by Lily Graison
“I’m glad to see you awake, Grace.” He took Rafe’s vacated seat beside the bed. “I’m Evan Reid, the new doctor in town. How do you feel?”
“My head hurts.” Rafe exited the room and Grace’s gaze followed his retreating back until she couldn’t see him. The doctor continued talking and Grace tried to listen. She could hear Jesse’s voice in the other room and knew he and Rafe were there in the kitchen. Knowing they were both together gave her some sense of peace. Maybe her accident would be the catalyst they needed to try and mend the bond time had destroyed.
“It’s your fault she got hurt.”
Rafe threw an incredulous look Jesse’s way but ignored the accusation. He looked into the coffee pot instead, noticing the grounds sitting in a good three inches of sludge. As badly as he needed the jolt the drink provided, he didn’t think he could stomach the bitter taste waiting for him if he drank it despite its thickness.
He put the lid back on the pot and blew out a frustrated breath. His nerves were still shot from hours of worry. Between Jesse walking in on them, the fight in the barn, and the horse nearly killing Grace, Rafe didn’t think he’d ever be able to know a single moments peace again. He’d be forever looking over his shoulder, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Jesse’s barbs weren’t helping either. He let him rant, say things his pa would have whipped him for and throw insult after insult without batting an eye. He could take the boys anger. He could take his punches. He could even take his hating him. He just wished it didn’t hurt so much.
The bedroom door opened and closed and Rafe turned, watching the doctor walk into the kitchen, his bag in one hand.
“She’s real lucky,” Evan said, reaching for his coat and slipping it back on. “That horse only nicked her. Any closer and we’d be having a very different conversation right now.” He buttoned his coat while eyeing them both. “She needs to rest for a few days. Make sure she stays off her feet as much as possible, too. She’ll be a bit woozy for a while I’d imagine but that should go away with time. Can one of you take care of meals until she’s ready to resume her chores?”
Rafe and Jesse both said, “Yes,” at the same time.
Evan nodded and picked his bag up. “I’ll be back in a few days to check on her. If you need me before then, don’t hesitate to come get me.”
Jesse walked across the kitchen and entered Rafe’s room without a word. The desire to rush in to see Grace himself felt like a live thing crawling against his skin but he grabbed his coat and hat and walked out of the house behind the doctor. Evan was climbing into the seat of a small wagon and nodding to Rafe when he saw him.
“Don’t hesitate to call on me if she starts acting peculiar.”
Rafe stopped and stared up at him. “What do you mean, if she starts acting peculiar?”
The doctor blew out a breath. “Head wounds are funny things. One minute a person seems fine and the next…” He looked out across the backyard, his features obscured by darkness. “She looks fine to me, Rafe, but that doesn’t mean she is. We’ve no way to tell what’s going on inside her head so just watch her. Make sure she takes it easy.”
A nod was all he could manage. The doctor left, Rafe watching his wagon until it was clean out of sight before he ventured to the barn.
Jesse’s horse was still saddled and he busied himself with removing it and putting the animal back into his stall. He righted the grain bin, tried to scoop as much of its spilled contents up as he could, and checked on all the animals when he was finished, made sure they had food, plenty of water, and then he stood there staring at nothing in particular as the night wind whistled against the wooden walls.
The terror hit him then. The words the doctor said screaming inside his head. He couldn’t breathe suddenly and crossed to a bale of straw, sitting down hard.
How had everything gone so wrong? Jesse hated him more now than he had when he came back home. Ben’s claim of having the letter was still there, even though the man couldn’t produce the proof his pa signed the management of the property over to him, and Grace…
He scrubbed his face with both hands. Grace was the only thing that made the rest of his crazy life make sense. If he lost her now…
Reaching into his pocket he pulled the small silver ring he’d found in his mother’s old keepsake box out. The ring was modest, nothing fancy or valuable, but it had a small blue stone that was almost the color of Grace’s eyes. He’d seen his mother wear it on many occasions. The old keepsake once belonged to his grandmother, passed down to his mother when she wed his pa. Giving it to Grace seemed right and he’d planned on dong that before Jesse walked in on them. He’d been willing to put his heart on the line one last time and look what happened. He laughed bitterly. Just his luck.
Now, he wasn’t so sure he should. With Jesse’s venom running so deep, he wondered what the kid would do if he went ahead with his plans of marrying Grace. Maybe they’d all be better off if he just let Jesse have his way. Maybe he should leave. He’d solve a lot of problems if he did.
The thought left a bad taste in his mouth the moment he thought it. He was through running from his problems and regardless of what Jesse thinks, he needed him. Ben will walk right in and take everything their family had worked for if he wasn’t there.
And Grace would have to marry another.
He sighed and stood, pocketing the ring, and made sure the animals were all settled before making his way back to the house. He could hear voices coming from his room and waited another twenty minutes before sticking his head in the door. The moment Grace turned to look at him, the heaviness in his chest lifted.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling as she gazed up at him. He realized then that she did love him. It was there on her face, in the look in her eyes, and in that smile she bestowed him with every day.
Grace loved him and he’d be a fool to let her go. Jesse would hate him regardless so it made little difference what he did. He gave Grace a smile of his own, vowing to himself to do everything in his power to see she spent her life happy. But first, he had to ask her to marry him.
He just hoped Jesse didn’t do something stupid when he did.
Chapter Thirty
The moment Rafe smiled at her, Jesse stood and stomped from the room. Grace sighed. “He’ll never forgive us, will he?”
“He’ll forgive you.” Rafe crossed the room and sat in the chair by his bed. “Did he say anything?”
“Plenty.” Grace readjusted the blankets. “He said he understands why I fell for you but once I realized what kind of person you really were, I’d leave like all the rest.” Rafe raised an eyebrow at that but didn’t comment. “But he’s wrong. I know what kind of man you are, Rafe Samuels.”
“Do you?” he asked, his voice pitched low.
Grace raised her hand and Rafe took it, kissing her palm before wrapping it tightly between his own. “Yes. You’re kind and loving, loyal and strong. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”
He looked at her, a question in his eyes. Grace smiled and tightened her fingers around his hand. “I’m lucky to have you.” She stared him in the eye. “That is if you still want me.”
“Always.”
He leaned down to kiss her, a lingering brush of his lips that caused her heart to race with anticipation. The tip of his tongue teased the seam of her mouth and when she opened for him, the taste of him forced a moan from her throat. “You’re very good a this.”
Rafe laughed. “You think so?”
“Yes. I didn’t believe Jesse when he said you purposely set out to woo me just to prove a point but with kisses like that, I’m beginning to wonder.”
He grinned and smoothed a hand over the top of her head, mindful of the stitches the doctor had put in. “How do you feel?”
“I’ll be fine once everyone stops asking me how I feel.” The bruises on his face were getting darker and Grace reached for his face. He flinched but smiled when she looked at him. “Did you let Jesse do this?”
&n
bsp; “Maybe.”
“Letting him hit you won’t erase his anger, Rafe.”
“I know.” He sighed. “What do you suggest? I’m not sure taking him over my knee is the best way to handle him.”
“I haven’t a clue,” she said. A door slammed upstairs and Grace stared up at the ceiling as if she could see Jesse. “I can’t stay here in your room.” She turned her gaze back to Rafe. “Jesse’s upset enough as it is. If he thinks you’re in here with me all night, it’ll only make things more difficult.”
“I’ll sleep in the parlor tonight. I don’t want to move you yet.”
Grace nodded, knowing he wouldn’t be swayed in his decision. He had that stubborn set to his mouth. She’d seen it too often not to know it by now.
He grew quiet as if thinking hard about something. He stared at her for long minutes before leaning over to give her a soft kiss. “I’ll let you get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Pulling the door shut when he left, Grace stared into the darkness of his room contemplating the things Jesse told her. His contempt for his brother was something Grace wasn’t sure would ever be healed. Jesse was hurt and scared more than anything. Being left alone after his father died with no one to take care of him had damaged him more than he wanted to let on and he was taking that fear and anger out on Rafe. Her being there, and the circumstances as they were, only complicated matters.
Her heart felt heavy. As much as she loved Rafe she couldn’t be the cause of destroying what little bond he and Jesse had.
She would have to try and make Jesse understand her feelings or leave her heart on the Samuels ranch and find another to marry. The idea caused her chest to ache but she had little choice now.
Either Jesse came around or a relationship with Rafe was doomed.
Someone yelled loud enough to wake the dead. Grace sat up and listened. Then sighed. Jesse’s voice boomed through the house again, followed by Rafe’s. The morning battle had begun.
Four days after the accident in the barn and the two brother’s were still at it. Jesse couldn’t seem to let it go and Rafe only let him scream at him for so long before he started yelling back.
The usual topic of every fight? Her.
Pushing the blankets away, she stood, holding onto the bed post until she felt stable enough to walk. The woozy-headed feeling she woke with most mornings wasn’t as bad today. She hoped it meant she was getting better.
She grabbed her dressing gown and slipped it on, tying the belt securely before making her way to the door. The yelling grew louder as she ventured into the hall.
They were at the foot of the stairs and neither looked at her as she started down. When she stopped on the bottom landing, Rafe finally saw her.
“You shouldn’t have come down those stairs alone, Grace.”
Jesse pushed his way in front of Rafe and scowled. “Stop telling her what to do, Rafe. She don’t have to listen to you.”
Grace reached out to place her hand on Jesse’s shoulder to steady herself. “What’s this all about?”
Jesse snorted and rolled his eyes in Rafe’s direction. “Him still insisting I can’t marry you.”
Grace’s head started throbbing the moment the words were out of his mouth. She looked to Rafe, saw the frustration on his face and knew it was up to her to make Jesse understand.
Looking the teen in the eyes, Grace tightened the hold she had on his shoulder. “As much as you don’t want to hear it, Rafe is right. I can’t marry you.” Jesse stiffened under her hand and her chest ached at the look on his face. “I know you think this is the right thing for you but it isn’t right for me. I’m sorry, Jesse, but I won’t marry you. Ever.”
His face turned red, his eyes becoming glassy with unshed tears and when he turned to look at Rafe, Grace knew something had shifted inside of him.
When he turned back to face her, the anger in his gaze shocked her. He pulled away from her, his eyes narrowed. “You don’t want to marry me? Fine. Don’t.” He blinked the tears away, his facial features hardening. “I want you out of my house, Grace. If you won’t marry me then I’ll be damned if you marry him.” He threw a glare at Rafe before facing her again. “You can just marry someone else in Willow Creek or go back to Boston for all I care. I just want you gone.”
He stomped off, leaving Grace and Rafe staring at one another. The backdoor slammed and Grace jumped, then closed her eyes. She didn’t open them again until Rafe touched her cheek.
She leaned into his touch. “I didn’t think he’d react this badly.”
“It’s not you, Grace. He’s mad at me. He has been since the day I came home.” Rafe kissed her on the forehead and lingered, his lips brushing her skin. “He’s just trying to hurt me, not you.”
“I know but my being here is only making the rift between you two larger.” She looked up at him and knew what had to be done. The pain in her chest ached stronger just thinking about it.
She’d been nothing but a constant sore spot between them since she arrived. Staying on was a mistake. She knew that now. Her own selfishness is what made her prolong her stay. Her wanting Rafe to the point she ignored Jesse’s feelings. She was ashamed of herself the moment she realized it.
Blinking away tears, she took a step back, out of Rafe’s grasp. “I can’t stay here, Rafe. Not with him this angry.”
His hands dropped to his sides. “He’ll be fine Grace. Just give him time.”
She shook her head. “I can’t stand hearing you two fight knowing its my fault.”
“We were fighting before you ever stepped foot off that stagecoach in town. You leaving now won’t change that.”
“No, but at least the things you fight about won’t be because of me.”
They stood there for long moments, neither saying a word. The backdoor opened and closed and someone said, “Hello,” startling them both.
Rafe left her by the stairs. Grace heard him speaking to someone and a few moments later he returned, the doctor, Evan Reid, in tow. She smiled at him when he nodded his head at her. “Good morning, Doctor.”
“Please, call me Evan.”
“All right,” Grace said. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No thank you.” He lifted the small black bag in his hand and smiled. “I was out this way and thought I’d stop in and see how you were doing. You’re well, I’m assuming?”
Rafe turned and left without a word and Grace watched him go. The tension in his shoulders told her their conversation was far from over but for Grace, it was. She knew what she had to do and as much as it killed her to think it, it had to be done.
She looked at Evan, heard Abigail and Sarah’s voices in her head again as they told her to hitch up with the doctor when he arrived in town and wondered if she could leave Rafe, and the ranch, and ever be happy.
A small voice in the back of her head asked if she had a choice in the matter.
The answer came in an instant. She didn’t. Not really.
She forced a smile onto her face, hoping it looked sincere. “I have a favor to ask of you, Evan.”
“You can ask me anything, Grace.”
Rafe still didn’t have a solution to their problem after nearly twenty minutes of staring off across the valley. He’d ran through every scenario he could think of but always ended up back where he started.
Jesse would never allow him to marry Grace and be happy about it.
He turned and leaned back against the fence rail, staring at the house. From a distance, the old two-story home looked in perfect repair. The fence around the property needed whitewashing but other than that, it didn’t look bad.
Of course he knew the distance caused the illusion. The entire ranch needed more work than he could possibly put in. It would take a team of men to get the place back into shape and he didn’t see that ever happening.
The backdoor opened and Rafe stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. Evan walked out, a bag in each hand. He stowed them in his wagon and went back insid
e. When he returned with a trunk, Rafe’s heart hit his stomach.
Grace walked out of the house with her cloak and hat on and Rafe was crossing the distance at a fast clip. He reached them as Evan was helping Grace into the front seat of the wagon.
“Grace, what are you doing?”
The look in her eyes said it all. She was leaving.
Jesse chose that moment to join them, the shock on his face clear. It didn’t last long, though. He straightened his spine, turned to throw a glare at Rafe and went into the house without a word.
Walking to the side of the wagon, Rafe reached up, taking Grace’s hand. “Where are you going, Grace?”
“I’m going to town.” She leaned down and lowered her voice. “I’ll stay at the hotel until we can figure out what else to do.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Rafe squeezed her hand. “Jesse will calm down—”
“Not until I’m gone, he won’t.” The corners of her mouth turned up into what Rafe assumed was supposed to be a smile. “This is for the best, Rafe. He’s too angry to try and talk to right now.”
Rafe looked away, staring out across the backyard for long minutes before meeting her gaze again. “What about us?” he asked, softly.
“Is there an us?” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “Jesse will never understand, Rafe. He’s too angry.”
“So, what? You’re just going to run off to town and marry someone else?” Evan looked his way when he raised his voice. He lowered it, moving closer to the wagon. “Grace, don’t do this. Just stay. We’ll work it out.”
“I know we will. We’ll just have to do it with me in town.” She leaned down, kissed him on the cheek and turned to Evan, asking him if they could leave.
Rafe didn’t say another word. What was the point? Regardless of how much he wanted her to stay, she was right. Jesse would never allow them to be happy, not while he was so miserable.
He watched the doctors wagon amble up the rode, Grace sitting at Evan’s side. A sense of foreboding besieged him, tightening his chest as he looked at her. Regardless of what she said, he knew she’d not be back. He’d been down this road one too many times.