Home on the Ranch: Wyoming Cowboy Ranger

by Rebecca Winters

  “Well, I can tell you right now that Dr. Jensen isn’t going to be the one to help you. If you’ll teach me what to do, I’ll be the one to get you back to normal.”

  “I’d love that...” She was fading fast.

  The rain was still coming down hard as the helicopter landed at the hospital. A team of medical staff greeted them and rolled Lily on a gurney into a cubicle in the ER. He told them to have her back checked out as well for any injury she might not be feeling at the moment.

  They nodded and he followed them inside, but he was told to wait outside the curtain until they’d checked her out.

  Another staff member saw his shirtless condition and found a white T-shirt for him. As he was shrugging into it, a crowd of deputies surrounding the police chief came into the ER, followed by Holden, who made a beeline to Porter.

  Their gazes connected before he hugged him. “Thank God you and Lily are still alive.”

  “Amen to that. You and I both know how much worse it could have been. Do Lily’s parents know yet? She was asking about them in the helicopter.”

  “They’re on their way here.”

  He clenched his jaw. “Tell me what happened out there, Holden.”

  “Melissa drove into the foothills on a fire break road and camouflaged her car in the shrubbery. Then she very cleverly concealed herself in such a dense copse of trees, it took time for the two deputies nearest her to work their way in to even see her. They exchanged fire with her before she died.”

  She was dead? “Are the officers all right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want to thank them personally,” Porter said hoarsely.

  “You’ll get your chance.”

  “What about her horse?”

  “It’s already at the vet hospital. The deputies felt her mare was in pretty good shape,” Holden answered. “I’ll be notified of her prognosis soon.”

  “Good.”

  He released a ragged breath. So Melissa was gone... Heaven help Porter, but he wasn’t sorry. “She was beyond ill.”

  “Just like her brother.”

  Porter eyed his friend. “It’s over now. I have to pray Lily’s going to recover from this without any serious complications.” Please don’t let her spine be hurt again. “When I think of the crash she suffered in the Olympics and the months of recovery, it’s so unfair to think she’s been injured again. I shouldn’t have let her be a target.”

  “We’ve been over this before, Porter. Melissa was waiting to get both of you at the same time.”

  “But for this to have happened to Lily after all she’s done for me...”

  Holden gazed at Porter, a look of understanding in his eyes. “Now it’s your turn to take care of her. Right?”

  He nodded. “You better know it is! But a miracle happened that Lily is still alive.”

  “And you,” Holden reminded him.

  “I’ll love her forever.” Then he nodded at his friend. “Without your help and friendship, this might never have ended the way it did. I owe you.”

  One of the staff came out of the cubicle. “Mr. Ewing? The doctor says you can come in now. The patient is asking for you.”

  Holden patted him on the shoulder. “Go on in to her. I’ll watch for her parents.”

  “I’m getting more and more in your debt,” he said before hurrying to Lily’s bedside.

  “Porter—” She was groggy, but awake. “I thought you’d never come.”

  “That’s my fault,” Dr. Andrews said. “We had to stabilize you first.”

  Porter reached for her free hand since the other arm had an IV. “How are you feeling right now, sweetheart?”

  “Thankful to be alive and with you.”

  The doctor smiled at him. “She’s a brave woman. I’m happy to tell you the bullet only grazed that part of her leg. You did an excellent job of stopping the bleeding. With bed rest and bandaging, along with antibiotics, she’ll be back to normal before long with only a scar to show for it.”

  “I can live with a scar.” Lily’s lavender eyes were totally focused on Porter.

  Emotion overwhelmed him. “We’ll call it your mark of bravery, because that’s what you are. The bravest woman I’ve ever known.” He turned to the doctor. “She survived a near fatal crash in the Super G at the Olympics eight years ago and was hospitalized for months.”

  The other man glanced at Lily in surprise. “You were an Olympian?”

  “You didn’t need to tell him that, Porter.”

  “I love to tell everyone how outstanding you are. You would have medaled if the accident hadn’t happened. Today you escaped another accident with your life! I think you’ve been through enough and I couldn’t bear it if you’ve suffered another spinal injury.”

  The doctor shook his head. “She checks out fine that way, but we’ll take an X-ray later if she complains of pain she’s not feeling right now. We’re moving Ms. Owens to a private room within the hour. In a few days I’ll release her. What she needs right now is rest and care. I imagine you’ll help see to that.”

  “You can count on it.”

  Porter heard voices on the other side of the curtain. “I think your parents are here.”

  Dr. Andews pulled aside the curtain and Lily’s mother rushed in to kiss her daughter. Her father wasn’t far behind. Porter stood back and waited while they hugged and commiserated together while asking the doctor questions.

  After he left, Mr. Owens turned to Porter. There was telltale moisture in his eyes. “Thanks for staunching the blood and getting her here so fast. Once again my daughter has escaped tragedy.”

  “I was just telling the doctor about her accident during the Olympics and said virtually the same thing. But I don’t want her to have to go through any more trauma like this again in her lifetime.”

  “Agreed,” he said in a gravelly voice. “We’re thankful you’re all right and escaped harm, Mr. Ewing.”

  “Call me Porter.”

  “Considering how my daughter feels about you, we’ve already thought of you as Porter for quite a while.”

  “Considering how she feels about her father, I’ll take that as a compliment. She once told me the only man she could ever trust was you.”

  He chuckled. “I think I don’t hold that distinction any longer.”

  Now it was Porter’s turn to smile. “She’s my life, sir.”

  Her father’s blue eyes lit up. “Call me Ross.”

  A warm feeling of belonging swept through Porter as another staff member entered the cubicle and announced they were taking Lily to the third floor. He turned to her and covered her hand.

  “Did you hear that, Lily? They’re taking you up to my old stomping grounds.”

  A faint smile broke out on her lips. “It feels like the hospital has become our home.”

  His throat swelled. “For now.” He leaned over to kiss her mouth briefly. “While your parents go with you, I have some things to take care of and will see you in a little while.”

  For one thing he needed to call his mother and tell her all that had happened before she saw it on the news. This was a big story that would resonate in New York as well as here.

  When he stood up, her mother gave him a huge hug. “I’m Caroline. We’ll talk later,” she whispered. “Bless you for bringing her back home to us.”

  He cleared his throat. “It took everyone’s help including that from above. Tell Lily I’ll check in with her a little later.”

  “Of course.”

  The second he stepped out of the cubicle he ran into Wyatt.

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes, Porter. Cole and I cheered to learn that you and Lily were going to be all right once her leg has healed.”

  “Thanks, Wyatt. The doctor has told me she will be fine in time.”

  “The cheers from the deputie
s have kept coming to hear that lunatic was taken down for good,” his buddy told him. “You two have been through hell.”

  “You can say that again. I have to tell you I’m glad you’re here. Could you run me to the Owens ranch? I left my car there. On the way I’ll give you a play-by-play of how everything went down.”

  “I’m all ears. Let’s go, but we’ll dodge the reporters and leave the hospital through the exit at the other end of the hall. My car’s around the other side of the building.” Glancing over at him, Wyatt grinned. “By the way, that’s an interesting shirt you’re wearing. I didn’t know you had one like that in your wardrobe.”

  A chuckle escaped his lips. “After Lily was shot, I had to use my uniform to stop the bleeding. Someone here in the ER handed me this.”

  “You look good, dude.”

  The rain had turned to drizzle by the time they reached Wyatt’s truck and took off. “The whole business of Melissa Reiver and her brother has finally been buried forever. You’re looking at a new man with big plans.”

  “I sense another wedding coming up.”

  Porter nodded. “As soon as Lily is well enough to walk down the aisle.”

  “That’s the best news ever.”

  His lips quirked. “All the wives can stop trying to set me up with a special woman who’ll be perfect for me.”

  “I still haven’t met Lily yet. How come?”

  “I was keeping her under wraps during my therapy for fear you guys would give me too hard a time.”

  “So she’s hot,” Wyatt mused.

  “You have no idea.”

  The other man laughed. “Really.”

  “I promise you’ll meet her in a few days when I drive her home.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  It was evening by the time they turned into the drive winding into the Owens ranch. They’d stopped for some fast-food tacos on the way since they were both famished.

  “My car’s over by the corral. Can’t thank you enough for the lift, Wyatt.”

  “What are friends for?” He pulled up to it.

  Porter opened the truck door, but before he got out, he paused. “If there’d never been a Melissa Reiver hunting me down, I wouldn’t be living in the Wind River Mountain Range with friends like you or have met the love of my life.”

  “I hear you,” Wyatt murmured. “As you know, years ago when my parents and brother were killed by lightning in Nebraska, I had to come live with my grandparents here. I was in so much pain back then, I couldn’t imagine being happy again. Then Alex showed up at the sheep camp and I felt reborn.”

  “Holden told me a similar story. After losing his wife to cancer, his agony was so bad, his parents urged him to leave Cody and take the sheriff job here. A couple of years later, Jessica showed up in his office on a case and transformed his world.”

  After getting out of the truck, he turned to Wyatt. “When you think about it, Cole’s the only homegrown guy. Ironic he had to spend so many years away before coming back to claim Tamsin.”

  Wyatt nodded. “Life is good. We’re going to throw you an engagement party on my ranch as soon as Lily is mobile.”

  “First I need to propose to her, but I like the sound of that. Thanks again for everything.”

  Porter closed the door and got in his car. Before he showed up at the hospital, he needed to go home to shower and change clothes since he planned to spend the night with Lily. He also needed to get to a florist for some flowers.

  Chapter 10

  Lily’s parents were at her bedside and had eaten the dinner the kitchen had sent up for them. She still had the IV in her arm and would be on fluids until morning. They’d propped her leg, making it awkward for her to sit up.

  While they talked about Trixie’s care, she heard a tap on the door and her blond-headed hero came in her hospital room with a vase of red roses. She gasped in delight. The sight of him freshly shaven in a sport shirt and chinos stole her breath. As her mother had said earlier, he was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen in her life. Her mom sure knew what she was talking about.

  Porter set the flowers on the counter and walked over to kiss her lips, then greeted her parents. They talked for a few minutes. The crisis had created a closeness between the four of them. Though Lily was dying to be alone with him, she loved it that her folks were already crazy about Porter and wanted to hear any details he could share with them.

  “I was on the phone with everyone on my drive over here. Holden contacted my old boss in New York to tell him the news.” He stared into Lily’s eyes. “Everyone is incredibly relieved and sends their best wishes for a quick and total recovery, sweetheart.”

  Her mother patted Porter’s arm. “Now that you’re here, we’ll go.”

  “I’ve already talked to the desk and plan to spend the night with Lily. I promise to phone you if she needs or wants anything.”

  Her father smiled. “I think our Lily has everything she could ask for now that you’ve come. Good night, honey.”

  “I know you must be exhausted. Go home and get some sleep.” Lily kissed her parents.

  “We’ll call you in the morning.”

  “Thanks for everything, Mom.”

  Porter walked them to the door and they said good-night.

  “I thought you’d never get here,” she said softly.

  He rushed over to her. “I’m sorry it took this long,” he whispered against her lips. “Because it was a criminal case, I had to stop at police headquarters to make official statements and clarify the facts while everything was fresh.”

  “I understand, darling.”

  Darling. The most beautiful word he’d ever heard.

  His eyes searched every centimeter of her features. “Your color has come back. Honestly, Lily, you’re so gorgeous, and I’m so thankful you’re alive, I’m close to speechless. Just let me hold you for a minute.”

  He pulled her close to him, breaking down her last barrier, and she wept softly in his arms. They stayed that way until housekeeping came in with his cot.

  After the man had gone back out, she groaned because Porter separated himself from her long enough to set the cot next to her bed on the other side, away from the computer. She watched him in the semidarkness.

  “I’ve dreamed about us sleeping together, Porter, but never imagined our first night would be like this.”

  He came close again and propped himself on the edge of her bed with both arms spread on either side of her shoulders. “Tell me about it.”

  “Where did you go after you left the hospital earlier?”

  “Wyatt drove me to pick up my car.”

  “That’s right. It was parked by the corral.”

  “Yup. The two of us got a bite to eat before I went home to do everything else. We both agreed that true life is stranger than fiction. You and I met under highly unusual circumstances, and there’s been nothing normal about our relationship ever since.”

  “I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

  “Except for the Reiver family, neither would I. But they’re out of our lives now.” He leaned down and kissed her passionately until she moaned with pleasure.

  Her eyes played over his face. “If you really want to know, helping you with your therapy thrilled me from the very start.”

  He smiled. “Since we’re comparing notes, on that first day when you put that gait belt around me, I came close to grabbing you and kissing you senseless. The only thing that stopped me was the fear that you’d slap me and order me to leave. I couldn’t risk that when I’d just found you.”

  “You hid your feelings so well, I went crazy.”

  “I loved you immediately. It happened so hard and fast, I forgot all about my accident and was determined to win your love no matter how long it took.” He tenderly cradled her face in his hands. “Now that I know you
love me, too, I want to make love to you all night.

  “But once again, we can’t be alone together in here the way I want any more than we could have made love on the pad of the therapy-room floor yesterday. You have to hurry and get better, or I’m going to be climbing the walls. A man can only take so much.”

  “Women have the same problem,” she admitted and kissed him hungrily, though she was starting to have trouble staying awake. Once again, his kisses whisked her away to a divine place, where nothing mattered but to love and be loved. “Please don’t move,” she begged when he started to sit up.

  “We can’t do this, sweetheart. It’s after eleven. You need to rest. I’m going to get on the cot and be with you all night. We’ll talk until your pain meds put you to sleep.”

  “Promise you’ll stay right here?”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m so insanely in love with the most fantastic ranger in the Winds, I don’t know myself anymore.”

  “I can tell you’re feeling the medication, but I love hearing anything you have to say.” One more kiss and he slid off the edge of her bed. After fixing the cot blanket and pillow, he lay down and turned on his side toward her. “Can you see me?”

  She chuckled. “Kind of, but you’re too far away.”

  “Our time is coming.”

  “I can’t wait!”

  Suddenly the door opened and a nurse came in to check her vital signs and the IV bag. “You two have been on the news tonight and are full-blown celebrities. Did you watch?”

  Porter propped himself on one elbow. “No. We’d like to forget it.”

  The nurse logged information into the computer. “Well, I think you’re both incredibly brave to have survived such a terrifying ordeal. If you need anything, just press that buzzer. I’m Doris, and I’m on duty all night.”

  “Thank you, Doris,” Lily murmured. The minute the nurse left the room, Lily looked at the man she loved with all her heart and soul. “I didn’t know we were on TV.”

  “According to Holden, it’s the biggest story around here since he caught the killer of Jessica’s first husband. A deranged brother and sister involved in high crime in these parts doesn’t happen very often.”