Back Country (Country Duet Book 2)

by HJ Bellus

  I hope like hell the answer to the last question is a resounding yes. I drop my head again, close my eyes, and pray to the good Lord above to keep Dave safe through this surgery, and to ease the pain he’s been suffering with on a daily basis.

  The operation team is in the room in a matter of minutes, ready to wheel Dave out. They have the rails popped up on the sides of the bed and are moving him before I have a chance to stand up.

  “Wait. I need my son.” He holds up a frail hand in my direction.

  Three long strides and I’m gripping onto it, walking beside him until we meet the operated swinging doors where only authorized personnel are allowed behind. The team is kind enough to stop briefly.

  “I’ll have a bag of black licorice for you when you’re done.” The tears threaten, and the words barely flow through the thick emotion clogging my throat.

  He winks at me. “Thanks, son.”

  I lay his hand on his chest, then watch them wheel him away. He’s told me about all the different surgeries he’s had through the years. Dave is no stranger to the OR. He’s had both ACL’s fixed from a fall off a ladder, a stent in his heart, and his gallbladder removed. He told me the story about when they opened him to remove his gallbladder, he told them to just take his spleen while they were in there.

  Even knowing all of this, it doesn’t soothe away the ache that the end is coming. His body is dying from the inside out, attacking itself. I find a chair in the waiting room and settle in for a long day ahead. I relay all the information to Teale, not needing to go into great detail. She realizes the severity of it from her nursing education. She sends me several selfies of her and Baker. They went out for a girl’s day of shopping and manicures. The pictures are the only things getting me through, and they’re just the right amount of distraction I need.

  My cell phone goes off in my pocket. It’s my mom. I know exactly what she’ll be calling about. I’m not in the mood to go rounds with her about it, but I also would never ignore her. I have to remind myself she has my best intentions in my mind.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hunter,” she coos in relief.

  “What’s up?”

  “Just calling to check in on my favorite son.”

  “Your only son,” I correct her.

  “Same difference.” I hear a loud ruckus in the background, and know it’s Quinn and Abby without having to ask. “How’s everything going?”

  Bless her heart. I know she’s digging for information on the study abroad program.

  “It’s going.”

  “Was your application approved?”

  In true Blair Yates character, she goes straight for the kill. No skirting around the topic on her mind.

  “The deadline has come and gone, Mom. I didn’t even fill it out.”

  “Hunter!”

  I interrupt her before she goes off on her rampage. I do get where she’s coming from. It’s not that she doesn’t feel for Dave, or even care for him, she just wants the best opportunities for her son.

  “Mom, don’t even start, please. I made a decision, and there’s no way in hell I can leave Dave right now. In fact, I’m sitting in the hospital at the moment.”

  She’s silent for a long time before she clears her throat and speaks. “I’m sorry, Hunter. What’s going on?”

  I fill her in on Dave’s condition, and all about my frustration with the communication process with the doctors. She’s my rock like she always has been, and listened to me.

  “I know that I’m hard on you, Hunter, and have been busting your balls about the study abroad opportunity, but just know that I’m so proud of the man you are.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” The words come out downtrodden, reflecting my mood right now.

  “How are things with you and Teale?”

  I finally filled her in on the turn of events, and to say she’s excited would be an understatement.

  “Excellent. I’m still in shock that I have her in my life again.”

  “From the day you brought her home, I knew she was going to be your wife one day.”

  “Planning the wedding already, Mom?” I joke.

  “Maybe? Teale and I may have joint access to a secret board on Pinterest.” She giggles. “Her blog is doing so well.”

  There’s so much going on in our lives, that I haven’t even told her that I know about Teale’s blog. I have no idea how she does it all, keeping up with her full-time job and Baker. The woman is amazing. A hand lands on the top of my shoulder and I look up. It’s like my thinking of her summoned her to me. Teale leans down and kisses my forehead, before taking a seat next to me.

  “Hunter, are you there?”

  “Yeah, Mom.”

  “Okay, so the girls and I are still planning on coming up in two weeks to visit you.”

  “Awesome. I’ll be ready for the crazy train.”

  “Shit, Abby, are you serious? Okay, I gotta run, the little shit just dumped an entire batch of hot candle wax all over the kitchen floor.”

  I can picture the scene to perfection. Abby begged Mom to make a new craft, so Mom went to town and bought all the shit. Abby didn’t wait for Mom’s help and just made a huge mess.

  “Bye, Mom. I love you.”

  “Love you, Bubba.”

  I end the call and tuck my phone back into my pocket.

  “Want to know the sexiest thing a man can do?” Teale leans her head on my shoulder.

  “What’s that?” I lay back in the chair, pulling her closer to me.

  “Telling his momma that he loves her no matter who is listening.”

  I quirk my eyebrow and peer down at her. “Oh really.”

  “Yep. Sexier than you covered in gummy bears.”

  We both a share a great laugh.

  “Babe, what are you doing here?” I ask her, pulling my fingers through her thick red hair.

  “I want to be with you.”

  A simple and truthful answer that warms me from head to toe.

  “Where’s the boss at?”

  “Spending the day with her Pappy.”

  I groan throwing my head back. “Dammit. I was hoping we could spend that day in bed reacquainting.”

  “She’s having a sleepover with Pappy. He’s convinced he must start teaching her how to change a flat tire.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep, and I plan to teach her to play dumb about knowing how to change a tire when the right man comes along.”

  “Thank you.” I lean down and kiss her forehead.

  I hold her for hours, sitting in silence. My gut aches with strikes of pain, but I’m able to ignore it with Teale in my arms.

  “Hunter Yates.” A nurse in scrubs calls out my name.

  I stand slowly, keeping Teale pressed to my side.

  “Mr. Hendricks is being transferred up to ICU. He’s been in recovery for an hour or so now, and has been asking for you.”

  “Go,” Teale whispers to me, then slaps my ass.

  I follow the nurse down a new set of corridors, with my heart pounding out of fear. I have no idea what to expect and keeping running three letters through my mind, ICU.

  Dave comes into view, with more wires and tubes coming from his body. His eyes are wide open, and he smiles when he sees me.

  “Your nephew is here, so we are going to transport you up to ICU.”

  Dave turns his head and begins to growl. “He ain’t my goddamn nephew, he’s my son.”

  The nurse blushes a bit then apologizes. Dave’s rude words make me grin from ear to ear. It’s a sliver of hope that he will be just fine after all. He doesn’t stay awake long after they have him settled in ICU. The doctor comes by and informs me they had to amputate his toes and the majority of the side of his foot. They cleaned out clogged veins in his other leg, and also took bits of that foot. His last words left me unsettled.

  “You need to prepare yourself for the worst possible outcome. His body is dying from the inside out.”

  17

  Tealer />
  “Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?” –Josey Wales

  Hunter snores on the way home. He spent a few hours with Dave up in the ICU. When he walked back down to the waiting room, the man was exhausted. The stress of dealing with Dave, playing out on every single one of his features. He thinks he’s fooling me, but I know better. Hunter is sick, and if I had to guess it’s his gallbladder.

  I’ve overheard him throwing up a few times now, and he’s careful about what he eats. I don’t miss the times he winces in pain, nearly doubling over. I plan to chat with his mom about it when she visits, and keep a close eye on him until then. He is so damn selfless, giving everyone his all. Hunter’s heart is one of a kind, that only could have been born in wild country of Idaho.

  I lean over the center console of his car and pepper kisses all over his face until he begins to move around. I had one of my Dad’s employees drive me down to Lewiston, knowing damn well Hunter would be too exhausted to drive, but also too stubborn to ask for help.

  I can’t help but crack up when he bitches about Dave’s hard head and stubbornness. Those two are identical in that area, although Hunter does have better people skills.

  “We are home, Cowboy,” I say between kisses when his eyelids flutter open.

  He stretches his arms out, doing the same with his legs, getting his bearings. It’s nearly midnight.

  “Sorry, I fell asleep.”

  “You needed it.” I give him one final kiss. “C’mon I have dinner ready for you.”

  “I haven’t eaten all day.”

  “I know. I’m smart like that.” I shake my head with attitude.

  Hunter keeps his front pressed against my back as we walk up the sidewalk to the door of my apartment. It’s his turn to gift tender kisses in the crook of my neck, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on the task at hand. My fingers fumble with the keys, and it takes me three tries to get the door open.

  The scent of homemade chicken noodle soup hits us hard when we step in. I went out and bought my very own Instapot after learning the magic it bestows. Baker loves helping cook, and thinks she’s real hot shit when she can just throw stuff into the pot and have a full meal.

  Hunter’s stomach growls on cue. I head for the kitchen to scoop out a serving of soup for him, hoping it’s bland enough for his stomach. His hand wraps around my wrist tugging me back to him.

  “Hey, I’m going to get you some food.”

  “Not hungry for food,” he growls into my neck.

  “Your stomach says otherwise.” I try to push him back. “You need food.”

  “I need you more.” He’s determined, moving our bodies to the couch.

  Before I know it I’m pressed into the sofa with his body hovering over mine. We’ve both been dying for alone time. I’ve tried to convince Hunter that we’d be okay once Baker was asleep, but he refused.

  Our hands race tearing off our clothes, grabbing for each other, not able to get enough. Our bodies moving in unison, desperately fighting for what it wants. I feel his need for me pressing into my core through his jeans. Hunter doesn’t let me get to the button of his jeans. He has other plans, which consist of dragging down my pants then my lacy panties. He spends a long time down there, until he has me writhing and screaming underneath him.

  “Hunter, I need you now.” I tug on his hair until I have his attention.

  He crawls up my body, pressing his lips to mine and kissing the hell out of me. I go for the button of his jeans until he’s free. When he reaches into his back pocket to pull out a condom, I stop him by grabbing his hand.

  “I’m on birth control.”

  This stills his actions, and he studies my face with intrigue.

  “Were you then?” He asks.

  I don’t miss the hurt in his voice.

  “No, baby.” I shake my head with certainty. “I prayed every single day you were gone, that you’d come back. I got on birth control because if it did ever happen, I wanted all of you. The future and everything between.”

  His elbow sinks into the couch as he shimmies out of his jeans. We both freeze and gaze at each other with the promise of forever. His thumb runs small circles on my cheek. Then we share everything. Our hearts pound in unison, our breathing matching each other’s, and then we fall together.

  Hunter collapses on my chest, breathless. My arms wrap around his back tugging him closer to me even though it’s impossible. My hands drag through his hair at the nape of his neck. The silky strands, my only solace and foundation to life.

  His stomach growls, vibrating off mine. I run my nails from the top of his ass all up to his shoulders.

  “Time to eat.” I pat his back.

  Hunter grumbles into my neck, nipping at my skin before he finally gets up off me. I spot a massive bruise on his back that wraps around to his side. It’s all sorts of green and purple.

  “What the hell?” I sit up, not covering up my naked body and run my palm over the bruise. “What in the hell happened?”

  Hunter twists his torso to peer back at what has my attention. The asshole grins, and I swear I can sense embarrassment dancing in his eyes.

  “Hunter,” I demand.

  “I was cleaning the snow off Dave’s satellite on his roof and fell off.”

  I stand up then pull on his shirt that drowns me. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Nope.”

  I race to the bathroom, but continue to assault him with questions. “And you didn’t think to tell me about this?”

  “It wasn’t a big deal.” He follows me into the bathroom.

  “Falling off a damn roof is a colossal deal.”

  He tries to smooth it over by grabbing me by the hip, but I back away, and fire up the shower.

  “Not working, Cowboy. You’d think by how damn graceful you are on horseback and on the ranch, that you’d be safe, but I’m starting to worry about you.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You need to wear a helmet, Hunter. I’m all about your good looks, but am also kind of fond of your brain too.”

  I see it coming, and move fast enough to miss the slap to my bare ass. I hop in and underneath the hot spray of the shower. I’m not alone long, before my sexy man steps in. He washes every inch of my skin, ensuring I’m squeaky clean then before long our passion takes over. I’m certain we’ll never be able to get enough of each other.

  It’s nearly two in the morning before we make it to the kitchen. I study Hunter as he slurps down the broth of the soup, then slowly begins nibbling on the noodles and chicken. I worry my bottom lip, wanting to haul his ass to the ER and making him get tested.

  18

  Hunter

  “There’s no normal life, Wyatt. It’s just life. Get on with it.” –Doc Holliday

  “Carl in my class got in big twouble for showing the class his pee pee,” Baker announces while I’m driving her to preschool.

  The car swerves, and I slam on the brakes in shock.

  “Excuse me?” I peer in the rearview mirror.

  “Yep, he said he was smarter cause he has a stick.”

  I roll my hand over the steering wheel, processing what Baker is telling me. My first thought is, I wonder if I can kick this Carl’s ass. The second and third ideas are similar.

  “What did your teacher do?” I ask, glancing back at her again trying my best to focus on the road.

  “She told him to pull up his pants and that it’s not okay to show hims penis.” Baker brushes her bangs out of her face. “My friend, Lilly, said it’s a pecker, not a penis.”

  “Have you told your momma this?”

  “No, I forgot to.”

  I bite down on my bottom lip, fighting to find the right words in this situation. “If Carl ever pulls this stunt again you tell him Hunter will kick his ass.”

  “I’ll be in twoubles for saying ass.”

  “Yes, it’s not a word you should use, however, if Carl tries to prove how smart he is again you tell him that.”


  She nods with her lips pursed. As soon as we pull up to her preschool, she’s out of the car and bounding up the sidewalk. Halfway there, she pauses and turns around racing back to me.

  “Did you forget something?”

  She shakes her head with her red hair tossing side to side.

  “I wove you, Hunter.”

  I bring her to my chest, hugging the hell out of her. “I love you, too, Baker. Have a great day.”

  She skips off with her curls bouncing and her little lunch pal swinging back and forth. To be young and carefree again. How would it be? I pull my cell phone from my pocket and call Teale. I’m not surprised when she doesn’t answer. She’s on a new shift rotation at the clinic, so I text her.

  Me: Who the fuck is this Carl?

  Me: I will kick his ass even if he’s five.

  Me: Love you. Have a good day.

  It takes me the whole drive to Lewiston to calm down over the Carl situation. That little puke face better never come face to face with me because there will be hell to pay. What in the hell? I’m considering kicking a five-year-old’s ass. I need serious therapy at this point.

  The familiar sound of the hospital assaults me as I walk in. Families visiting loved ones, smile and wave as I stride past. The nurses on Dave’s floor all nod and give me a hello. We’ve been rounds over the great candy debate. Some of them recognize me from before, while others don’t. Dave’s been in the hospital for nearly a week and a half, where the majority of the time is spent in the ICU.

  My jaw drops to the floor when I enter his room. Dave is sitting up in bed, but it’s what is around his neck and on his fingers that blows me away. He has a thick gold chain around his neck with a large gold nugget at the center. Rings on his fingers made of pure gold, with gems and rubies embedded in each one. He looks like a rapper straight from the studio, laid up in a hospital bed.

  He spots me and grins wide. I have to scrub my face to make any sense of what I walked in on.

  “Hunter.” He gives me a nod, with full swag in effect.