“Jack’s mother?” the nurse asked as she stood.
“Yes. Ruby. How is he?”
Jobe came through the curtain then. “I’m his father.”
The nurse smiled. “He’s fine. He was scared when he was first brought in. Doctor Hamill checked him over and found nothing. He was secured into the car seat and it saved his life.”
“Ma.” Jack lifted his arms up, reaching for Ruby. She grabbed him up into her arms and held him tight. No words could ever describe how grateful she was that her son was okay. Jobe wrapped an arm around them and for the longest time they stood there, holding each other.
****
Jobe checked on his son. Jack was asleep in the hospital bed. Doctor Hamill wanted to keep him overnight for observation, but the toddler hadn’t suffered any injuries. Jobe looked over at Ruby who was resting semi-peacefully on the chair. She’d come back from checking on Em and she’d cried enough that she’d worn herself out.
Knowing Ruby and Jack were safe rested his heart some, but he worried about Em. She’d had surgery to repair a broken leg and now they were waiting for her to wake up in recovery. The car had slammed into her side of the truck and she’d suffered external and internal injuries. The doctors were keeping a close eye on her.
Leaving Jacks’ room, Jobe made his way to ICU where DJ, Pearl, Jewels, and Spark were quietly sitting in the private family waiting room.
“Any news?” Jobe asked as he stepped in.
“Nothing,” Pearl answered.
“Is Nash back with Em?”
“He has been back and forth. I think if he’d sit still long enough, he’d lose it,” Jewels said. “How’s Jack?”
Jobe sighed. “He’s fine. He’s resting. He’ll get to go home in the morning.”
“So glad he didn’t get hurt. Nash said Em kept saying his name before they took her back for surgery. She’d never forgive herself if something happened to him.”
The sound of heavy footsteps approaching the waiting room made every one turn as Nash walked in. He looked like he was about ready to fall over. “She’s awake.”
Jewels and Pearl both jumped up, smiling. “Can we see her?” They asked in unison.
“Doc wants her to rest, but he said looks like she’ll recover fully.” There was a sense of relief in his expression that spoke of his undying love for Em. Jobe understood completely. The events of the day brought him clarity. He couldn’t imagine if anything happened to Jack. And seeing how his brother has been heartbroken over Em. No one should ever leave their fate to chance. Jobe would never leave his words unspoken.
EPILOGUE
Ruby handed Em the gift she’d been saving until her cousin came home from the hospital. After a week, here she was. Her leg was in a cast and she would be in a wheelchair for a few more months, but she was alive. There were no words to describe how lucky she and Jack were.
“You didn’t have to get me a gift,” Em said, smiling.
“No, I didn’t have to. I wanted to. I love you.” Ruby squeezed her shoulders.
“I’m so glad you’re here. This better be a permanent situation.” Em’s eyes twinkled.
Ruby shrugged. Hearing laughter, she watched as her sisters, Sapphire and Violet, played with Jack. Crystal had visited too, but had gone back home on business just a few days ago. It was nice having them close and they’d been the best support. “I don’t know.”
“How are things between you and Jobe?” Em asked.
“Wonderful. I’ve never been happier. He hasn’t left my side, or Jack’s since the accident.”
“I couldn’t pry Nash away if I tried. I’m loving his attention and he’s going to spoil me.”
Warmth spread over Ruby’s skin and she jerked her chin up, meeting Jobe’s pensive gaze as he slipped an arm around her waist. “Hi,” she said.
“Hello.”
“Isn’t it nice to have all of our family, at least most of them, here under one roof?” She scanned all of the faces of her loved ones.
“Will you step outside with me a moment? I need to speak to you,” he asked her.
“Sure.” He had seemed distant most of the day and she wondered what he needed to discuss. Was it about Jack? Would he ask that she leave him for visits now that he’d grown close to Jobe?
Once they were outside, Jobe led her to the swing in the backyard, next to the flower garden. They sat together and she looked at his profile. “If this is about Jack, I know you probably think it’s time we got to some normalcy—”
He turned his cheek, their gazes meeting. “This is about Jack, he’s included, but not what you’re thinking.”
“Oh, okay.” Relief spread through her. Things had been very good between them. During the day they spent family time with Jack, and at night Jobe shared her bed. They made sweet, passionate love, spoke of daily things, but never about their future.
Until now…
“I love you, Ruby. More than I could ever possibly explain. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to ask you, but—” He dipped his hand into his shirt pocket and withdrew a small box. “It’s high time we made this official. Will you be my wife?” He lifted the lid and nested in the velvet was a sparkling diamond ring.
Tears misted her eyes. “I-I didn’t think you’d ever ask. I had hoped you would.”
He smiled, took the ring out, and slipped it on her finger. “I promise to love and cherish you, and Jack, all the days of my life.”
“And I you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. This was her home. She couldn’t be happier.
Whistles blew, hands clapped, and hollers of congratulations broke the silence. She pulled back and scanned the yard. All of the family stood around, giving them a thumbs up and support. “I thought this was a welcome home for Em?”
Jobe shrugged. “It is, but I told the family what I’d planned and they figured they should all join together and make this a special occasion for everyone.”
Jack crossed the yard to Jobe and Ruby, crawling between them. “Family,” he yelled.
Phones were out and pictures were snapped. This moment forever frozen in time.
The End
From the author:
Thank you for reading. Please leave a review and let others know your thoughts.
Like my author page. http://www.amazon.com/Rhonda-LeeCarver/
Hugs,
Rhonda Lee Carver “Writing Men Who Love to Get Their Hands Dirty…”
At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas were no longer contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.
Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.
When Rhonda isn't crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Secret Pressure
For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit:
www.rhondaleecarver.com
Find me on Facebook, too!
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Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver
Diamond in a Rose
Double Dare
Delaney’s Sunrise
Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1, Second Chance Series)
Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2, Second Chance Series)
Second Round Cowboy (Book 3, Second Chance Series)
Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4, Second Chance Series)
Second Song Cowboy (Book 5, Second Chance Series)
Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6, Second Chance Series)
Second
Hope Cowboy (Book 7, Second Chance Series)
Second Sunrise Cowboy (Book 8, Second Chance Cowboy Series)
Castle’s Fortress
Dreaming Ivy
Friends With Benefits
Sin With Cuffs
With Honor
Wicked Pleasures (Book 1, Wicked Wolves Series)
Wicked Lust (Book 2, Wicked Wolves Series)
Fighting Flames
UNDER PRESSURE (Book 1, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE RISING (Book 2, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
PRESSURE POINT (Book 3, Rhinestone Cowgirls)
Under the Mistletoe
Cowboy Paradise (Cowboys of Nirvana)
Leather for Two, Wings of Steel MC
Have you read Cowboy Paradise (Book 1, Cowboys of Nirvana)? Here’s a gift to you…Chapter One.
Chapter One
Three years later…
The creaking and popping of the old Victorian house brought Cara to a sitting position in bed. She listened closer, but only heard silence. She was alone.
Rubbing the bridge of her nose and wiping the beads of sweat from her brow, she forced her breath in and out of her lungs, calming the fast beating of her heart. The last panic attack had been months ago and she wasn’t about to have another one. Not tonight.
She’d had a nightmare about James—a nightly event that she had no control over. Three years had passed since the accident, the one that had brought her freedom, yet the damage had already been done.
After James had accused her of sleeping with Tommy Baker, and slapped her around, Cara had blacked out. When she awoke a few minutes later, she’d heard the whirling of sirens. Then what happened was a blur. He was arrested and Cara was taken by ambulance to the hospital where she was met by a concerned Cleo. She’d admitted that she’d called the sheriff because she worried about Cara’s safety. Once released from the hospital a few hours later, Cara went to the sheriff’s department where picture after picture was taken, and statement after statement was given.
Cara went home, packed up all of James’s things and took them to his sister’s house. Early the next morning, Cara went out of town and hired a divorce attorney.
Pulling strings, James was let go from jail. Celebrating his release, he’d gotten drunk at his local hangout and called her threatening that if she didn’t stop divorce proceedings, he’d have to take matters into his own hands. She didn’t need the finer details to understand what he was suggesting. But, she’d decided she would rather die than live another day with him.
When the bar closed and he left, he ran his truck into a tree. A passerby found him dead a mile from Cara’s house. She often wondered if he’d gotten what he’d deserved. Maybe karma had played a hand in his demise.
When she’d opened the door and the deputy told her the news of the accident, she knew she was free at last. Never having to live in fear again was priceless. But she’d felt an unexplainable guilt that stuck with her. Although the love she’d had for James had died years before, a part of her questioned if she could have saved and changed him if she’d divorced him much sooner.
Yet, in her heart, she realized he never would have changed.
A second shock had come when she learned James had bought himself and Cara a life insurance policy, merely two months before his death. There was a certain amount of suspicion why he’d taken one out on her too, but she’d been awarded enough money upon his death that she could do all of the things that he’d kept her from doing during their marriage.
First thing she did was sell his law practice, then sunk the money into her shop, Time is of Essence. She loved working with vintage clothing and jewelry, a challenge she needed to help her get through the healing. The business had grown, especially after she’d opened an online store, and she didn’t have to worry about anything except…
Her future.
It seemed bleak.
There weren’t many prospects for her in Coal Springs, Texas, and she’d thought about packing up and moving to a place where no one knew her past. She hadn’t gotten that far yet. The few single men in town, known as bad boys, who’d asked her on a date, she’d turned down flat. Not only were they not her type, but that jerk of a dead husband of hers messed up her mind—and her heart. He’d told her enough times that she was ugly and worthless and she’d finally believed him. He’d hypnotized her with his degrading insults and his physical abuse. Certain parts of her brain were malfunctioned—and vital parts of her body.
She’d spent enough money on a therapist that she could have traveled the world three times over, but nothing had really changed in all of the years. She was still alone. She was still damaged.
And yet, she still had dreams.
Cara wanted a family—wanted a child more than her next breath. She’d always hoped by now she would have found someone else, had a supportive partner, but maybe James had been right, she would never find a man that wanted a washed up woman. Enough people in town knew of her situation with James. They steered clear of her. His sister, Tammy, had spread rumor after rumor, mainly how Cara was at fault for James dying and how she’d caused him to drink heavily and turn abusive. Cara shrugged off the statements.
She had bigger fish to fry.
The problem was, she was broken inside. She didn’t know if it was possible to trust another man, to love again. To feel secure in the arms of another. But she had to try to rebuild. Try to move ahead. She was too young to lie down and give up. She couldn’t let James win—couldn’t let him control her from his grave.
Clicking on the bedside lamp, she hit the book on the nightstand and it dropped to the floor. As she reached to grab it, something caught her eye. She stared at the brochure she’d thrown into the trash can a few weeks before after a tense and depressing visit with her therapist, Deidre. She told Cara things had come to a standstill in her therapy. Deidre slipped Cara the brochure, telling her to read it and to consider it as an option for healing. Deidre had said, “It would do you some good to get away.”
Cara had left the office, feeling down, and had almost forgotten about the brochure. She had skimmed through it, reading about the R&R. She didn’t need a vacation. She had the shop to worry about.
After another nightmare, she was on the brink of desperation.
Sighing, she took the pamphlet from the can and placed it in her lap. She read the cover…
“Nirvana Ranch. A place where people find tranquility in nature.”
The picture of horses and the lovely sunset was definitely an attention getter. No denying her curiosity was tweaked, although she wasn’t sure the ranch was what she needed. How could she go away right now? She certainly didn’t think she’d be bold enough to go to some R&R miles away where they promised tranquility. She opened the cover and floated through the information. Seclusion. Horses. Nature. Riding lessons. A life skills coach. “Oh my.” Her throat constricted.
She read further.
“Visit us online and apply for an opportunity to visit Nirvana. We hope to see you soon.” Nope, not going to happen.
Dropping the brochure back into the trash, she turned off the lamp, rolled over and buried her head into the pillow.
The clock ticked. The wind whistled. Tree branches scratched the window. Her heart pounded inside of her chest and her palms were sweaty.
Punching the pillow twice, she jerked the blanket over her head. Once she fell asleep her nightmares would find her.
She wondered what it would be like to sleep peacefully for one night.
She could take the over-the-counter sleep aid that helped, but she didn’t like thinking she would be in a deep sleep and not arousing if something happened. A fire. A break-in. An important phone call. Who would call her in the middle of the night? No one called her during the day either. Her one, and only, friend was Cleo. Cara had more in common with the seasoned woman than anyone. Most thirty-year-olds were out having fun, but Cara stayed home every night.
What would life be like if she found her
self again, the young woman with compassion, adoration for life and a romantic fantasy of love and family? She’d been so happy before it was crushed under the weight of reality.
Turning on the light again, the pamphlet seemed to draw her like a beacon.
Her options were thin. She could live in fear and a safe bubble for the rest of her life, or get over the hell she’d once lived and had surrounded her like iron bars of a prison. Take a vacation. Do what normal people do.
She took the pamphlet and tapped the shiny paper with one nail.
It was time she kicked her husband out of her brain.
****
Ben Kade stared down the length of the pock-marked fence. Ranch hands, his friends and co-workers at Nirvana Ranch, were gathering around, greeting each other.
He looked out over the fields where the horses grazed. A hushed chatter arose from the men. Ben remained quiet, listening. There was always a tense excitement, for some more than others, as a new round of heartbreaks were scheduled to come and stay at the ranch. ‘Heartbreaks’ was a name the staff called the visitors, because everyone who came through Nirvana had a story to tell, whether they knew it or not. Heartbreaks spent a lot of money to come here to enjoy the outdoors, learn new life skills, fish and ride horses—and to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy life. Over the years, he’d seen hundreds of women come and go, because ninety-nine percent of their guests were female. Most were single, some were married, and some were looking for a getaway while they cleared their head. Even a few came to hike through the vast trails or learn to cook by taking lessons from the staff chef. Several had come to meet the legendary rodeo star and owner of Nirvana—Chase Sever. Each and every one had their own reason. A lot of them were rich, city folk who wanted to find out what it was like on the other side of the fence, so to speak.
Secret Pressure (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 4) Page 15
