Nate

by Taryn Plendl

  “Is he okay?” I asked, needing to know as much as I needed my next breath.

  A chair scraped across the floor as he came closer and sat by the bed. “Fuck,” he mumbled as his large hand covered mine.

  “Ryke?” My throat filled with the thickness of unshed tears.

  “He’s stable. When his arm broke, it severed the radial artery. They had to operate to stop the bleeding and secure the bones. He has screws and plates on the inside, and some weird looking device he’ll have to wear for a few weeks. He’s been asking for you since he woke up, so as soon as he’s in his room, we’ll take you to him. They said you saved him.”

  “Wait, what? I didn’t do anything but sit there and cry.” I was so ashamed of myself. I’d spent so much time trying to be independent, and when it really mattered, I couldn’t do anything.

  “Shiloh, your quick thinking with the tourniquet likely saved his arm and probably his life.” Ryke squeezed my hand, his voice full of emotion.

  “I could feel the bone poking through the skin a little, and the blood was gushing. I just reacted.” I shook my head, trying to forget how his blood had squirted against my hands.

  “Thank you.” Ryke kissed my forehead.

  “I love him, Ryke.” It felt wrong to tell his brother before I told Nate, but I needed everyone to know.

  “Good, Shiloh. He needs love. He hasn’t had a lot of it in his life.” Ryke brushed my hair off my cheek. “What were you two doing in Oklahoma?”

  “He wanted to say goodbye to your father.”

  Ryke cursed under his breath. “Did he? Did he say goodbye?”

  “Among other things.” I smile at the memory of how strong Nate was when he confronted his father.

  “What do you mean?” Ryke asked.

  “He was something, Ryke. I wish you could’ve seen him. Even on his death bed, your father’s an asshole. Basically, Nate told him he was nothing in life, and that he would be nothing to him in death. I really think he put his monsters to rest.”

  “Wow.” Ryke breathed a sigh of what I was sure was relief. “I tried to protect him from that. I guess he needed it for closure.”

  “He really did,” I confirmed.

  “Thank you for being with him—for protecting him when I couldn’t.”

  “Anytime, Ryke.”

  N A T E

  When I saw Shiloh’s black eyes and all the cuts and bruises everywhere, I cried like a fucking baby. Even though nothing was my fault, my guilt was real. The girl I loved had been hurt under my watch, and that hit me hard.

  Two days later, we got news of our father’s death. My only sadness was over the fact I’d let him rule my life for as long as he had. If Ryke was upset, he didn’t show it. He never allowed his skeletons to consume him like I did.

  The hotel room was warm and welcoming. After spending two nights on a thin, hard hospital mattress, the plush white bed called to me. I wanted nothing more than to crawl in it and hold Shiloh for days; however, the filthy remnants of the accident needed washing away. I had a feeling the memories wouldn’t be as easily cleansed.

  Shiloh scrubbed her hair until I assured her every trace of blood was gone. Showering with the weird brace on my arm proved much harder for me. Her soft touches as she glided the washcloth over my bruised skin sent shivers through my sore body.

  On any other day, I might have made love to her until neither of us could walk. Not tonight. We were lucky to have made it this far before exhaustion consumed us. Hand-in-hand, we practically melted into the covers.

  Shiloh nuzzled against my chest, careful not to jar herself or me, and rubbed her fingers over my skin. I feared sharing a bed with her again. Sleep was a restless experience for me. It was the time when everything wrong in my life devoured me and spit me out in the morning, leaving me utterly broken. My nightmares had always consumed me. But after almost losing Shiloh, no way was I letting her out of my arms. In a careful array of tangled limbs, I fell into a deep slumber like I’d never known.

  Morning light poured through the window, and my eyes fluttered open. I took in a slow, relieved breath. The sweet scent of orange and ginger shampoo filled my nose. Blonde hair covered my arm and chest. The woman I loved slept against me. For the first time I could remember, no nightmares woke me in the middle of the night. I was sore and stiff, but more rested than I could’ve hoped for. In my crazy world of chaos, she was my one constant. A feisty, beautiful blind woman saw me better than anyone in my life. She was the safety net I hadn’t even known I needed.

  Four days in Oklahoma was far longer than I’d planned, but nothing was as annoying as my brother hovering over me and my girl. By the time we boarded the plane to Colorado, I was ready to strangle him with my good arm. Yes, he was doing what he’d done all our lives, but I didn’t need it anymore.

  My truck wasn’t the only thing left in Oklahoma. The monster who’d haunted me all my life was truly gone. The mask of happiness I wore to cope with life was removed for good, and in its place was a sense of hope and optimism, courtesy of one gutsy blonde who might never understand how she’d changed my life.

  Silas met us at the airport and suggested Ryke sit up front with him and Mira, so Shiloh and I could spread out in the backseat. We didn’t spread out. In fact, for a good, long while, I wasn’t going to let her further than an arm’s length from me.

  “You’re quiet. You okay?” I whispered as she leaned into my good side.

  “Just tired.”

  I placed a soft kiss to her head, mindful of her wounds.

  “Who’s that?” Ryke asked when Silas pulled up to the ranch house.

  “I don’t know.” Silas shrugged.

  An empty black town car sat in the driveway.

  We extracted ourselves from the truck, stretching and groaning, the day of travel weighing heavily on us.

  “You two go on in. We’ll get the bags. I’m sure Caroline is itching to get her hands on you both,” Silas said, closing the door.

  Shiloh tilted her head back and took a deep breath. “It’s good to be home.” A smile spread across her face, but was replaced with a frown when a shriek came from the open ranch door. “Oh, God, no,” she groaned, gripping my arm tighter as we walked toward the squawking blonde woman, tapping her high-heeled shoe on the porch.

  “Who’s that?” I whispered.

  “That’s my mom,” Shiloh sighed.

  “Steps,” I mumbled, smiling at how she took them with fluid precision, stopping only feet from the woman.

  “Oh my God, Shiloh!” The woman pulled Shiloh from me but didn’t hug her. She held her at arm’s length and looked at her with pity and … Disgust?

  My heart lurched, and anger filled me. Mira grabbing my arm stopped me from rushing into the house.

  “Don’t. It’ll only make it worse,” Mira mumbled as we watched Shiloh’s mother drag her into the house.

  “What the fuck?” I asked as Silas and Ryke came up beside us.

  “Yeah, I know. The only saving grace is that Shiloh can’t see how they look at her,” Mira confirmed. The need to storm the house and protect her was overwhelming. “She’ll handle it.”

  “I am not taking no for an answer, Shiloh.” Her mother’s voice carried through the front entryway.

  “Mom, please—” Shiloh was cut off by a man speaking.

  “Shiloh, your mother is right. You gave it a try, but it’s time to come home. We have already secured a nurse for you, and she can accompany you at all times to make sure you are safe.”

  “Who’s that?” I quietly asked Caroline as she came from the kitchen, stopping to hug me gently and give me a once over.

  “Her dad,” Caroline said, confirming what I assumed.

  “Shit. It must be bad if he came,” Mira whispered.

  “What?” I was so confused. We’d been so wrapped up with my own family’s drama that I realized we’d never talked about Shiloh’s family.

  “This isn’t good.” Mira frowned, biting her lip as we eavesdro
pped in the doorway of their own home.

  Three suitcases sat at the bottom of the stairs. Shiloh’s bags? Did they honestly think they were taking her away from the ranch? Over my dead fucking body.

  “Dad, please listen. I don’t want to come home, and I don’t want a nurse. I have a job and a life here,” Shiloh argued.

  “That is enough, Shiloh!” her mom shrieked. I was beginning to hate that voice. “You were almost killed. You can’t live alone. It’s not safe.”

  I’d had enough of this bullshit. I wasn’t about to stand here and let someone tell her she couldn’t do anything.

  “Nate!” Mira hissed as I stepped forward. I ignored her and kept going.

  “Pardon me, but I’ve heard just about enough.” Three sets of eyes turned my way. Two of them widened when they saw me. The third stared unfocused but crinkled with her smile.

  “Excuse me, son. This is a family matter.” Shiloh’s dad faced me, squaring his shoulders. Several inches shorter than me, he was dressed in a polo shirt and khaki slacks like he was going to the country club. His air of superiority was intimidating to some, I was sure, but not to me. We weren’t on his turf. He was on mine, and he was trying to take my girl from me. I wasn’t about to let that happen.

  “I beg to differ, sir. I’m in love with Shiloh, and I know she feels the same, so I’d say that gives me a say in the matter.” Shiloh’s smile grew even bigger than before. Her parents glanced between the two of us.

  “If you think your daughter isn’t capable of living alone, then you don’t know the first thing about her. Not only is she the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen, she’s strong, smart, loyal, and an incredible therapist. She’s making a difference in kids’ lives who are struggling with their blindness. She’s showing them it’s possible to live a happy, independent life without sight. If you take her from here, those kids will miss her. They need her.”

  Her dad stared at me like he had no idea who I was talking about. Her mom wept silently into her hands.

  “The truth is, I need her, too,” I confessed, walking to her and taking her hand in mine. Presenting a unified front, as she’d done with me and my father, was important. “The accident was just that. An accident. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and no nurse is going to protect her from that. It’s life. It’s scary and unpredictable, but none of that has anything to do with her not being able to see.”

  “What is your name?” Shiloh’s dad asked abruptly.

  “Nate Davis, sir.” I extended my hand, and he shook it.

  “I’m Barton Nichols, and this is my wife Cheryl.” His introduction was formal and stiff. “I’m sure you think you have a grasp on the situation with Shiloh, but we’re her parents, and we know what is best for her. You have to understand how terrifying it is to imagine our poor blind daughter in an accident like the one you were in.”

  “I do, sir. But you also need to understand that I’m standing here today because of your daughter. And Shiloh is not a situation. She’s a person. Have you ever asked her what she wants?”

  “What are you talking about? Of course, we have,” Cheryl remarked, wiping her eyes.

  “Actually, you haven’t.” Shiloh’s voice shook with nerves. Squeezing her hand, I encouraged her to go on. “You’ve never cared about what I wanted. You’ve always made the decisions for me, thinking you were helping me, but really, you were limiting me.” Shiloh let go of my hand and took a step toward her parents. “I don’t want to go back with you. I love it here, and I love my job. The accident was scary, but it was just that . . . an accident.”

  My heart swelled with pride as she stood up for herself.

  “What do you mean that you’re here because of her?” Barton asked me without acknowledging Shiloh and what she had said.

  I didn’t like him. I didn’t like the way he ignored Shiloh. He seemed like the type of man who always got his way. Not this time.

  “When I broke my arm, the bone severed an artery. Shiloh used her belt as a tourniquet. It likely saved my life. Now, does that sound like the helpless girl you described?” She saved me in more ways, too, but I wasn’t about to tell them that story. Shiloh had breathed new life into me from the day I saw her prancing on top of her dancing horse.

  “Is this true, Shiloh?” Barton asked, unbelieving.

  “I just did what I could. I felt blood and knew he needed help.” Shiloh shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal.

  “I had no idea you knew how to do that.” Barton shook his head.

  “I beg your pardon, Barton, but I bet there are a lot of things you don’t know about your daughter.” I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her to my side. The way she leaned into me spoke volumes. She wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Now, I understand you think you’re protecting Shiloh, but you’re wrong, sir. Taking her with you won’t do anything but cause her to resent you. She has a home here right where she belongs. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some bags to unpack.” I placed Shiloh’s hand on my arm and led her from the room without another word.

  When we passed a smiling Ryke and a shocked Mira on the way to the stairs, I could only grin.

  S H I L O H

  After a feast put on by Caroline, and a grand tour from Silas, my parents finally left, even though they still had reservations about letting me stay. Nate stood with me on the porch as the crunching of the tires on the gravel grew further away. It was only then that I allowed relief to fill me completely. Without a doubt, if Nate hadn’t stepped in, my parents would’ve continued to bully me into going home. They were used to getting their way.

  For so long, they’d mourned the loss of my sight, and had failed to notice I had moved on without them. Their emotional disconnect was their way of dealing with it, but in doing so, they were no longer able to see my successes. By their own choice, they had been as blind as I was. Today might have been the first time they really saw me.

  My dad was used to barking orders and having them followed. He was a powerful businessman who treated everyone as if they were his employees. Many times, Mira had witnessed it while we were in school. Poor Mira had worried my dad would eat Nate alive, but she didn’t know the Nate I did. He was strong and protective, and wasn’t afraid to stand with me, even if it was against my own father. My heart warmed with the knowledge that I finally had someone who believed in me. Even Ryke had been impressed with the way Nate had spoken to my parents.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.” Nate pulled me into his arms . . . well, arm. His brace was very much a part of him for the next six weeks.

  “I am. I think I’ll turn in.” I flipped my cane open and turned to the front door.

  “Where are you going?” Nate stopped me, his hand resting on my forearm. Even that small touch left me craving more from him. “You don’t think you’re going to bed without me, do you?” His voice sounded so hurt I couldn’t hold back my laugh.

  “I’m just going inside. It’s not like I dismissed you.” Gently, I removed his hand and turned back toward the door, knowing he would follow, and soon we would wrap ourselves around each other and fall into a restful slumber.

  The warm squeeze of his hand on my backside made me jump in surprise. The quick movement made my sore muscles protest.

  “You’re damn right you didn’t dismiss me.” He brushed against me and opened the door with a loud creak.

  “Such a gentleman,” I joked, nudging him with my hip as I passed him.

  “Keep it up, Shi-girl, and I’ll show you how wrong you are.”

  It felt so good to joke with Nate. The past week had been so intense with every emotion dictating our lives. The light-hearted banter reminded me of the Nate I’d first met, superficial at first, but soon, so much more.

  “There you two are. I brought out the good desserts. Get your butts to the kitchen.” Caroline cornered us the second we walked through the door. The comfort of Nate’s arms would have to wait.

  “Caroline! You said butts,”
Nate accused, and then hollered when he caught a smack from her. She had a way of catching these guys just right, and the sound reverberated off their heads.

  “Why did you hit me? I was just repeating what you said.” Nate argued.

  “Nathaniel, you do as I say, not as I do,” Caroline explained.

  I couldn’t suppress my giggle. Pulling Nate’s arm, I moved toward the kitchen, guiding our path with my cane. “Don’t you know you’ll never win with her?” I adored Caroline. She was the epitome of what a mother was supposed to be. Every action she took was filled with her love for those around her. Even the smacks to her boys.

  Voices filled the kitchen as Nate guided me to a chair, pushing it in until I felt it on the backs of my legs.

  “What do you want, Shiloh?” Mira asked. “We have cookie dough ice cream, chocolate pie, brownies, and cookies.”

  “Yes, please.” I laughed, wanting them all. Mira laughed, too, knowing I loved my desserts.

  Nate placed my plate in front of me. “Do you need the layout, or are you just going for it?”

  “When it comes to dessert, I prefer a surprise. Just make sure you help me clean my face after. This might get messy.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I will personally make sure your face is free of all remnants.” He pressed his sticky lips to mine, darting his tongue out to lick.

  “Get a room,” Silas joked as Nate pulled away.

  Everyone talking and joking was more than I could’ve ever hoped for when I moved to Colorado. When I came here, I was running from my parents, hoping to find a life of my own. What I got was so much more than that, and I felt better about my future than I ever had.

  Sitting in this kitchen with all the people who cared about me and each other, the world’s problems seemed small.

  “So, I’ve been meaning to confirm something you said earlier.” I paused from the sugary goodness.

  “What is that?” Nate asked around a bite of something.