Rancher's Hostage Rescue

by Beth Cornelison

  Lilly lifted the corner of her mouth. “She definitely earned a handful of treats and several days of complete silence and recovery.”

  “I think we all have.” Dave placed a hand on Lilly’s shoulder and gave her muscles a deep rub. Rather than relaxing her, she tensed.

  She moved away from his massage and faced him with a knit in her brow. “Dave, I need time, too.” She cleared her throat. “Away from you.”

  He leaned on his crutches and frowned. “I see.”

  She let her shoulders droop. “Do you?”

  “No.” He exhaled harshly. “At least Helen would tell me what I was doing wrong, what I needed to change.”

  The mention of her sister knotted Lilly’s gut. “Dave...”

  His hangdog expression bore to her marrow. “I don’t want to lose you, Lilly.”

  She shook her head, moisture filling her eyes. “It’s not about anything you did or didn’t do. The fact is nothing can happen between us. It’s wrong!”

  His expression hardened, and his dark eyes drilled into her. “Something has already happened between us, Lilly. You know that.”

  “Sleeping with you was foolish of me. I was vulnerable and scared and—”

  “I’m not talking about sex. I’ve fallen in love with you, Lilly. And I think if you are honest with yourself, you’ll admit you have feelings for me, too.”

  A tremor rolled through her, and she mentally blocked his assertion. Shaking her head, she turned and picked up Maddie’s carrier. “It doesn’t matter what either of us feels.”

  “What?” His voice sharpened in disbelief. “How can love not matter? It’s the only thing that matters!”

  “Not if it’s wrong. I can’t betray Helen like that!” Hugging Maddie’s carrier close, she staggered out to her car and loaded her cat on the front passenger seat, buckling the seat belt around the carrier.

  Dave on his crutches caught up to her as she flung open the driver’s side door. “Lilly, I can’t make you love me, but know this—the love I feel for you is truer than anything I ever felt for Helen. I tried to love her, but with you, it comes naturally. Denying that would mean betraying my heart.”

  Pain lanced her chest, stole her breath. “Goodbye, Dave,” she rasped as she climbed in her car and closed her door.

  As she drove away, Maddie gave a sad mewl from her carrier.

  “I know, Maddie. I’ll miss him, too.”

  * * *

  Lilly more than missed Dave. She ached for him. He filled her thoughts, even when she returned to work at the emergency room in Denver. Between patients, she’d wonder how his leg was healing and long for his company.

  Alone in her bed at night, her body yearned for his touch, the warmth and assurance of his arms around her. Even Maddie’s gentle purr didn’t ease the hollow pain in her heart as she stared into the lonely darkness.

  She’d felt alone before. After her father left. After her divorce. After Helen died. So why did this loss feel so much bleaker? She tried to tell herself she was doing the right thing for Helen, but that postulate was cold comfort as one colorless day stretched into the next.

  One Sunday afternoon as she was sorting the last of Helen’s possessions—finally—deciding what to donate to charity, she came across the small stuffed bear with the pink heart on its chest that their mother had given Helen that long-ago day at Dollywood. She stared at the bear with a heavy heart and heaved a wistful sigh, wondering what words of encouragement and comfort their mother had given Helen along with her new treasure. Had her stuffed bear been a symbol of hope for Helen the way the butterfly key chain had been for Lilly?

  They’d never talked much about their personal grief after their father left, wanting to shield and protect their mother when it became clear how fragile their mom’s mental health was.

  Even after their mother’s death, she and Helen had avoided talking about the past, as if by a silent agreement not to open old wounds regarding their father.

  Lilly sank down on the floor with her sister’s bear, remembering what Dave had told her. Helen had never stopped wondering where their father had gone. She’d looked for him. Found him.

  She said knowing he was happy, even if it wasn’t with her, gave her a little peace.

  Lilly stilled, her breath stuck in her lungs. When was the last time she’d known real peace?

  From the day of her parents’ divorce, her hurt over her father’s desertion and her mother’s manic depression had made her childhood a struggle. Her own divorce had made her feel unloved and unwanted. Helen’s death had left her restless and grieved to her marrow.

  But she had known peace. Comfort. Security.

  With Dave.

  She’d known a special calm and happiness when they’d rested on the top of the mountain before he kissed her. She’d experienced a deep sense of belonging and renewal when they’d made love. And even with Wayne down the hall, posing a threat to them, even bound as they’d been, she’d felt safe having Dave beside her. Because having him with her felt...right.

  Lilly tucked Helen’s bear against her chest and whispered, “What do I do?”

  An old conversation with her sister filtered through her memory. Helen had taken a long weekend away with Dave one December after the McCall’s herd had gone to auction. They’d had snow, a fireplace, a hot tub and hours of time to relax together for a change. Yet Helen had returned from the trip unhappy. At the time, Lilly had blamed Dave, wondering why he couldn’t get things right for Helen. But in hindsight, now, Lilly focused on a particular statement Helen had made.

  “He’s like a new pair of shoes,” Helen had explained. “They look great, they’re your size, they match your outfit and maybe you even got them on sale. They seem perfect for you in every way and you want to love them...but they just don’t feel right on your feet. They pinch your toe or rub your heel or...whatever. So I keep wearing those shoes, Lil, hoping to break them in and make them more comfortable, but they still hurt my feet.”

  Lilly’s heart beat seemed to slow.

  “I tried to love her,” Dave had said, “but with you, it comes naturally. Denying that would mean betraying my heart.”

  Lilly pressed a hand to her mouth and blinked back tears as the truth crystalized. Helen and Dave hadn’t fit.

  But she and Dave did. Dave had seen it right away, but she’d fought it. Out of guilt. Because wouldn’t Helen have been angry? Hurt?

  Again, Dave’s voice echoed in her head, recounting Helen’s search for their father. She wouldn’t begrudge him the love he’d found with his new family.

  Helen, it seemed, had been far more forgiving and openhearted than Lilly had given her credit for. Had been more forgiving than Lilly had been.

  Lilly frowned and stuck Helen’s bear in the “keep” box. The next item out of the “sort” box was a family picture. Lilly, Helen, their mom and their dad. The colors in the photo had faded, but not the smiles. Her chest ached with a twenty-year-old hurt as she examined her father’s face. She hadn’t forgiven her father, had maybe dragged a bit of her baggage into her marriage with Alan. Another man she needed to forgive in order to move on.

  Forgiving is about giving yourself a chance to heal. It’s not for them. It’s something you have to do, for yourself.

  Damn it. Dave’s wisdom was spot on. She saw it now. Along with how foolish she’d been to push away the first man to make her feel whole, and happy, and...at peace. With Dave she’d experienced real love. And she’d thrown it away.

  Her breath escaped her in a whoosh, left her winded and dumbstruck. She and Dave fit. After weeks of missing him, mulling their time together, agonizing over Helen, the truth had finally clicked. She’d needed time, and he’d given her the space to figure out what he already knew. She took Helen’s bear back out of the storage box and stroked the worn fuzz. She also liked to think Helen had helped her see how
to come to terms with the pain from her past. How to forgive and move forward with a healthy, loving relationship. With Dave.

  “What have I done?” Lilly shoved to her feet and placed Helen’s stuffed bear on the pillow of her bed. “Maddie,” she called as she grabbed her purse and jammed her feet into her shoes, “I’m going out. I have to fix a mistake.”

  * * *

  Lilly had almost reached her car in the parking lot of her apartment complex when she spotted her neighbor, standing near the bank of mailboxes talking to a tall guy in a black cowboy hat. Her heart jolted. The cowboy hat made her think of Dave. It’s a sign.

  Lilly laughed at herself as she opened her car door. Everything made her think of Dave, so why should that cowboy and his hat be any different? A sign? No. More like excitement.

  She tossed her purse on the passenger seat and gave the cowboy another glance as she slid behind the wheel. And then the cowboy turned.

  She blinked. Took off her sunglasses. Gasped.

  Dave! Was here. Outside her apartment...and—

  She climbed out of her car on trembling knees and clung to the car door for support. “Dave?”

  He approached, a small bundle of flowers in his hand, and gave her an awkward smile. “Hi.”

  “What—?”

  “I know. I promised to give you space. Time, but...” He drew a deep breath. “I got good news today and wanted to share it with...someone.” He sighed and twisted his mouth. “No. Not someone. With you. I got good news and the only person I wanted to share it with was you.”

  “Oh, Dave...”

  He raised a hand in a what-are-you-gonna-do? gesture. “Thing is, I want to share more than just my good news with you. I want to share everything with you. I need you in my life, Lilly.”

  When she only stared at him with tears in her eyes and emotion choking her, he added, “Oh, and these are for you.” He held the flowers out to her. “Lilies.” He cleared his throat. “You know...because—”

  He rolled his eyes. “Corny, I know, but...”

  She shook her head and took the flowers, her hand trembling. “No. Perfect.”

  A sob broke from her chest as she stumbled into his arms and threw her arms around his neck. “Dave, I’m sorry. You were right.”

  He pulled back from her embrace and finger-combed the hair back from her eyes. “Um, what?”

  “You were right about us. My heart knew it, but I wouldn’t let myself see it.”

  He thumbed away a tear that tracked down her cheek. “Just so I know we’re on the same wavelength—”

  “You don’t pinch my toes, Dave. You’re the shoes I want to wear every day.”

  “Um, thanks?”

  She laughed. “That’s my way of saying I love you.” She framed his handsome face with her palms. “It took a lot of thinking to work through what my heart was saying. I had some clutter to clear, but I want to be with you, Dave.”

  His smile lit his face. “Really?”

  She nodded. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to recognize it and that I pushed you away. I still have work to do, things to come to terms with before I can make any plans for the future.”

  “Things like...?”

  “Old relationships. I was hiding behind Helen, using her as an excuse, when the truth was I was scared. My track record with men is pretty pitiful. Our dad left. My husband cheated. I felt like I wasn’t enough for them.”

  He pulled a face that told her he wanted to contradict her, and she silenced him by placing her fingers on his lips. “And...when I met you, I viewed you through the distorted lens I had of men. That, and...I judged you based on all the negative stuff Helen had to say when she was upset about your relationship.”

  He arched an eyebrow and pressed a kiss to the fingers she still had over his mouth.

  “I believed everything bad she told me,” she said, “because it fit the narrative I’d created about my dad leaving. About Alan cheating. I’d been hurt, and I couldn’t see past my heartache and anger to give you a fair shake.”

  He scrunched his nose, and said sheepishly, “Helen was probably right about some of what she told you. I’ve made my share of mistakes. I have flaws.”

  She scoffed. “We all do. But I’d like to decide for myself what yours are. I want to discover all the layers that make you the kind and courageous man I got to know while we were held hostage.”

  “All of my layers?” He gave her a teasing grin. “That could take some time.”

  She looped her arms around his neck and rose on her toes to kiss him. “I’m not going anywhere. We have all the time in the world.”

  Epilogue

  Twenty-two months later

  “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Dave said, squatting to place a bouquet of pink carnations on Helen’s snow-covered grave. “I didn’t forget.” The pang he felt today was gentler than the harsh grief he’d known for months following Helen’s death, but the guilt he’d harbored had healed, in large part because of the woman by his side.

  Lilly stepped forward, kissed her gloved hand and put it on the face of her sister’s grave marker. “I hope you know you are still loved so, so much, sis. And missed. That will never change.”

  Dave steadied Lilly as she stepped back on the icy ground, slipping his arm around her waist and drawing her close. “Do you think she sees us? That she’s happy?”

  No sooner had he asked the question than a sunbeam slipped through a gap in the gray clouds overhead and shone down on the mountain range in the distance. Lilly noticed the glowing beam as well and smiled. “I think we can assume so.”

  Even if he didn’t believe in signs, Lilly had noticed enough “coincidences” over the past months that he’d almost changed his mind about whether Helen was sending messages from beyond. A butterfly that lit on Lilly when they visited the cemetery together last fall. A rainbow that decorated the sky on Helen’s birthday. And the bird’s nest built in a tree outside his kitchen window by a family of cardinals this spring.

  “Cardinals are messengers from deceased loved ones you know,” Lilly had said when they first spied the birds roosting in the nest. “Saying they love you.”

  At the time, he’d rolled his eyes at Lilly’s belief in the wives’ tale, but he’d taken comfort in the birds and grinned each time he heard them singing outside his window.

  Now, as he savored the view of the golden sunlight shining on the mountains Helen had loved, he could almost believe it was Helen’s radiant smile.

  Lilly angled her head to look up at him. “Ready to go?”

  He inhaled the crisp winter air and nodded. “Probably should. Our dinner reservation is in fifty minutes, and we have one more stop to make.”

  “Another stop? Where?” she asked, falling in step beside him as they crunched through the snow to his new truck.

  “You’ll see.” He gave her a mysterious grin and helped her climb up to the passenger seat. Once behind the wheel, he cranked the heater. Although he’d completed his physical therapy and had full use of his injured leg again, on chilly days, the pins in his shin reminded him of his old injury with a dull ache. He didn’t begrudge the occasional twinge in his calf. Reminders of what he’d survived only made his current happiness all the sweeter.

  The McCalls had kept their word to reemploy him when his leg healed. The Double M Ranch was doing so well, he’d even been given a sizable bonus, back pay for his loyalty and hard work during the McCall family’s past financial difficulties.

  Lilly shot him a curious glance as he turned in the opposite direction of the restaurant when he left the cemetery. “Do I get a hint where you’re taking me?”

  He squeezed her hand and lifted it to brush a kiss on her knuckles. “Nope.”

  About twenty minutes later, he pulled in the driveway to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, where he’d taken her on their first offi
cial date twenty-two months ago. She gasped her excitement and gaped at him with pure joy in her eyes. “Do we really have time for this? I thought you said we needed to be at dinner in another half an hour.”

  He shrugged as if missing their reservation was no big deal. “If they give our table away, we’ll go somewhere else.”

  She glanced around the empty parking lot and her shoulders drooped. “Oh, Dave, I don’t think they’re open.”

  He cut the engine and opened his door. “Let’s just check.”

  He circled the front fender and held the passenger door while she climbed out, his heart beating a giddy tattoo against his ribs. The front door opened as they approached, and they were greeted by a woman with a clipboard who said, “Hello! Happy Valentine’s Day! Mr. Giblan?”

  “Yes. And this is my girlfriend, Lilly.”

  Lilly shook the woman’s hand and shot Dave a suspicious look. “You prearranged for us to come after hours?”

  His grin was unrepentant. “I did.”

  “I believe you said the Wings of the Tropics exhibit was where your particular interest was?” the docent asked.

  Lilly’s eyes brightened. “Butterflies are special to me. Yes.”

  The woman nodded and waved toward the back of the center. “This way then.”

  Dave laced his fingers with Lilly’s as they followed the woman through the special doors into the building where tropical plants grew year round. Sharing the warm conservatory with the tropical flora were butterflies of every imaginable color. More than sixteen hundred of them.

  Lilly laughed as she stepped onto the path that lead through the lush greenery, bright flowers and thousands of fluttering wings. She tipped her head back and turned 360 degrees, grinning as she admired the winged creatures. “They’re so beautiful. I love this place!”

  “You’re the one who’s beautiful,” he said, “and I love you.”