He cupped Kelly’s face. “Take a breath. Stay calm. You and your baby are fine.”
The sirens grew louder outside and multiplied.
He kept brushing his hand over Sonya’s hair, hoping she knew he was there with her.
The cops rushed in first, guns drawn. They quickly assessed the situation and took his father into custody, replacing the lamp cord around his father’s wrists with handcuffs.
One officer read his rights, but his father refused to remain silent.
“They broke into my place of business. I had every right to protect my property.”
“I’m an employee and your fiancée,” Kelly pointed out, pulling herself together enough to put some oomph in her voice. “I didn’t break in. I used my key.”
His father struggled to get to Kelly, but the cop held him back. “You do something to my baby, I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you!” The officer dragged Austin’s irrational father out of the office to make room for the paramedics who finally arrived.
He hated to let go of Sonya and reluctantly stepped back to let them work. He watched her face, looking for any sign she was waking up, or needed him. His gut knotted with tension and all he thought about was the future he wanted with her.
Kelly stood beside him, her shaking hands covered in Sonya’s blood just like his. He hooked his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Thank you for helping us.”
“I shouldn’t have asked her to come. I just wanted to find all the accounts before he transferred the money out of them and cut you out of what belongs to you.”
“She’s more important than any amount of money. You both are.” His heart lurched when the paramedics rolled Sonya onto a backboard, strapped her down, picked her up, and put her on the gurney and she mumbled out his name.
He couldn’t stand idly by any longer and took her hand. “I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be okay. We’re on the way to the hospital.”
“Mr. Hubbard, we need to get your statement about what happened here.”
“Sonya’s phone on the desk recorded everything. Kelly can answer your questions. You can send an officer to get my statement at the hospital, but I’m going with my fiancée.” He didn’t give the officer a chance to waylay him and walked out with the paramedics to the ambulance.
He settled in next to Sonya, held her hand to his heart, and gave her a reason to hold on and come back to him. “We need to set a wedding date. It has to be soon. No more than six months. We need to decide on the cake. Or our favorite éclairs. What about the flowers? My mother loved lilies.”
“White roses. Classic,” Sonya whispered. “Where’s my phone? We’ll make a list.” A soft smile touched her lips.
He kissed her, taking in that small bit of joy she’d shown him and letting it sink in and take over the overwhelming dread that gripped him the second she’d passed out and he feared she’d never wake up, that she’d leave him the way his mother and grandfather had.
“You’re back.” His voice shook with the emotions clogging his throat.
“I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Now, about the wedding, do you have a black suit? Not a tux. That’s too stuffy for us.”
He found a halfhearted smile for her. “I’ll buy a new suit.”
“Noah will be your best man. Roxy my . . .” Tired and hurting, her soft voice faded away.
He squeezed her hand. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you. Noah and Roxy called the house. That’s how I knew you weren’t with Roxy. They got engaged.”
“They . . . did?”
“Yes, sweetheart, so you need to recover from this so we can all celebrate together.”
“I love celebrating with you.”
He kissed her palm and held her hand to his cheek the rest of the ride, giving her a break. His mind didn’t rest. He worried about her serious injury and recovery. He needed to call her mother and sisters.
Not once did he think about his father and what he’d done. He let that rage simmer in the background because the only thing that mattered now was getting Sonya to the hospital and the doctors she needed.
He couldn’t live without her.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sonya woke up the second day in the hospital with a dull ache in her side and the sun in her eyes. She rolled her head away from the light and found a smile for her mom. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
June set aside the romance novel she’d been reading, stood, and kissed her on the head. “Austin called and told me what happened. You saved that woman’s life and her baby’s. I’m so proud of you. But you scared me.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. But I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Well, I had to move up my schedule, but I’m here for good.”
Sonya hit the button to raise the top of the bed and held her breath as the movement sent a sharp pain through her side.
She’d first woken up in recovery after surgery, with Austin holding her hand, his face a mask of concern and so much love it melted her heart.
“Where’s Austin?”
“Out in the hall talking to Roxy and Noah. They didn’t want to wake you.”
Yeah, it’d been hard to sleep with the noise in the hospital, nurses checking on her through the night, and nightmares about what happened. She’d acted without really thinking, pushing Kelly out of harm’s way. The second the bullet hit her, she’d screamed from the shocking pain, and panicked that the life she’d imagined with Austin would never come true.
Her mother’s words came back around and hit her. “Wait, did you say you’re here for good?” The pain meds slowed her mind.
June squeezed her hand. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“I’m shocked. I never thought you’d leave the Wild Rose Ranch. At least, not for several more years.”
June squeezed her hand. “This isn’t a good time to explain.”
“Mama, spit it out.” She rubbed the heel of her hand over her brow. “Did you really quit the Ranch?”
“I took your advice and a good long look at myself and my life. I . . . uh, don’t like the way you look at me sometimes.” June’s gaze dropped to the bedsheet.
“Mama. I love you.”
June’s lips pinched together. “I disappoint you sometimes. Like with what happened with your great-uncles.”
Sonya shook her head. “That was not your fault.”
“I know. And I’ve heard you every time you’ve begged me to do something about it. I just couldn’t. Until now.” June looked her in the eye. “I didn’t want to tell you in case I couldn’t go through with it. I didn’t want to disappoint you again. But I contacted the police. A nice detective came to talk to me and I told him I want to press charges against those bastards.” June swearing and calling people names, that was new. So was the vehemence in her voice.
Tears filled her eyes. “You did?”
“They arrested my uncles two days ago. I’ll have to testify against them.” June squeezed her hand. “It’s too late to get them for what they did when I was a child, but I can make them pay for what they did this time and make sure they never do it again.”
Tears stung her eyes. “Mama, I’m so proud of you.” She held tight to her mom’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I’ll be right there with you in the courtroom.”
“The detective thinks they’ll make some sort of deal. But the prosecutor said she’ll fight to get the most she can. Justice for what they did to me all those years. She’ll want to talk to you and hear your side of things. It will help my case.”
Sonya couldn’t believe all her mother had done—on her own—to change her life. But she wondered if she meant it. “So you’ve decided to leave the Ranch until this is over?”
June’s smile bloomed with delight. “Oh no, I bought a place here.”
The lights were starting to come on in her mind. “The house on Pine Drive.” She remembered Darla gossiping about Roxy buying a plac
e in town. But not Roxy. June.
“How did you know?”
“Through the grapevine. Everyone knows everything in a small town. So Roxy’s been helping you get a place here? Why didn’t you ask me?”
“You seemed to have your hands full with Austin’s place.”
“Mama, I’m never too busy to help you.”
“I wanted to surprise you. I wanted you to see me stand up for myself.” A soft blush pinked June’s cheeks and made her look even younger. “You dreamed of a different kind of life, and you found it here. I once dared to dream of another kind of life when I was pregnant with you. But it never came true. I don’t want to find myself at the end of my life wishing I’d had the courage to at least try. So I bought a house and hired a contractor. He put in this adorable white picket fence, excavated the yard, except for the trees, so I can put in a garden, and is currently finishing the renovations. For the first time in my life, I’ll have my very own house.”
“But, Mama, there’s just one thing.”
“What’s that?”
Sonya gave her a mischievous grin. “You don’t know how to garden.”
June giggled. “I’ll learn. I’ve already signed up for a cooking class at this cute Kitchen Clutter place in town where I bought my very first set of dishes and pots and pans.” The exuberant smile and joy in her eyes lightened Sonya’s heart. “I’m not so old I can’t still have a normal life. Maybe even another child, this time with a loving husband to go with it.” June’s gaze fell away again with that whispered admission.
Sonya tugged her mother’s hand and waited for June to meet her gaze. “I hope you have all of that.”
June played with a lock of Sonya’s hair. “You mean that? You don’t think it’s silly to want to have a family now?”
“I think you get one life, Mama, and you should have everything your heart desires.”
June hugged her tight, held on for an extra-long moment, then leaned back. “I’d never have had the courage to do this if not for you. You always believed in me. You saw more in me than I ever saw in myself. I needed your strength and confidence.”
“Mama, you instilled that strength and confidence in me.”
“I tried to be a good mother.”
“You are a great mother. Maybe we didn’t have the house with the picket fence and a husband and father to love us, but we always had each other.”
June cupped her cheek. “And now you’ll have that with Austin.”
“She’ll have everything she wants with me.” Austin stood in the open doorway and smiled at her. “I’ll even build you a picket fence if you want one.”
“Right now, I just want a hug.”
June let her go and smiled like an indulgent mother.
Austin wrapped his arms around her and gently held her close. He kissed her cheek, then whispered in her ear, “You okay, sweetheart?”
“So much better now.”
Austin carefully released her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up.”
“Mama watched over me the way she’s always done.” Sonya smiled for her mother, letting her know she had no regrets or resentments about how she’d grown up. Her mom did the best she could under the circumstances.
Austin laid his hand on her thigh. “We’ve been invited to dinner at her place when you’re feeling up to it.”
“I can’t wait. But right now, all I want to do is go home.”
Roxy and Noah walked into the room. Roxy came to stand beside Sonya’s mother and wrapped an arm around June’s waist. “Did you tell her?” she asked June.
“I did. I’m going to be living close to my girl again.”
Roxy’s lips drew back in a lopsided frown and she met Sonya’s gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I’ve been working with June.”
“Don’t worry about it. What do we need to do to get her house ready?”
Roxy shrugged. “It’s almost done. I’m taking her to the bank later to set up her accounts here. I’ve got some work to do later, so Noah is going to take her for her first driving lesson.”
Sonya’s eyes went wide with the surprise she couldn’t help but show. “You’re going to learn to drive?”
“Roxy found a house close to downtown and shopping, but I’ll need a car in winter and to drive out to see you.”
“This is a lot of firsts for you. Are you sure you’re not taking on too much?”
June patted her leg. “It’s long overdue. I’ve been afraid for so long to step out of what I’ve known, even though it wasn’t a healthy life for me. I see you, so happy and in love, and I can’t help but see your example and want that for myself.”
Sonya reached out and took Roxy’s left hand and held her fingers so she could inspect the gorgeous diamond engagement ring. “Congratulations, sis. I can’t tell you how happy I am for you.” She glanced at Noah. “I’ve never seen her as happy as she is with you.”
Noah winked at Roxy. “I plan to make her happy the rest of her life.”
Sonya squeezed Roxy’s hand. “When’s the wedding?”
“Soon.” Noah eyed Roxy, letting her know he didn’t want to wait.
“We could make it a double wedding,” Roxy suggested.
Sonya didn’t believe she truly meant it. Though the idea appealed. A lot. Roxy probably wanted to have her special day all to herself. Truthfully, Sonya hadn’t had time to think about the engagement or the wedding. After being shot, her thoughts were consumed with replaying the event and thinking about what happened next.
She glanced up at Austin. “Have you checked on Kelly? How is she?”
“I spoke to her this morning. She’s okay. Still shaken but getting better. She’s worried about you. I told her to come by the house tomorrow so she can see you and know you’re okay.”
It touched Sonya that Kelly worried about her. “What’s going on with your dad?”
“His ass is sitting in a cell where he belongs.” Austin bit out the words, a fresh wave of anger flattening his lips into a tight line.
“What happens now?” She hoped Walter got everything he deserved.
“His lawyer’s left half a dozen messages.”
Sonya didn’t like the sound of that. “You haven’t spoken to him?”
“Not yet.” Austin sat on the edge of her bed and laid his hand on her stomach. “I need time to calm down and think clearly. I can’t do that without you home with me.”
Roxy stepped past June and kissed Sonya on the forehead. “We’ll talk later about June’s move, the possible trial, and”—Roxy waved her hand—“everything else going on.”
“Thanks for being here, Rox.”
“That’s what sisters are for.” Roxy reached across her and squeezed Austin’s shoulder. “Take care of her.”
“I will,” he vowed.
June kissed Sonya on the forehead, too. “I’m going with them, unless you want me to stay a little longer.”
“No, Mama. I have everything I need.” Sonya brushed her fingers down Austin’s arm and gave him a smile, hoping to see some of the darkness leave his eyes. Today they were blue for a whole other reason than the brilliant azure she liked so much.
Sonya nodded to Noah in goodbye and waited for everyone to leave. Austin still didn’t speak, so she started the conversation. “What should we do for dinner tonight?”
Austin stared at her. “Three hours in surgery. Thirty minutes in recovery before they’d let me see you.” He glanced down at his hand on her belly, then back at her. “Your blood on my hands and spilling out on the floor. I can’t stop seeing it. I can’t stop thinking about how I almost lost you.”
It cost her, but she sat up, hid the pain, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. There is nothing standing in our way. Let’s get back to the business of getting the ranch up and running and planning our wedding.”
“I still haven’t gotten you a ring.”
“You’ve been kind of busy stressing over the fact y
our fiancée is in the hospital and your father tried to kill your ex-girlfriend and her unborn child. You get a pass,” she teased. “I’ll take life with you over a ring any day.”
Austin pulled her into a light hug. “I came so close to losing you. Twice. I don’t think I can go through that again. Noah gave Roxy six months, but I’m asking you to make it as soon as possible.” He brushed his hand through her hair, fisted a lock, and held tight, not hurting her, just needing to hold tight to her.
She’d left him after that confrontation with his father outside the restaurant, and then she’d gotten shot. All he wanted was for them to be together without all the drama and trauma. They needed time to get past what happened with his father and live their lives together, building on the joy they felt when they were with each other.
“Let’s settle this business with your father, then we’ll set a date. Something soon. I don’t need or want a big wedding. Something simple. Our family and friends. You and me.”
“I don’t really have much family left.”
“You have a sister or brother on the way. You have Noah. You have my mother and sisters. You and me, we aren’t alone.” She put her hand to his face and looked him in the eye. “We will always have each other.”
Austin kissed her softly. He tried to be gentle and soothing, but she wanted him to know how much she loved him. How much she needed him to let go of what happened and believe that she was still his. She’d always be his.
So she took the kiss deeper, pressing her chest to his, holding him closer, and sliding her tongue along his in one long deep sweep that made him growl low in his throat. He tried to pull back to say something to her, but she dove in for another sexy kiss that warmed her from the inside out. She slid her hand over his shoulder and down his bicep. All those restrained muscles. All that man at her fingertips made her forget about her wound and pull him closer.
“I guess you’re feeling better,” the doctor said from behind Austin.
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