Her Montana Man

by Laurie Paige

  The nurses gave Kelly sympathetic glances as they went about their duties, having learned the firefighters were her husband and her brother.

  Chelsea told the nurses she was a friend and was asked to wait in the ICU waiting room.

  “No,” Kelly said fiercely. “She’s to stay. My brother would want her to stay.”

  No more was said about sending Chelsea out. Mrs. Dalton arrived an hour later, and the three women waited together, moving from room to room, always making sure someone stayed with each man. Shortly after lunch the men were moved to twin beds in a semiprivate room.

  At one point Pierce muttered darkly. “Chelsea,” he said over and over. “Chelsea.”

  She stood beside the bed and took his hand. “I’m here,” she whispered, bending close.

  “Stay,” he said, briefly opening his eyes.

  “I will,” she promised.

  Sometime late in the afternoon, Mrs. Dalton took Chelsea’s hand. “Thank you for being here. Pierce needs you, not just at this moment, but in his life. Tell him you want to be married as soon as possible.”

  Chelsea was stunned. “It isn’t as simple as that.”

  Mrs. Dalton sighed. “You young people make everything so difficult,” she murmured, but her smile was kind.

  Chelsea thought about marriage. She swallowed hard. Maybe it was time she and Pierce had a real heart-to-heart talk. The thought frightened her almost as much as the fire had.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sunday evening Pierce and Jim were awake and restless. Other than a cough that would last for days, if not weeks, while their lungs cleared of inhaled soot, they felt fine and demanded to know when they could go home. When the doctor who had treated them stopped by, that was the first question the two patients put to him.

  “Your vital signs are strong,” the physician noted, studying the charts. “You can go in the morning.”

  “Why not now?” Pierce demanded.

  “Tomorrow.” The doctor, who recognized Chelsea, spoke to her. “The main concern is a buildup of fluid in the lungs and pneumonia. That will need to be watched for a few days. However, they’re strong and healthy, so I don’t expect a problem. Other than stubbornness,” he added, smiling.

  Chelsea nodded.

  “No running, lifting or other strain on the lungs,” he gave instructions to the patients. “You’ll be coughing a lot. If it interferes too much with your sleep, I can prescribe something, but I’d rather let nature do its job without interference if possible. You’ll have sore throats for several days. Don’t talk.”

  Chelsea nodded toward Kelly. “Kelly is also a physician. Between the two of us, we can handle them.”

  “Right,” Pierce said, which produced a laugh. With two doctors to watch out for us, we’ll be okay.”

  After a brief discussion, the doctor signed the release forms and went on about his rounds. Chelsea cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her. “My apartment is only a few blocks from here. Everyone is welcome to stay there tonight, then we can rent a car to get us back to Rumor tomorrow.”

  “I have my car here,” Mrs. Dalton reminded them.

  “Great,” Pierce said, his voice so hoarse it hurt to hear him speak. “Let’s stay at Chelsea’s, then head back to Rumor in the morning.”

  Kelly also thought that sounded fine.

  By eight, the five were ensconced in Chelsea’s apartment. She gave Kelly and Jim the tiny guest bed room and put Mrs. Dalton in her room. She settled Pierce on the sofa in the den, which was also her office. She would sleep on the love seat in the living room, which was rarely used.

  After supplying nightgowns and T-shirts for the others, she showered, put on fresh clothing and decided to run to the store for milk, bread and eggs to serve for breakfast. She called her favorite pizzeria and ordered two large pizzas and asked to have them delivered.

  When she returned from the store, the pizzas had arrived. They gathered in the den to eat and watch the news. They wanted to make sure the forest fire was still out.

  Chelsea, observing the others, realized this was the first time she’d had guests at her place.

  “Your apartment is darling,” Kelly told her after the news and weather report were finished.

  “Very comfortable,” Mrs. Dalton chimed in.

  “Let me know what you think in the morning,” Chelsea said with a smile. “My bed is ancient. It’s left over from college days.” Her glance was apologetic.

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” Mrs. Dalton said. “You know, a place in the city would be nice for shopping trips and visits. You could even live here and commute to Rumor. If necessary.”

  As four pairs of eyes gazed at her, Chelsea felt a blush rising and tried to forestall it by the power of suggestion. It didn’t work.

  Jim covered a yawn and told them he was ready to try his bed out. He and Kelly said good-night and left them.

  Chelsea heard him coughing as he and Kelly went down the short hall. Mrs. Dalton gave her son a kiss on the cheek and went to her assigned room.

  Chelsea shut the door to the den so Pierce could have privacy and went to the kitchen to put their plates, glasses and utensils in the dishwasher. She prepared a pot of coffee for breakfast and set the brewing timer for six o’clock. She knew Pierce was an early riser.

  “Thanks for having us over,” Pierce said, coming into the kitchen. He cleared his throat, coughed harshly and settled on a stool at the breakfast bar.

  “It’s a pleasure.” She wiped the counter and tossed the paper towel in the trash. “You’re my first guests.”

  “Do you know many people here?”

  “Not many.” She glanced at the clock. “I need to call the police chief and let him know I won’t be on duty tomorrow. I thought I’d ride down to Rumor with you so I can pack, then come home in my car.”

  Pierce nodded and stood. “Stay with me tonight,” he invited. “I’m sure I’ll sleep better.”

  She glanced down the hallway, then back at him.

  “My mother won’t mind,” he said dryly.

  “It isn’t that.” She thought of what Mrs. Dalton had told her—to simply tell him they were getting married. She couldn’t do that, but she wanted to reopen the topic for discussion. But words wouldn’t come.

  Pierce went to the den. Pausing, he bade her good-night, then he went inside.

  Chelsea felt the emptiness when the door closed. She turned out the light and stood in the dark. Down the hall, she heard Kelly and Jim in the bathroom, then Mrs. Dalton, as they prepared for bed. Finally all was quiet.

  Still she stood there. Her legs ached, and she realized just how tired she was, how tired they all must be. She took a step, paused, then took another.

  Quickly, without letting herself think, she opened the door to the den and slipped inside. Pierce stood at a window, gazing out at the lights of the town. He wore briefs and the T-shirt she’d given him. He smiled upon seeing her.

  “Good,” was all he said, then he slipped between the covers of the sofa bed and folded the sheet neatly across his chest.

  Chelsea brushed her teeth, put on pajamas and returned to the den in record time. When she slipped into bed beside him, he turned off the light and pulled her close.

  Then he coughed. And coughed.

  An hour later he turned on the light. “Maybe I should go to another room so you can get some sleep.”

  “You’ll be more comfortable in the chair.” She pointed to the big easy chair next to the end table. She got a light blanket from the closet. “You’ll be able to sleep better sitting up while your lungs clear.”

  “I won’t be able to hold you,” he complained.

  She smiled at his plaintive tone. “It’s a chair and a half.”

  He looked interested. “What does that mean?”

  “Sit. I’ll show you.”

  When he was settled, she folded the bed into a sofa again, then sat beside him in the oversize recliner. After spreading the blanket over them, she pulled the le
ver which brought the footrest up and let the chair recline. With a weary sigh, she snuggled against him.

  Wrapping an arm about her, he murmured, “I like this.”

  It came to her that this might be the last time they were together. Grief squeezed her heart into an aching knot. She would live through it. She had eight years ago.

  “Will you let me sleep with you when I come to see the baby?” he asked, his cheek resting on her head.

  “That wouldn’t be wise,” she said.

  His arm tightened. “Probably not,” he said.

  He sounded oddly quiet, almost sad. But then, she might be reading her own emotions instead of his. Never had she felt so discouraged by life, not even when he’d told her he hadn’t wanted a lasting relationship with her.

  Tell him you want to be married.

  Not tonight. Maybe when he recovered. Or when she felt stronger and able to handle rejection. Right now she was terribly tired. Tomorrow she’d be okay.

  She sighed against his warmth, feeling his strength surround her. Tomorrow she’d also be alone again.

  Monday, Pierce listened while Chelsea called the police chief and told him all that had happened over the weekend. It pleased him when her boss told her to take the week off for rest and recuperation before returning to the office.

  “You can stay at the cabin,” Pierce said.

  He noticed she didn’t answer. Okay, he hadn’t expected handsprings, but she didn’t have to look so damn sad. It troubled him, that look in her eyes, the remote smile that said she wasn’t really there.

  After she locked the apartment, they joined the others in the compact car, he and Chelsea in the back, Jim and Kelly riding in front with his mom.

  Pierce thought his brother-in-law looked weary. He knew he was. Both had coughed frequently during the night, making it hard for everyone to sleep. Coughing was good. It made it less likely either would get pneumonia or other infections, according to Kelly.

  Once in Rumor, Pierce asked Chelsea to drive the SUV while Kelly took charge of getting Jim home. Mrs. Dalton hugged both men. “Rest,” she admonished. She gaze earnestly at her son. “Follow your heart,” she said softly.

  He nodded. His heart led to Chelsea, but that was a dead-end road. She’d trampled his idea of marriage into dust when he’d brought up the subject.

  At his house Chelsea made sure he was comfortable on the sofa with lots of pillows for support. She even laid an afghan at hand in case he got cold. He didn’t point out the temperature was in the eighties and it wasn’t even noon. A haze of smoke lingered in the air.

  “Will you be okay while I go next door?” she asked.

  “Sure. But hurry back.”

  She gave him a worried perusal before leaving. He settled into the corner of the sofa, content to be an invalid at the moment. As soon as he could take a deep breath without coughing and his lungs stopped burning, he would take advantage of her concern.

  For the next hour he channel surfed and imagined various scenarios in which those advantages could play themselves out. It was a pleasant interlude. He even managed to catch a short nap.

  After he woke, though, he grew restless. Where was Chelsea? He’d assumed she’d be back soon.

  Finally he rose and went to the deck. From there he had a clear view across the creek to her cabin. He was just in time. She put a suitcase and the bag containing her laptop computer into the trunk of the car, then went back into the cabin.

  With a muttered curse, he headed across the grass at a jog. Before reaching the creek, he was racked by coughs so violent he had to stop and bend forward to get his breath.

  “Pierce, what are you doing?” Chelsea demanded. She dashed across the stepping stones and grabbed his arm. “Are you crazy? You’re not supposed to run. Get inside.”

  “Your place,” he insisted when she tried to turn him.

  Shaking her head in exasperation, she held his arm as if she thought he might pass out at any moment. At her house, she pushed him onto the sofa, then got him a glass of iced tea with a generous squirt of lemon and a spoonful of honey.

  “The lemon will help clear your throat,” she advised, hovering around him.

  He caught her hand and pulled her down beside him. “Were you going to sneak off without saying goodbye?” he demanded, furious with her and life and everything else that crossed his path.

  “Sneak off?” she repeated. “Why would I sneak off?”

  “Beats me. If you want to go back to Billings, I won’t try to stop you. I probably couldn’t, anyway,” he added. He realized it wasn’t his call. It was up to her.

  “I’m not going back, at least I hadn’t planned to for a few days. Unless you’d rather I did.”

  “You put your stuff in your car.”

  “Oh, that.” She touched his shoulder as if to comfort him. “I was going to bring everything over to your place. I thought you’d be more comfortable there. I was cleaning up the cabin so you could rent it.”

  He searched her eyes for confirmation. She was telling the truth. Relief speared through him. He cleared his throat, coughed, sipped the tea, then took her hand. “I have some things to tell you,” he said. “Will you listen?”

  Chelsea’s heart beat very fast as she nodded. When he moved over, she sat on the edge of the sofa, her hip pressing lightly against his while she waited for him to speak.

  “Thanks for taking care of me,” he began.

  Disappointment was so sharp she nearly wept. “I didn’t do anything. I mean, it was part of my job.”

  He shook his head. “Will you let me finish?”

  She nodded. She knew what was coming. She’d been through this goodbye once before.

  “I don’t know how to reach you. I guess I never did, but I’m through hiding how I feel.”

  Startled, she could only stare at him.

  “I think we could have a good life, either here or in Billings. The commute wouldn’t be all that far.”

  His voice became raspier as he spoke. He sipped some tea while she clenched her hands and tried to quell the painful temptation of hope that swelled in her.

  “Together?” she asked, not sure what he was saying.

  “Yes.”

  “For…for the baby?”

  “Of course. But for us, too.” He reached up and caressed her cheek, leaving a burning sensation everywhere he touched. “We’ve shared friendship and passion. I think it’s time for more.”

  In spite of her attempts at calm, bubbles seemed to be forming in her blood, effervescing into her brain so that she couldn’t think. “More of what?” she asked, her voice almost as raspy as his.

  He inhaled deeply, shot her an apologetic glance as he had to cough, then spoke. “We were in love eight years ago,” he said softly. “I think we still are. At least, I know how I feel. I want you to stay with me…always.”

  The bubbles inside her frothed like shaken champagne. They danced through her mind, a golden dust sprinkled into her dreams by laughing fairies. “Pierce,” she whispered.

  “Marry me, Chelsea,” he said, “and let’s find the life we were meant to share.”

  She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Finally she buried her face against his neck while tears filled her throat.

  “Is that a yes?” he asked, his manner tender as he cradled her in his arms.

  “Yes,” she managed to whisper in a croaky voice. However, the last haunting remembrances of the past remained. “But are you sure this is what you want, or is it pressure from Kelly and your mother?” She looked at him anxiously, seeking the truth.

  He looked surprised, then he frowned fiercely. “No one can force either of us into a marriage we don’t want. This is strictly between us. I do love you, you know.”

  “You didn’t want a lasting relationship before.”

  “You surprised me when you told me about the residency. I realized you were talking about leaving. It hurt, and I reacted out of pride. Can you forgive me?”

  Staring in
to his eyes, she saw truth and gentleness, a warmth she realized was for her…her. “Yes.”

  “I didn’t give you a chance to explain,” he continued. “I promise to listen in the future. If I forget, you can hit me with a two-by-four to get my attention.”

  At his smile, she smiled, too. Inside, an ache pressed against her rib cage, but it was a good ache, one of love and hope and all the things that would be their future.

  “I love you, too,” she said. “I have since we first met. Why was it so hard to say before?”

  He nuzzled his face against her hair and kissed along her temple. “We both had some growing up to do. We also had some baggage from the past—your parents’ divorce, which made it harder for you to trust, and the death of my father, which made the loss of a loved one harder for me to handle. Let’s promise to always share our fears and doubts.”

  “Always,” she said solemnly.

  Their eyes met and held. His love flowed over her like a warm blanket of peace, woven with passion and tears and joy and a great deal of love.

  “How soon can we be married?” he demanded.

  “I’ll call my folks and see how soon they can come. How about a small wedding here by the lake?”

  He nodded. “Let’s close up the cabin and head over to my place…our place,” he corrected.

  When they arrived at the house, the phone was ringing. Chelsea answered while Pierce coughed from the exertion of walking from the car to the house. “Hello?”

  “Are you two going to marry?” Kelly demanded.

  “It’s Kelly. She wants to know if we’re going to marry,” Chelsea told Pierce.

  He grinned and held out his hand. Chelsea gave him the phone and snuggled into his arms on the long sofa. “Yes, my nosy sister, Chelsea and I have decided on marriage.” He held the phone away from his ear while she shrieked like an banshee and yelled the news to Jim.

  “Do I get to be matron of honor?” she finally calmed down enough to ask.

  He looked at Chelsea, who nodded. “Yes, but only if you’re extra nice to me for a whole year.”