“Katie Rose!” He dropped on one knee as she stumbled to her feet. Then she was in his arms and he was holding her, crushing her to his chest.
“Uncle Ross, you’re squeezing me too much.” She struggled in his grip.
“Sorry, honey, sorry.” He lessened his hold and bundled her into his arms to stand. “Are you hurt?”
“I skinned my knees when I fell.” She snuggled against him as he began to struggle up the side of the ravine. “I almost caught that blasted bunny. Then I went ass over appetite down the bank.”
A grin tugged at Ross’s mouth. More of Grady’s lingo. He didn’t care. Let her parents correct her. Right now he just thanked God she was in his arms and not in the back of some infamous black van.
****
“We’re home.” Ross opened the farmhouse door with an awkward move that made the child in his arms giggle. Fox hobbled in beside them and fell down on the floor.
“Don’t drop me, Uncle Ross.”
“Never, baby, never.”
“Oh, dear God, Katie Rose!” Shelby burst out from the living room. For a moment she stared at the pair. Then she rushed forward to gather the child into her arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Katie, Katie, Katie!” She crushed her against her.
“Mommy, you’re squeezing too much…just like Uncle Ross when he found me.”
She put a hand on each side of Shelby’s face and grinned at her. “Mommy, don’t cry. I’m fine. I just chased a bunny.”
She glanced at Ross, and he gave her a thumbs up. No “blasted” or “ass over appetite.” The kid knows her boundaries.
“Ross, where…how…?” Shelby stared at him over the child’s head.
“We’ll get it straightened out later. Right now”—he looked at Jessi, who’d come to stand in the door that led to the parlor—“we’d better get on the horn and call off the search. I think her dad and her uncle will be glad to get the news.”
“I’m on it.” Jessi pulled out her cell and began punching in numbers.
“Mommy, I need a bath.” Katie Rose held up dirty hands. Her face was streaked with dirt, and the knees of her jeans torn.
“Of course you do, sweetheart.” Shelby started for the stairs but paused to turn back.
“Ross, thank you. A thousand million thank-yous.”
“No problem.”
“Search successfully terminated.” Jessi punched in more numbers as mother and daughter disappeared in the direction of the stairs. “Now to let her father and uncle know.”
“Hello, Jake. Jessi here. Ross found Katie Rose. She chased a rabbit into the woods and got lost. Yes, yes, she’s fine. Shelby’s giving her a bath. Yes, I will thank Ross. See you soon.” When she’d finished her call, Jessi came over to stand close in front of him.
“Looks like you’re a definite hero, Ross Turner.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “I think you deserve a beer. I’m sure Shelby and Jake won’t mind if you help yourself to one from the fridge.”
“In a minute.” He knelt beside Fox, lying on her side, tongue lolling out of her mouth where she had dropped on entering the kitchen. “This little girl needs water, just a bit. Too much wouldn’t be good for right now. And when she’s rested, food. She found Katie, not me.”
“Good girl.” Jessi dropped down beside the pair. Then, “Ross, look. There’s blood coming through her bandage!”
“Jesus!” He stared at the red circle near the dog’s shoulder. “She’s torn her stitches.”
“She’s bleeding.” Jessi examined the bandage. “The stain’s getting bigger, but we’ll have to wait until Shelby gets Katie Rose to bed before we can trouble her with this problem.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ross dropped his hand on the dog’s head. “Easy, girl, easy. You did a great job tonight. We’ll get you fixed up real soon.”
But a chunk of something hard and cold had settled in his chest. She was panting hard, her eyes glazing over. He knew the signs.
****
They were both still on the floor with the dog when Jake and Travis burst into the kitchen.
“Where is she?” The words jerked from Jake. His face was a mask of tension.
“Upstairs having a warm bath.” Jessi looked up at him.
He strode across the kitchen but paused at the door to turn back, hand extended down to Ross. “Thanks isn’t near enough to express how I feel right now, Ross.” The emotion in his eyes all but undid Ross.
“Glad to have been able to help.”
“We’ll talk later. Right now, I have to see my baby.”
“Sure.” And Jake was gone, bounding up the stairs in strides they could hear.
“I’ll let him have his reunion with his kid and wife.” Travis pulled off his jacket and hung it on a peg by the door. “What’s wrong with the dog?”
“She was recovering from a car accident.” Ross stroked her head as her eyes closed. “I thought she might be able to track the little girl, and she did. But it was too much for her in her condition. She’s opened her wound.” He pointed to the slowly widening circle of blood. “We’re waiting until Shelby gets Katie Rose to bed…”
“I don’t like the looks of this.” Travis got down beside them. “It should be taken care of right away.”
“We can’t expect Shelby…” Jessi began.
“No, but you can expect me.” Travis drew a deep breath. “I used to assist Shel in the surgery before I went on the road and Jake took over. If you’ll trust me, I’ll see what I can do.” He looked up at Ross.
“Sure.”
“Okay. I’ll get a blanket, and we’ll carry her into the surgery. Jessi, Shelby told me you have experience with injured horses. I’ll need an assistant. How about it?”
“I’ve never actually done surgery, but if you think I can help, sure.”
****
Ross was sitting in the parlor, nursing a beer, when Jake came back downstairs.
“How is she?” Ross stood too quickly and flinched.
“Bathed and fast asleep in her bed, holding onto that ragged pony.” He sucked in a deep breath. “How can we ever thank you, Ross?”
“Ah, lucky guess, nothing more.”
“Nevertheless, your finding her means the world to Shelby and me. Someday, when you’re a father, you’ll get the full impact of what you did for us. Come into the kitchen. I’m going to make Shelby my mother’s cure for bad times…hot, sweet tea.”
Ross followed him, the words about his being a father someday resonating in his head. Except for that fleeting moment on the beach the day he’d pulled Katie Rose to safety, he’d never considered fatherhood. He’d planned on letting Chase be responsible for producing the next generation of Turners.
“Where’s Jessi and Travis…and Fox?” Jake asked as he held an electric kettle under the tap.
“Jessi and Travis are in the surgery.” He took a swallow of beer before he continued. “Fox’s wound opened. They’re stitching it up.”
“No!” Jake turned off the tap and turned to him, the word echoing his distressed surprise. “Shelby told me the little dog tracked Katie Rose and found her. Damn it, don’t tell me she’s in danger now.”
“Fox’ll be okay.” Ross sat down at the table and watched his thumb run up and down the bottle’s surface. “Your brother-in-law said he’s had lots of experience assisting Shelby, and Jess has a big reputation for healing…horses.”
“Hell!” Jake plugged in the kettle and went to the refrigerator for a beer. He slumped into a chair opposite Ross. “What a night!”
“Yeah.”
****
Ross vaulted to his feet as Jessi and Travis came back into the kitchen. He couldn’t bring himself to ask the question.
“Looks good.” Travis, wearing scrubs, put his hands on his hips and drew a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure she’ll be okay, but I’ll have Shelby take a look at her when she’s available.”
“Can I see her?” Ross rubbed sweaty palms on the seat of his jeans and wet dry lips
.
“We put her on the back seat of your truck,” Jessi answered. “We’d better be going, Ross. She needs to be settled to rest, and bumping over that trail to the farm won’t do her much good.” She began to pull off the scrubs covering her jeans and shirt.
“Right. Good, very good.” Ross realized he sounded rambling but he didn’t care. Fox had a chance. He held out his hand to Travis. “Thank you, my man.”
“Don’t thank me just yet.” He grinned the grin that drove young women worldwide crazy and made men try to emulate. “I’ve been out of practice for a while. Where’s Jake and Shelby and the kid?”
“Upstairs. Asleep, I’m guessing. They had a tough night.”
“Definitely.” Travis began to remove his surgical clothing. “Guess I’ll follow them. Thanks again, guys.”
****
They drove in silence until they entered the lane to the farmhouse, and then Jessi spoke.
“What a terrible experience for Jake and Shelby…and Travis. I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a child.”
“You got that right.” She looked over at him, at the hard planes of his handsome face as he concentrated on easing the truck over ruts and roots.
“Ross, what’s wrong? You’ve been silent as the grave since we left Ebony M Farm. Fox is going to be okay, I’m sure of it. Travis did a great…”
“Damn it, Jess, it’s not Fox…well, partly, I guess, but it’s more. Something Jake said…about me understanding how he and Shelby felt when I had kids of my own.”
“He was right. Only a parent can truly experience the emotions they suffered tonight.”
“Yeah, well, Jake got me thinking. I don’t want that kind of gut wrenching, not now, not ever. I’m willing, more than willing, to leave all that to Chase.”
“But maybe now you can start to appreciate how your parents felt when you got hurt, when they didn’t know if you’d survive.” The words burst out, and immediately she knew they were exactly the wrong ones in the circumstance.
“Ah, God!” He hit the gas and the truck jumped over an exposed root. “Here we go again. The old psychology bit.”
“Ross…”
“Jesus, Jess, can’t you give it a rest? Guilt trips never work with me.”
“Oh, fine, sure.” His lack of empathy suddenly rankled her to the bone. She let loose with all the vehemence she’d been containing. “Hide from anything that lets anyone see the great Ross Turner can be vulnerable, can actually care for anyone beyond himself. Go back to Alberta and ride bulls until you get killed or permanently crippled. Let your brother carry your family’s future entirely on his shoulders. Why should you care? You’ve got crowds to please, buckle bunnies to satisfy!”
“You got that right, and I’m sure as hell not ready to leave all that behind to settle down with a wife and kids who’ll drive me crazy.”
“What? Where did that come from?”
“Oh, come on. You don’t really think I swallowed all that crap about your coming down here to save me from myself out of any idea of repaying my family for helping yours out, did you?”
“Okay, then you tell me. Why did I come?”
“To find yourself another washed-up rodeo cowboy willing to marry you and settle down to life on your father’s ranch…to replace Clint Harrison.”
“Are you crazy? After Clint Harrison, what would make you think in your wildest thoughts that I’d be looking for another tomcat cowboy?”
“By trying to show me how great life is for Shelby and Jake. Well, that backfired big time tonight, didn’t it? There’s no way I want that kind of responsibility.”
He slammed on the brakes, jolting her forward. They’d reached the farmyard, and the lights of the truck pointed out onto a bay still and blank in a deadly calm. He swung out of the truck and opened the rear door. A moment later he’d gathered Fox into his arms and was walking toward the house with long, uneven angry strides.
“Wait!” Jessi jumped out and ran to get ahead of him. “Wait,” she continued more softly as she caught up to him on the verandah. “Let me make a bed for her beside your mattress.”
His reply was a grunt as she opened the door and held it for him.
“Thanks.” The word was half mutter, half grunt as he moved past her.
Chapter Sixteen
Once Fox was on blankets beside Ross’s mattress and appeared settled to sleep, Jessi headed for the bathroom, pajamas in hand. Animosity still thick between them, he hadn’t spoken since his curt “thanks” at the door. Trying to get more words from him could only result in a further confrontation, Jessi realized. At the moment she felt too weary to spar with him.
When she returned to the parlor, he was gone, but Fox had been covered with a light blanket, which she hadn’t been when Jessi had gone to shower.
The man does have a heart, but it’s buried deep, deep.
But where was he? Surely he hadn’t gone swimming again. For a moment, fear gripped her. She went to the front door and opened it. A soft snore from the direction of the old hammock at the far end brought a small grin of relief to her lips. Moving softly, she went to look at him, sprawled in the swing.
Exhausted. And more emotionally than physically …even though he’d be the last person on earth to admit it.
She returned to the parlor and picked up a blanket. As quietly as possible, she went back onto the porch and covered him. He moved and muttered but didn’t wake.
Content she’d done all she could for him, she went back inside and checked on Fox. The little dog opened her eyes at her touch, then returned to sleep.
Jessi lay down on her mattress and tried to settle to rest. It didn’t come easily. Ross had accused her of trying to trick him into marriage, of making him a substitute for Clint Harrison. As if! Was the man crazy?
****
She woke to the smell of coffee. For a moment she lay still, getting her thoughts in order, thinking back to the previous day…the evening and night in particular. What an emotional roller coaster it had been. But, she thought as she sat up and rubbed sleep from her eyes, it had all ended well…sort of. She added the last as she remembered the angry words she and Ross had shared. Hopefully, in morning light, they could put it behind them and start again. It had been an emotionally charged night.
She got up and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and hair. She almost continued on to the kitchen in her pajamas before she remembered Ross’s remark about this not being a frat house.
When she arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later, she wore jeans and a sweatshirt that read “Product of Alberta.”
“Good morning.” She decided to pretend those angry words hadn’t passed between them hours earlier. Fox, who’d been lying at Ross’s feet beneath the table, struggled up and staggered to greet her. “Looks like a fine day. Fox seems on the mend.” Bending to pet the dog, she glanced toward the window.
The answer was a grunt.
“So it’s going to be like that, is it?” In spite of her resolve to let bygones be bygones, his reply brought it all back.
Who does he think he is? What gives him the right to stay emotionally outside the box of living?
He stood and went to replenish his coffee.
“Oh, God, Ross, don’t act like a disgruntled twelve-year-old. So you got tangled up yesterday in a whole bunch of feelings you didn’t know you had. So you found out Ross Turner could actually be afraid. So what! Everyone is afraid at one time or another. Discovering you’re no exception isn’t a disgrace.”
“Yeah, well, maybe being expected to be a platonic roommate with a female horse doctor who was sent, against my wishes, to work her magic on me is really grating on me. I didn’t sign up for any of this nonsense, as you’ll recall, and now I’ve had enough!”
He shot her a look that would have curdled milk, then headed toward the front of the house. The slamming of the front door marked his going out onto the porch.
****
The sound of a vehicle gunning up
the drive late that afternoon drew her attention to the kitchen window. A black convertible braked to a stop, its wax job so intense that, combined with the sun glinting off the windshield, for a moment Jessi couldn’t make out the driver.
“Ross, where are you, sweetie?”
A tall, willowy brunette stepped out, waist-length hair so black it gleamed blue-black. She wore jeans that might have been painted on, and a black leather jacket. Knee-high boots completed the appearance of sexy and knowing it.
“Ross!” Apparently spotting him on the front verandah, the woman strode around to the front of the house. “God, I’ve missed you, baby.”
Was this the infamous Catherine Holt, the woman Laura Turner wanted her to keep away from Ross? An intense desire to make the uninvited woman as unwelcome as possible engulfed Jessi She’d be justified, wouldn’t she? After all, hadn’t Ross’s mother deputized her to keep the woman away from her son?
She stepped out onto the verandah to find the woman with her arms around Ross’s neck, kissing him.
“I see you’re not alone.” She stepped back and jerked her head in Jessi’s direction. “I might have guessed. I should have known there was more to this recluse thing than you were telling Simon.” She surveyed Jessi critically. “Cute.” The word was cold and demeaning. “Introduce us, sweetie.”
“Okay.” Ross stepped aside and turned to be at a right angle between the two women. “Catherine, meet Jessi Wallace. Jess, this is my…friend, Catherine Holt.”
“Call me Cat.” The woman advanced toward Jessi, a slender hand tipped with long nails painted crimson extended. “Ross does.”
She ended with a sly half-smile that narrowed her eyes as she looked over at him.
“I had no idea Ross was expecting a visitor,” Jessi replied, her insides quivering like an injured child’s lower lip. Play it cool, girl, play it super cool. More flies with honey than vinegar, remember. “I was preparing dinner. Will you join us? I’m sure you and Ross have a lot of catching up to do.”
“She cooks, too.” Cat withdrew her cool hand from Jessi’s and turned back to Ross. “You really lucked out this time, sweetie.”
“Jessi’s pretty remarkable in a lot of ways.” Ross squinted up at the two women on the doorstep. The sun shafting through the trees was catching him directly in the eyes. “But you probably don’t have time to stay…”
Cowboy Confessions Page 15
