by Rose Verde
“Okay, boss.” Angel had always playfully called him that.
“Take the truck and make sure to see Sam before heading to the bunkhouse.”
“Will do.” Angel reached out and squeezed Nevada on the shoulder and then walked out. Nevada sipped his coffee. God please let Anthony live.
This man had given him hope, given him the closest thing he’d had to stability.
The man had treated Nevada like a son. If he died, it would be a huge loss, not only to Nevada but their small town. Anthony served selflessly. On the other hand, Nevada's whole dream to buy his own spread would blow up in his face like a puff of smoke.
He'd never met Amy, Anthony’s daughter, but from all that he had heard, she wouldn’t hesitate to sell the ranch off in a blink of an eye. In the last five years, she hadn’t visited the ranch once. He sipped his coffee. Lord You know what’s best and at Your feet I find my rest.
He downed his coffee, leaned his head back and closed his eyes, fatigue sneaking up on him. Nevada felt a small shake on his shoulder, and he woke up. He squinted trying to bring the man who stood before him in green scrubs and coat into focus. When had he dozed off?
“Sorry I woke you.”
Nevada covered a yawn and looked at his watch. Four am. Days of making night rounds were taking their toll.
“We just came out of surgery. I’d like to see you in my office.”
“Okay, sir. How is he doing?”
The surgeon didn’t answer immediately, and bile rose in Nevada’s throat. They walked down a corridor and then turned the corner. The doctor opened the door to his office and waved Nevada to a seat.
His belly churned. Shaking himself mentally, he focused on the doctor.
“What happened?”
“I don't really know.” Nevada filled the doctor in on all he saw.
“Whatever it was, it was a huge fall. He had major damage to some organs and we removed his spleen. For now, he’s in intensive care.”
Dr. Clark picked up a pen, dropped it in a holder, and finally made eye contact. “I’ll be frank with you. It’s not good. The next forty-eight hours will be crucial to his survival. I’ve placed him into a drug-induced coma to give his body a better chance to heal, we’ll have to wait and see. If he doesn’t get an infection, which is a major concern, then he’ll have a better chance.”
Nevada tried to process what he was hearing. His heart beat so fast he feared he’d pass out. Please God.
“I suggest you get in touch with his daughter. Have her see me as soon as possible.”
“Will do, but, please sir, do all you can for him.”
“We’ll do our best, but there’s no guarantee how things will play out. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Thank you very much.” They shook hands and Nevada walked out of the office into the uncertainty that stared him in the face.
AMY SIPPED AT HER COFFEE and stared at the city skyline through the glass window. She inhaled the aroma and sighed in appreciation.
The toaster spat out her bread. Amy put them on a small plate and made a couple for Mel.
The click-clack of heels echoed down the hall, and a moment later, Mel appeared in the kitchen. Setting her tiny purse that matched hot pink sandals, and her Bible, on the table, she said, “You really should consider coming, just once.”
They’d been best friends for years, roommates for three months. Mel made it a point to ask Amy to church every Sunday.
“For the millionth time, Mel,” Amy said rolling her eyes, “I’m fine. I don’t need anyone.”
“It’s God we’re talking about here.”
Amy shrugged. “Breakfast is ready.”
Mel shook her head, grabbed her toast and coffee. She added cream and sugar. “Why?” she asked for the first time.
“Maybe, I’m just not ready yet.”
Mel opened her mouth, then shut it and started eating. Her look of pity ate at Amy. She’d turned her back on God long ago. He’d definitely not want anything to do with her now.
“You know,” Mel started.
Amy’s phone rang saving her from whatever it was Mel wanted to say. Every time Mel asked, Amy felt guilty, yet, she couldn’t bring herself to go. “Amy Jayden speaking, how may I help you?”
Only silence could be heard on the line and Amy thought the call had been terminated.
Pulling the phone away from her ear, she looked at the screen. The seconds were counting. She placed it back to her ear. “Hello? Is someone there?”
“This is Nevada Logan. I’m the foreman for the Water Hole Ranch. It’s about your father.”
“What about him?” Something was wrong. The only reason for the foreman of the ranch to call was ... she stared out the window.
“There was an... accident on the ranch. He’s in the hospital.”
“When did this happen?” Her voice caught, her throat suddenly dry. She set her mug down nearly missing the table.
“Last night.”
Amy covered her face with one hand and inhaled deeply. “How bad is it?”
“He’s hanging in there. Barely. The doctor thinks the next couple of days are crucial as to whether he’ll make it or not.”
Amy’s belly churned and she feared she’d throw up. It would be difficult to get time away, especially after her promotion. But this was her father. “What has been done for him so far?”
“He’s had surgery but the doctors are worried about infection. Your father has extensive injuries and well, because it took so long for us to find him, he lost a lot of blood.”
“I’ll arrange to be there as soon as I can.”
“How soon will that be?”
“As soon as I can,” she repeated.
“Did you hear what I just said, Ms. Jayden? Your father may not make it.”
Who did this guy think he was? She said she would get there as soon as she could. Did he expect she just leave her job without giving some kind of notice? “Don’t take that tone with me, Nevada Logan. I’ll be there as soon as I can arrange it. Let the doctors do their best and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
There was a slight pause. She waited.
Silence.
“See you then,” she said.
“Sure.” He said and clicked off.
Amy leaned against the chair's head rest. She breathed through her mouth to ease the nausea. Definitely not a way to go back home after five years.
“What happened?”
Realizing her hands were shaking; she dropped her phone on her lap. “My dad.”
She got up. Mel came around the table and hugged Amy. She blinked to clear her vision, the years stripping back to her mom’s accident. She filled her friend in on what the rude foreman told her.
Amy raked a hand through her hair. “Why?”
“I don’t know. We don’t always have all the answers, Amy.”
She stepped away choosing not to give voice to the doubts she’d always had. Why did God allow such things?
Mel led Amy to the sofa and sat with her. “You should go so you won’t be late.”
“I couldn’t leave you like this. And don’t say no.”
Amy nodded, grateful for her friend. “I should call Eric about going home.” Before Nevada thought her callous. Amy shouldn’t care what he thought. He didn’t know her.
She wiped clammy palms and dialed her boss.
Mel draped a hand over Amy’s shoulder and held her.
Eric’s voice came on. “Amy?”
“I’m sorry to bother you,” she said quickly.
“Lovely, you know you can call me any time.”
Amy chose to ignore the comment. “I need some time away.”
“To where?”
“Home. My dad had an accident and I need to get home.”
“You have a meeting tomorrow with your team.”
“I know that, but this is an emergency.” She chose not to add that he may not make it. Her dad had to survive this.
Eric was
silent. She hoped his desire to woo her would work to her advantage too.
“How bad is it?”
“I have no idea.” Her voice shook and she cleared her throat. “I’ll have to get home to find out.”
“How long will you be gone? My concern is that you’re just starting out.”
“I’m aware of that. I could try for a week.”
“How about you hold the meeting tomorrow morning? I can get the helicopter to take you home afterward. We can negotiate how long you should take off when you get there and know more.”
Amy wondered if she’d be able to sleep that night, much less be coordinated enough to hold a meeting the next morning. But she had to take responsibility for what had been committed into her hands. “All right.”
“That’s my girl.”
The call ended. “I have to hold the meeting with the team tomorrow before I can leave.”
“Is he serious?”
Amy leaned against the sofa and closed her eyes. Her strength seemed to have seeped out.
Daddy, why?
Chapter Three
THE GNAWING FEELING that settled in Nevada’s stomach since his talk with Amy wouldn’t let up. From the sound of her words, she wasn't going to be easy to deal with. He doubted she cared what happened to her dad. Why would she care anything about the ranch either?
Anthony's life mattered to him so much, Nevada prayed the man survived.
He updated the entry for the calving season in the ranch ledger and headed to the kitchen to eat. He'd had several cups of coffee and his head rang.
The first calf was due in about a week. There was the issue of repairing fences and finishing preparation of the maternity barn for the cows that would calve after the heifers. He didn’t have the luxury of sleep just yet.
“Good morning, Sam,” Nevada said as he walked into the kitchen. He gave her his customary kiss on the cheek.
“Morning. How did your talk with Amy go?”
“Well, she said she'd be here as soon as she can.” He sat at the table.
After the amount of coffee he'd had between when his boss was found and now, he was sure his taste buds were shot, but Sam wouldn't hear of it. She believed people fared better on a full stomach. He couldn’t disagree with that.
She set a plate of fried eggs and freshly baked bread before him and gave him that I-don't-think-that-is-all look.
He ignored it and tucked into his meal. It wasn't so bad after all. “This is good, Sam.”
“Thank you.” She wiped down the table. “You don't think she cares enough.”
Though it was a statement, he figured he was required to answer. “Let's just say I'm worried about a number of things and it’s coloring everything I see.”
She nodded. “Don't be too hard on her. She lost her mother here on the ranch. They were inseparable, those two. That fateful morning a couple of months before you came, Avery fell from a horse and broke her neck. What was worse? It happened right in front of Amy.”
Sam took her mug of green tea and sat across from him.
“For days we couldn't get her to eat or talk to anyone. She had a quarrel with Anthony and the next day, she went to stay with a friend. It’s been years. Relationships are fragile and we’re often not the best caretakers of them. She calls her father on occasions, but the relationship is a strained one and she hasn’t shown her face here since.”
She took a sip of the tea and looked at Nevada with those piercing motherly eyes. “That one, she's a good kid. Give her time and you'll see it's not what you think.”
Sam drank her tea, gave him a smile, and stood, taking her cup to the sink.
“I'll be heading out to the hospital later. Do you want to come with me?” Nevada asked.
“Let me know when you leave. I'll be out back collecting the eggs and milking the cow.”
Nevada nodded, Sam’s words playing in his mind. A part of him understood Amy’s feelings, maybe a little. But the other part thought only a spoiled child would cut off her only surviving parent for whatever reasons she had. He’d give anything to know who his parents were.
Nevada applied mental brakes. They never wanted him. Bringing his mind back to the issue at hand, he sighed. A lot depended on the accuracy of Sam's opinion and he knew she wouldn’t lie.
HOURS LATER, NEVADA brought the truck to a stop in front of the ranch. His eyes were gritty from lack of sleep and too much caffeine.
“I want you to get yourself off to sleep right this minute and not one more word about what you have to do. Do you hear me?” Sam asked.
“Yes, I do.” He struggled to keep the grin off his face.
She climbed from the truck and winced. Nevada came down too. Short of hog-tying her and taking her to the hospital to have her knee checked out, he wasn’t sure what other approach to take. “Let me help you with this.” Nevada reached out to get the plastic grocery bags.
As he made for the front porch, the thump of helicopter blades cut the air. Nevada turned and looked as it flew over the ranch and headed for the helipad a distance from the big old barn. It was the first time a helicopter had landed there since he came to the ranch.
He squinted into the distance. Who could it...?
The high and mighty Amy.
He hadn’t expected her to come this quick, at least not thirty-six hours after they had talked.
“Is that Amy?” The joy in Samantha’s voice made Nevada curious. Sam stood beside him on the porch, her face wreathed in a big smile.
Not wanting to stand there while Amy came down, he made his way into the kitchen to drop his burden. After putting the groceries away, Nevada lingered. The whole thing was ridiculous.
Was he running away? He rolled his eyes. He hadn’t even met her yet. If anything happened to Anthony, he’d do his best for the ranch out of respect for her father, but that’s where it ended.
Except that it wasn’t cut and dry like that. This was not just the place where he felt at home. It was a place he’d finally succeeded at something.
The sound of the helicopter taking off came to his ears.
“You never came to visit me.” The good-natured scolding Sam gave Amy reached him and brought him back from his musing. If he didn’t go out and get the introductions done with, Sam would take one look at him and read her own meaning to it.
He stepped out of the kitchen, but the two women didn’t turn. Apparently, they were too engrossed in their talk to acknowledge his presence.
Nevada took a look at the woman’s attire. You gotta be kidding me. Stilettos? On a ranch? She probably thought this was an extension of her office.
He leaned against the wall and watched them. In those crazy shoes, she’d be as tall as his six- two. Her fiery red hair was pulled back in a ponytail and fine tendrils brushed her heart shaped face.
Everything about her screamed class.
Nevada brought his thoughts to a screeching halt. He shouldn’t be noticing anything about this girl, he chided himself.
Still, they hadn’t noticed his presence. Her gaze swept the rolling hills laid bare by winter. What did she think? What did this homecoming feel like for her? His gaze followed hers. Nature, and particularly the green lushness of the terrain in spring, was his way of reaching the essence of God and His creation.
She gave Sam a hug. “I’m so sorry,” Amy said. Her voice sounded strained. “And I’m most sorry I’m coming under this circumstance,” she said stepping out of Sam’s embrace.
Nevada knew the scolding was nothing. Sam was just that way. When she loved you, she pretended sternness. She loved Amy obviously and the girl could never do anything wrong in Sam's eyes.
Sam was assessing Amy like a mother hen. They were yet to look in his direction. He cleared his throat and they turned simultaneously.
“Nevada! Come say hi to my dear girl.”
He met them halfway, wondering what the big idea was. He reached out his hand and Amy took it.
“Nevada Logan, pleased to meet you.”
He nearly choked on the words.
“Amy Jayden.” Her smile didn’t reach her green eyes.
Nevada realized his assessment about her height was correct. Belatedly, he released her hand.
Sam clapped excitedly. “Let’s get in and you can freshen up.”
All thoughts of sleep fled from Nevada’s mind. As soon as it was polite enough, he made his excuses and retreated to the den. Sam didn't remember her command that he should get some rest. Plunking down in the leather sofa that graced the corner of the den, he closed his eyes and let a soft sigh swoosh from his mouth.
Amy was beautiful, and her eyes were the greenest he’d ever seen this side of Blue Song. She favored her father but for her mother's fiery red hair. Nevada gazed at the picture on the mantle. The woman stood beside a Chestnut and a small girl, obviously Amy, squatted in front of the horse. Several other pictures graced the walls. Some, of Amy on ponies and a couple others of her on horses. He'd seen the pictures many times before but was only now putting the name to the face.
This wasn't the time to start dreaming. He made notes in his book of what to pick up for the ranch in the next couple of days. Once done, he closed it and then picked up his phone and dialed Angel. His voice came on the phone on the second ring. “Hey, buddy, how’s the fence coming on?” Nevada asked.
“Good. Thought you said you were coming.”
“Yeah,” Nevada said rubbing his eyes. He stayed away from coffee today so that his head wouldn't fall off. Stretching himself out on the sofa, he let his booted feet hang over the edge. “Sam insists I stay put today. She’ll have my hide if I do otherwise.”
Angel chuckled. “I bet that’ll do you some good. See you later then. Meanwhile, the police guy came. He thinks what happened to Anthony was an accident. Nothing to indicate foul play.”
“I guess we’ll never know what happened.”
“That’s what I thought, too.”
Nevada heaved a sigh. “Okay. See ya.” He’d hoped the police would find something to help them understand why Anthony lay critically ill in the hospital.
He dropped the phone beside him and closed his eyes. Maybe he needed some rest after all. Placing a hand over his eyes he sighed deeply.