All Autumn

by Sandra Owens

  Rain filled my mouth as I struggled to inhale. I squeezed my eyes shut, grimacing against the pain in my leg and in my chest. At least I was alive. I thought. I hoped. Dead, I wouldn’t be hurting this bad, right? Hopefully I didn’t have a collapsed lung.

  It took a few minutes, but breathing finally became a little easier. The agony in my leg, though, was increasing by the second. I’d lost my helmet, and without the headlamp or my flashlight, it was damn dark. The good news, my GPS tracker was in one of the pockets of my cargo pants.

  My satellite radio? I patted my left side where it had been clipped to my belt. Gone. Once I’d ascertained that I was alive and breathing, my heartbeat calmed. Adam wouldn’t leave this mountain until they found me. All I had to do was wait.

  Something dripped into my eyes, something heavier than rain, blurring my vision, and a dull ache began to throb in my head. I swiped my hand over my forehead, then licked one of my fingers, the metallic taste of blood exploding on my tongue. The pain in my head grew, and between that and my aching leg, my stomach churned.

  My vision grayed. “Damn,” I muttered, then gave in to the blackness.

  37

  ~ Autumn ~

  “Sleepy?” I asked Jenn.

  “No. I can’t sleep until I know Dylan and the guys are okay and that they found the boy.”

  “Yeah, me either,” I said although we were both nodding off at each end of Connor’s sofa. I blinked my eyes open and looked around. I couldn’t wait to start redecorating his house. It had so much potential. Unfortunately I hadn’t had a chance to show him my ideas before the guys had been called out to the search. I was a little nervous about him liking my design, but I thought it was pretty spectacular.

  To pass the time and keep my mind off Connor, I went to my car and retrieved my briefcase. “Connor asked me to redecorate his house. I’m curious what you think of what I came up with,” I said when I came back in. Opening my laptop, I pulled up my design.

  I’d only finished the living room so far, wanting to make sure he liked where I was going before I started on the rest of his house. It had a definite masculine feel, but if, someday, Connor married, all it needed were a few feminine touches—some pretty throw pillows, a few plants, things like that—to welcome a woman into his home. I narrowed my eyes at my design for his living room, suddenly hating it. This was my idea for his home, and some other woman shouldn’t love living here.

  “Wow,” Jenn said, leaning against my arm as she looked at my laptop screen. “He’s going to love it.”

  “So is she,” I muttered. I’d gone eclectic, combining modern with a touch of rustic that perfectly fit Connor’s log home, and what woman wouldn’t love this design?

  Jenn glanced at me. “Who’s she?”

  I closed my laptop lid. “Whoever he falls in love with.”

  “Ah, her,” Jenn said, looking way too amused. “That could be you, you know.”

  No, it couldn’t. Love and I weren’t compatible. “Nope. I’m just going to enjoy my time with the best kisser in the world while it lasts.”

  “I beg to differ. Dylan’s the best.”

  “Ha! You have to say that since he’s your husband.”

  She puckered her lips and made kissy noises, which Beau took as an invitation to attack her face with his tongue.

  “I stand corrected,” she said, laughing as she tried to avoid his licks. “Beauregard’s the best kisser in the world.”

  “Well, now that we’ve established that, we don’t have to beat each other up over which of our guys is the better kisser.” I tapped Beau on the nose. “Down.” He gave me a you’re-no-fun look but settled at our feet again.

  Conner’s emergency satellite radio, which we’d moved into the living room with us, crackled to life. “We’ve found the boy.” That was Adam’s voice. I was suddenly wide awake.

  Jenn sat up, leaning close to the radio. “Awesome,” she said.

  After he gave their coordinates there was silence for a few minutes before the radio came to life again. “There’s a rattlesnake next to him. Connor’s going to pull the boy away.”

  My heart fell all the way down to my toes, my stomach going along for the ride. Jenn and I looked at each other, and I could see my fear mirrored in her eyes.

  More excruciating silence, and then Adam’s voice screaming into the radio. “Connor fell down the mountain! Oh God. I can’t see him.”

  I think I died just then. “Connor,” I whispered. Jenn grabbed my hand, and we sat, helpless, waiting for more information.

  “Tell the parents we have the boy,” Dylan finally said over the radio.

  Relief at hearing her husband’s voice flashed in Jenn’s eyes, and I was jealous that she knew he was safe. I chided myself. That was a mean thing to think. Of course I was happy to know Dylan and Adam and all the rest of the rescue team were safe, and that the boy had been found. But I was physically sick with worry for Connor.

  “What about Connor?” I said to the radio. It had gone silent again.

  Jenn squeezed my hand. “I think we’re going to be up all night. I’ll go make us some more coffee.”

  “Thanks.” As if sensing the stress in my voice, Beau came to me and put his chin on my knee. I scratched his head. “He’s going to be okay, sweet boy.” I hadn’t changed my mind about ever marrying again, but when I wasn’t paying attention, Connor had slipped his way past my walls. He’d become more than a good friend I was having fun with. Was there a word for between like and love?

  “Here you go.” Jenn set the coffee on the table in front of me. Beau lifted his head and sniffed and, not finding the smell to be of interest, put his head back on my knee and peered up at me.

  “I wish they’d say something.” I stared at the radio, willing it to come to life.

  A few minutes later static sounded from the radio, and we both stilled. “Base, radio Mission Hospital to send MAMA. Instruct them to land in the clearing at the campground. Tell them we have a male, twenty-seven, unconscious, a deep cut in his forehead, probably a concussion, possible broken leg, and the beginnings of hypothermia. We’ve got an EMT here and can report vitals in a minute.”

  My stomach somersaulted at hearing Dylan’s voice calmly listing all the things wrong with Connor. “How can he be so calm?”

  “They’re trained to be composed in an emergency, Autumn. You know that.”

  “I have to go to Asheville.” MAMA was Mission Hospital’s medical helicopter, and if they were taking him to Mission’s trauma center, he was considered in serious condition. I stood, looking around. “Where did I put my purse?”

  “It’s on the counter. I’ll drive, though.” She picked up her phone from the coffee table. “Give me a minute to text Dylan and tell him we’re going.”

  “No, Beau, you can’t go this time,” I said when he raced to the door. On second thought, I didn’t know how long we’d be in Asheville. “I should drop Beau off at home.”

  When we got to my house, although I wanted to toss him inside and haul ass, I walked him, letting him do his business. It took about forty-five minutes to get to the hospital, and I appreciated that Jenn left me to my thoughts.

  What were my thoughts? I was so mixed up. I was physically sick knowing that Connor was seriously injured, so much so that I had to ask myself just what Connor meant to me. More than I wanted him to? But wouldn’t I feel the same way if it was any of my friends?

  “He’s probably not here yet,” Jenn said as she pulled her car into a parking space near the emergency room.

  Whatever I felt for Connor could wait for me to figure out. Right now I just needed to know that he was okay. When we got inside, we found out that Jenn was right. The helicopter hadn’t returned yet. After finding seats, Jenn called Dylan.

  “Got his voice mail,” she said, then texted him that we were at the hospital. A few minutes later her phone buzzed with a text. She read it and then handed her phone to me.

  Helo lifting off. Driving Adam to hospital
.

  I texted him back. How is Connor?

  Stable

  That wasn’t nearly enough information, but it was better than serious or critical. Or was he just saying that so we wouldn’t worry too much? I was back to feeling sick.

  I handed Jenn her phone. “How long will it take the helicopter to get here?”

  Jenn shrugged. “Faster than a car, but other than that, I don’t know.”

  “Let’s walk outside so we can hear when it arrives.” MAMA’s landing pad was on top of the hospital. They probably wouldn’t appreciate it if I went up to the roof.

  Outside, I strained to hear the sound of a helicopter while staring up at the western sky in the direction of Blue Ridge Valley. At least it had stopped raining. Approximately twenty-five minutes later I heard it, the whoop, whoop of a helicopter.

  I grabbed Jenn’s arm. “He’s here.”

  We returned to the waiting room, Jenn taking a seat and me pacing in front of her, watching the closed doors blocking my view from seeing when they brought him down. I went to the window. “Will you tell me when they bring Connor Hunter down?” I asked the woman behind the counter. “They just brought him in on your helicopter.”

  “Are you family?”

  “No, a close friend.”

  “I’m sorry. We can only give information to family,” she said with a kind smile.

  What I’d expected her to say, but I tried again. “I’m only asking if you’ll tell me when they bring him down.”

  “Give me a minute.” She walked away.

  “The doctor’s with him now,” she said when she returned.

  “Thank you.” I walked back to Jenn and sat on the edge of the chair. “The doctor’s in with him. I wish Adam would get here so we can find out how he is.”

  She squeezed my hand. “He’s going to be okay. He has to be.”

  “It’s just the waiting to hear something that’s killing me.”

  The revolving doors opened, and Adam and Dylan walked in. I ran to Adam. He opened his arms, and we hugged. “He’s here, with the doctor. They won’t tell me anything because I’m not kin.”

  He took my hand, pulling me with him to the counter. “My brother, Connor Hunter, was brought in by helicopter. Can you tell me his condition?”

  “The doctor will come talk to you shortly. I’m sorry, but that’s all I can tell you.”

  So we waited. An hour passed before a doctor appeared. His gaze traveled over the four of us, stopping on Adam. “You have to be his brother.”

  Adam nodded. “How is he?”

  “The worst of his injuries is a concussion. We’ll be keeping him overnight to monitor him. He has eight stitches across his forehead. As for his ankle, he’s lucky. He has a severe strain, but it’s not fractured. We’ll fit him with a boot before he leaves. He’ll need to stay off it for a few days.”

  “It probably would have been worse if the ground hadn’t been soft and muddy,” Dylan said.

  “Yeah, I was hating the rain. Now I’m thankful for it. When can he go home?” Adam asked the doctor.

  “Possibly tomorrow. Like I said, his concussion is the most concerning, and it depends on how he does tonight.”

  “Can we see him?” I needed to see for myself that he was okay.

  “He’s been moved to a room, and yes, you can go up. He’ll probably be asleep, though.”

  He told us Connor’s room number, and we headed to the elevator. “Jenny and I will say a quick hello, then get out of your way,” Dylan said. “We’ll leave her car here so the two of you will have transportation.

  Adam took the keys Jenn handed him. “Thanks.”

  When we walked into the room, Connor was watching a nurse as she slipped a pillow under his ankle. “Don’t see why I can’t go home,” he said, sounding both groggy and grumpy.

  “Mr. Hunter, you have a concussion. That is not something to take lightly,” she responded.

  I smiled. “Stop harassing her, Connor.”

  He turned his head our way and then winced. “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Hello to you, too,” Adam said.

  Connor snorted, then winced again. “Note to self: Stop moving, laughing, or blinking.”

  “Even blinking hurts?” I asked, going to him. When I reached the bed, I put my hand on his. “You scared the holy crap out of all of us.”

  “Sorry. Wasn’t my intention to take a slide down the mountain, believe me. And yeah, even blinking hurts.”

  The nurse handed him a small remote. “If you need anything, or if you start feeling nauseated or dizzy, just push this button.”

  “’Kay.” He dropped the remote onto his lap.

  Dylan and Jenn moved to the bed. “We wanted to make sure you were alive and breathing before we headed home,” Dylan said. "The doctor said you might get to come home tomorrow. We’ll stop by and see you when you’re back in the valley.”

  “Aren’t you going with them?” Connor asked me when they started to leave.

  “I thought I’d stay.”

  “Don’t want you to. Sleepy.”

  And just like that he was out. I told myself that it didn’t mean anything that he didn’t want me here, but it felt like a rejection and that hurt. In my head I knew he wasn’t rejecting me, that he probably wouldn’t even remember this conversation tomorrow. It was the ache that had sliced through my heart at his dismissal that had me backing out of the room. I was falling for a man who would eventually move on.

  That wasn’t good, not for me. I didn’t do hurting anymore.

  38

  ~ Connor ~

  “Hey, beautiful. Are you avoiding me? Call me.” I disconnected, frowning at the phone’s screen. I’d been home—well, at Adam’s house—for two days, and not a word from Autumn.

  Dylan and Jenn had stopped by, Jenn’s parents had paid a brief visit, Mary had shown up—blue hair this week—and even Hamburger had appeared with three mason jars of cherries soaking in moonshine. He’d taken them out one by one as if they were treasures—and hot damn, they were—setting them on Adam’s coffee table in front of me.

  “Three, Hamburger?” I’d said. “I might have to fall down a mountain more often if this is what I get.”

  He’d reared back, slapping his coverall-covered knee, laughing like a deranged man. “Connor Hunter, you’re a funny man.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “Don’t ya do that again, ya hear me?”

  “I hear you.”

  Adam, sitting on his sofa next to me, had snatched up one of the mason jars. “He has a concussion, Hamburger. The doctor said he can only drink two of these. I’ll just take the third one. Don’t want his doctor mad at him.”

  Hamburger had laughed so hard that his face had turned red. The man was easily amused.

  Yeah, I’d had well-wishing visitors, but not the one I wanted. Adam had hovered over me like a mother hen since he’d brought me home from the hospital, and I’d finally convinced him to go to the jobsite for a few hours.

  My head ached a little now and then, but it was my ankle that bothered me. The thing throbbed like a sonofabitch. The good news, other than a slight case of hypothermia, Rusty was unharmed and back home in South Carolina with his parents. I’d do it all over again to save the kid. He’d sent Adam and me a nice e-mail, thanking us for finding him. Attached was a picture of him standing in his yard, waving to the camera.

  But what was going on with Autumn? I couldn’t drive yet, or I’d go see her. When Adam returned, I should get him to take me to her house. Her silence was driving me crazy.

  I called Mr. Humphrey. With everything that had happened, I hadn’t had a chance to follow up with him, and I hadn’t heard a word from him. That was concerning. When I got his voice mail, I left a message and then fired off an e-mail to him from my phone.

  Adam walked in just as I hit send. “Brought you lunch.” He handed me a paper bag with Mary’s Bread Company’s logo on it.

  “Thanks, man.” Nothing beat one of Mary’s sandwiches. “I’m moving
back home today, but first I want you to run me by Autumn’s.”

  “Don’t think so.” He filled a glass with ice and water and then gulped it down.

  “Huh?” I said around a mouthful of ham and cheese on sourdough.

  “You’re not moving back home yet, and you don’t need to be out running around.”

  “News flash, bro. Not your decision.”

  He let out an annoyed sigh. “You have a concussion. What happens if you’re home by yourself and you pass out or something and no one’s around? Make me happy and stay here for one more day.”

  “I need my office, and I need to see Autumn.”

  “Have you heard from her?”

  “No.” And that was the problem. It didn’t make sense. “You see her around the past two days?”

  “Nope.” He leaned back on the kitchen counter and crossed his arms over his chest. “I think you hurt her feelings.”

  I frowned. “How?”

  “She wanted to stay with you at the hospital, but you told her to leave, that you didn’t want her there.”

  “I said that? I don’t remember. Honestly I barely remember her even being at the hospital. It’s all kind of fuzzy.” That didn’t make sense, though. Autumn wasn’t thin-skinned. She wouldn’t have taken my words personally.

  “You were loopy. Later that night you woke up and asked if I thought love was a dirty word. When I told you I did, you said, ‘What if I like dirty?’ Are you in love with her?”

  “No. Of course not.” And I wasn’t. I was sure of that. But I did remember thinking I was falling for her before I fell off a damn mountain. “I need to see her. Now.”

  Adam humphed. “Sounds like a man in love to me.” His expression softened. “She’s a good woman, our friend, but she has issues, Connor. The men in her life have messed with her mind, especially her father. One of you is going to end up being hurt, probably you. Maybe it’s better to back off now before that happens.”

  He was right, but the urge to defend her was strong. “She’s not Savannah,” I said before I thought better of it. Adam’s face blanked, and I wished I’d kept my mouth shut. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”