Home To Copper Mountain

by Rebecca Winters

  Without making any noise, he got up from the chair and moved it aside. He’d told his father and Pam he would join them for breakfast in the hospital cafeteria after his visit with Rick. But first he had a phone call to make.

  He left the room and took one of the central elevators to the main floor. As soon as he reached the driveway in front of the hospital, he pulled out his cell phone and called home.

  “Nate—I’ve been waiting for your call, darling.” He could hear the longing in his wife’s voice.

  Last night was the first time they hadn’t slept together since their wedding. He missed her more than he’d thought possible.

  “Are you and Becky all right?”

  “We are now that I know you arrived safely. How’s your brother?”

  My brother.

  “That’s a good question.”

  “Is he worse than you were told?” she cried in alarm.

  “No, sweetheart. Not in the way you mean. He has a broken collarbone, bruised ribs and a dislocated shoulder. According to Dad, the doctor said he’ll be fine in a month if he takes it easy.”

  “But there’s something else wrong. Did Trans T & T decide not to sponsor him after all?”

  “No. What I’m talking about has nothing to do with business. Are you ready for this?” He gripped his cell phone tighter. “It seems Ms. Audra Jarrett has happened to Rick.”

  “Not the cousin with the broken leg—”

  “The very one.”

  After a long pause, “But he just got there—”

  “If you remember, it took all of five minutes of my being around you to transform my world forever. I’m afraid that’s the way of the Hawkins men, starting with my father.”

  “Have you met her?”

  “Not yet.”

  “When will Rick be released from the hospital?”

  “Tomorrow, barring complications. Right now he’s sleeping off the medication they gave him a little while ago.”

  “He must be in terrible pain.”

  “To be honest, I think pain from the accident is the last thing my brother’s feeling.”

  “I wonder what she’s like.”

  “In Rick’s words, she’s a knockout redhead with blue eyes like our mother’s.”

  “He adored your mom. This sounds serious.”

  “That’s what I’m thinking.”

  “Do you have any way of knowing if she’ll be visiting him today, so you can meet her?”

  “I’m going to eat breakfast with Dad and Pam in a few minutes. If her cousin has any intention of coming to the hospital, I’ll find out. But my intuition tells me she won’t be making a visit.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “After listening to Rick’s mutterings, I’ve gathered they’re like two enemy aircraft circling each other trying to decide how and when they’re going to engage.” In the next breath he related the analogy of the bottle rocket.

  His wife chuckled. He loved it. He loved her.

  “Do you think your father suspects anything?”

  “Very little escapes Dad. It’ll be fascinating to find out.”

  “Even if Audra doesn’t show up, you’ll be able to meet her tomorrow when you help him take Rick back to the ranch.”

  “I’m not staying away from you another night,” Nate declared. “Now that I know my brother is suffering from something else a lot worse than a broken collarbone, I’ll be taking the next transport out of here. Expect me home late this afternoon.”

  “I can’t wait!”

  “That makes two of us. Give Becky a dozen kisses. Tell her they’re from her daddy.”

  “I already have. She’s tucked right here next to me.”

  “Plan to be tucked in early tonight, Mrs. Hawkins.”

  “Promise?”

  “Better catch up on your beauty sleep now. I’m giving you fair warning.”

  “I love you, Nate. Hurry home to me.”

  He rang off and headed for the hospital cafeteria, eager to find out if his father had picked up on any romantic feelings between Rick and Audra.

  “Nate?” his father called to him as he walked through the swinging doors.

  “I’ll be right with you.” Now that he knew his brother was going to be fine, Nate found he was hungry. He picked up a tray and ordered ham and eggs.

  After paying the cashier, he joined his father at a table over against the wall. “Where’s Pam?”

  He drained the rest of his coffee. “She went to the gift shop to find Rick some sports magazines.”

  “As long as she’s not here, there’s something vital I wanted to talk to you about in private.”

  His father’s mouth lifted at one corner. “This wouldn’t have to do with Audra, would it?”

  A grunt escaped. “Rick was so out of it he was blabbing right and left,” he said, making inroads on his food.

  “Pam’s little cousin has made an impact.”

  Their eyes met with that perfect understanding refined over a lifetime of communication between father and son.

  “Has Audra been similarly affected?”

  His dad pursed his lips. “She’s a deep one, difficult to read.”

  “Rick never could resist a challenge.”

  Now it was his father who made the odd sound in his throat. “I can guarantee Audra isn’t like any woman Rick has ever met, or will meet.”

  Nate’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in ten years.”

  “Maybe.”

  “How come?”

  “Let me tell you a story about the family I married into so you’ll have a better understanding of Audra’s complicated psyche.”

  By the time his father had finished explaining about the tragedy that had struck the Jarrett clan, including the painful years of fallout, Nate’s excitement had been replaced by gut-wrenching incredulity.

  “I’m afraid that’s only the tip of the iceberg where Audra’s concerned. She was in love with someone several years ago. Obviously it didn’t work out. After a long period, she started dating again. The man she was out on a date with got killed.

  “They were trapped in his car for what must have been an eternity to her. Pam believes Audra’s nightmares not only have to do with the crash, but the trauma brought on by a lifetime of dealing with her hostile cousins, a broken heart and now the sale of the ranch.”

  Nate shook his head. “Does Rick know all this?”

  “He sat through a family dinner where David broke the news about the new owner of the property, who’ll be flying in next week. When he announced that I’d bought the ranch house, everything fell apart and pretty well gave Rick the whole picture. But he’d be in the dark about the man who hurt Audra.”

  There was too much to absorb at once. “Dad, Rick said Audra’s cousins hate you. Was that an exaggeration?”

  His father pondered the question. “I guess time will tell.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “To give you an idea of how bad things have been, at Pam’s urging David didn’t come to our wedding. She said it would inflame the boys too much. Audra wanted to be Pam’s maid of honor, but Pam begged her to stay with David, who needed her a lot more.”

  “Good grief. So that was why there was no one there to give Pam away. Rick and I couldn’t understand why her entire family would absent themselves. Have you told Rick?”

  “Not yet. He was in such a morose state when I called him, I asked him to come to Texas on his way to Phoenix. To my surprise he took me up on it. After he arrived, I decided the best thing to do was just listen to anything he had to say.”

  That’s what Nate had done this morning. He’d listened to Rick.

  “Your brother’s hurting,” his dad whispered. “Frankly, I’m worried about him.”

  “Once you were worried about me,” Nate quipped in an attempt to lighten his father’s mood.

  “Once?”

  A smile broke out on Nate’s face. “You know what I mean.�
�

  “I do. But this is Rick we’re talking about. He’s approaching thirty and world-weary already. That’s too young an age to have seen it all, done it all.”

  “Not all. The best part is yet to come, Dad. Take it from the newest bridegroom in the family.”

  His father squeezed his arm. “I’m glad you’re here. How long can you stay?”

  “I’ll go upstairs with you and Pam to visit Rick for a little while, then I’m flying home. But I’ll be back next week with Laurel and Becky. We’ll vacation for a few days. By then Rick won’t be on heavy painkillers.”

  “That’s a good idea. Why don’t you see if Brent and Julie would like to come. We’ve got plenty of rooms for everyone.”

  “I admit Brent’s good for Rick. They’ve gotten close. Unfortunately, it would mean taking the kids out of school again.”

  “Maybe they could find a sitter.”

  “I’ll talk it over with Laurel tonight and let you know.”

  “Good. I’m feeling better already. Let’s go see Rick.”

  Nate caught his father’s arm. “I’m sure Pam’s with him. She left us alone on purpose. Your wife’s too accommodating. I’m beginning to understand why you fell in love with her.”

  His gray eyes glistened over. “Are you telling me my marriage doesn’t hurt you as much anymore?”

  “If you want to know the truth, I’m happy for you.”

  Last March he couldn’t have imagined himself saying that to his father, let alone meaning it.

  After Nate’s mother had died in an avalanche, he’d resigned his commission in the air force to help his grieving father run his ski business. What he hadn’t counted on was the advent of Pam Jarrett in Clint’s life, or his dad’s decision to marry again so soon and move to Texas.

  The shocking turn of events had come as a blow to both brothers. However, by that time Laurel and little Becky, the daughter of Laurel’s first husband, Scott, had come into Nate’s life. Scott, who’d died in a jet-plane crash, had been Nate’s best friend in the air force.

  Nate’s chance meeting with Laurel months later had resulted in marriage, something that had shocked Scott’s parents. The whole experience of dealing with Laurel’s in-laws had opened Nate’s eyes. He’d understood their shock and grief over learning that their daughter-in-law was in love again soon after Scott’s death.

  It had made him more understanding of his father’s deep feelings for Pam, of his desire to be married. After getting to know her, Nate realized what a wonderful person Pam was.

  As for Nate, he now had a home in Colorado Springs with a wife and baby he adored. Both men had found joy, but not Rick.

  His poor brother, who’d also given up racing to help his father, had gone into a decline. The Hawkins home as Rick had always known it was gone. He found himself alone and deserted, physically and emotionally. Having lost his bearings, he didn’t know where or how to recover.

  But maybe all that was about to change now that he’d met Audra….

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE MIDDLE-AGED night nurse breezed into the hospital room.

  “Is your pain worse, Mr. Hawkins?”

  “No,” Rick muttered.

  “Can’t sleep now that your family’s gone home for the night?”

  Rick had told his dad and Pam to get a motel. They’d looked exhausted. He’d hoped Nate could stick around longer, but he understood his brother had to get back to work. And back to Laurel and the baby, of course.

  Now depression was setting in again.

  He prayed for sleep to come. Those lost hours were the only time he found release from his inner turmoil.

  His thoughts flew to Audra. What irony that she was probably lying in her bed right now praying not to go to sleep. When her eyes closed, the nightmares began. Which was worse?

  He glanced at the nurse. “Does anyone around here ever manage to rest?”

  Despite his comment, her pleasant smile remained in place. “According to the computer, you did a fairly good facsimile of sleeping earlier today. How can I help you? Are you thirsty? I’ve got juice in the fridge.”

  “No, thank you. It’s Friday night, right?”

  She glanced at her watch. “Literally speaking, this is Saturday and it’s 2:00 a.m.”

  “Maybe you can help me find the radio station I was listening to the other night about this same time. The broadcast came out of Austin. There was a female disc jockey who played a mix of country and classical recordings.”

  “I know which one you mean. The program airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. You’re in luck. Everybody who’s awake after midnight listens to it.”

  The nurse, fiddling with the knobs of a radio beside Rick’s bed, found the station right away. “It’s 580 on the AM dial. There you go.” She put the radio near his right hand so he could adjust the volume himself.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Press the button if you need anything else.”

  Strains of a Rachmaninoff piano concerto came through. Rick closed his eyes. He recognized Ashkenazy as the pianist. In Rick’s mind he was the best interpreter of the famous Russian composer’s works.

  Rick’s mother had preferred Horowitz’s recordings. They’d both had their favorite artists and composers. Half the fun of listening to music with his mother had been arguing with her. She’d thought Mahler’s compositions went on too long. He found Prokofiev jarring. They’d both agreed Grieg’s First Piano Concerto was the perfect piece of music.

  “Don’t you love the way the Rachmaninoff Third ends?” the deejay said.

  Her voice. It had a melodic quality. He’d heard it before, on the radio but somewhere else, too.

  “After it’s over, I feel alive, ready to burst from the intense buildup.”

  Rick felt the same way.

  “You’ve just heard Vladimir Ashkenazy at the piano. Another night I’ll play the Horowitz recording, which is very different. In my opinion, Horowitz was the greatest pianist who ever lived. It’s criminal that because of old technology his recordings will never do justice to his genius.”

  Who would have thought a Swede like his mom, and a Texan like the deejay, would have so many opinions in common?

  “For those of you who’ve just tuned in, this segment of the program has been devoted to the piano concerto. Our concluding work is Beethoven’s Fourth with Claudio Arrau. Lie back and enjoy. After the station break, we’ll do a little country.”

  Beethoven was another of Rick’s favorite composers, but he’d listened mostly to his symphonies. This concerto revealed the composer’s passion. Rick found himself concentrating on the music. He’d have to buy a CD of the piece.

  As soon as the commercials were over, he heard her say, “Welcome to the last segment of tonight’s show. I’ll be taking requests.

  “To start things off, this next song is dedicated to a guy from out of town who’s not doing too well since a horse named Marshmallow fell on top of him. Wherever you are, Rick, let’s hope you’ll be feeling better soon.”

  Rick heard his name mentioned in connection with Pam’s mare and almost fell out of his hospital bed.

  “It’s called ‘Racetrack Lover.’”

  What?

  Suddenly he was hearing the same great female vocalist he’d heard the other night. The song had that wonderful country sound with the terrific guitar backup.

  Hey cowboy, can you hear me?

  Better hold your sweetheart tight.

  There’s an exciting new man.

  Coming into town tonight.

  He’s lucky on the track and lucky with the women,

  He’ll mess with your gal,

  Consider that a given.

  Tall, dark and sexy,

  Handsome as sin,

  He’s the racetrack lover,

  Who’s about to drive in.

  If you don’t want a broken heart before daylight,

  Keep your gal out of sight and locked up tight.

  Bet
ter put her in the barn,

  And throw away the key,

  D-o-o-o-n’t let him get near her,

  Or believe you me,

  He’ll take her for a ride,

  And rob you blind,

  Before he spins his wheels,

  And leaves her behind.

  He’s a charmer,

  He’s a talker,

  He’s a no-strings guy,

  He’s the racetrack lover in town on the fly.

  Hey cowboy, can you hear me?

  Better hold your sweetheart tight,

  There’s an exciting new man coming into town tonight.

  Good heavens. It was Audra.

  A surge of adrenaline shot through his veins faster than the painkiller administered through the IV they’d taken out of him before dinner.

  She was a disc jockey who also composed and performed!

  Was that a live band backing her up?

  With her broken leg, he thought she’d taken time off from work and never left the ranch. Now it turned out she had her own radio program? That meant she made the trip to Austin and back in the dead of night three times a week.

  Who drove her while she was in a full-leg cast? Her uncle? A friend?

  If so, was the person female or male?

  When Rick had been flown to the hospital last night, he’d imagined her all alone in that isolated bungalow terrified to fall asleep. Instead, she’d been busy somewhere writing a song about him.

  Racetrack Lover.

  He frowned at her perception of him.

  Unless by some stretch of the imagination she had an uncommon interest in one of the drivers from the Formula One racing circuit who had a bad-boy reputation with the pit babes, he couldn’t understand why she thought he went around breaking hearts.

  Riddled with questions only she could answer, he memorized the request-line number she repeated while he rang for the nurse. An old Johnny Cash song played through to the end before help arrived.

  “Mr. Hawkins?”

  Finally! “I’m sorry to bother you, but could you put the phone in my hands. I can’t reach it.” His cell phone was probably lying in the back of Pam’s truck.

  “Sure.”