“You made me sound so superficial. Am I?”
“Inside that perfect coiffed veneer, I know how deeply you feel things, and I don’t know why you hide that side of yourself, but we both know you can be influenced by superficial things, by the way someone looks, or what they do, just like you made a snap judgement about Scott. In that way, I suppose you could be called superficial.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she said quietly, “but I’ve always seen Cathy marrying a man like the Prince of Wales, or at the very least, someone like Renaldo. That’s probably what made me overreact.”
“I think she’s made a great choice in Scott, at least, I think she has. I don’t know him very well, but I do have a good feeling about him, besides, it’s early days…though…”
“Though what?”
“I think Cathy has had a crush on him ever since she started boarding at his barn, and I also think their attraction is strong and is going to develop into something. I trust her, Marianne, and it’s about time you did too.”
“You’re right. I should,” she sighed, “and I will.”
“I need to go, but do me a favor. Call her for me and let her know I’m on my way.”
“David, when you get back, there’s something very important I need to tell you. I’m scared though. I did something terrible, something really terrible, and I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I could never hate you,” he frowned, stroking her arm. “Now clean up this little dog, and…oh, the treats are in the car. I’ll run and get them.”
When he returned with the box, he found Marianne giving the dog a bath in the large kitchen sink. The mutt was sitting calmly as Marianne rinsed off whatever it was she’d used as a shampoo.
“She looks better already,” David exclaimed.
“I think she’s going to be gorgeous when she’s dry. Still skinny, but gorgeous,” then pausing, she added, “I’m going to tell you what I did when we’re in bed, in the dark, then I won’t have to look at your face. I know you’ll be very upset with me when you hear.”
“Okay, sweetheart,” he softly replied, walking over to her and kissing her on the cheek. “I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you think. Don’t forget to call Cathy for me.”
As he marched out of the kitchen and into the garage, she finished rinsing off the little dog, stood back as the mutt shook herself, wrapped her in a fresh, thick towel, and carried her into the family room. Settling on the couch with the dog curled up in her lap, she called Cathy. It seemed be taking a while for her daughter to answer, and just as she thought she’d have to leave a message, Cathy picked it up.
“Sorry, mom, I couldn’t use the cell phone where I was. Where’s dad? He’s taking forever.”
“He just dropped me off at the house, so he shouldn’t be long. How’s Scott? What’s the story?”
“He has no broken bones, but some heavy bruising on his legs.”
“Nothing broken? Thank goodness for that,” Marianne exclaimed. “You must be so relieved.”
“Not as relieved as he is. He’s in the middle of developing a property for a new sales and training barn. The last thing he needs is a broken anything, let alone a leg in plaster. They’re keeping him overnight though, because of the bang to his head, but he’s awake and talking. Why didn’t you come with dad?”
“We have a new addition to the family,” Marianne smiled, staring down at the brown-eyed pup on her lap.
“What do you mean?”
“We found a stray dog, she was soaked to the skin, shivering and starving, so I’ve brought her home with me. You’ll fall in love with her.”
“Mom! You have a stray dog?”
“I do, the cutest mutt you’ve ever seen. Some kind of terrier I think, but think her hair will be curly, not straight and wiry.”
“I can’t believe my ears. What if it pees on your rugs?”
“That’s what your father asked me,” Marianne laughed. “I’ll tell you what I told him. I’ll buy new ones.”
“I think I’m having some kind of lucid dream.”
“And Catherine, please tell Scott I hope he’s feeling better, and I want him to come over for dinner, oh, and tell him he doesn’t have to wear a tux! I have to run, sweetie, I need to dry Angel and see if she’ll eat something.”
“Angel? That’s her name?”
“It is. I’ll speak to you tomorrow, and be sure and give my best to Scott.”
Ending the call, Cathy stared at the phone completely dumbfounded.
“Was that my mother I was just talking to, or some imposter who just sounded like her?” she muttered.
Shaking her head, amazed by what she’d just heard, she left the ladies room and hurried back down the sterile corridor to join Scott. When they’d arrived and it was determined he’d need to stay overnight, she’d arranged for a VIP room, and as she entered, she was pleased to see a meal had been delivered.
“You look so much better. How are you feeling now? Are you in pain?”
“They gave me somethin’. I’ve felt worse. I don’t know why they’re insistin’ I stay here.”
“It’s about your head! You had a tree fall on it, remember?”
“It’s only a bit of a bump.”
“A bit of a bump? It knocked you out,” she declared. “Do you have any idea how freaked out I was? I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared.”
“Hey,” he murmured, “I wanna talk to you.”
“And I want to talk to you,” she replied, raising her eyebrows. “When they release you, I’m coming to stay until you’re fully mobile. You need taking care of, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
“When did you get so bossy?”
“I’ve always been bossy,” she quipped.
“And I’ve almost finished that chair,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
“Oh, my gosh,” she sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “You’re injured. You can’t say things like that.”
“I just did,” he smiled, then suddenly cringed.
“Scott?”
“Just twinge,” he muttered.
“Are you sure?”
“Sugar, I’m kinda beat up, I’m gonna have twinges.”
“I hate that you’re hurt,” she frowned. “I have to tell you something that might help though.”
“Go ahead. I’m not exactly goin’ anywhere.”
“My mother, she’s had some kind of come-to-Jesus moment. I don’t know what happened, but she found a stray dog and she’s keeping it. I couldn’t believe it when she told me, but it gets even better. She sends you her best, and she wants you to come to dinner. She also said you don’t have to wear a tux.”
“Holy smokes. Sounds to me like that’s your dad’s doin’, but I don’t care how it happened. That’s great!”
“Things were pretty frightening tonight,” she said solemnly, her smile suddenly fading. “She saw how upset I was, and I was, I was scared out of my wits, but I think you became real to her, the two of us became real. Does that make sense?”
“Yep, it does, and that’s what I wanna talk to you about. When the tree hit me, for a minute I thought I was a goner,” he said grimly, swallowing hard and dropping his eyes.
“Are you okay?” Cathy asked, sensing a wave of emotion was sweeping over him.
“I’m fine, yep, but the thing is, all I could think about was you,” he murmured, lifting his gaze and staring at her. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. Hell, I’ll eat at your mom’s table every night dressed in a monkey suit if I have to.”
“Scott, that’s how I was feeling all night. You have no idea…when you finally opened your eyes…it was like a miracle,” she said haltingly, fighting the heat in her throat, “and I had this surge of feeling. I’d been so panicked that I was going to lose you.”
“When we hit speed bumps,” he said softly, taking her hand and holding it tightly, “we’ve gotta remember this moment.”
“That won’t be hard,” she sighed. �
��This is one night I’ll never, ever, forget.”
When Cathy and her father returned from the hospital, they found the house still and quiet, and completely exhausted, Cathy immediately disappeared into her room. David found Marianne in bed, the only light coming from a low fire, in front of which Angel was dead-to-the-world on the sheepskin rug. After a quick shower, be slipped softly between the sheets and snuggled next to his wife.
“How’s Scott?” she said softly, rolling over and curling next to him.
“The physician on duty told me he’s as fit as a world-class athlete,” David replied. “Miraculously he has no broken bones. They’re keeping him overnight because he has a mild concussion, but he’s a tough guy. He’ll bounce back fast.”
“Thank goodness. What a night it’s been, so terrifying, and yet…”
“And yet?”
“It seems so much good has come from it.”
“My grandfather used to say that storms bring change, sometimes good, sometimes not. This must have been a good one.”
“I’ve been laying here trying to find the words to tell you about that thing I mentioned earlier,” she murmured. “I don’t think I can. I’m too scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“That you’ll hate me,” she whimpered, burying her head against his chest.
“I could never hate you,” he murmured, holding her tightly. “You have to trust me. I’ll always love you, and I won’t abandon you. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.”
“Promise?”
“I promise,” he assured her, “and you know that. Come on, spit it out. The world won’t come to an end.”
“My world might.”
“No, it won’t. I’m going to count to-“
“Stop…you don’t have to do that,” she sighed. “I’ll tell you. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“I tried to pay him off. Scott I mean, to leave Catherine alone.”
“I see, and how exactly did you do that?” he asked calmly.
“I put a hundred-grand into saddle bags, and left them on his doorstep with a nasty letter telling him to break things off.”
“You left a hundred-grand on a doorstep?”
“I knew he was home. I rang the doorbell, then took off.”
“Is that everything?”
“Uh, not exactly,” she admitted. “I also hired a private detective to follow Catherine around to see if Scott had done what I’d told him, but I only did that for one night,” she added hastily. “It was an awful thing to do, and it made me feel sick.”
“That’s it? That’s everything?”
“Yes, David, that’s everything, and I feel horribly guilty. I have no idea what happened to the money, I guess he still has it somewhere and-“
“I have it,” he interrupted.
“What? You knew? How?”
“Clark Bateman made Scott an offer for a piece of land he owns. We need it for the equestrian park. Scott assumed I was joining forces with you, and I was trying to buy him off as well. He came to my office with the saddlebags and told me exactly what he thought of us.”
“Oh, my gosh! When did this happen?”
“Earlier in the week, and it was quite a scene. I thought he was going to punch my lights out.”
“Oh, dear God, why didn’t you say anything?”
“I thought about it, believe me, but I couldn’t see an upside, and I’m glad I waited. Shortly after that I had the idea that you should meet Scott at your dinner party as someone else.”
“I am at a loss,” she whimpered, on the verge of tears. “I feel so weak and stupid, and so embarrassed.”
“Hey, you’re an over-protective mother-bear who went too far, and as Scott himself said, when you love someone, it can make you do some crazy things.”
“How can you be so calm and understanding?”
“I wasn’t calm when I found out,” he admitted, “and, uh, I’m not exactly innocent myself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember how upset Cathy was when she found out Scott was putting the barn on the market?”
“Sure, of course.”
“I went to see him.”
“You did?”
“Yep, and I extended an offer of help if he needed money to keep going. He said no, of course, but later I heard he was looking for a trainer to take over the management of the place. I made a few calls, and found someone that seemed right. Turned out the guy had been wanting to get into that barn for a couple of years, so I financed him, confidentially of course.”
“That’s why Scott didn’t sell?”
“He didn’t have to. I think he will though, but it put a Band-Aid on the problem, so you see, you’re not the only one who steps in for our girl.”
“But what you did was wonderful, what I did…”
“I think it’s about time we both stopped interfering. If she needs something from us, she knows where we are.”
“David, you’re right, and I love you so much,” she said, laying her head against his chest. “Thank you for making this easy on me. I can’t believe you’re not furious.”
“I was when Scott was in my office looking like he wanted to punch my lights out,” he admitted.
“Do you forgive me?”
“Of course I do, and I love you, but you’re going to have to tell Cathy the whole story. You know that, right?”
“I do,” she sighed.
“I’ll sit with you when you tell her, I’ll give you all the support you need. She’ll be furious, then she’ll be forgiving, just like I was. This is all going to work itself out, I promise you,” he yawned, “and before we go to sleep, I just have to tell you how proud of you I am.”
“Proud? You’re proud”
“Absolutely, you were a real trooper tonight. You were amazing.”
“I think the good thing the storm brought in, was Scott Sampson.”
“Cathy’s forbidden cowboy brought a lot of things to light,” David agreed, “important things.”
“He also brought us a precious little angel.”
“That he did,” Scott breathed as he began to fall asleep.
Marianne raised her head and peered across at the dog fast asleep in front of the fire, then saying a silent thank-you, she curled herself around her husband, and let herself drift away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Two Weeks Later
The days after Scott’s release had been almost as tumultuous as the storm. Cathy had stayed with him, cooking what she was able, and ordering food in when she was out of ideas. She’d made sure he iced the bruising for the right amount of time, changed the dressings on his forehead and shoulder, ran errands, and did whatever else he needed. She’d only been able to swing by her parent’s house once, and could not believe the beautiful, cream-colored fluff-ball running after her mother had been a stray. Though the dog was still thin, she was adorable, and Cathy had fallen in with her on sight.
During the visit, Cathy had sensed her mother had something weighing on her mind, but had decided not to push. Things between them had vastly improved, and when Marianne had reiterated her desire to have Scott over for dinner, Cathy had hugged her tightly, thrilled that things were finally on the mend, and Scott was to be welcome in her parent’s home. It was only when Scott was walking around and no longer dependent on her, that Cathy found out the outrageous actions her mother had taken to keep her away from the man she loved.
It had been a shocking revelation, and though her father had done his best to help her come to an understanding of why her mother had been motivated to stuff one-hundred-thousand dollars into a saddle bag, along with a toxic letter, Cathy was having none of it, and storming from the house, she’d jumped into her car and driven straight up to see Scott.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she’d demanded, tears of rage springing from her eyes.
“It wasn’t my place,” he’d replied, doing his best to stay calm, “and I wanted
to give your mom the chance to do the right thing, but I told your dad if she didn’t tell you, I would.”
Confused and angry, she had paced and railed for an hour or more. Scott had stayed quiet during most of it, allowing her to get it out of her system, and she’d eventually let him take her upstairs to bed, where exhausted, she’d fallen asleep in his arms. She’d stayed with him for a couple of days, and just as she had helped him heal, he’d helped her come to terms with what she’d learned, finally accepting that her mother had acted out of love, and was probably hurting just as much, if not more, than she was. His wise words had motivated Cathy return to the house and to talk to her. It had been a difficult and emotional visit, and though it had ended with hugs, Cathy left her mother with a warning.
“If you ever pull anything like that again, I won’t be knocking on your door to make peace. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“I won’t, I swear,” her mother had tearfully promised, “and I’ve never been more sorry about anything in my life.”
With the fences mended, and Scott well on his way to being his old self, the much anticipated get-together was arranged, and Scott and Cathy arrived at the Coleman house for dinner. It was the first time Scott had seen Marianne since the night of the accident, and though he had very little memory of what had happened, he knew she’d had been there, and had fought the weather and lived through the terror beside him. Sitting in the family room having a drink before their meal, there was a subtle awkwardness in the air, and it was Scott who decided to break it.
“Mrs. Coleman-“
“Marianne, please,” she interrupted.
“Marianne, then,” Scott smiled, “and you, David, I haven’t had the opportunity to thank you properly for everythin’ you did for me that night. I might not even be sittin’ here if you hadn’t risked goin’ out in that storm.”
“You can thank Cathy,” David said soberly. “She raised the alarm and there was no stopping her. I only did what any father would do, seeing his daughter in a blind panic.”
“I’m not so sure, and I wish I could remember more, but I know when I woke up, you were all there gettin’ drenched and takin’ care of me. It’s somethin’ I’ll never forget, and I’m in your debt.”
Her Forbidden Cowboy (Cowboys After Dark Book 12) Page 20