Stone Cold Cowboy (15 page)

“If you can, bring her something to wear. She found her father and she's kind of a mess.”

“I'm on it. Thanks, Bell.”

“You're welcome. I'll see you soon.”

Rory tucked his phone back in his pocket, kept his back to the mess in Mr. Higgins's room, and walked down the hall to Sadie's room. He stood in the doorway, staring at her double bed covered in a navy and white floral-patterned quilt. A hairbrush sat on her dark wood dresser next to a picture of her as a little girl up on horseback, with her mother standing beside her holding the reins. A second picture sat next to her bed. Sadie and Connor as children sitting on the porch, Connor on a lower step, Sadie above with her arms wrapped around her little brother.

“You've been keeping him safe for a long time, sweetheart. Holding on to him. But who holds on to you?”

If her father didn't make it, and Bell had hinted that he wouldn't, who would look out for Sadie? Certainly not her brother. Rory would make sure no one hurt her, especially not her self-centered kid brother who'd never grown up and still left all the hard work to his big sister.

Rory went to the closet door, opened it, and pawed
through Sadie's things and came up with a purple tote bag. He went back to her bed and the basket of laundry beside it. He pulled out a couple of clean T-shirts, a pair of jeans, dark blue leggings and another pair of black leggings, and some bundled socks. Just in case, he picked out a white tank top–style nightgown that flared out at the bottom. Enough clothes to get her cleaned up tonight, but also in case she needed to stay at the hospital or a motel nearby a few days. He'd try to get her to come home, but knew she wouldn't want to leave her father.

Rory left her room, knowing he'd picture her there whenever they weren't together. He'd see her in that bed and dream about being there with her. Right now, he needed to find her and give her the support and comfort she needed to get through this tough time.

He closed up the front door, but didn't lock it, walked to his truck, and opened the cab door. He tossed Sadie's bag on the passenger side, climbed in, started the engine, but didn't pull out of the drive. Instead, he pulled out his cell and tried Sadie again. He got her voice mail.

“Hey sweetheart, it's me. I'm headed your way. Be there soon.”

He hung up and called the ranch.

“What happened?” his grandfather asked.

“Her father took a bad spill and split open his skull. Bell sent him to the hospital in Bozeman. Beyond that, I don't know anything more. I'm headed there now.” Rory put action to his words, driving down the driveway to the main road.

“What can we do to help?” his grandfather asked.

“Call that cleaning service we use a few times a
year. Send them to Sadie's place. It'll probably cost extra, I don't care, but tell them there's a lot of blood in Mr. Higgins's room. It'll need to be scrubbed and disinfected. I don't want Sadie coming home to that.”

“I'll have the whole place cleaned. Anything else?”

“I'll let you know. Tell Ford and Colt to hold down the fort. I'm not sure when I'll be back. I'm staying with her as long as she needs me.”

“That's exactly where you should be. Don't worry about things here. We've got it covered.”

“Thanks. I'll be in touch.”

“Take care of your girl.”

“I will.” He'd always take care of her. It finally sank in that he not only wanted to take care of her, he needed to do it because she meant so much to him.

It was a long drive into Bozeman. By the time he got there, he was desperate to see her and make sure she was okay. He missed her so damn much these last few days. The few minutes they shared before she dashed off to see her father weren't enough, but he understood. She needed to be with her dad. He hoped Mr. Higgins's accident was just a setback and not the end, for both his and Sadie's sakes.

S
adie sat in the chair by her father's hospital bed and stared at his bruised and swollen face. As best she could tell, he'd tried to get out of bed, got dizzy, and face-planted into the dresser, bouncing off the wall and landing on the floor. His left eye was black and swollen shut. The splotchy bruising went down his cheek and across his nose. Bandages wrapped around his head, covering the deep four-inch gash across his head and into his hairline. She'd never seen anything so ominous. Blood had poured down his face and neck. He'd tried to get up and help himself, but only ended up passed out on the floor. If she hadn't stopped at the house on the way to Rory's place . . . Well, she didn't want to think what might have happened to her father.

“Miss Higgins?”

Sadie glanced over at the doctor standing at the end of the bed with a thick folder in his hands. She'd met several since she arrived, but couldn't remember their names or faces really. She didn't think she'd met this guy.

“Yes, I'm Sadie.”

“Sadie, I'm Dr. Bird. I saw your father about five months ago.”

“You did?”

“He was referred to me after he saw another doctor about having some shortness of breath and chest pain.”

“What kind of doctor are you?”

“An oncologist.”

“My dad has cancer.” Deep inside she'd known, but saying it out loud made it all the more real. That dreaded thing no one wanted to say, let alone have. Her gut soured and the sense of dread she'd lived with these last months and had grown over the last weeks intensified.

“Stage four lung cancer.”

Even that didn't stun her. Forty years of smoking, killing himself a little bit with every puff. Connor was doing the same, only he'd chosen a much more expeditious form of death.

“I see. So was he undergoing some kind of treatment? Do we need to start something now?”

“I'm sorry to say that your father refused chemotherapy and radiation.”

“What?”

“As I explained to him, it may have prolonged his life, but not saved it. By the time I saw your father, the cancer had already spread to his liver and other vital organs. Your father understood it wasn't if he'd die from cancer, but when. He didn't want to spend his final months in and out of the hospital for treatments that would prolong his days, but steal his quality of life. That was his sentiment. And though I wished he'd given us a chance to help, he wanted to be home with you.”

She believed her father chose his quality of life over the side effects of aggressive treatments, but she also knew her father chose to be home with her and spare her the cost of those treatments. They had insurance, but it didn't cover even half of everything, based on how much Connor's hospital visits cost them. She'd spent the last years trying to keep their heads above water with the bills and Connor's added debts. Her father didn't want to saddle her with more burdens. She understood his way of thinking, but she didn't like it. She wanted him to fight to live. Not give up because of the financial and emotional cost. Her father had always been practical, straightforward, and had always done what had to be done. Like her.

“What do we need to do for him now?”

“I've compared his new MRI, X-rays, and blood work. I'm sorry to say his condition is worse and deteriorating quickly.”

“What does that mean?” She couldn't help the catch in her voice or the tears gathering in her eyes. She didn't want to hear the dire news, but had to face the reality staring her in the face.

“Have you noticed a change in your father recently? Has he had trouble with his motor skills and memory?”

“Yes. He tells stories over and over. He forgets words. I think reading has become difficult. His balance seems off.” She stared down at her father's battered face. “I've found him wandering outside, looking for my mother, or just simply lost.”

“The cancer has spread to his brain.” The doctor said the words she didn't want to hear and tried to deny.

Tears streamed down her face. She swiped them away, but more fell.

“How long?” She choked out the words, but didn't want to hear the answer.

“It's hard to say for sure, but with the brain injury your father suffered during the fall, not long.”

“He's not leaving this hospital, is he?”

“No. I'm sorry. He signed a Do Not Resuscitate order. We will keep him comfortable.”

“Do you think he'll wake up again before . . .”

“It's not likely. I suggest you talk to him. One never knows how much a patient hears while in a coma.” The doctor glanced at her shirt and hands. “I'll ask a nurse to find you something to change into. You should wash up. You'll be more comfortable.”

Sadie held up her hands and stared at the dried blood smeared over her skin. Her shirt had mostly dried into an ugly brownish-red splatter.

“Is there someone I can call for you?”

She thought of Rory. She should have called him to let him know she wouldn't be coming to his house today. She wished he was here. She needed to feel his strong arms around her. She needed his strength and understanding and comfort. She needed him to tell her everything would be all right.

Unbidden tears kept coming, trailing down her cheeks. She didn't wipe them away, but stood like a statue unsure what to do.

“Miss Higgins?”

She turned to face the doctor and spotted Rory walking down the corridor from the elevator behind him. She didn't think, didn't say a word, just went with instinct and ran to him.

Rory caught her when she leaped into his arms and slammed into his chest. She wrapped her arms around
him and buried her wet face in his neck. He held her close, her legs dangling against his shins. The wracking sobs she let loose made him think the worst happened, but he spotted the doctor standing in the doorway of the room she'd come out of and headed in his direction, carrying Sadie down the corridor.

“I got you, sweetheart. Everything is going to be all right.”

“It is now that you're here.”

Those words went straight to his heart. He held her tighter and kissed her on the head. He stopped in front of the doctor.

“I'll leave you two alone with Mr. Higgins. If you have any questions, Sadie, or need anything, please ask the nurse to call me. I'll be back later to check on your father.”

The doctor nodded at Rory, then walked down the hall. Rory took Sadie into the room. He dropped the bag he'd brought on the floor and sat in the chair beside her father's bed. He cradled Sadie in his lap and let her cry.

Rory rubbed Sadie's back. “It's okay, sweetheart, let it all out.”

A nurse came in with a box of tissues and set it on the bed within reach. “Can I get you anything?”

“If you don't mind, a glass of water, please.” Rory hugged Sadie closer as her tears faded, but her grief kept her clinging to him. He didn't mind. In fact, her need for his comfort, the way she'd flown into his arms, relieved to see him, spoke to how close they'd become in such a short time.

The nurse handed him the glass of water. “I'll be back to check on Mr. Higgins in just a little while.
Uh, there's a bathroom two doors down if she'd like to get cleaned up.”

“Thanks, I'll take care of her.”

Rory waited for the nurse to leave. He held Sadie close, his cheek pressed to her head. Her breath washed over his neck in uneven gasps and hiccups. She lay curled into his chest on his lap. He rubbed her back in soft circles until her breathing evened out and she rested quietly against him.

“Sadie, sweetheart, drink some of this water. You'll feel better.”

She sat up on his lap and took the plastic cup. She sipped the water, then set it on the nearby table. The sigh she let loose reverberated through him.

“Better?”

“Not really, and yes.” She finally looked him in the eye. Hers filled with unshed tears again. “I'm so glad you're here.”

He leaned in and kissed her softly.

She leaned back. “I'm sorry I cried all over you.” She wiped his shoulder, over his wet T-shirt.

He took her hand to keep her from fussing for no reason. “I don't mind. I'm sorry about what's happened and that you're sad. It kills me when you cry.”

Rory gently pushed her forward to stand as he rose from the chair. He took her hand and led her to the door.

“Where are we going?”

He held her hand up for her to see. “You need to get cleaned up. We'll only be a few minutes,” he added when she stared back at her father. He picked up the bag he'd dropped on the floor.

“Where did that come from?”

“Your closet.” He led her down the hall to the bathroom door. He knocked once to make sure it was empty, opened the door, and pulled her inside behind him.

“You went to my house and packed my clothes?”

Rory turned the water on in the sink and adjusted the hot and cold to make the water warm. “When you didn't show up at my place, I went hunting for you. I saw your father's room. Man, Sadie, that scared me to death.”

“I'm sorry I didn't call you.”

“You were taking care of your father. Now, let me take care of you. Come here.” He took Sadie's hands and held them under the water.

“I forgot.” She held her hands up, staring at the red water running over her hands.

“I'm here to think about the mundane. You've got far more important things to think about right now.”

“My heart is in that room with him, but all I can think about right now is how lucky I am to have you here with me.”

Rory stopped in the process of scrubbing soap over Sadie's hands and forearms. He rubbed his thumbs over the scars on her wrists. “I almost lost my chance with you, and now all I think about is being with you. You're kind of driving me crazy.”

That earned him a small smile.

“I am, huh. Well, I'll try to stop.”

He shut the water off and pulled two paper towels from the dispenser. He patted her hands dry. “It really is your fault I get nothing done anymore. I find myself wondering what you're doing. I lose all track of time daydreaming about you.”

“What am I doing in all these daydreams?” Her
husky voice and the way her eyebrow cocked up made him grin.

“You don't want to know what I picture you doing,” he teased. To keep things light, he distracted himself from looking at her by picking up the duffel bag and setting it on the lip of the sink.

“Maybe I do. How else am I going to fulfill your every fantasy?”

He groaned, reached out for her neck, and drew her in for a soft kiss. He lingered over the task. His pleasure to take his time and taste her sweetness. He brushed his lips to hers, then pressed his forehead to hers. He didn't open his eyes, but held the image of her and him in bed together in his mind. “You win. I'll stop.”

“Please don't. Not on my account.” She pressed her lips to his, sliding her tongue along his, tempting him to take more. He did, taking command of her mouth and holding her close, her breasts pressed to his chest. Mindful of where they were and why, he didn't mind distracting her from reality, but he wouldn't give in to her temptation here. He wanted her with a desperation that went beyond a simple hunger that could be slaked with a quick romp. When he made love to her, he wanted to take his time, explore all the wonderful things about Sadie, and tap into this sultry, seductive side she hinted at with her bold statement about fulfilling his every fantasy.

Just the thought made him ache, but he kept the kiss tame with a hint of the heat they could share.

She pulled away and pressed her rosy lips together, her eyes still closed. “Rory.” His name on her lips sounded so sweet. Like a siren's song. But he didn't answer it. He reined in his baser needs and brushed his
hands down both sides of her long blond hair, remembering his true reason for being here. To comfort her.

“Take your clothes off.”

Her eyes flew open and went wide. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. “What? Here?”

“Yes.” He loved teasing her, but had to put a stop to this before he couldn't stop. “You're covered in blood. You need to change out of those dirty things and put on the clean clothes I brought you.”

“Oh.” She released him and stared into the bag he'd packed.

“When I finally get you naked, we will be somewhere private. We will have all the time in the world to be alone and together.”

She stared up at him. “I wish that's where we were now instead of here.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “Me too.” He held her gaze, letting her see in him how much he wanted her. How much being with her mattered to him.

She sorted through the clothes he'd packed, looked up, and smiled. “So your brother prefers lace panties, but you'd rather I wear none.”

“Um, I guess I wasn't thinking when I packed.”

Her mouth turned down into a fake frown. “Perhaps your subconscious made the slip on purpose.”

“I'll be sure to thank it later.”

Sadie smiled, gathered her stack of clothes in her hands, sidestepped around him, and set the clothes on the toilet tank. He turned away, giving her space to get dressed. Didn't mean he didn't sneak a peek at the back of her in the mirror. She pulled her soiled T-shirt over her head and dropped it to the tile floor. Ruined, better
to just throw it away than try to clean it. She probably didn't want to wear it again and remember today.

She shimmied out of her jeans, giving him a nice view of her round bottom encased in pink cotton panties with white lace trim. He gulped and averted his gaze.

“The blood soaked through everything.” The tremble in her voice made his chest tight.

“Take it all off. There's no one here you need to impress or be embarrassed in front of.”

“Can you pull out the dark purple shirt you brought? I don't want to wear the white without a bra. Don't want to give the whole hospital a show.”