Paige Cameron

by Commando Cowboys Find Their Desire

  Jack chuckled. “Knowing Cody and Payton and the fact she’s been staying with them, I’m sure she knows how they feel. We’ll have a wedding soon and happier times again.”

  “I hope so. But the evil is stronger than ever here on the ranch. Nanna and I conferred, and she left to talk with Mitch. We think we have at least two enemies on the ranch.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Averil saw the blackness lightening. Gradually, her body felt lighter, and she had the sensation she was floating upward faster and faster until her body jerked and her eyes popped open. The brilliant light hurt, and she shut them again.

  “Darlin’, wake up. We’ve been waiting to see those pretty brown eyes.” Cody rubbed her arm as he held her hand.

  Finally she was warm. All the deep cold had gone. Averil tried opening her eyes again. This time was better. When she was able to focus, she saw Cody and Payton standing by her bed.

  She licked her dry lips, and Payton held a cup of water for her. Cody put his arm around her and lifted her up enough to drink.

  “So good, so thirsty.” She sipped through a straw. With each moment her body got stronger. When she’d finished, Cody laid her back on her pillow.

  “Where’s Kira and my parents?”

  “The nurse is getting your father. Your mother and Kira are upstairs in the lab,” Payton told her.

  She looked at Ellen and Jack. “What did Kira do in the lab?”

  “Kira saved your life. She’s weak, and a nurse is with her monitoring her care.”

  “She will get well?”

  “Yes. Your sister is an exceptionally strong woman both in body and mind.” Dr. Jack smiled at her. “You need rest. We’re going to send you to a room and let you sleep.”

  “I don’t want to sleep. The horrible darkness might come back.” She gripped Cody’s and Payton’s hands tight.

  “It won’t. I promise, and I’ll let one of these guys stay with you all the time.”

  Averil nodded, but she wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon. She didn’t care what Dr. Jack said. Her father came through the door and hurried to her side.

  Cody moved away as her dad reached across and hugged her. “Thank goodness you’re all right.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “We’ve been so worried.”

  “What was it that made me sick? I remember vaguely drinking my tea. Was it in the tea?” She looked from her dad to Cody and Payton.

  “Yes, if I’d have drank tea with you, we’d both be in here. I’m sorry we didn’t keep you safe.” Payton squeezed her hand.

  “It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Whoever this person is, they blend into the fabric of the ranch. No one notices them. They know us well.”

  “That’s true,” Cody said, agreeing with Averil. “I never saw anyone around the day your tea was poisoned, and my trips to the barn were short, except that morning. You were gone with Payton, so I thought it safe to work on my horse. I was wrong.”

  Ellen got her attention by checking the blood. “Didn’t the antidote for the poison work?” Averil asked her.

  “It was a different poison and much more potent. We had to make new antibodies for it.”

  “My sister risked her life again, didn’t she?”

  “She did. But she had some help making the dose of treatment stronger for you. Dr. Rexford’s blood is different from most of ours, and his white cells are unusually potent. We mixed them with your sister’s blood and got a rapid response just in time to save you.”

  “I feel much better, stronger, on my way to recovery. But my body aches like I’ve been in a physical fight.”

  “You have and you won.” Ellen patted her on the shoulder. “I’m going to check on your sister, your mother, and Dr. Rexford.” Ellen smiled at Jack, kissed his cheek, and then left the room.

  “I have to love that woman.” The others chuckled, lightening the mood in the room.

  * * * *

  Kira closed her eyes. They felt weighted down, and the evil in the darkness was still close. She’d sensed a mood of antipathy between Dr. Rexford and her mother. Which was strange. Her mother liked everyone.

  It hurt Kira’s head to think. She let herself drift. At some point she was aware Ellen removed the blood for Averil and started another pint of blood going into Kira. Her spirit got lighter as the blood flowed into her veins. In the distance she saw her bird becoming clearer and the darkness receding. She’d live.

  “I have to go check on my parents and my brother.”

  Kira heard Rex’s deep voice. She made a small sound when he pulled his hand free.

  “My brother is in the hospital and going home today.” He continued explaining to her mother and her.

  Kira opened her eyes, and this time it was easier. “Thank you for helping my sister and me.”

  “I’ll check back on you after he’s discharged.”

  “No need. I’m sure they’ll let me go home with Mom once this transfusion is finished. I’m getting stronger every minute.”

  “Then I’ll say good-bye until we meet again, and we will meet. I promise.” Turning on his heel, he walked briskly out.

  “I bet that man has only one speed, fast.” Kira glanced at her mother. “You don’t like him.”

  “I think I could, but he needs to do some work first.”

  Puzzled but too weak to care what her mother meant, Kira closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

  * * * *

  As promised, Averil was sent to a room upstairs. It was decided that Payton would stay with her and Cody would go check on the animals at the ranch.

  “Although the one ranch hand we hired will have already seen to the feeding of the animals and the daily chores. I’ll work with one of my horses, and then I’ll try to get some sleep,” Cody said. “I may be back later this afternoon or if they are going to release you in the morning, I’ll let Payton stay with you tonight.” He leaned down and kissed Averil lightly on the lips. “See you, darlin’.” He waved at Payton and headed to the door.

  “Wait.” Averil stopped him. “I wanted to say how proud I am of you. You stayed the whole time and helped bring me back. You didn’t let your fear get in the way.”

  Cody’s face flushed with warmth at her praise. “How did you know I was there?”

  “I could feel you both most of the time. You both went somewhere for a time but then returned. The two of you and whoever was doing the chanting kept me from falling all the way down into the darkness.”

  “Garth and his mother did the chanting. They sent us out for a while,” Payton explained.

  “You don’t need to thank us.” Cody still stood in the doorway. “We were rewarded when you opened your eyes. As to how I kept my phobia at bay, my fear of losing you was stronger. I had to do all I could to help keep you here. I love you.” He waved and walked off.

  “I can’t wait to get home. Maybe by this afternoon the doctors will release me.”

  “I imagine they’ll want to wait at least twenty-four hours. I thought when you were released we’d take you home with us. But if you’d rather go with your mom, we’ll understand.”

  “Did you think I meant my mom’s house when I said home?”

  “Didn’t you?”

  “‘Home’ to me is where you and Cody are, and I love your house. It feels like home.”

  Payton grinned broadly. “We want you to feel that way. You know we want to marry you, but I won’t propose again. Not until Cody is with us.”

  “My near-death experience taught me one important thing. There is no time to waste. When you have the opportunity to change your life and increase your happiness, you’d better not let it pass you by.”

  “Then something positive did come out of this horrible ordeal.” Payton sat on her bed and pulled her into his arms. “We will be a happy family. Cody and I will love and hopefully protect you better than we did this time. We’ll also love any children we have. You won’t regret your decision.”

  Someone knocked on the door. “Can we com
e in?” Kira called out.

  Payton jumped up and pulled the door wide open. Kira was in a wheelchair pushed by her mother. Her mom rolled her to Averil’s side.

  “I had to see for myself that you were really all right.” Kira took her hand.

  “But you aren’t. What happened?” Averil asked.

  “Mother and Ellen insisted I sit in this thing. They’re afraid I’m still too weak. It’s very embarrassing.” Kira glanced up at her mother with a grin.

  “You aren’t going to charm yourself out of this wheelchair. I’m the mother and boss for now.”

  Averil laughed. It was a good feeling, like sweeping out the last of the darkness. “I love it. Mom is treating you like she did when we were little.”

  “Anything that brings a smile to your face is okay with me. Even if I do have to tolerate a bossy mom.”

  “We’re on our way home. Will you be joining us when you’re discharged?” her mother asked.

  “Payton thinks they won’t let me go home with him until tomorrow morning. I’d like to get out of here today, too.”

  “So home is at Payton’s?” Ava Bevyns smiled at her daughter.

  “I knew you loved them. It shows when you say their names or look at them,” Kira said.

  “Kira, don’t tell all my secrets. By the way, do you want my cabin and land? It looks like I won’t be needing them.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I want to look around. I’d prefer finding a place farther away from the main ranch. But I’m sure you can find someone to buy it. It’ll be one less cabin to be built.”

  Payton, grinning from ear to ear, joined in. “If she gives Cody and I a yes when we ask a certain question, we’ll become part of your family.”

  “My husband and I like and respect both of you. We’ll welcome you with open arms.”

  “Let’s go, Mom, and let Averil rest. When she gets out we have a wedding to plan, because I’d bet her answer will be yes.”

  Her mom kissed Averil’s cheek, and Kira waved on her way out.

  “You’ve committed yourself. I’d call Cody but he might be asleep.”

  “Let him rest. It’ll be a nice surprise for him when he wakes up.”

  * * * *

  Sara came into the kitchen with her daughter, Caitlin. “We smelled the brownies, and she insists on having one right now. Her brother is going riding with Mitch or he’d be in here with us. The kitchen smells wonderful.” She smiled at Tessa and Gala.

  They sat in the kitchen booth table, and while Caitlin ate a brownie and drank her milk, Sara turned to face the cooks.

  “Mitch was just telling me about Dr. Rexford’s brother.”

  At her words, Gala’s heart jumped. They must have found his body.

  “A man called the ER, apparently the proprietor at some motel where Rex’s brother, Pearce, was staying outside of Reunion. He said Pearce had been shot. Our ER sent the helicopter and a doctor right away.”

  “Did he live?” Tessa asked.

  “Yes…”

  Gala dropped the glass plate, holding a spice cake, to the floor. Tessa and Sara looked at her.

  “Whatever is wrong with you, Gala? You’ve been jumpy and careless the last few days. Clean that up and go home. Rest for a day or two, and when you come back I expect your full attention to be on your job.” Tessa frowned at her assistant.

  “I’m sorry. It’s my time of month.”

  “I’ve had enough excuses. Go on home.”

  Gala cleaned the mess and hurried out. Her heart pounded. He was alive. What was she going to do? He could tell them who shot him. But for some reason, he hadn’t told them yet.

  Damn, if she hadn’t overreacted she’d have heard how he was doing and if he was still at the hospital. Also she hadn’t heard about Averil.

  The previous day Gala had been riding back toward the barn when she decided to tie her horse and creep onto the ranch where Averil was staying. She had seen them out at the corral and decided to risk it and go in the kitchen. Gala had stuck the syringe of poison in her leather knapsack, afraid to leave it unguarded in her parents’ house or car. How fortuitous.

  In the kitchen she’d quickly put half the amount in the large tea pitcher. If she was really lucky she’d hoped to get Averil and Payton. The two who actually shot her father.

  But she had to move fast and hit several of her targets before it all fell apart. She didn’t get to hear whether Averil survived or if Payton was poisoned, too. Since Sara didn’t mention it right away, Gala feared she might not have been successful. Still, she should have gotten one of them. The poison was lethal.

  Gala circled around and entered the greenhouse. She uncovered her bucket with more syringes filled and ready to go. She’d wrapped them in several layers of plastic. Quickly, she took two and re-covered her bucket, replaced the plant over it, and rushed away without being seen.

  She’d change direction and worry about Payton and Averil later. It was best to keep them confused. Raoul and Aleron were her next targets, but how to get to them? She’d wander around the main ranch area and then visit Hilda. She was back at work and always knew the latest gossip. Then Gala would make a plan. She wasn’t going down without taking some of the people responsible for her father’s death with her.

  Her fear of exposure eased. Pearce wouldn’t tell on her. She could tell them about him. They each had something on the other.

  Mitch rode by on his stallion with his son sitting in front of him. He held the reins with one hand and his other arm was wrapped snug around the little boy. He slowed and stopped.

  “Hi, Gala, what’s up? I thought you were working today.”

  “I was, but I’ve been a little clumsy lately. Tessa lost her temper and sent me away. I don’t blame her. I’ll take a day off and do better when I come back.”

  “Fine. Don’t worry. Tessa barks and then feels bad later. She doesn’t carry a grudge.”

  “I know. I respect and like her as my boss.”

  “We’ll see you later. This young man wants to ride.”

  Gala watched them ride off toward the prairie. He’d be gone for a while. Now to see if Aleron and Raoul were home or away. Of course Jewel might be there. She’d visit Hilda and then go for a ride out to Jewel’s and her husbands’ new house.

  “Morning, Hilda.”

  “Hi, Gala. You off today?”

  “Yes. I’m going for a ride in a few minutes. I thought I’d come by and ask how Harry is doing.”

  “He’s fine. He’ll be working this afternoon. I’ll never be able to thank Kira and her sister, Averil, enough. Kira’s quick thinking of a solution and them donating their blood saved his life. They’re something special.”

  “I’ve heard. I’m glad he’s doing so well.”

  “If only we could find the coward who’s poisoning people. Poor Averil is in the hospital. She got hit again and almost died, but her sister was involved in saving her, too.”

  “Really, Averil is better?” Damn, she’d survived again. Payton must not have been affected. Her heartbeat raced and perspiration broke out under her arms. She tried to keep her expression pleasant as she said, “What wonderful news.”

  “I heard from Cody. He stopped by on his way home. He said she’d make a full recovery.”

  “Tell Harry hello for me. I’m going to go for my ride. I’ll see you.” You old busybody.

  Hold it together. Walk calmly to the barn, saddle a horse, and get away from the main part of the ranch before you blow it.

  The barn wasn’t far. When she walked inside, the dim light and coolness felt good. She’d like to hide in a stall and cry out her anguish, but Justin or Sahale might find her. She forced herself to calmly saddle one of the mares that she’d ridden before. Once she got into the saddle, she guided the mare down a familiar path away from the crowded part of the ranch. Soon she let the mare go and flew across the wide prairie in the opposite direction from Mitch.

  Gala headed for a large forest of trees and rode into the de
epest part. She got off her horse and tied the reins to a nearby branch. Then she sat against one of the tall pines. The anger, frustration, and sense of failure sent the agonizing scream up from her belly and out her mouth. Her fists pounded on the earth.

  Averil’s sister, Kira, had spoiled all her plans. She had to kill her first and then the others. But she’d lie low for now. She’d put off her plans for Raoul and Aleron. They’d think she’d given up. She’d wait a few weeks until they least expected another attack, and then she’d kill Kira.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Finally, I’m free of the hospital.” Averil stared out the truck window, anxious to see Cody and Payton’s home. Dr. Jack had discharged her this morning. “All my doctors said I’m fine. There are no restrictions on my activities and my organs don’t appear to have any permanent damage. I feel like I’ve been given a new life, and I intend to live it to the fullest.”

  Payton glanced at her. “I assume that includes Cody and me.”

  Averil put her hand on his thigh and felt his muscle twitch. “Of course it does.” She leaned across the space between them and kissed his cheek.

  “Watch it. You’ll distract the driver, and we’ll end up in a ditch or against a tree.”

  “I’ll be good until we get home.”

  “I love hearing you call Cody’s and my ranch ‘home.’”

  “There it is.” Averil pointed to the house as it came into view. “Cody said he’d have lunch waiting for us. Ever since I woke up from my nightmare, I seem to be thirsty and hungry.”

  “Your body went through a lot. It’s just refueling.”

  “The warm sunshine feels wonderful. I was in a very dark place and so cold.” She shivered. “I’m not sure I can sleep in a room without a light after that experience.”

  “We’ll go to the community store later and get several night-lights.” Payton took hold of her hand. “And you don’t have to be alone at night, unless you want to.”

  “No. I’d prefer to have one or both of you by my side.”

  “Good, because that’s exactly where we want to be.” Payton pulled into the drive and parked right at the front door. He went around and opened Averil’s door then picked her up to carry her inside.