

  “How was your day?” he asked finally when he pulled back

  “Long. But not as long as yours, I bet.”

  “I hurt in places I’d forgotten I had.” He smiled.

  “Well, then”—she pulled him closer—“how about a massage?”

  “Mmmm, now you’re talking.” They walked into the house together.

  “It’ll have to be on the floor, since you have no mattress yet.”

  He groaned. “Okay, first thing tomorrow I’m heading into Tyler to get one.”

  “Really?” She pulled back. “Because there’s a list.” She turned to go.

  “Go with me.” He pulled her back to him.

  “To Tyler?” He nodded. “To shop for furniture?” He nodded again. “What about the other items on the list?” She bit her lower lip.

  “Whatever.” He shrugged.

  She smiled and jumped up and down. “I’ll call in sick.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The following days were filled with shopping and repeatedly moving heavy things around his house. By Monday morning, his back was sore, and he had a spot on his foot that was numb.

  That morning, he had a client delivering a two-year-old quarter horse, the first horse he was going to break in his corrals on his land. He could hardly muster up the excitement that normally came with a new job.

  He watched Melissa drive away shortly after downing a breakfast of orange juice and toast. When he walked back into his place, he smiled. He had a leather sectional, coffee tables, and lamps, not to mention the huge flat screen he’d talked himself into at the store, which hung above his mantel. The walls were still bare, but the place was finally coming together. All thanks to Melissa.

  He had just changed, making sure he strapped on both knee braces and the back brace he wore when breaking, when he heard a car pull up. Walking outside, he was shocked to see Savannah standing on his front porch.

  “Well, this is cozy.” She looked around at his front porch.

  “Hello, Savannah.” He stepped out onto the front porch and let the screen door shut behind him. “What can I do for you today?” He noticed that her eyes were still a little puffy from the broken nose, but for the most part, her face was back to normal. She was wearing a tight, tan, low-cut blouse and black leggings that hugged every curve. Her spiky heels made her almost the same height as him.

  Her breasts did look a good deal larger, but he didn’t think it was his place to stare at them, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by her. She moved closer to him and started rubbing her chest against his.

  “Well, I was just stopping by. You know, being friendly to a new neighbor.” She purred, running her hands through his hair.

  The fact that he’d been there almost a week and she’d shown up the first time he was there alone didn’t escape him.

  “You know, give you the proper welcome.” She placed her red lips on his so quickly he didn’t have a chance to pull away.

  He was just about to push her away, when he heard his client drive up. He groaned inwardly at the timing and then glanced over to see Melissa’s car stop at the end of the driveway. She quickly slammed it into reverse and peeled out of the driveway, heading towards town.

  Fear shot through him so quickly that he pushed Savannah away and raced towards his truck. He had just made it to the corner when he heard the crash ahead.

  Melissa was pissed. How dare he do this to her? She’d given him everything, and he’d barely waited until she’d driven away to get it from Savannah. She should have known that this would happen when he moved in next door to that wench. After all, they’d never really made a commitment towards one another. But they had said they’d love one another.

  Could she have misjudged the situation? She blinked back the tears and ran over the scene on the front porch in her mind.

  He had looked like he was trying to escape Savannah’s grip. Realization hit her like a brick, and she glanced in her mirror so she could pull a U-turn in the road. When she glanced forward again, a huge buck stood in the middle of the road. She jerked the wheel to avoid the massive creature and realized too late that she’d over corrected. Her car spun and skidded towards the guardrail. She screamed just before everything went black.

  When she woke, she heard
someone screaming her name. Something was running in her eyes and she blinked to clear them.

  “No,” Reece said above her. “Don’t move. I’ve called the ambulance.” He held her hands away from her face.

  “I…I can’t see.” She tried to blink a few more times but everything looked dark and fuzzy.

  “You’re bleeding pretty bad, honey. Don’t move.”

  She tried to push him away. “Don’t look.” She worried that he would pass out and wouldn’t be able to stop the bleeding. She tried to get her mind to work, but everything was fuzzy.

  “It’s okay, I’ve got you.” She heard ripping and then there was pressure on her forehead and shoulder, and she cried out with pain.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, soothing her. “I’ve got to hold this on here hard to stop the bleeding.”

  “Reece, there’s blood,” she repeated.

  “I know, Missy. I’m okay.” He pushed harder on her shoulder. “I wasn’t doing anything with Savannah. I didn’t even know she was going to kiss me,” he explained as he held the compression on her shoulder and forehead.

  “I know. I realized that. I know you would never do anything like that.” She reached up and touched his face. “That’s when I saw the deer.”

  “Don’t move,” he repeated and she could hear the ambulance making its way up the road. “Here comes help.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to see his green eyes. “I should have known.”

  “It’s not your fault. I should have told you how I felt earlier,” he said, leaning his head closer to hers. “It’s all my fault.”

  “How you felt?” Nothing was making sense now and everything was spinning.

  He nodded. “I’m more than just in love with you, you know.”

  Just then she heard tires screech and Tom and Roger, two of the EMTs she’d been working with for the last few months, rushed up and started asking questions.

  “Did you get thrown from the car?” Tom asked.

  She realized for the first time that she was laying on the hard ground. “No, I crawled out here. I saw smoke.” She tried to nod towards her car.

  “I put the fire out,” Reece said, nodding towards the fire extinguisher. “I pulled her a few feet more away from the car, just in case.”

  “Okay,” Tom said, getting to work securing her.

  When they moved her to the gurney, she realized the extent of her pain. It felt like sharp spikes stuck through both of her legs, and her arms were starting to feel numb. Her head felt light and dizzy.

  “Tom, I’m so sorry, I know I’m not supposed to, but I think I’m going to pass out again.” Everything turned dark once again.

  Reece stood in the waiting room of the clinic, trying not to pace. The small room was crowded, and he felt like there wasn’t enough air in there.

  “Reece, come sit down,” Holly suggested, patting the seat next to her.

  He shook his head. “When will they tell us something?”

  “Soon,” Lauren said, holding Chase’s hand tighter.

  “Why aren’t they moving her to the hospital in Tyler? I can drive—” He dropped off as her parents rushed in.

  “We just heard.” The worried look on their faces almost undid them. When Grant rushed across the room to hug them, he felt a wave of shame hit him full force. This was all his fault. He should have never let Savannah get that close to him. He should have told her he wasn’t interested long ago.

  Then he realized that her parents were standing in front of him. “You were with her?” they asked. Worry marred their faces.

  He shook his head no. “I was following her and heard the crash. There was a deer,” He said, feeling like he was about to cry.

  When Melissa’s mother walked over and engulfed him in a hug, he did cry. Apologizing the entire time, he explained what had happened.

  “Oh, you poor dear. Missy, as you call her, is a strong young woman. She knows better than to believe any of that woman’s tricks.” Carolyn smiled at him. “Besides, everyone in town knows how you two feel about each other.”

  “I should have—” he started, only to be shushed by her again.

  “There’s no time for should haves. Here’s the doctor now.” She stood up.

  Dr. Conner held up his hands to stop all the questions. “Melissa is fine. She has a broken collarbone, some bruised ribs, a concussion, and a few new stitches in her scalp and shoulder. We’ll be keeping her here for a few days, but she won’t need to go to Tyler.”

  Everyone sighed and Reece stepped forward. “Can I see her?” The doctor looked him up and down then nodded. “One at a time.”

  When he walked into her room, her eyes were closed and he felt like turning and running away. He’d destroyed everything. Here was the only person in his life who had ever loved him and he’d destroyed it. Destroyed her.

  “Hey,” she said, her voice weak and low. “Come here.”

  He looked up to see her blue eyes looking at him. “I thought you were asleep.”

  She started to shake her head, but stopped and groaned. “No. Concussion means I will be kept awake or checked on for the next twenty-four hours.”

  “Twenty-four?”

  “Yup.” She patted the bed beside her. “So why don’t you get comfortable?”

  He looked around. “Visiting hours are over at eight.”

  “That’s okay. I know a few people, and I’m pretty sure I can convince them that you should stick around. After all, anything to help me heal.”

  He took a step forward and then another.

  “Reece?” she said.

  He looked at her, afraid that she was hurting too much. He was ready to run and grab a nurse, when she chuckled, then grabbed her side and sighed.

  “I’m okay, really. Come over here.”

  He walked over and gently sat next to her, taking her hand. She sighed again, and this time he could hear the pleasure in her tone.

  “There, much better.” She closed her eyes and was quiet. Just when he was concerned that she’d fallen asleep, she said, “Don’t leave, okay?”

  He nodded then realized her eyes were still closed. “I promise,” he said in a shaky voice.

  Chapter Fifteen

  She knew the drill. She had been on the other side many times, but nothing could have prepared her for the pain she felt every time the nurses walked in to check up on her.

  The pain of the broken collarbone and the bruised ribs could be managed by a lack of movement, but the concussion hurt every time she opened her eyes. She tried to keep them shut, but the pounding continued in the darkness of her mind. The only thing that seemed to make her feel better was knowing that Reece was sitting next to her.

  Her family had come in and visited briefly. Once she’d assured them she was okay, they had let Reece sit beside her.

  “He blames himself,” her mother told her.

  “I know. It was my fault. It was stupid of me to drive away upset.” She closed her eyes and thought of how much worse it could have been.

  “I would think that the deer would take some of the blame.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “Do you know that when your father and I were dating, I hit a buck and totaled my car? The next week I borrowed your father’s truck and hit another, destroying his truck as well. I had better luck that year than most hunters.” She chuckled with her mother, which caused pain to shoot throughout her body, and when she looked up, she saw a tear escape her mother’s eyes.

  “Rest. I know Reece is dying to get back by your side. We’ll be around.” She leaned up and kissed her forehead, and Missy felt better.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “You’re a very lucky and smart girl. Don’t let blame get in the way of what’s right in front of you.”

  When Reece walked back in, she grabbed his hand and held on, knowing that there was a lot she had to say to him once she was feeling better.

  An hour later, by the time lunch rolled in her room, she was starving. She started spooning in s
ome soup and nibbling on the bread, but a few minutes later felt dizzy and nauseated.

  “Should I call a nurse?” Reece had paled while watching her.

  “No.” She stopped herself from shaking her head. “It’ll pass. It comes with the concussion.”

  A few minutes of closing her eyes and breathing slowly had helped and allowed her to eat the rest of her lunch.

  “I can tell you this,” she told Riley, one of her coworkers who came in to remove her empty tray. “When I get back to work, I’ll have a new respect for the injured.”

  Riley had laughed. “I know what you mean. I broke my leg once and had to be holed up for three days at the hospital in Dallas.” She shook her head. “I guess it’s true what they say, that medical personal make the worst patients.”

  “I’ve been tolerable, though?” Missy asked, causing Riley to chuckle.

  “You’re the easiest patient I’ve had all year.” She looked towards the door. “Now if room two would be as good.”

  The clinic had only four overnight rooms for such occasions and she had been waiting on room two. Mr. Dillard, an older gentleman, was a contractor for hire who’d had a large tree branch fall on him a few days back. He had a broken foot, but because of his age, Dr. Conner wanted to watch him for a while. Mr. Dillard wasn’t too pleased about the stay and was very vocal in his complaints.

  Over the next few hours, many friends visited Melissa in the room. She convinced Reece to stick around, but he had to step outside for a few phone calls.

  He seemed distracted and when he stepped back into the room after the fifth call, she realized why.

  “Oh, your horse was supposed to come today.” She frowned.

  “It did. He’s there and safe and sound in the barn.”

  “Reece, you don’t have to stay.” She felt guilty for keeping him from his work and commitment. “I’m out of hot water now,” she said, sitting up slowly.

  He shook his head. “Are you kicking me out?” he asked with a smile.

  “No, of course not. But, if you need to—”

  “Missy, I’m where I want to be.” He took her hand.