With numb fingers that had nothing to do with the temperature, Hannah dug the keys out of her coat pocket. She couldn’t believe she had wasted her high school years lusting after two boys who didn’t think she was sexy enough to take to their cabin. She should have had a clue when she went from being a friend to being that girl that lived right next door. Wyatt wanted her to believe that they thought she was better than a quick lay, but Hannah knew better. There was nothing stopping them from dating now, having a relationship while she went to college, and then getting serious later on.
“Family is important to us,” Hannah mimicked underneath her breath, making her way carefully to the truck. The last thing she needed was to slip on the ice and land on her ass. She wanted to have a graceful exit, not be remembered as an accident-prone bimbo. “Bullshit.”
If family was oh so important to the Cahill brothers, they wouldn’t take the chance on her going off to college and meeting someone else. They would date her, like proper men should, and wait for her to graduate. All they cared about was getting laid up at their cabin.
Hannah finally reached her dad’s truck and opened the door. Once situated, she turned over the engine and put the gear in reverse. She refused to let herself look toward the bonfire. She knew it would break her heart if Wyatt and Austin weren’t looking her way. Angrily, she brushed at a tear she felt falling. They weren’t worth it. She’d show them in the end. She’d go to college and come back to town to settle down with someone who appreciated her. Let them find someone else to give them their family, because it wasn’t going to be her.
Chapter Two
Present Day
Hannah drove down High Country Boulevard, shaking her head at childhood memories. Whatever made her think that she had been the only woman in the world for Wyatt and Austin Cahill? Teenage fantasies, she supposed. She laughed to herself, recalling how naïve she was at the tender age of eighteen, believing that the Cahill brothers would make her life complete. Not wanting to think of them right now, she turned her attention to the changes in town.
Her father kept her up-to-date on the happenings in Spirit, Colorado. She knew that Lana Dupree was an up-and-coming defense attorney. Her studious ways in high school had certainly paid off for her. Hannah saw Aunt Hattie’s B and B on the left side of the street. Selena Easton had taken it over when her aunt died and was making a successful run at it. Somehow, she had even managed to talk Ruth Johnson into being the B and B’s cook. Everyone knew that Mrs. Johnson’s cooking was phenomenal from when she would send packed school lunches in with her sons. She smiled as she remembered the bartering that went on during lunch hour. Hannah would have to stop there sometime soon for dinner, knowing it would be delicious. She’d be able to catch up with her friend, as well.
She saw Rex walking out of the Spirit Café and almost stopped to catch up with him. Her father had said that he and his best friend, Josh, were back in town renovating the Spirit Lodge. She made a mental note to call him and kept driving.
It was good to be back home, Hannah thought, taking in the sights of the town. She’d missed the small-town atmosphere after having worked her butt off in the city of Boulder, but nothing compared to the experience she received working in one of the most respected hospitals in the state. She didn’t regret her decision to stay there after college, especially after her diagnosis. Not wanting to think about that, Hannah drove out of town toward her father’s ranch.
Snow littered the landscape, making it look like a soft blanket of cotton. Hannah smiled when she saw a couple of boys pulling their sleds behind them, going up to Spirit Hill. They couldn’t be more than twelve years old, and she remembered when she and her friends would spend their weekends all bundled up against the cold wind, seeing who could slide to the bottom the fastest.
Hannah drove by the entrance to the Double Spur Ranch, and it took all of her effort not to look down the white, glistening lane. She’d always thought that was where she would be, as a wife and mother, waiting for her men to come in from a hard day’s work. Shaking her head, Hannah tried to purge the remnants of nostalgia. Life didn’t always work out the way people planned. Hers was one of them.
A few miles past, Hannah finally saw her childhood home. The metal sign that announced Warren’s Acres greeted her and she smiled, knowing her father was probably waiting for her on the front porch, regardless of how cold it was. Ever since college, Hannah’s father had visited her in the city, never forcing the issue of her returning to Spirit. He never asked her why she wanted it that way, and she never offered.
Sure enough, as Hannah pulled her white SUV in front of the ranch house, she saw her father leaning up against the white wooden porch. He held a steaming mug of what she knew to be coffee, since that was all the man ever drank. Shutting off the engine, Hannah gave her father a big smile through the passenger-side window. He was handsome, with his white hair making him look distinguished in his mid-sixties. His build had never changed, being maintained by the work required in running a ranch. The spark of happiness at seeing him gave her pause, making her feel a sense of guilt for having stayed away so long.
Hannah opened the car door, not bothering to put on her coat. She ran around the vehicle, up the three steps, and into her father’s waiting arms. She inhaled his smell, loving the odor of outdoors mixed with his aftershave. His arms wrapped around her, and she felt like a child again, seeking the comfort only a parent could give.
“I missed you, Daddy.”
“Same here, girl,” Sam Warren said, his voice gruff with emotion. “It’s about time you came home.”
Hannah savored his embrace a little longer before pulling away. She looked up into his hazel eyes, seeing him blink a little faster than normal in order to keep from crying. He always tried to be so tough, even when they lost her mother. He was always the strong one, and for that, she would always be grateful. As much as he loved his wife though, Hannah felt sad that he spent his time alone. Maybe since she was moving back, Hannah would see if there were any available women in town. It’d be nice to see her dad with someone who made him happy.
“How about a cup of coffee?”
“That’s my girl.” Sam ushered her in the door. “I’ll get your bags in a bit. I want to hear all about the new job. You can stay here. There’s no need for you to get a place of your own, since this house has plenty of room.”
Hannah made her way into the house, noticing that her father hadn’t changed a thing. The old furniture in the living room was now a faded blue, although the wooden antiques had kept their shine. The same pictures adorned the walls, with her childhood spread out for all to see. Hannah smiled at the one of her and him at her high school graduation. He had been so proud of her. She felt a sense of sadness that she would never get to experience any of what these pictures represented with her own children. She shrugged off her melancholy mood, wanting her return to be filled with joy.
“Dad, at my age, don’t you think I should have a place of my own?”
“Nonsense. When you meet and marry a nice young man, then you can move out.” Sam walked over to the cabinet and pulled down another mug. Pouring one for her and refilling his, Sam walked to the kitchen table. “Now tell me all about this nursing position.”
“Well, you know that Mrs. Murray decided to retire,” Hannah said, deciding to go with the change of conversation. It wouldn’t do for them to argue over where she was going to stay. She would live at home for a few weeks before finding an apartment and then deal with her father. Taking the offered cup of coffee, Hannah took a sip before continuing. “When Doc called and offered me the position, I just felt it was time for me to come home.”
Truthfully, when Doc Shep had called and asked if she’d be interested, Hannah’s first instinct had been to turn the offer down. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was subject herself to being around the two men she still longed for, despite knowing better. She couldn’t give them what they wanted, and they never really wanted her to begin with
. Finally coming to terms with her feelings, along with Doc letting her know that Sam Warren wasn’t infallible, made her decision quite easy.
“And it has nothing to do with my cholesterol, right?”
“You have high cholesterol?” Hannah made sure some amount of surprise showed on her face. Doc Shep was really big on patient confidentiality, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t smart enough to steer the conversation enough so she had an inkling of what was going on with her father’s health. “What did Doc Shep say about that?”
Sam eyed her with suspicion, but must have decided she really didn’t know, because he fessed up what she already knew. “Well, I had my physical that I’ve been putting off for a while—”
“You mean for years?” Hannah asked, wanting him to realize the severity of what his test results were showing.
“And it showed that my cholesterol was a little high, along with my blood pressure,” Sam continued, ignoring her interruption. He took another sip of his coffee. “Nothing to worry about. Doc is putting me on medicine.”
Hannah had played Doc’s guessing game and managed to figure out some of the numbers they were dealing with. Her father’s blood pressure was way too high, and combining that with his cholesterol, he was lucky he hadn’t suffered a heart attack. She also knew that Doc had scheduled a stress test for his heart, but that her father had to cancel due to a conflict with the ranch. She would make sure it did take place, and the sooner, the better.
“So you’re going to take over for Mrs. Murray, huh? She was a cranky old bitty, anyway.”
Hannah laughed. She remembered Mrs. Murray from when she was a little girl. Doc Shep had inherited her from Doc Earl, everyone knowing that Mrs. Murray wouldn’t leave until she was damn good and ready. How she lasted this long was beyond Hannah’s thinking. The woman had to be at least seventy-two.
“Yes, and I’m looking forward to it. The schedule I was keeping at the hospital was becoming very fatiguing. It’ll be a nice change in pace, and couple that with knowing my patients, I will feel I’m making more of a difference.”
“You know, Darla still works there,” Sam said, looking down at his coffee. “I’m sure she’ll make you feel welcome.”
Hannah eyed her father with curiosity. Darla Smiley was a sweetheart and had lost her husband years before. Now that she thought about it, her dad had brought the woman into their conversations quite a bit. Hannah hid her smile behind her coffee cup as she thought of playing matchmaker. This could be fun.
“You know, you’re the talk of the town, coming back home after so long,” Sam said, reaching over and taking her hand. “I’m just glad my little girl is here. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you, too, Daddy,” Hannah replied, repeatedly swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat.
“Speaking of missing you, I ran into Wyatt and Austin the other day at Martin’s Sporting Goods. They heard, of course, through the rumor mill that you were moving back to town. I think they still fancy you.”
Hannah’s lump just doubled in size. Taking a gulp of coffee to make it go away, she tried to get her scrambled thoughts together. Why would her father think that the Cahill brothers fancied her? She had never let on that she had liked them in high school and had certainly not brought them up as an adult. She felt a sense of panic that maybe Wyatt and Austin had mentioned something.
“Why would you say that, Dad? I never dated Wyatt and Austin.”
Sam chuckled and stood up. “I might be old, but I’m not blind. Every time I see those boys, they somehow work you into the conversation. Do you remember how you used to follow them around when you were little? You might not have dated them when you were a teenager, but that doesn’t mean anything today. I think they fancy you.”
“Wyatt and Austin Cahill are off limits, Daddy.” Hannah stood up as well and walked her mug over to the sink. “Besides, we were kids back then. Once they got to high school, they dated every girl in the school with the exception of me. They were womanizers then, and I’m sure they’re womanizers now.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a man sewing his oats,” Sam said, following Hannah’s lead and walking to the counter. “They’re older now and looking to settle down. They’ve been running the Double Spur Ranch since their parents decided to retire to Florida five years ago. Their mom is still battling her rheumatoid arthritis, you know.” Sam placed his empty mug next to hers. “Those boys have grown into fine young men. I think you should give them a chance. I’d like to see you settle down and be happy.”
“Dad, I’m not getting involved with the Cahill brothers,” Hannah said, turning to look at him so he would know how serious she was. She didn’t want to give him the wrong impression that she was going to marry and settle down with anyone, let alone Wyatt and Austin. “I want to concentrate on my job and get settled in.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with you not being able to have children, would it?”
Leave it to her dad to cut to the chase. The pain that hit her chest was the same pain she felt upon hearing the news to begin with. It never varied, and she was certain it never would. It was a permanent ache. Who would have thought that a simple bacterial infection could have changed the course of her life?
“Of course not,” Hannah said, lying through her teeth. She had received enough lectures from him regarding this matter. She knew his thoughts, but didn’t have the heart to tell him that she decided never to marry. She wouldn’t place her burden on anyone else, especially men like Wyatt and Austin, who considered family sacred. “Moving back home and taking a new job will require a lot of my time. I just want to concentrate on that for a while.”
“Good.” Sam leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “Let’s grab your stuff and get you settled.”
Hannah nodded and gave him a smile, although she knew it was weak. As much as he loved her, her father would never know the depths of her pain. The one saving grace was that he promised to not tell anyone her secret, knowing that it was hers to tell. She had made the decision long ago to keep it to herself.
She watched as her father walked out of the kitchen. She was grateful for his support but knew not all men were like Sam Warren. She could only envision how Wyatt and Austin would react if she were to ever tell them the truth. They would pity her, and that was unacceptable. Hannah would do her best to avoid them. Spirit might be a small town, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t aware of how to keep out of someone’s way. Satisfied with her plan and having enlisted the help of some of her friends, Hannah went to assist her father with unloading her car. It was time to start her new life.
Chapter Three
“It’s been a month, Wyatt,” Austin said, hanging his jacket up on the coatrack near the front door. He had already removed his work boots and wet socks, placing them near the vent in the floor in hopes the heater would dry them out. “I haven’t seen her at all. Hell, I even stopped at the clinic and Doc Shep said she had left early that day. I’m telling you, she’s avoiding us.”
“She’s avoided us since high school.” Wyatt walked into the kitchen and straight to the refrigerator. “Why would you think that’s changed now? She never once came back to visit her dad. He always traveled to see her.”
Normally, Austin loved coming into the house after a hard day’s work. This was where they grew up, where love and laughter had been in the forefront. They made sure the Victorian-style house was up to date with all the modern fixings. The kitchen counters and appliances had just been replaced last year. Austin had picked out the leather living room set, while Wyatt had made sure the antique furniture had been restored. The only thing missing was a wife they loved and children they adored. They had their mind set on one particular woman, and until they had her permanently in their life, the house wouldn’t feel like a home.
“Why do I think the situation’s changed? Because she’s moved back for good, that’s why.” Austin went over to the coffee machine, needing something to keep him going for the e
vening. Wyatt wanted to go over the numbers for the month, seeing if it was doable to build additional quarters for the new horses they wanted to purchase later in the year. Seeing as how that was Wyatt’s forte, Austin usually only nodded in agreement, not really wanting to get involved with the financial end of the ranch. Austin would much rather work with his hands, out in the pastures, than crunch numbers. “Haven’t we always said it was Hannah we wanted to settle down with?”
“Wanting and having are two separate things, Austin.” Wyatt was sticking a pan of lasagna into the oven, with specific instructions left from their cook. Ms. Martha was the best cook this side of Colorado, if you discounted Ms. Ruth over at Aunt Hattie’s B and B. “She was really mad at us back then, if you remember. I didn’t handle the situation in the best way.”
“We were eighteen.”
“We were old enough to know better. I mean, come on, we fucked like rabbits and shared any girl who was willing.” Wyatt pulled a chair out from under the kitchen table and sank his large body onto the sturdy wood. “Everyone knew we used our cabin for our little games. We still use our cabin, although it’s certainly been a while. Hannah was one of the few we didn’t fuck. Maybe we should have started a relationship with her back then.”
“So we liked to have fun back then. Is that a crime? Anyway, if we had started something with Hannah back then, we would have messed it up.” Austin reached up into the cabinet and pulled down two coffee cups. “She was always the one for us, Wyatt. We knew it back then, which was why we kept our distance from her in high school. We knew she was special. We just needed time to figure ourselves out first. I’d like to see if we still have the same chemistry, but she sure is making it hard by avoiding us. Shouldn’t the time for games be over?”
Her Colorado Wishes [Spirit, Colorado 3] Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting Page 2