The Fifth Season

  Yes, he understood that. But did they know her heart needed healing too?

  They’d laughed at him then sobered when they saw he was serious. He’d outlined his plan and although they thought it rather unorthodox, they hadn’t seen any danger.

  “Mr. Connor?”

  He turned and recognized the face of the nurse he’d met yesterday evening.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m here to help you with the bed sheets.”

  “Thanks, but I can handle it.”

  “I don’t think…”

  Stone shook his head. “I don’t care what you think. I’m doing this for my wife.”

  “She’s not…”

  He held up his hand and stopped her from continuing. “If you’re going to tell me one more time she’s not my wife then I might just have to hurt you.”

  Stone bent over Emma.

  “I, Stone, take you, Emma, as my lawfully wedded wife. Do you, Emma, take me, Stone, as your lawfully wedded husband?” He gently moved her head up and down and kissed her lips. “See? We’re married.”

  The nurse chuckled and shook her head. “Let me help you with the sheets. You can do all the rest.”

  “Okay,” he relented and unpacked a set of soft, high thread count sheets reminiscent of River Run from the bag Tilly delivered earlier.

  They changed the bed, moving Emma from side to side. Stone smoothed her hair against her favorite down pillow and tucked the feather comforter under her arms.

  “I’ll take it from here, if you don’t mind.”

  “Just one more thing…” Stone frowned as the nurse stepped out of the room. She re-entered wheeling the little metal crib where Katie slept. “I think you left someone out of your plan.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Yes, I certainly did.”

  “There’s a bottle all prepared on that little metal shelf. Just mark on the sheet what time you feed her and how much she takes. There’s also fresh diapers beneath the cart.”

  “Bottle? Sheet? Diapers?” Stone swallowed past the sudden panic.

  “You can do it, Mr. Connor.” She reassured him. “I’ll write up a Do Not Disturb sign for the door.”

  “Thanks.” Stone stared at the sleeping baby, then turned and dug around the bag some more. He pulled out several vanilla scented candles and lit them and dabbed Emma’s favorite perfume on her neck and wrists. Stripping off her hospital gown, he replaced it with a soft sleep shirt.

  All that was left was him and little Katie. Undressing slowly, Stone prayed this would work. He slipped into flannel pajama bottoms and splashed his normal cologne lightly on his skin. Gathering Katie from her tightly swathed blankets, he climbed into Emma’s hospital bed. He propped his back up, moved Emma against him and placed Katie between them. He discarded the baby blankets and nestled his daughter within the arms of her mother.

  Touch, scent, sound. Stone began to talk.

  “We’re home now, Emma. Smell the scent of your favorite candles I’ve just lit. You’d better wake up soon, because little Miss Katie will be terribly hungry, and she misses her mommy. She’s perfect Emma. She’s in your arms. Can you feel her? Her skin is just like yours, soft and sweet. I think she has my temper, which might not be a good thing, but she’s so beautiful.”

  Nothing.

  “Do you remember last Christmas? The cabin that was our hideaway? We made love, created this little life, then we let it all slip away. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry I didn’t understand.”

  No response.

  Stone stroked her hair, her arm, traced his finger lovingly along her chin.

  “I went back to the jungle,” he said softly, his lips touching her hair. “Seamus Adams was one smart SOB. He’d given your father to the one man he knew I feared. The same rebels that killed my unit. I won this time. No casualties and a successful extraction.”

  He felt her sigh. His heart skipped a beat, and he continued to talk. Stone spoke until his voice grew hoarse.

  “Seamus Adams is gone. Apparently, he suffered a terrible auto accident and didn’t survive.”

  Katie squirmed and mewed softly. Stone frowned. He hated to leave the bed, but if his daughter needed feeding, he supposed he’d better try and take care of her.

  “Dammit Emma, you’ve held my heart for four seasons. I’ll not walk into the fifth season without you by my side.”

  Her hand moved. Katie screamed.

  He didn’t care about his tears this time. He pulled her close and let them fall. “I love you, Emma.”

  His daughter fisted her little hands and screamed again. As Emma slowly fluttered open her lids, he smiled and kissed her fully on the lips. “Be right back,” he whispered against her mouth.

  Juggling Katie in his arms, he snatched the buzzer from the side of the bed, pressed the red button and called for the nurse. Stone shuffled to the crib, one eye on Emma and another searching for Katie’s bottle.

  The nurse from earlier ran into the room. Her eyes widened slightly at his choice of clothing, but she quickly smiled at the look on his face.

  “She’s awake?”

  He nodded and stepped back to allow the doctor through. Stone fed Katie. The apprehension curling in the pit of his stomach made him antsy.

  Emma’s eyes flicked open then closed again.

  “Mr. Connor, would you come over and continue talking to her?”

  Stone moved next to her head. Katie slurped loudly on her bottle, and he shuffled her to his shoulder, patting her gently on the back.

  “Emma, your daughter just burped.” The nurse smiled, and Emma opened her eyes once more. He could see her attempt to focus then her lashes fluttered down.

  “It’s all right, Mr. Connor. This is perfectly normal. Despite what the movies show you, coma patients don’t just open their eyes and sit up in bed ready to tackle the world. It takes time.”

  Stone stroked Emma’s head and continued murmuring nonsense.

  ***

  Cold. A sudden chill beside her took the warmth away, the warmth that had pulled her from a dark place. At the first pang of heartache, she fluttered her eyes closed and began slipping back to comfort of oblivion.

  “Stay with me Emma,” a voice spoke above her.

  Stone.

  He was here. She hadn’t imagined it.

  Another warmth spread around her. This one started at her toes and crept up her body, urging her awake.

  Love.

  She slowly opened her eyes, again. It hurt. She’d been safe in the black recesses of her mind. The room was dark, lit only by soft flickering flames. Turning her head to the side, she saw Stone peering at her in concern.

  A little bundle was clutched to his chest. He juggled it gently while holding something against its face. A bottle?

  Their baby.

  “Hey,” she said, sounding like a frog, her throat tight and hoarse. She licked her lips and tried to sit up.

  “Shush, it’s okay. Just rest.”

  “How long?”

  “You’ve been in and out of consciousness for the past few hours.”

  She felt another set of hands checking her pulse. A pair of warm brown eyes peered at her. She smiled at the nurse.

  “You’ve got a fine man here, Mrs. Connor.”

  “Mrs…” Emma frowned finding it difficult to focus.

  “Hush, sweetheart. I’ll explain everything later.” Stone was chuckling as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No more apologies.”

  “I love you.”

  He nodded and kissed her once more. A warm little body was pressed into her arms, and she bent to stare into the face of her daughter. “I love you more.”

  His words wrapped around her heart, and she gazed from Stone to her daughter. “She’s beautiful.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  Emma smiled, feeling as if she’d just stepped into the sunshine. Unable to speak past the tears clogging her throat, she nodded, wrapping an arm aro
und his neck and pulling him close. Touching her lips to his, she sighed. She was home.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Emma stretched in bed. Glancing out the window, she exhaled in excitement. The first flakes of winter trickled lazily from a low blanket of white clouds. It wasn’t quite Halloween, and the ground lay covered in fluffy white waves.

  “Stone,” she called.

  “Down here.”

  She smiled as she heard him talking to Katie. He must’ve taken the early morning feeding, allowing her to sleep in. Happiness ballooned in her chest, and she laughed out loud.

  Leaping from beneath the covers, she pulled on her jeans, yanked one of his sweatshirts over her head and padded into the bathroom.

  A few minutes later she walked down the stairs. The breathtaking view of sparkling paddocks and mountains glittering with snow was easily outshone by the vision of her husband and daughter snuggled together before a roaring fire.

  “Good morning.”

  He turned and faced her. Smiling, Stone held a finger to his mouth. “She’s almost asleep.”

  Emma nodded and went to pour them both a cup of coffee. He rose and settled Katie in her downstairs bassinette, tucking little blankets around her. Walking over, Emma peered in at the beautiful sight of her little baby, snuggled beneath her blankets, eyes closed, safe and secure. “Thanks for getting up.”

  Stone wrapped an arm around her and held her close. “We’ve a big day today.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s planned?”

  “Nate and Hugh are coming over to take Katie,” a wicked grin lighting his face.

  “And why is that?”

  He nibbled her ear and a shiver of desire ran down her spine. “I thought we’d carve our pumpkins, and then I’d make you mad so you could smash the insides all over my chest.”

  Emma grinned. “And I suppose we’d have to take a shower to clean up?”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “Love you Mr. Connor.” She snuggled against his chest, thinking his idea sounded wonderful.

  “I love you too, Mrs. Connor.

  ***

  Emma watched Stone greet Nate and her father. The tension still swam beneath the surface, but father and son were making great strides at mending their damaged relationship.

  Time healed.

  “Okay, kids.” Nate called from his truck. Katie lay nestled in her car seat, securely fastened and ready to spend the day with her grandfathers. “We’ll bring her back in the morning.”

  “Tomorrow?” Emma went to dash off the front porch and retrieve her daughter, but Stone stopped her.

  “Easy does it, love. We have a belated honeymoon night coming to us.”

  “I can’t be apart from Katie.”

  Stone studied her face and smiled. “Okay, I’m sorry.” He walked over to the truck, and she followed.

  “Dad, please bring Katie home around eight.”

  The devastation written across Nate and Hugh’s faces made her laugh. She peered in the window at her daughter and decided that one night would be okay. She grabbed Stone’s hand, inhaled her courage and nodded.

  “If either one of you old coots teach her any bad habits, I’ll hunt you down and shoot you.”

  Hugh grinned. “She’s only a wee bairn, Emma. What could we possibly teach her?”

  “I know,” Emma agreed. “It’s just…”

  Stone interrupted her and signaled to Nate. “Bring her home. We’ll be back at the house around seven.”

  “Okay, son.” Nate answered.

  Emma stumbled after Stone as he pulled her toward the front porch. “Back at the house?”

  “You need to go change into grungier jeans and hiking boots.”

  “I thought we were carving pumpkins?”

  “Oh, we will, but first I have a belated wedding present for you.”

  “Really?” Emma grinned, her curiosity peaked. “What is it?”

  “I’m not telling.”

  “Stone!”

  “Go get ready.”

  Emma laughed then raced up the stairs. As soon as she’d been released from the hospital, they’d had a simple wedding. Only immediate family attended. Neither one had been willing to leave Katie, so they’d skipped a formal honeymoon and settled into their new home.

  She couldn’t begin to guess what this surprise entailed, but as long as Stone was beside her, she’d be happy.

  ***

  Stone’s heart raced. He wondered if she’d receive this gift with as much joy as he felt in giving it. The arrangement of everything hadn’t been easy, but Ethan and Seth called an hour ago to confirm that all was in place.

  Emma walked down the stairs and the sight of her still stole his breath. He figured he was the luckiest man in the world.

  A beautiful wife.

  A gorgeous daughter.

  A perfect life.

  He held his hand out and she wrapped her fingers around his. “Ready?”

  “Absolutely, Colonel Connor, lead the way.”

  “That’d be retired-Colonel Connor.” He chuckled at her exasperation and guided her out the back door. She frowned at him, but he just grinned.

  “Rex called yesterday, didn’t he?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She tugged on his hand, and he tried not to laugh. “What did he want?”

  They walked through the first pasture, and he climbed a steep slope leading into the woods. When he turned to help her up the path, she stuck her tongue out at him.

  “He wants me to consult.”

  “Oh.”

  Her audible sigh shocked him. He stopped and gathered her in his arms. “You didn’t think I’d agree to return to active duty, did you?”

  “I…” Emma dropped her gaze and shrugged. “I wasn’t sure what to think. You sounded so serious on the phone I knew it wasn’t a social call.”

  Stone closed his eyes, feeling horrible that he’d caused her one second of doubt. “My life is here with you. I’ll never leave, but I need to work – to do something.”

  She reached up and kissed him. “I understand. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  Stone pulled her close, kissing her, allowing her to feel the intensity of his love. “No apologies. Now close your eyes, sweetheart. I’ve something to show you.”

  He carefully guided her around the bend and positioned her for the best view.

  “Open your eyes.”

  After a brief second, she squealed in delight and bounded toward the cabin. “Is it ours? The same one?”

  Stone nodded and grinned at her excitement. “I promised you.”

  She stopped and turned slowly. “Yes, you did. Every Christmas…”

  “Yeah,” he said. “And I figured every Halloween, too.”

  “Why stop there?” Emma said, launching herself into his arms and kissing him madly. “How about Thanksgiving and Valentines’ Day and Easter and…”

  “I love you, Emma.” He returned her kiss until they were both breathless with need. Swinging her off her feet, he walked into the cabin and laid her on a familiar blanket, before a familiar fire and made love to his wife with the same tenderness as the night they’d conceived their daughter.

  If you enjoyed this book, please take a moment to recommend it on Goodreads or offer a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Thank you. Julie

  ANGEL FALLS

  COMING: FEBRUARY 2013

  PREVIEW

  Brazil, South of the Venezuelan Border

  Dr. Cassidy Lowell felt the whisper of a defining moment. It presented itself in the form of an obese, crooked-toothed Brazilian miner and the black cylindrical end of a rifle.

  Waves of perspiration and bad breath assaulted Cassidy, and she fought the urge to back away. A brief scrutiny of the area behind the man fired internal alarms at a level she’d failed to experience since the Niger Delta. Danger silenced the incessant chirping of hordes of insects littering the jungle.

  Silent rage spread from the edge of the tree line as morning filtered t
hrough the heavy canopy of leaves, highlighting men twisted by poisonous work conditions and elemental greed.

  Cassidy glanced over her shoulder to confirm that her assistant ushered women and children to the back of the rustic village and out of harms way. They’d been studying this small encampment of Yanomami for a little over a fortnight. Indigenous men sat crossed-legged upon the hard packed earth, pretending indifference. The Amazon had become a battlefield, and this once peaceful tribe, its warriors.

  She refocused on the latest threat. “Señor, can I help you?” Cassidy stepped forward, a gun held loosely against her palm. She handled the weapon as if it were nothing more than something to fiddle with, appearing to put no importance or threat in the Glock.

  “You the cat doctor?” His voice held the rough edge of too many cigarettes and an abundant amount of tequila.

  “I’m Dr. Cassidy Lowell a zoologist with the Zoological Environmental Bio Research Agency. I’m certain you’ve heard of ZEBRA, my organization?” Three months in this area and word spread. She knew this man wouldn’t be a fan of ZEBRA’s operation.

  His eyes roved her body, making her feel dirty and indecent. There was nothing sexy about her well-worn jeans and light weight cotton shirt, but Cassidy supposed based upon his attire she’d appear damn right clean and airy.

  He tilted his head and swung his rifle downward so that it no longer pointed at her navel. “The jaguar…you are familiar with this animal?”

  Cassidy smiled and nodded. “I’ve had the privilege of studying a few of them while helping to clear the area of poison.” She purposely challenged him with her eyes. The mercury and cyanide levels in the water were at an all time high caused by mines operated by men such as him. The native people of the Amazon basin were in trouble.

  He ignored her insinuation and moved closer, dropping his voice an octave lower. “Have you ever seen them hunt together?”

  Cassidy recoiled slightly at the man’s stench, shook her head and answered. “No. They’re solitary creatures.”

  “Gatos de fantasmas.” He ran stubby fingers through a head full of greasy hair. “They are here and killing my people.”