by Cadence Vonn
“Set the glass down, Maximilian, before you snap the stem and cut yourself.” Spencer chuckled. “Yet another test you passed. Regardless what Tess might have told you about me, I love her and would never want to see her with a man who disregarded the efforts of people around him. Nor do I ever want to see her spirit broken. She has the ability to drive me crazy, but that’s Tess. She’s so much like me sometimes it scares me. I got a glimpse of her sadness these past few weeks, and I never want to see her this way again. So you are forewarned. If you do anything to hurt her, I’ll polish off the pistols and meet you outside at dawn.”
“Ah, British drama at its best.” Max laughed and finished his champagne. Free. Later today he would see and hold Tess and tell her how much he loved her. His hand pressed against the small box in his suit coat pocket. They would return to Boston as man and wife. Christopher and Julian were probably already packing for the trip. Their flight arrived tomorrow night, and if Max had his way, Tess would be his wife by Saturday.
Staffordshire Industries’ private jet taxied to the company hanger, where a British official met them. After carefully going over Max’s papers he waved to both men, and Spencer led the way to his waiting limousine.
Max put up with all the introductions once they arrived at Staffordshire’s headquarters. He followed his future father-in-law through office after office, noting how people scrambled to please the man who seemed to know everyone’s names.
His head swam with all the different people he met. He hoped there wouldn’t be a test—another one—at the end of the day. He’d fail miserably. With the small amount of sleep from the stress of this past week, wet wool filled his head instead of anything resembling a brain.
Spencer offered him a chair in his office, and Max sank into it with a grateful sigh.
“I need to make a call before I show you to human resources. You’ll be there for a few hours, and then we’ll leave for the country.”
Max nodded in understanding. He focused on the image of Tess’s face in the frame behind Spencer’s desk and tried to relax. A ten-minute power nap might help.
“Tess, how are you this morning?”
Max straightened and eavesdropped on Spencer’s call. The mention of her name drove away the exhaustion. Seemed she wasn’t interested in meeting this man Spencer told her about. The thought of her waiting for him and no one else made him more optimistic that she still loved him and only him.
“I seem to have irritated Tess. There is a perverse enjoyment knowing she has no idea you’re here, and for once I will be the hero instead of the villain. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when you walk into the house. Although I think you’re pressing your luck if you think the two of you will be married on Saturday. She’s a woman, after all, and has probably dreamed of a big wedding.”
“We can have a party in the future. I don’t want to risk anything coming between us.”
Spencer laughed. “You have a lot to learn.”
Three hours later they settled into the seats of the helicopter on the top of the headquarters building. The large chopper lifted off with ease and swung to the north. Less than an hour into the flight, Spencer’s estate came into view, and he pointed it out to Max. The helicopter hovered over the cleared landing area and settled to the ground. A young man stood at the edge of the landing pad, his arms signaling for the attention of the pilot.
Spencer opened the side door and hopped out, followed by Maximilian.
“Sir, your daughter rode out earlier today and hasn’t returned.”
“Which way did she head?”
“Up through the hilly pasture.”
Max’s breath caught in his throat. Tess missing? Hurt? He grabbed Spencer’s wrist and said, “I need to find her. Is there a horse I can use?”
“Follow Fred to the stables, I’m sure Jake will have a horse waiting knowing I’d want to go looking for her. I’ll search from the helicopter.”
“Good idea.”
“She’s an excellent rider. She probably rode out to the lake and fell asleep. I’m sure she left a very visible trail in the soft dirt. She’ll be fine.” Spencer said the last words with conviction, but Max knew better. The man hid his fear.
Jake, was just finishing prepping a horse when Max arrived at the stables. He told Max which way Tess had gone, and Max took off. He’d find her.
The trail of tall weeds had been knocked down earlier in the day. It ended at the edge of the high grasses. He trotted along and scanned the ground until he spotted fresh hoof prints leading through a gate. They wound down an old hunt trail. Unsure of his horse’s capabilities he avoided all the jumps and took his time maneuvering around fallen logs. The hoof prints were still clear ahead of him. Tess had been here. The overhead tree branches blocked his view of the helicopter, though he could hear the rhythmic thumping of the rotors. He pulled out his phone and dialed Fred, who was at the house in case Tess returned. The man acted as a relay between the pilot and Max.
“I’m following Tess’s trail on this old hunt course,” Max told him. “Where does it lead?”
“It’s one way to get to the lake, but it hasn’t been maintained. Are you sure she went that way?”
“Yes. The prints are fresh and haven’t been washed away by the rain from the last few days.”
“Be careful, and call me when you find her. I’ll have the pilot circle the lake again and see if they can spot anything near where you’ll emerge.”
Max focused on each print ahead of him. He rounded a corner and saw there was no way around the next jump. He slowed his horse and narrowed his gaze. The hoof prints had gone around all the other jumps, the same way he had, but they approached this one straight on.
A loud whinny came from the other side of the dilapidated wood wall. The head of a horse popped up as Max approached. His horse pranced from side to side, its ears flicking forward then back in an agitated motion. He dismounted and wrapped the reins around a small tree on the side of the trail. He didn’t want to spook the rider-less horse on the other side. With a soothing tone to his voice, he talked to the skittish animal. He climbed the old wooden jump, staying close to the side posts so it wouldn’t collapse and startle the antsy beast.
“Tess.” His sharp word made the stallion dance. She lay lifeless. Fear blurred his vision, and he bent to catch his breath. “It’s okay, boy. I’m here to help her, not hurt her.” The stallion snorted at him, lowered his head and pressed his ears back as a warning. Max held his hands out, taking one slow painful step after another. With a toss of its head, Max saw the reins were still attached to Tess’s wrist. The horse banged his powerful hoof on the ground.
Max kept talking in a soft voice, trying to maintain a non-threatening profile as he crept toward Tess in a low hunch. When he reached her side, he stifled the instinct to pull her into his arms. He could tell from the odd angle of her body that her shoulder was dislocated and her wrist was broken. He untangled the wet rein that kept the stallion tethered to his rider. Tess groaned when he lowered her arm, and he thanked all the gods she was alive. He eyed the stallion still hovering near Tess’s prone body despite being loose now.
“I bet you saved her from drowning.” She was soaked, her hair a matted, muddy mess. The marks near her heels indicated she’d been dragged out of the cold water. “I owe you a lifetime of gratitude. I’ll take very good care of her and you.” The stallion calmed and nudged Max’s arm. “She’ll be okay. She has to be,” he whispered to the horse.
He yanked off his coat and covered her body. Then dialed Fred again.
“I found her. She’s unconscious. I think her shoulder is dislocated and her wrist is broken. I can’t tell if she has any other injuries, and I don’t want to move her. She’s soaking wet. Call for help and hurry. We’re about a mile down the trail.”
Ten excruciating minutes later Max heard the helicopter hover and land. Another one sounded in the distance. The sound of ATVs added to the confusion of noise.
“Te
ss, you’ll be okay. Help is here, and we’ll take very good care of you.” He squeezed her good hand, hoping to get some kind of response. Nothing. “I love you, Tess.” He rested his forehead against her cold knuckles.
Machines crashed through the underbrush on the other side of the jump. Max grabbed the reins of the jittery stallion and kept him calm so he wouldn’t trample her.
A moment later the jump was pulled away. Men in rescue uniforms ran through the opening, and the guy carrying a medical case knelt by Tess. He flashed a light in her eyes, checked her neck and ran his hands down her body, looking for any signs of broken bones.
Spencer stood next to Max, both silently holding their breath for the prognosis.
“From what I can tell the only external damage is to her shoulder and wrist. There’s a bump behind her ear, which may be the cause of her unconsciousness. We’ll secure her shoulder and wrist along with a neck brace and move her on a gurney on the back of an ATV. The life flight should be here shortly. Her vitals seem stable, but her body temperature is low. Did you pull her out of the water?” The man looked at Max.
“No. The horse did. The reins were wrapped around her wrist, and he must have dragged her back. I released the reins so he’d calm down.” Max patted the stallion’s nose.
“Smart horse. She would have drowned if left unconscious in the water.” The man kneeling by Tess’s side spoke with a touch of awe.
Sir Spencer patted the horse’s neck. “An extra serving of corn for you tonight, Galahad.”
“Galahad. Perfect,” Max mumbled. Galahad had saved his love when he wasn’t around.
The ATVs took their time returning to the open field where the second helicopter waited. Tess moaned a few times as the ATV hit bumps it couldn’t avoid. Each time the attentive responder checked to make sure she was okay before they moved again.
Max carried his coat over his shoulder, walking Galahad while Spencer led the gelding Max had ridden.
“There’s room for one of you to ride in the life flight,” one of the team yelled as they approached the clearing where the rescue helicopter waited.
“I’ll go, Max. The hospital will have a number of questions. Go back to the house and change. You’re covered with mud. James will fly you to the hospital when you’re ready. She’ll be fine.” Spencer squeezed Max’s shoulder before he ducked low to avoid the blades and ran to the open door.
For the first time in his life, Max couldn’t control the turmoil in his gut. He shielded his eyes, keeping the chopper in sight until he couldn’t see it any longer.
“Excuse me, sir.” Max turned to the voice behind him. Jake continued, “If you’d like to ride your horse back to the house, I’ll lead Galahad. Fred will be waiting for you at the stables and will show you into the house. I’m sure from there Mr. Ashford will take very good care of you.” He held his hand out for Galahad’s reins.
“Take care of Galahad. He’s a very special horse.” Max relinquished the reins and mounted the other horse. He waved at James, the pilot of Sir Staffordshire’s helicopter, and pointed toward the house. The man acknowledged with a thumbs-up, and Max took off at a gallop, not wanting to waste a minute getting to Tess’s side.
****
Late that evening Max paced outside Tess’s room. The doctors were speaking with Spencer, and he didn’t want to interrupt. The longer they took to explain her condition the more concerned he got. How long does it take to say “a broken wrist, a dislocated shoulder, and a concussion?” He didn’t want to believe there was anything else. He wanted her blue eyes happy to see him when he walked into the room.
He rubbed his face, trying to chase away the exhaustion washing over his body. Christopher. He should call Christopher and tell him what happened.
“Hi, cuz.” Christopher’s chipper voice sounded over the phone. “Are you calling to tell me you and Tess are great, and we can assume there will be a wedding on Saturday?”
“Christopher.” Max’s voice cracked.
“Lord, what happened. Did she reject you?”
“Tess had a riding accident. She’s unconscious.” He slumped into the chair outside Tess’s room and explained what had happened.
“Oh God. Will she be all right?”
“I have no idea. The doctors are in with her father, and I’m waiting to hear.”
“Julian and I will be on the next flight to London. Hang in there. I’m sure everything will be okay. She’s a strong person. I’ll call when we land.”
“Thanks, Chris.” Max rested his head against the wall. The memory of Tess’s laughter filled his head. If he never heard it again, he would die.
The door to her room opened. Two doctors and a nurse emerged and walked past him. Max found Spencer standing at the foot of her bed, staring at his unresponsive daughter.
“The specialists ran tests and don’t see any reason she should be unconscious. The orthopedic surgeon immobilized her shoulder and wrist. There are no other internal injuries. I don’t ever remember seeing her so pale.”
Max stood shoulder to shoulder with the man, listening to the fear in his voice. “She’ll be fine, sir. She’s a fighter.”
Spencer pulled something out of his pocket and held it up to Max. “I think this belongs to you. Tess told me it was your heart. Why don’t you keep it safe until she wakes and tells you she wants it back?”
Max opened his palm and then curled his fingers around the piece of jewelry. God, he hoped she wanted it back. “Thank you,” was all he could think to say.
“Will you sit with her while I make a few phone calls? I need to call her mother.” Spencer asked. “I don’t want Tess to be alone.”
“Of course. Maybe I can coax her awake.” Max moved to the chair by the bed, reached over, and took her uninjured hand in his. When Spencer left the room, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each finger. “Sweetheart, can you hear me?” He whispered, “I love you. Please open your eyes so I can see the blue fire once again. Christopher and Julian are on their way here as well.”
He rubbed her hand against his rough cheek. He rested it in his and set them back on the bed. The hospital staff had taken the time to wash the mud from her dark brown hair. Its riotous waves formed a soft backdrop for her pale skin. He missed her blushing cheeks, all red from loving her throughout the night. He cursed his mother under his breath for keeping them apart.
No, the fault had been his. If he’d stood up to her that night in New York, Tess would already be his wife, and they would be together. “I promise to make it up to you. Squeeze my hand and let me know you hear me.” Nothing. Her cool hand lay limp in his. He curled his fingers around her soft skin and rested his head on the bed.
Chapter Fifteen
Tess wanted to join the party. Christopher’s laughter mingled with other voices. Where was she? It sounded like Julian talking with…her father? No that couldn’t be. Focus on opening your eyes. How drunk did you get last night? Tess groaned, and the room fell silent. Someone grabbed her hand and rubbed.
I’m awake. The hand-rubbing continued, and Christopher kept calling her name.
Couldn’t they hear her? Chris. She coughed, and immediately someone wiped her parched lips with a damp cloth.
“Tess, sweetie. We’re all here. Come on, baby. You can do it. Open your eyes.”
More hand-rubbing. She groaned at the frustration of not being heard. Exhaustion swirled in her head, and she sighed and drifted back into darkness.
****
“What do you mean, she spoke to you?”
Max? Her imagination again.
More voices. Tess strained to listen.
“Not exactly. She groaned and moved her fingers. Her eyelids moved, but she never opened them.”
A warm, firm hand took hold of hers. Her body instinctively inhaled a large gulp of air. Max. He was here. She willed her brain to make her hand squeeze his fingers. Did he feel it?
“Oh love, I know you want to wake up. This is progress.”
W
arm lips teased her knuckles, and Tess whimpered. “Max?”
The lips she loved showered her face with small kisses. “I’m here and never leaving. Rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
She let her hand go limp and slipped back into a peaceful sleep.
****
“I understand your concern. The brain is capable of so much more than we understand. Rest assured, if she squeezed your hand and said your name yesterday, then she’ll wake up. You need to be patient. Lord knows we’d love to see her go home. Her vitals are good. Her wrist and shoulder are healing. She’ll need extensive rehab for her shoulder, but with time she should be able to do almost everything she did before. Why don’t you go and get a bite to eat with your friends?”
“No. I’ll wait until the guys return. They’re bringing me a sandwich. I promised Tess she wouldn’t be alone.”
The doctor nodded his understanding and left the room.
“Tess, I think they want your room. If you don’t wake up soon, you’ll have someone sleeping in the bed with you.”
“Only if it’s you,” she croaked.
Max let out a whoop of joy. The doctor re-entered and gave him a funny look.
“She talked to me.” Max gripped her hand in both of his.
The doctor bent over the bed and lifted Tess’s eyelid. She flinched.
“Can you open your eyes on your own?” The doctor waited. A second later brown lashes fluttered open and then squinted.
“Turn down the lights,” the doctor ordered.
Max flicked them off, allowing the room to be illuminated by sunshine.
“Try again, Tess.” The doctor shielded her face, and she managed to open her eyes and keep them open. She turned her head from side to side.
“Where’s Max?” The words were a soft whisper.
“I’m right here, love.” He stepped into her line of sight and gave her a big smile.