The Man from Montana
Page 24
Shane sat down on the corner of Holden’s bed. “If you were fine, you’d have shot back at me.” He sighed. “You can talk to me. I understand stress.”
“You understand nothing,” Holden grumbled. Not the pressure on his chest. Not the jumble of thoughts in his head. Not the embarrassment of going to the emergency room for no concrete medical reason. “Nothing.”
“Really?” Shane quirked a dark brow. “I’m here for you. Enlighten me.”
“Whatever sent me to the hospital...” which, according to the tests, wasn’t a heart attack, blood clots, malfunctioning thyroid, diabetes or cancerous tumors “...I refuse the diagnosis.”
Shane frowned. “Stress?”
“Anxiety.” Holden hated the familiar way the word rolled off his tongue. “That’s what they call it now, Shane. Anxiety. Do you know what they used to call what happened to me?”
Frowning, Shane shook his head.
“A breakdown.” Holden felt frustration build in his veins. Strong, powerful, capable men weren’t felled by life’s pressures. “I am not broken.” He was many things—proud, a cool negotiator, a workaholic. But he wasn’t broken.
“Ah.” Shane nodded, as if he sympathized. “Holden, you’re not broken broken—”
Holden wanted to throttle Shane.
“—but you’re not fine, either. Something’s bothering you. Something more than Bernadette’s baby news. You showed up in town wound tighter than an eight-day clock. Maybe you should spend a week or two at the family ranch in Texas. Sleep late and ride horses. Either way, I’m here for you if you want to talk.”
Holden didn’t want to share his feelings with anyone, most especially Shane. But he didn’t want to carry elephants around on his chest, either.
It’s going to take more than deep breaths to get rid of them.
Before Holden could decide how much more he should say, Shane continued his kumbaya speech. “Since I’ve been in Second Chance, my priorities have changed. Family, not the bottom line, is the most important thing to me. I know we’ve been at odds about whether to keep or sell this town. Now that a majority of the family want to retain ownership of Second Chance, we need someone with your financial expertise to guide us long-term.”
If Shane knew the straits of Holden’s personal finances, he wouldn’t ask for his help.
“Get some rest. Think about it. And if you need anything, ask. I’m here.” Shane took in what must have been a broken look on Holden’s face. “Honestly, asking for help doesn’t make you any less of a man.” Shane left before Holden could form a scathing retort.
“Ice men don’t ask for help.” It was a great response. Too bad he made the statement to an empty room.
His phone pinged with a message. It was from Bernadette. She’d sent two words.
Two words Holden didn’t understand.
I accept.
Copyright © 2021 by Melinda Wooten
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ISBN-13: 9781488074660
The Man from Montana
Copyright © 2021 by Julianna Morris
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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