Texas Rebels: Falcon

by Linda Warren

  “What’s going on?” he demanded. “Why isn’t she waking up?”

  “Just be—”

  “Don’t tell me to be patient. I’ve had enough of that. Just tell me why my wife is not waking up.”

  “She’s lost a lot of blood. Give her time. She’s been through—”

  “I know what she’s been through,” Falcon said, cutting him off. “I’ve been here every second, every minute for months experiencing what she’s been through so I don’t want to hear that again. You wanted me to trust you and now I’m wondering why I ever did. My wife is in limbo and I get the feeling she’s going to stay there.”

  “Mr. Rebel...”

  “No, I don’t want to hear anything else you have to say. I want my wife back. Bottom line. Until that happens...”

  A hand touched his shoulder and he swung around to see Quincy and Eden standing there. “Calm down,” Quincy said.

  Falcon turned and walked down the hall to a chair and sank into it. Eden sat beside him. “Daddy, she’ll wake up. She has to. I’m going to keep believing. What are you gonna do?”

  He ran his hands up his face in despair, but his daughter’s words brought him back from the edge. He expelled a deep breath. “I’m gonna wait forever, baby girl.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  A time to live...

  For the next couple of days Falcon sat by his wife’s bedside, talking to her, but Leah remained unresponsive. His emotions were all over the place, but he wouldn’t lose hope. He managed his temper and his daughter kept him grounded.

  Leah had been moved to a private room and he stayed there with her. He shaved and showered in her bathroom and slept with his head on her bed. The nurses brought him food. He wasn’t hungry. They brought him a recliner, but he still slept with his head on her bed. He had to be close. She would know it and wake up. That was all he could think.

  The only time he left was to go to the neonatal unit to visit his son, his very tiny son. He was perfectly formed, but so small. He trembled when he held his son for the first time and tears welled up in his eyes. He was almost afraid to breathe in case he hurt him. Touching his child—feeling his heartbeat—made Falcon realize what a gift the baby was, and he prayed that Leah would get to see him soon.

  Eden kept a vigil by the baby. They let her in regularly and she was forming a connection to her brother. Quincy stayed in Houston to be with them and Falcon insisted that Eden go to the house at night so she could rest. She kept Alma’s rosary in her pocket and Falcon admired her faith and courage.

  David and Anne visited, as did Alma. His mother and brothers came also, but there still was no change in Leah. The baby kept improving and that was a blessing he clung to.

  The days once again ran into each other and there seemed no end. His beautiful wife was lost to him and he couldn’t bring her back. Not even “I love you” was enough. The future looked bleak, but Falcon held on with all the strength he had.

  * * *

  IT WAS DARK and Leah couldn’t see. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids were so heavy. A lethargic feeling was pulling her down. Where was she? Fear gripped her and she fought against the dark place. She would not go there. She had to wake up. Then she heard a voice.

  “Leah, can you hear me? Please, wake up. I love you. Can you hear me?”

  Yes, she could hear his voice. Falcon. Was he in the dark place, too? No. He wasn’t, she was sure. She had to fight for the light. Where was the light? The darkness gathered around her, pulling her down, down, down.

  “Leah, I’m here. Come back to me.”

  She moved her head and groaned, fighting to get nearer the voice. If she could just see Falcon, the darkness would not claim her. Her heart raced. She could feel it beating frantically in her chest. Falcon, I’m coming. With pure will she forced the darkness away and a light appeared in all its brilliance. And then she was able to open her eyes. The brightness blinded her for a second. But she saw the man with his head on her bed. Falcon. He was there!

  She tried to pick up her hand, but it was heavy, too. Falcon’s presence gave her strength and she inched her fingers over to his arm and touched him. He jumped back, startled.

  He stared at her. His gaze mixed with fear and hope. “Leah.” His voice was hoarse and she tried to speak, but her throat was dry.

  “Leah,” he said again, getting to his feet. “Can you see me?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “Who am I?”

  She thought that was a strange question, but she replied, “Falcon, my husband.”

  “Thank God.” Tears filled his eyes and it shook her. She’d never seen him cry. He pushed a button and a nurse came into the room. She was in a hospital was her immediate thought. She frowned at the pain.

  Dr. Morris rushed in and he asked stupid questions and she didn’t understand what was going on. She just wanted Falcon and they seemed to have pushed him away.

  “Falcon,” she said.

  “He’s right here,” Dr. Morris said. “He’s been here for months and he’s not leaving now. We just want to check you over so be patient with us.”

  The doctor shined a light in her eyes and asked her to follow it. She relaxed and answered questions she thought were even stranger. “Is the tumor gone?”

  “Yes,” Dr. Morris replied.

  For the first time she realized her stomach ached. She was able to raise her hand and place it on her stomach, which was flat. Oh, no! “The baby.”

  Falcon pushed through the nurses. “No, honey. The baby is fine. He’s in the neonatal unit. You can see him soon.”

  “What?” It didn’t make sense. She was just a few weeks pregnant. “That can’t be true. Don’t lie to me.”

  Falcon kissed her forehead. “I have a long story to tell you, but believe me when I say we have a son.”

  “A son?”

  “Yes, Eden is with him and we’re waiting for you to get well. We’ve been waiting for a long time, beautiful lady. Keep looking at me with those green eyes and everything is going to be okay.”

  Then he told her a story she could barely believe. “I thought I was seventeen and pregnant with Eden?”

  “Yes.”

  “What month is it?”

  “April.”

  Tears filled her eyes at what had happened. She’d missed so much and had caused him and Eden so much more pain, but she wasn’t going to blame herself this time. She was going to accept this precious gift she’d been given.

  “I want to see our baby.”

  “Sorry, Leah,” Dr. Morris spoke up. “We want to make sure you’re okay before that happens. Maybe later this afternoon.”

  Falcon pulled out his phone. “I have the next best thing.” He tapped his fingers over the screen. “Remember the baby is a preemie. I just want you to be prepared.” He showed her a photo. “This is your daughter and son. Eden’s taking very good care of him.”

  Her hand shook as she touched the screen, her eyes glued to the two people on it. “Oh. They’re so beautiful.” She couldn’t help it. Tears trickled from her eyes and she began to cry with joy.

  “Hey, hey.” Falcon gathered her into his arms, tubes and all.

  “I’m so happy.”

  Falcon kissed her cheek and then pulled the locket from his pocket. Clasping it around her neck, he said, “Rest, beautiful lady, soon everything you ever wanted is going to happen. I promise you, and you know how I know that?”

  “No.”

  He looked into her eyes. “Because I’ve lost all the resentment that I held in my heart over you leaving me. I love you and I’ll love you to the day I die. And beyond.”

  Staring at her husband, Leah realized the fear that she’d lived with for eighteen years was gone. She now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Falcon loved her. H
e’d married her because he loved her, not because she was pregnant. She could see that now. It was so clear. She didn’t understand how she was so positive now, but maybe heartache and pain had opened her heart. Or maybe it was just Falcon and his love that she felt to her very soul.

  “Oh, Falcon. I love you, too.”

  “Good, because it’s time for us to live. It’s time for us to have a life with our two beautiful children.”

  She reached up and touched his face. “We got a miracle.”

  “Yes, we got a miracle.”

  Epilogue

  A time to love...

  Falcon woke up to the sound of voices—his favorite female voices: his wife’s and daughter’s. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was after seven. Leah had let him sleep because he’d been up with the baby last night. She got up during the week and he did over the weekends.

  He quickly slipped into jeans and a T-shirt, ready to spend time with his family. In the doorway to the kitchen, he paused at the most beautiful sight in the world to him. Leah was cooking breakfast and the baby lay in a carrier on the table. Obviously he’d just been fed because he was in a good mood, making bubbly cooing sounds to his sister.

  It was late August and they were finally home. His eyes stayed on his wife. She had blossomed in the past few months. Her hair was growing back and it was like a dark attractive cap on her head. She wore jean capris and a knit top and looked Eden’s age. After all that Leah had been through, she was still the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen and she always would be.

  The days after Leah had woken up hadn’t been easy. She had to regain her strength and he’d filled in the blanks about her memory. She still had some memory she couldn’t recall, but they were okay with that. She was alive.

  The baby stayed in the hospital for two months before he could come home. It was then they’d decided to return to Rebel Ranch to start their life the way they should have years ago. Leah worried at first about postpartum depression, but they were so happy and confident in their love that this time it never happened. She was not afraid of the baby or afraid she might hurt it. She now knew she would never do that. And to this day he believed love had brought them through.

  Leah had signed over the house in Houston to the Thornwall estate and Callie and Lissie were going to live in it instead of a dorm. Alma stayed in the house, which was a condition of Leah’s.

  They left the baby only once and that was to see Eden graduate high school. As a surprise, Leah came on stage to hand her daughter her diploma. Then the two of them cried like babies. It was another moment in their lives they wouldn’t forget.

  Eden had told her uncles about Leah wanting her own home, so Elias and Quincy had moved out of the old house and in with Grandpa. Under Eden’s direction, they had the place repainted and fixed up. Leah was beside herself when she saw it. They had their own home for now. Falcon planned to build her a new house as soon as all the doctors’ bills were paid. There were some that both insurances didn’t cover, but they didn’t mind that, either. Life was too precious to worry about that. Leah thrived in their family environment. She loved cooking for them and being a mother.

  Eden was getting ready to go to Baylor, but she was only going for three days a week and she would drive instead of staying there. She, too, wanted to be close to family. Falcon didn’t push her. She was old enough to make her own decisions. He and Leah tried to support her and guide her in the right direction. And Eden was planning on barrel racing again. She’d let that go while her mother was sick.

  Dr. Morris kept a close eye on Leah and assured them the tumor was gone and there was no malignancy. She shouldn’t have any more complications. They still had to make trips to Houston to see the doctors and when they did, they stayed at the house and visited with the Thornwalls and Alma.

  Their happiness had come with a battle, but they’d won and they were more aware of that than anyone. Every day was a blessing at their house. The years he’d been without Leah seemed like a distant memory. She filled every waking moment of his life and most of his dreams. When a Rebel loved, he loved forever.

  Leah glanced up and saw him. She came to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. “Good morning, handsome.”

  He held her, kissing the side of her face. He never got tired of that. “Mornin’, beautiful.”

  “We’re fixing you a big breakfast, Dad,” Eden said. “Pancakes and everything. Snickerdoodle is supervising.” She gently tickled her brother’s tummy and he wiggled around, flailing his arms.

  John’s face split into a big toothless grin. The baby was thriving just like his mother, gaining weight and soon he would catch up to other babies his age. He had the constitution of his parents: he would survive.

  A knock at the front door sounded at the same time that one at the back door did.

  “Company,” Eden said and ran to the front door to let her grandmother in, and then she dashed to the back door to greet Grandpa.

  Grandpa rolled an old red wooden wagon into the kitchen. It was bright red now and it was clear Grandpa had redone it.

  “Grandpa fixed up the old wagon,” Eden said.

  “I can remember when Kate pulled you in that thing,” Grandpa added. “But not for long ’cause Quincy made an appearance real soon and you were trying to pull him in it. Thought the little guy could play with it when he’s older.”

  “That was so sweet, Grandpa. Thank you.” Leah hugged his grandfather.

  His mother strolled over and wrapped an arm around Leah’s shoulder. “It’s so good to have y’all home and happy. It makes me want to tear up.”

  “We’re happy, Kate. Really happy.”

  “After all the bad stuff, I don’t know of anyone who deserves it more.”

  After breakfast, John went down for a nap and they snuck away for a few minutes while his mother stayed with Eden to help with the baby. Eden had taken the same classes at the hospital as they had to care for preemies and she was very good with her brother.

  Arm in arm they walked to the barn. He saddled Titan and swung into the saddle. Reaching down, he caught Leah’s hand and pulled her up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and they were off to enjoy a Sunday morning.

  They rode to Yaupon Creek. Leah slid from the saddle and ran to the water’s edge. She kicked off her sneakers, stepped in and splashed around. Sitting on the grass, Falcon watched her and thought she never looked more beautiful.

  Holding out her arms with her face to the sun, she turned round and round and sang, “I’m happy, happy, happy!” Then she ran to him and sank onto his lap.

  He kissed her forehead. “I used to dream of you coming back and wondered what I’d say to you. I never dreamed so much drama would happen or that I would be just as in love with you as I was back then.”

  “The moment I saw you that day in the park I knew I still loved you.”

  He undid a button on her top. “Beautiful lady, all we have to do now is love and enjoy the two kids that we have. But most of all we’re going to enjoy each other.”

  “Eden was conceived here on this spot,” she murmured.

  “Two teenagers without a clue.”

  “But we knew we loved each other. We just didn’t know what to do with all that love. All that emotion.”

  “Mmm. I was so afraid when you woke up you wouldn’t remember that you’d loved me.”

  “And I was afraid you’d never forgive me.”

  He looked into her eyes. “Love is like a blooming flower. It has to be watered and cared for to survive. Let’s don’t ever forget that again.”

  Her hand slipped inside his shirt and desire awoke inside him like it always did when she touched him. “I will love you forever and remember every moment we have together and be grateful.”

  He gently took h
er lips and pushed her down onto the grass. “I love you.”

  Love was a hard thing to explain, but Falcon knew he and Leah had it and they would cherish it for the rest of their lives. It had gotten them through the heartache and pain. Now the future was theirs.

  * * * * *

  Love the Rebel family?

  Watch for the next book in

  Linda Warren’s TEXAS REBELS miniseries,

  TEXAS REBELS: QUINCY,

  coming December 2015 only from

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from FALLING FOR THE SHERIFF by Tanya Michaels.

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  Falling for the Sheriff

  by Tanya Michaels

  Prologue

  Kate Sullivan had barely spoken on the ride from the middle school to the house. She’d worried that if she opened her mouth to say something, she would start yelling. Or crying. Neither seemed like a good idea while driving.

  As they walked in through the garage door that led to the kitchen, her thirteen-year-old son, Luke, broke the tense silence. “I know you’re pis—”

  “Language!” She spared him a maternal glare over her shoulder.

  “I know you’re mad,” he amended. The patronizing emphasis he put on the word was the verbal equivalent of rolling his eyes. “But it really wasn’t my fault this time.”