Melanie grabbed a couple of more quarters and bought a soda. Well, time to do what would piss off the entire family and make the phone call none of them would make. Then, she quickly drew her cell phone from her pocket and pressed speed dial.
“Hello?” a sleepy voice mumbled.
“Dawn? It’s Melanie.” Mel was pretty sure nobody had thought to call Dawn Freeze at college.
“Mel?” Something rustled, and Dawn’s voice gained clarity. “What’s wrong?”
Melanie forced herself to remain calm. “Hawk was injured in a helicopter crash, had the navy bring him home, and checked himself out of the Helena hospital. Then, somehow, he was found by the side of the road. He’s in Maverick at the hospital and hasn’t gained consciousness.”
Silence beat over the line for several seconds. “Nobody called me.”
“I’m calling you. We’re at the hospital right now and don’t know anything yet.” Melanie kept her voice calm, sure the boys wouldn’t have called their younger sister until knowing something. But she would’ve wanted to know, and so did Dawn.
Dawn gasped. “I’ll head home right away.”
“That’s up to you, but please drive carefully.”
“I will. Thanks for calling me, Mel. You’re a good friend.” Dawn disengaged the call.
“Did you just call my sister?” Colton asked from the doorway.
Melanie gasped and turned around. The man moved silently enough to be military trained. “Yes.”
Colton frowned, harsh lines in his face and anger in his eyes. “Why did you do that? Now she’ll drive through the storm to get here.”
“So? She’s an adult, and she can make her own choices.” Plus, she was Mel’s friend. “If you were injured and in the hospital, I would fully expect Dawn to give me a call. That’s all I did.”
Irritation swirled across Colt’s face. “We don’t know anything about Hawk, and Dawn needs to stay at school. I’ll keep her informed.”
Melanie coughed as her temper sprang to life. She was tired, she was wet, and her damn arm hurt. She didn’t need a lecture from one of Dawn’s way overprotective brothers. “You dumb son of a bitch. Dawn has been in love with Hawk since he fished her out of Miller’s pond when she was four. She needs to be here.”
A flush covered Colton’s high cheekbones, and he yanked a cell from his back pocket. “That silly crush was over a long time ago. Thanks for the help, but my family can handle this.” Turning on his heel, he exited the room.
Chapter Sixteen
Colton loosened his hands on the stirrups as he led the way through the forest on the edge of their land, finally opening to a wide field. After leaving the hospital, he’d grabbed a few hours of sleep before lunchtime, and then he and his brothers had been repairing fences downed by the storm. “Hey, I was thinking about moving Lodge-Freeze headquarters to Mineral Lake.”
Quinn pulled abreast of him on his vibrating stallion. “Works for me.”
Jake pulled up on the other side. “The top floor of the Franks building is for lease.”
“I know. I actually called Old Man Franks to see if he’d be interested in selling the entire building. Paying rent doesn’t sit well with me.” Colton eyed the metal barn in the distance.
“How is business, anyway?” Jake asked.
Colton took a deep breath. He’d deliver the bad news later—when he could tell everybody at once. “We can have a meeting tonight to discuss the upcoming year. Considering Dawn is coming home.” Yeah, he was putting off the inevitable as long as possible.
Quinn glanced at his watch. “She should be home in a couple of hours. I guess we should’ve called her first.”
“Yes. She’s pissed.” Colton drew up on the reins. “Though not as pissed as Mel is. I didn’t handle that well.”
“You are a moron,” Jake agreed.
“You don’t want Dawn coming home right now any more than I do.” Colton rolled his eyes. “She’ll camp out at the hospital, and that’s not a good thing.”
Quinn growled. “I thought this whole crush thing she had for Hawk was over.”
“It is.” Jake squinted at the clouds now rolling across the sky. “But they’re still old friends.”
“What if the crush isn’t over?” Colton asked quietly.
His brothers didn’t answer him. Hawk was family, and they’d die for him. But the guy definitely had issues after his time in the service, and their baby sister was innocent.
“It’s over,” Quinn said. “What’s up with you and Mel, anyway?”
Colton sighed. He’d been expecting the question. “It’s complicated.”
“Bullshit.” Jake blew out air. “If you’re just messing with her, I’m going to mess with you.”
Colton nodded. “I figured.” If he hurt Mel, he deserved both his brothers trying to kick his ass. Of course, he knew how to fight, too. “I won’t hurt her.”
Quinn groaned. “I have to ask, and I don’t want to sound like a girl, but I have to say the words. How do you feel about Mel?”
Jake snorted. “You sound like a shrink, not a girl.”
“Shut up.” Quinn steered his stallion toward a ridge. “Answer the question, Colt.”
“I don’t know.” Colton hunched his shoulders. “She’s different than anybody I’ve been with, and I’d cut off my arm before hurting her. The idea of her with somebody else makes me want to hit something, and when she flew over the head of that horse—” He cut himself off. There weren’t words.
Jake smiled and nodded. “He’s in love.”
“Of course he’s in love with Mel—he has been for eons.” Quinn shook his head. “He’s finally realizing it. Dumbass.”
“He’s always been slow,” Jake agreed.
“Both of you shut up.” Colton dug in his heels. “We haven’t been dating long enough to be in love. We’ll date and then figure it out.”
“Ah. The life plan according to numb-nuts.” Quinn nodded sagely. “Stick with your life plan, and you’re going to lose her.”
The thought of really losing Mel, of not having her in his life, compressed Colton’s lungs. “I’m done talking about this.”
“So am I.” Quinn dismounted. “What’s everyone’s plan for the rest of this fine Saturday?”
“I’m heading home to play with the kids and check on my pregnant wife,” Jake said slowly. “How about a barbecue and family board meeting at my house tonight?”
“Sounds good. I have paperwork at the office and then I’m home helping Juliet move paintings around in her gallery.” Quinn grinned. “Can’t wait for the board meeting.”
Colton sighed. “I’m heading to the hospital to yell at Hawk to wake up, and then apparently I’m preparing for a board meeting.”
“Will Mel be there?” Jake asked with a sly grin.
“Why? She’s not family,” Colton retorted. Besides, Mel was so pissed at him right now, she wouldn’t even take his calls. Maybe flowers would help.
“You truly are a dumbass,” Quinn muttered.
God. People needed to quit saying that. “I’ll call when I get a visual on Dawn,” Colton said.
He finished with the horses and hurried outside to his truck, taking time to appreciate how the meager sunlight sparkled off fresh snow as he drove through town. The storefronts all showed green decorations ranging from clovers to drunken leprechauns.
Flashing back to their third grade parade, he grinned. Melanie’s grandpop had hand-sewn her a mermaid costume that was spectacular. He’d been so proud until discovering that his new-found talent put him in immediate demand for all school plays and festivities.
Through the years, the good-natured rancher had sewn plenty of costumes.
God, he’d been a good man. While Melanie put on a strong face, she had to be missing him.
Colton frowned. He’d been way too hard on her about calling Dawn.
He plotted the way to get her to forgive him as he drove out of town and across the county to the Maverick hospital.
Pulling into a parking spot of the hulking wood building, he glanced around for her car.
Disappointment flooded him that she wasn’t there.
Sighing, he hustled out of the car and loped into the hospital, winding through hallways until reaching Hawk’s room. Once at the door, he stopped short.
Dawn sat in a chair, her small hands wrapped around Hawk’s large one. Fear sat in her eyes and along her classic face.
Fuck. His sister was in love. The real kind.
Colton hitched inside, and she turned tear-filled eyes toward him.
He paused again. When had his baby sister turned into such a beautiful woman? Dark blue eyes took prominence in delicate features, while her black hair hung straight to her shoulders in a classic cut.
She stood and hugged him, her grip strong and somehow delicate. The scent of huckleberries surrounded her, and reminded him of home. She didn’t even reach his chin, and a wave of protectiveness swept him. “How are you?” he asked.
She levered back and smiled. “Fine. You?”
Actually, his life was a bit fucked up right now. “Great. Any news on Hawk?”
She turned back toward their friend. “His medical records came in, and he’s scheduled for an MRI in an hour. Vitals are good, but he hasn’t awakened.”
Colton slipped an arm around her shoulder and tucked her close. “I would’ve come to get you.”
“I can drive, Colt.” She elbowed him in the ribs. “Though you should’ve called me sooner.”
Maybe. “How’s school?”
“Good. Finals are in two months, and then I’m done with one more degree. Everyone thinks I’m crazy for applying to Oxford for the doctorate.” She shrugged.
He grinned. “You’re just wanting to put more letters after your name than I have. In fact, I’ve been to more of your graduations than my own.” He was plenty proud of his baby sister.
She nodded and tugged him toward the chairs. “I wish Hawk would wake up.”
“Me too.” Colton settled in to support his sister and guard his friend. “I need your help getting Melanie to forgive me.”
“She said you were a complete ass,” Dawn said.
“I was.”
Dawn grinned. “I figured. So, let’s plan, and then I’m supposed to help you with the Paddy’s Day float.”
…
Colton cradled little Nathan as he loped over bouncy castles, stuffed frogs, and a smattering of little socks to answer the doorbell. “I’ll get it,” he called back to Jake, who was busy barbecuing steaks on the back deck.
He’d put everyone to work creating the Dracula-leprechaun-themed float, and it was now ready to go.
Then he grinned at the changes in the house since Nathan had arrived. For so long there were princess and mermaid toys all around for Leila, and now miniature footballs and frogs kept appearing. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered to his nephew, who looked up with huge dark eyes in an already strong face.
Yeah, at about a year old, the kid looked just like Jake.
Colton opened the door and stopped short.
Melanie blinked, her hands full of a huge casserole dish. “I thought you were at the hospital.”
“I was, but Quinn picked me up.” He shifted Nathan to his other arm as the boy held out chubby hands for Melanie. “Ah, switch.” Taking her dish, he smoothly slipped Nathan into her arms.
She grinned and cooed. “He has even more hair than he did last week.” With a sigh of pleasure, she nuzzled Nathan’s wild mane of black hair.
Colton drew her inside so he could shut the door. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
Melanie glanced up, obviously trying to hold on to her mad. But with a happily gurgling baby in her arms, the battle was a losing one. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. Why are you here, anyway?”
“My family likes me,” he said easily.
“They have to like you in case they need a kidney someday.” She kept her voice soft for Nathan’s sake, but spunk still shone in her eyes.
Man, he’d love to meet her challenge head-on, and better yet, in the bedroom. He grinned. “I overreacted, and I hurt your feelings by implying you weren’t family. For that, I’m truly sorry.”
She blinked twice.
He knew Melanie as well as he knew himself, and she never could resist a sincere apology. He really was sorry.
“Fine.” She brushed past him.
Playing stubborn, was she? The evening just became a whole lot more interesting. He inhaled the scent of her famous huckleberry cobbler with a sigh of appreciation and followed her into the chaotic kitchen.
His gaze only dropped twice to her tight ass in curve-hugging jeans. His own jeans suddenly felt too tight.
Dawn hopped off a stool to hug Melanie, the baby sandwiched between them. “Tell me you brought your cobbler,” Dawn said, untangling her hair from Nathan’s grabbing hands.
“Of course.” Melanie glanced around at the abundance of family. “I didn’t know this was a family barbecue.”
Dawn shrugged and slid her arm through Mel’s. “We’re having a quick board meeting before dinner, but it’s no big deal.”
Melanie faltered. “Who’s with Hawk?”
Sophie glanced up from chopping a salad on her new granite countertop. “Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Wilson are with him now, and then the Lady Elks are taking shifts all night. We’re back on duty tomorrow.”
Colton wasn’t sure Hawk would want so many people watching him sleep, but they did want somebody there when he woke up. “Hawk’s going to be cranky about this.”
Dawn grinned. “I know, right?” Although her smile was genuine, dark worry glimmered in her eyes. “I’d stay at the hospital, but the doctors are adamant that only one person be in with him at a time, and the whole town insists on taking a turn.”
“Hawk’s tough—he’ll be all right,” Colton said. God, he hoped that was true. Hawk had to wake up. Soon. “The MRI showed brain swelling, but not enough to do surgery. He’ll be fine.” If he woke up. The longer he remained unconscious, the greater the chance he’d slip into a coma.
Tom loped in from outside. “Let’s do this board meeting so we can eat.”
Colton nodded and led the way into his dad’s huge study, where he’d left quarterly reports. He served as president of the board, while Jake served as VP, Quinn as secretary, and Dawn as treasurer. Tom was ex-president, so he sat in on the meetings.
Colton cleared his throat. “Are Mom, Sophie, or Juliet joining us?”
“They said to go ahead, that since they’re not officers, they don’t have to stop having fun,” Dawn said with a longing look inside. “They’re looking on a website for new baby furniture along with Melanie.”
Colton called the meeting to order. His hands sweat, and a knot rolled in his stomach. “I, ah, made a mistake.”
His dad sat back, eyebrows raised. “What kind of a mistake?”
God. He couldn’t do this. “I got cocky and made a risky investment—we lost money.”
“How much?” Jake asked, frowning.
“Too much.” Colton cleared his suddenly dry throat. “I hunted down and secured the patents for the green stock I told you all about last year, but they won’t pay off for at least a year.”
Quinn leaned forward, his hands on the table. “What does that mean?”
Meeting Quinn’s gaze was one of the hardest things Colton had ever done. “No dividends for the year—maybe two years.”
Dawn gasped, her eyes wide. “None?”
“No.” Colton shuffled his feet. “The patents will pay well in a couple of years, I’m sure of it.”
Silence echoed around the room for several heartbeats. Colton could almost hear rapid minds kicking facts into place. His ears burned, and a tight knot of regret settled hard in his stomach. Why had he been so sure of his plan?
Finally, Tom sighed. “Then we tighten our belts for a couple of years.” He glanced out the window at his sprawling acreage.
Quinn rubbed his chin. “Juliet’s just starting to see cash flow at the gallery, but we can make it on my sheriff’s salary, even if the ranch takes a hit.”
Jake nodded. “I have a couple of good court cases coming up—might even have enough to pay ranch expenses for all of us.”
“But you have the baby and medical bills,” Dawn murmured. “I can put Oxford off, or take out student loans.” She pushed her dark hair out of her face, intelligence shining in her eyes. “Working for a year or two before Oxford wouldn’t hurt me any.”
Colton swallowed. “I’m so sorry.”
Then he steeled himself, prepared for their disappointment.
“We’ll be back on track in a couple of years?” Quinn asked, flipping through the report.
“It looks like it,” Colton said.
“Will this affect any of the land holdings we currently have?” Jake asked.
“No, but it will affect our ability to acquire more land for the next two years. And, nothing can go wrong with the ranches.” Yeah, right. Ranching by its very definition included risk. Colton leaned forward, gauging their reactions. Why wasn’t anybody yelling at him yet?
“Good enough.” His dad flipped closed the report. “We’re going to need your plan.”
Colton dropped into a chair. “My plan?”
“Yes.” Quinn tossed his report on the masculine coffee table. “You’re our financial guy. We’ll get you reports on what we think is coming in for the next year, you figure out expenses, and then come up with a plan.”
Jake rubbed his chin. “You are the planner.”
Dawn nodded. “We’ll just pool our resources. It isn’t like we haven’t done that before. I’ll get a job.”
“No,” her dad said. “If you want to attend Oxford, that goes in Colton’s plan as an expense. Period.”
Jake and Quinn nodded.
Colton frowned. “Why aren’t you all mad?”
Dawn’s eyebrows drew together. “Mad about what?”
“About my crappy business decision that has hindered us.” Colton rubbed his chin. “I’ve screwed up.” So much for his grand plan.
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