Those words squirreled their way through her. They laid there in silence, holding each other closely, and before she knew it, they’d both fallen asleep.
She came awake with a jerk. The sun was up and shining through the semi-open slats of the blind over the window. The space next to her was empty and cold. Ruger must have left already.
Sitting up, she saw the piece of paper on the pillow.
With a smile, she read the words…
“You looked like Sleeping Beauty so I couldn’t wake you. See you later. R.”
Dropping back into the pillow, she groaned. She didn’t tell him the truth.
Climbing from bed, she slipped on her flip flops and left the guest house. Tonight was the dinner party and she had some shopping to do. Making the day special for Sam was important to her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BEAUTIFUL. LOVELY. AMAZING.
Those were just some of the descriptive words that came to Ruger as he watched Grace from where he stood in the shadows across the yard. She was speaking to Mick and something he said caused her to laugh. The punch of jealousy came at the center of his gut. He wanted to make her laugh like that—not just tonight but every night.
No denying the truth, he’d fallen for her.
What the hell?
He didn’t know her long enough to love her…or did he?
“Looks like something’s grabbed your attention.” Hank jabbed his elbow into Ruger’s arm. “Can’t say I blame you.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” He was just getting used to the idea himself that he had feelings for the beautiful woman, and he wasn’t ready to share the news with anyone.
“Oh? Really?” Hank’s laughter made Grace look. She waved and both cowboys waved back. She went back to her conversation with Mick, Deuce and Hannah who’d also joined the small circle. “Whose idea was it to invite the boy and his ma?”
“Grace’s.”
The other man swiped a hand down his silver beard. “It’s about time you met someone who proved that not all women are out to break a man’s heart. I haven’t seen you smiling this much in a long time.”
“Yeah? You don’t think I’m a bit crazy? I don’t know her.”
“Do we ever really know someone until we live with them?” Hank snorted.
“You do have a point.”
Hank’s cell rang and his smile vanished. “I’ve got to take this, buddy.”
Ruger strolled over to grab himself a burger and he piled it high with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a splat of ketchup. He bit into the juicy meat and took his plate to join his mother who was now at the table set up with a variety of food.
“Very nice of Grace to do this for the boy,” Hannah said.
“She’s a good woman.” He watched Grace walk into the house.
“Oh, so you see it too?” Hannah’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s pretty obvious. The second she starts talking you can almost forget the sadness in her eyes.” He popped the last of the burger into his mouth.
“Don’t let that deter you, Son. She’s changing in just the short time she’s been here. Or rather, she’s finding the woman she’s always wanted to be.”
Ruger started to say something, but the screen door came open again. Grace carried a cake with a handful of sparkling candles lit on top. Everyone started singing Happy Birthday to Sam who was wide eyed.
“I’m glad Gam didn’t show up.” When his ma didn’t respond, he turned to find her bent over the pan of baked beans.
Her skin was pale and clammy.
“Ma, you okay?” He went to her side, helping her stand straight.
“I’m fine. It’s just hot out here. I need some water.”
“I’ll grab some. Sit down here.” He helped her over to a plastic chair. He hurried to the cooler, grabbed a bottle and brought it back uncapped. Hannah moaned then fell over, falling to the ground.
Ruger bent next to her hip, checking her pulse. “Ma?”
The birthday song faded in the background as the small crowd gathered around Ruger and Hannah. She blinked and moaned.
“Is she okay. What can I do?” Someone asked.
“Call 9-1-1.”
“Does she need a drink of water?” It was Grace who offered a bottle.
He’d dropped the one he’d uncapped and it had poured all over the ground. Accepting the new bottle, he helped his ma sip the liquid. Her eyes were dilated, and her skin was now red.
“Wh-what happened?” Hannah muttered.
“You blacked out.”
“I-I felt hot and then…this.” She tried to sit up, but Ruger shook his head.
“Stay where you’re at.”
“The ambulance is on its way!” Mick yelled.
Grace was next to Hannah now, holding her hand. “Oh my. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I must have just gotten overheated. I’m sorry to ruin your party,” her voice was slurred.
“Here, take a sip of more water.” Ruger encouraged.
“I don’t need an ambulance. I’ll be fine.”
“You let me be the judge of that.” He didn’t like how her speech was slurred and the color of her skin.
An hour later, Ruger was sitting with Hannah in the emergency room and she was hooked up to several machines to monitor her blood pressure and heart. When Dr. Sweat came in, he greeted Ruger first with a handshake and then patted Hannah’s arm. They’d known the elderly man for a long time. He unbuttoned his white coat then sat on the swivel chair, rolling it close to the bed. “I haven’t seen you in a while, Hannah.”
“That’s a good thing, Michael.”
“I guess that was quite a scare, right, Ruger?” Dr. Sweat smiled, but there was some concern behind his thick glasses.
“It was. Can you tell us what’s going on with her?” Ruger scraped a palm down his cheek.
“As you know, we ran an EKG which didn’t show any heart issues. Although her first symptoms appeared like she could be having a stroke, we’ve also ruled that out.”
“See, I told you it was just the heat,” Hannah complained. “Now can I go home?”
“Not so fast.” Dr. Sweat shook his grey head. “I said you didn’t have a heart attack or stroke. However, we have another issue, one that’s just as serious and needs monitored closely.” He opened a chart and read the top sheet, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You have Type 2 diabetes. If you wouldn’t have missed your office appointment we might have found this sooner.”
“What? That’s impossible. I’m as healthy as a horse,” she protested.
“Diabetes doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy, it only means you need to have your sugar watched and take daily medicine to control it. You’re not alone, Hannah. Millions of people are living with diabetes, successfully.”
“Sure, I could eat less sweets, exercise more,” she huffed.
“It’s not that simple. Sure, I encourage all my patients to eat healthier and work out but your body is having a hard time making enough insulin and because it isn’t being treated you’ve probably been having some symptoms for a while.”
“Like what?”
“Have you been feeling exceptionally hungry? Having blurred vision? Unusually tired? Going to the bathroom a lot at night?”
“I’m old, Doc. It’d be odd if I weren’t experiencing many of those things.”
He smiled and patted her hand. “We’re both getting old, and illnesses pop up, but we can get the diabetes under control. You’ll feel much better too.”
“So where do we go from here?” Ruger asked.
“We’re going to need to run some tests over the next few days. She’ll need to fast for them. I can do most of the testing at the office. The results will give us more information on what’s actually going on inside your body, Hannah. You’ll just need to take better care of yourself which will include home testing and an adjustment of meds if needed. Your body just requires more fine tuning.” He stood. “I’ll speak to the nurse and we�
��ll get you out of here. Ruger, make her rest.”
“Yeah, that should be easy,” he grumbled.
“Do your best.”
Once the doctor left, Ruger turned to his ma. “Did you hear what he said? You have to take better care of yourself.”
“Son, I take care of myself,” she grumbled.
“Stop being so bullheaded.” He wouldn’t make the same mistake he’d made with his pa.
“Me? Bullheaded? Have you looked in the mirror these days?” She shook her head.
“I’m not the one laying in the hospital bed.”
“That’s right, you’re not so why are you acting like you are?”
He leaned back into the uncomfortable chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why are you mad at me?”
Some of the tight wrinkles relaxed around her mouth and eyes. “I’m not mad. Just frustrated. I’m not getting any younger and it’s only natural that a mother would worry about her child.”
“You’re worried about me?”
“Yes I am.”
“I didn’t cause the diabetes, Ma. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”
“Then start proving it. You don’t think I can see how you look at Grace? Standing between you two is like feeling the breath of a dragon. I’d like to see some grandchildren before my time is up.” She struggled to sit up and he helped her by propping a pillow behind her.
“Stop talking like your days are numbered. Just as Dr. Sweat said, your diabetes can be managed. And just because I might want something doesn’t mean I can have it. Grace comes with some huge issues so don’t go strutting around talking about grandchildren just because a single stranger floats in and charms you.”
“And you,” she snorted. “I have good instincts. I can tell a good lady when I see her. I can also see she’s suffered some pain. That’s why she needs a good man like you to show her that hard knocks happen, and so do good times. Don’t wait around and let her walk away, Son. Make your feelings known.”
“Sometimes it takes more than divulging your feelings to a woman to make her want to stay.”
“Those are your nerves talking. Tell them to hush and follow your heart.” Like most mothers, she must have sensed his doubt. She took his hand. “Ruger, we always have doubts. Two months before your pa and I were to get married I broke up with him. I found out he had lied to me. He had a girlfriend when we first met which he didn’t tell me about. Sure, he broke up with her as soon as he knew I was the one, but I allowed my fears to convince me that he’d always lie to me.”
“Did he?”
“No…well, on occasion he told a white lie. He’d sneak out behind the barn and smoke a cigarette when he was stressed, and he liked those soft cookies from the bakery that he didn’t think I knew were hidden way back in the cabinet.”
“I’m confused. Are you suggesting that lies are okay as long as they’re white lies?”
“Young man, are you not listening?” She narrowed her gray eyes on him.
“Loud and clear.” He smiled. “You and Pa had something different, something that a lot of married folks don’t find with each other.”
“Honey, you saw the good times, but we also had rough times—too many to count.” She waved a hand. “We didn’t make it as long and as far as we did by buying into rainbow farting unicorns, let me tell you.”
He blinked. “What does that mean?”
“Figure it out, Son,” she muttered.
The nurse strolled in. “Dr. Sweat said you can leave. He’s written you a couple of prescriptions and we’ve set you up for an office appointment—”
Ruger partially listened as the two chatted about Hannah’s release. He was still stuck on her pressure when it came to Grace. Yeah, he’d fallen for her, but that didn’t mean the feelings were reciprocated.
~~~~
Priscilla had many more layers than anyone would guess.
She’d been in college but quit because she was pregnant. After Sam was born, she had a car accident that left her with excruciating back pain and the doctor prescribed her pain pills. She admittedly got hooked on them and that was how Gam came into the picture. Before long she found herself stuck in a world without an exit door. She’d often thought about going into a rehabilitation center but worried what would happen to Sam.
“Thank you for telling me,” Grace said. They sat on the front porch, drinking lemonade after everyone had left following Hannah’s incident. “Remember, it’s never too late to do the right thing. You have a wonderful son who needs you.” Sam played in the grass with his new cars Grace had given him.
Priscilla frowned. “I’ve never had much support. I’m not using that as an excuse, but my mom took off and left me and my dad when I was little then he got involved with a woman who was the dictionary definition for “wicked stepmother”. I want to do right by Sammy. He needs me.” Tears filled her eyes. “But…never mind.”
“Priscilla, what is it?”
“Child Protective Services came out to speak to me after Sammy got lost.”
“Oh.”
“The caseworker said if I don’t find a place to live by the end of the month the state might take Sammy from me.” There was a quiver to her voice. “I don’t want to lose my son.”
“I’m sorry. What will you do?” Grace’s heart tugged. She didn’t want to see Sam taken from his mom although could agree that he needed a safer environment than the campsite.
“I-I don’t know.” She brought her face up and her eyes were red rimmed. “I don’t have any money. I don’t have anywhere I can go.”
Grace nibbled the corner of her mouth. Her heart went out to the woman and her son. “Why don’t you come and stay here? I’m in this big house all alone, plenty of space and you can work on getting back on your feet. In fact, I could use some help around here with the painting…and especially cooking. I’m a mess in the kitchen,” she admitted. “I can hire you.”
The area between her brows scrunched. “Grace, that’s too much. I can’t do that.”
“If you don’t need to, fine, but the offer will be there. I was planning on finding someone to cook here anyway. Once the B&B opens a few more jobs will become available. You don’t want to lose Sam. He’d be heartbroken.” Grace knew it wasn’t a perfect solution, and Ruger would probably not like it, but desperate times called for desperate measures. To have a mother and son separated would be devasting. If she found herself in the same position, Grace would hope someone would offer help.
Priscilla smiled but it was lost when the sound of a loud car came speeding up the lane. Grace glanced into the distance and watched the beat-up two-door come to a sliding halt in front of the house, kicking up rocks and dirt.
“Oh no. What’s he doing here?” Priscilla stood, dropping her Styrofoam cup of lemonade at her feet. There was a noticeable quiver to her voice that made the hairs on the back of Grace’s neck to stand.
She didn’t need to ask who “he” was, but she did anyway. “Is that Gam?”
“Yes.”
Grace stood, stepping to the edge of the porch as the thin man dressed in a dirty white tank and too-loose shorts with large front pockets wobbled up the walkway.
He didn’t even acknowledge Grace as he darted his heated glare onto Priscilla who now had Sam clutched close to her side. “Where the fuck you been, woman?” he sputtered.
Grace stepped between them, forcing the man to direct his eyes on her and not Priscilla. “Hi, Gam. I’m Grace.” She stepped down off the porch and held out her hand, sniffing enough alcohol that she got a second hand drunk.
He scowled and stepped aside, pointing at Priscilla. “Get your shit and get in the car!”
Without any hesitation, Priscilla grabbed Sam’s hand and pulled him toward the steps. “Let’s go, Sammy.”
“I don’t want to go.” He sunk his tennis shoes into the wood.
“We have to go. Thank Miss Grace for her hospitality and let’s get into the car,” Pri
scilla said with a forced, almost, embarrassed, smile.
“Why do we have to go?” the little boy demanded, clutching his cars into his chest.
“Boy, what did I say to you about backtalking your mom?” He patted his belt threateningly.
Fear covered Sam’s face.
Anger coursed through Grace.
“Gam, Grace was nice enough to give Sammy a party and a gift. You should say thank you and then we’ll get out of her hair.”
A demeaning grin lifted the corners of his thin lips. “Why should I thank some bitch who I don’t know?” He lowered his grimy gaze over Grace, grabbed his crotch and sniffed loudly. “I have an idea how I can say thank you.”
Priscilla hurried down the steps, with Sam following, and she stopped next to Gam. “Don’t be disgusting.”
“Shut up and git in the car, bitch. We don’t need anyone’s handouts like we’re pissants.” He finally turned his gaze back on Grace and scrunched his nose, baring his crooked teeth behind those unusually thin lips surrounded by a half-attempt at a goatee. “Stay away from my family, uppity bitch. I know how you people are. You’re the freakin’ reason why those bastards from protective services were called in the first place. Always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“I understand your concern, but—”
“Don’t give me your excuses.” He pushed his glare to Priscilla and Sam who looked terrified. “Make me ask you to get into the car again!” He tightened his hands into fists and shook them.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Grace lifted her chin, not caring that the other man looked like he was ready to explode. She also didn’t want Priscilla or Sam to be in danger. Gam had too much to drink, obviously.
“And who the fuck are you? The new police in town?” He snorted. “If you know what’s best for you, you’ll mind yer own dang business and stay away from my family.”
“I think it’s best we go now. Come on, Gam. Thank you for your kindness, Grace.” Priscilla looked like she’d swallowed razor blades and Sam had tears rolling down his cheeks.
“You can’t leave with him. Not only is he drunk, but you and Sam could be in danger,” Grace said to Priscilla.
Cowboy Wilde (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 2) Page 17