Cole knew how persuasive Nick could be. Gratitude washed over him, wrecking his voice. But he couldn’t let go of Maggy’s hand. “Maggy and I have some unfinished business.”
The nurse moved over to lower his bed, put down the rails.
Panic filled Cole’s grip. “Wait—I want to see CJ.”
Maggy came close, brushed her lips across his forehead. “I’ll get him.”
He didn’t let her go. “Mags, you have to tell him—”
“Shh.” She pressed her lips to his, gently, sweetly, conjuring up so many memories. “Nick isn’t going to change his mind. Not when his brother needs him.” She pulled away, stepped back while two attendants wheeled in a gurney.
“Maggy, promise me that if anything happens—”
“Nothing’s going to happen.”
“—you’ll tell Nick everything.” He grimaced as the attendants moved him to the gurney.
Maggy sighed. “Be strong, Cole. I need you. CJ needs you. And we love you.”
He gazed at her, frustration turning him inside out as they rolled him away.
Nick had had a chest X-ray, an EKG, an ultrasound, a CT scan, been poked, sucked of blood, starved, and this last humiliation made him want to hit something.
“Okay, Mr. Noble, you’re all set for surgery.” The nurse coiled up the tube and did the favor of not looking at him as she lowered his sheets and patted his leg.
His face felt ten shades of red, and he didn’t roll over until she exited. No one ever said the E-word when he’d agreed to this last night.
Then again, last night he’d been overwrought with emotion, not thinking clearly. But even in the light of day, he wouldn’t change his mind. Not after he spent half the night pleading his case to Doctor Lowe. How he’d probably been ready for this his entire life, how God had brought him back, maybe for this reason alone.
Nick had another brother. It made him think of Rafe, of losing him, and he’d asked Stefanie to call him. Just . . . in case.
Nick rolled over, adjusting himself on the hospital bed. They’d given him a single room, probably wanting to keep him free from infection before surgery. Outside, clouds streaked a beautiful blue sky, and he made out the Bighorn Mountains.
He wished he’d had time to donate blood for himself. Instead, Stefanie had rolled up her sleeve shortly after he’d broken the news to her.
That had been an interesting conversation. And an even more interesting reaction from his sister, who barely blinked. After a pause, she’d simply touched his hand, given him a cryptic smile, and said, “I wondered about that.”
Was he the only one who’d lived nearly thirty years in the dark? Well, according to Maggy, Cole didn’t know either. Attesting to the fact that they were probably related. Only a couple of dunces from the same gene pool could miss the fact that they were half brothers.
Nick traced the scar on his palm with his thumb, thinking about the day he and Cole, in their boyish games, had cut their palms and pressed them together, pledging loyalty and friendship.
He wanted to see Cole before surgery.
“God brought you here for a reason, Nick.” Stefanie’s words replayed in his head, and he felt a rush of emotion at the immensity of God’s plan. His eyes misted, and he decided he could blame that on the surgery and the thought that they were going to cut into him, take out a piece, and give it to his best friend. No, his brother.
Bishop, why didn’t you tell me or at least tell Cole? It seemed to him that a kid had a right to know about his father, regardless of the repercussions. But Bishop had probably been trying to protect Elizabeth. And he could hardly blame his father for that.
He rubbed his forehead, wincing at the pinch of the IV tube in his hand. A knock came at the door, and he adjusted his blankets, hoping it might be Piper. “Enter.”
He hadn’t seen Piper since last night and had carried her worried expression in his mind through all his tests and the dark hours as he’d waited for the results. He would like to have had her near him while he waited to hear whether or not he might be used by God to help save Cole’s life.
Thank You, God.
The door opened, and Stefanie popped her head in. “Hey there, Spare Parts, how’re you doing?”
Nick gave her a mock glare. “Wishing I was back home on my horse.”
Stefanie came in, closed the door behind her. “I think that outfit might be a bit breezy for a ride on the range.”
“Oh, ha-ha.” He did feel a little . . . exposed. Even with the covers tucked around him. It reminded him—too well—of the times he’d visited his mother in the hospital. She always acted so strong, always assured him that everything would be all right.
Kind of like he’d done last night to Maggy. For the first time, he realized that his mother’s words had been as much for herself as for him. “Have you seen Cole?”
“Nope.” She pointed to the crease inside her elbow, where a lump of cotton raised her shirt. “Pouring out my life for you took up all my time.”
“You could give me a break here.”
She grinned. “I like the fact that I can help. A little.” She patted his leg, and he saw her eyes glisten. “You’re the hero I always thought you were, Nick.”
Oh. He felt another hot rush of emotion. For pete’s sake, he was turning into a blubbering mess. “Took me a while.”
“You’re right on time.” Her smile dimmed. “CJ’s out there, though. Wanna see him before you go into surgery?”
Nick shrugged, not sure what he’d say to the kid—his nephew! A smile came easily. “How’s he taking his dad’s illness?”
Stefanie sat down on his bed. “I don’t think he knows much. Just that Cole is sick, and you’re helping him get well.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I think you need to . . . ah . . . tell him that you’re proud of him, winning the breakaway roping.”
He’d forgotten that he hadn’t talked to CJ since before the event. “Yeah, send him in. And Piper too. How is she? Did you tell her?”
Stefanie frowned.
“What?”
“Well, I haven’t seen Piper. I got here late, and I thought she’d gone to a hotel or something. But no one has seen her. All night.”
“Not at all?”
Stefanie shook her head.
“Can you please find her for me?” He hated the desperation in his voice, but it matched his pitiful attire, and frankly he should probably scuttle any attempts at pride.
Especially after the E-word.
Stefanie touched his hand. “You like her, don’t you?”
Nick turned his gaze toward the window. “I might be falling in love with her, Stef. I always thought I’d never get over Maggy. And I did love Maggy, but my feelings for Piper are so much bigger. Or maybe it’s just the right timing, but she’s . . . she’s—”
“She fits you. Anyone can see that. She’s patient and—”
“Beautiful and sweet and a great listener and funny, and I can’t stop thinking about her. She gets to me.”
“I was going to say she likes the ranch.”
He smiled. “She told me she doesn’t want to leave the ranch.” He was sorta hoping she meant that she didn’t want to leave him either.
“Well, that’s good, because we need her. But more importantly, I think she feels the same about you. At least that’s what it looked like last night when I asked her to go with you.”
“Why did you do that?”
Stefanie gave a sly grin. “Women’s intuition and the hope that what I saw at the rodeo might be the start of something . . . permanent.”
Nick wasn’t quite sure what to say to that.
Stefanie got to her feet and gave his hand a final squeeze. “I’ll find her. And I’ll send in CJ.” She leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I love you, Brother. And I’m so proud of you.”
Nick couldn’t speak as she turned and walked away.
Piper heard voices when she opened her eyes. She pushed herself into a sitting po
sition, trying to get a fix on her surroundings. Low light, a quietness that filled the air, padded red velvet pews, a crucifix hanging above the altar. She turned to see a young couple huddled in the back pew, praying.
She remembered discovering the cafeteria closed and settling for trying to find a place to sleep. Apparently the third pew of the hospital chapel had seemed suitable at three in the morning. Checking her watch, she realized she’d been out for six hours. Her mouth tasted gummy, and her body felt as if it had gone about ten rounds with one of those Brahma bulls. She’d definitely cross out pews as appropriate sleeping berths.
She needed to eat, shower, and gather what little common sense she still possessed. She checked her cell phone to see if Carter had returned any of her messages. Nothing. And her battery was low.
She stood, combed her fingers through her snarled hair, and tiptoed past the couple holding each other. They looked so . . . together. The man had his arm around his wife, and her hands were wound in his as they prayed in low tones. The sight of them made Piper ache.
She wanted that. Wanted someone to cling to when life felt overwhelming.
No, she didn’t simply want someone; she wanted Nick. She closed her eyes, thinking of the way she’d seen him hugging Maggy, both arms around her as if he would never let go. She knew how that felt—he’d held her exactly the same way the night of the stampede. And in so many just as heartbreaking ways since then.
She felt barren thinking about how much she’d misjudged him. First, believing he had framed her brother and now considering he might love her. Some reporter she’d turned out to be. She shoved her hand into her pocket, curling her fingers around the tape recorder containing Nick’s incriminating words, running her fingers along its cool, smooth edges.
Her cell phone vibrated, and she fumbled for it, hurrying out the door and into the hall. “Hello?”
“Tell me you’re okay.” Carter’s voice betrayed the fact that he’d picked up the five frantic messages she’d left overnight.
“Did you get the information I asked you to find?”
“Let’s see, I’ve had roughly zero working hours between eight o’clock last night and nine this morning. Not only that, but the public-records office in Miles City isn’t open until Tuesday, this being Memorial Day weekend. So, you must think I’m some sort of Internet whiz—”
“What did you find out?”
“Testy. Did you sleep in your clothes again?”
She slunk down the hall toward the bathroom. Maybe she didn’t want to see the results of her night on a pew. . . . “Please, Carter—”
“Okay, calm down. Get a chai.” She heard his keyboard clicking. “You’re lucky I miss you and spend every free hour at my computer.”
“It’s just because you’re in between girlfriends.”
“Speaking of romance, how is that cowboy of yours?”
Piper pushed into the bathroom, lowering her voice, and stared at the damage in the mirror. She’d aged about ninety years in one night, with bags under her eyes and sleep wrinkles on her face. Her makeup had smeared, and her hair hung in stringy tangles. Her T-shirt matched her skirt wrinkle for wrinkle, and she probably smelled. Lovely. “He’s moving on to greener pastures, and I’m coming home.”
The pause on the other end told her that her tone held a hint of bitterness. “Piper, I’m sorry.”
She hated how Carter’s gentle words pushed tears into her eyes. She ground her teeth, getting a fix on the essentials. “I got my confession. That’s what I came to do.”
“But you and I both know that’s not what really happened.”
She’d clearly made a mistake babbling on to Carter about Nick and the Silver Buckle and her worries and especially trying a little too hard to learn how to make biscuits. “It’s over; that’s all that matters. I need you to get me a flight out of Sheridan today.”
He said nothing.
“What?”
“Nothing. I hear and obey, master.”
She wet a paper towel and began to wipe the mascara from around her eyes. “So, what did the records turn up?”
“I couldn’t find anything under Saul, but I found the probate records of a Beau Hatcher, daughters Loretta and Elizabeth.”
“And?”
“I faxed the file numbers to the clerk. I’ll call her tomorrow on the off chance someone is in the office, but we probably won’t hear anything until Tuesday. Why is this important?”
“Just a hunch . . . it’s probably nothing.” She wadded the paper and threw it in the trash, then ran the water hot to wash her face. “I just think there’s more story here.”
“Go get ’em, Ace.”
My name’s George. The nickname and Nick’s voice filled her mind. “I gotta run, Carter. And my phone is dying, so I’m turning it off. I’ll check for messages later, but get me a flight out of here ASAP.” She congratulated herself on holding her voice steady as she said it. Now if she could sneak out of the hospital without running into Nick or Stefanie.
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
“You can be replaced, you know.”
He laughed loudly, then hung up.
Piper closed the phone and set it on the counter, pressing her hand against her stomach. It didn’t ache, and for the first time she realized how long she’d been off her daily diet of antacids.
In fact, it seemed a decade since her stomach had writhed in pain. She bent to wash her face. At least she’d feel awake, even if she looked like death warmed over.
She heard the door open as another woman entered the room. Closing her eyes, she splashed water over her face again, then reached for another paper towel.
Someone placed it in her hand, and she pressed it to her face. “Thanks.”
“I’m glad I found you.”
Piper opened her eyes to find Stefanie Noble standing there, her face dark, worried. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Piper studied her through the mirror. Stefanie looked like she did—as if she’d spent the night curled on a bench or worse. Her face seemed drawn, her dark hair recklessly pulled back from her face, her eyes pensive. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s Nick. He needs you.”
Piper debated her response, looking at her hands as she wiped them. “Stefanie, you should probably know something about me.”
“What, that you’re in love with Nick?”
Hardly. Piper gave a bitter huff and shook her head. “No . . . I’m not able to work at the ranch this summer.”
Stefanie stood, unblinking, and in that instant Piper felt shame climb through her. But she straightened her spine and tossed her hair from her face. “Sorry. It’s just not working out.”
Stefanie frowned, as if trying to sort through the information.
Piper crumpled up the paper towel and tossed it into the trash. “I’ll be leaving as soon as I can get a flight out.”
She expected anger. Instead, Stefanie nodded. “Okay, well, I don’t know what Nick did to hurt you, but that’s not important right now.”
Did the woman not hear what she said? Piper picked up her phone, slipped it into her pocket. “Again, I’m sor—”
Stefanie grabbed her arm and, to her surprise, hauled her from the bathroom.
“Excuse me?” Piper jerked from Stefanie’s grasp. “I told you, I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not. Nick needs you.”
“Nick doesn’t need me. He has Maggy.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Stefanie’s expression matched her angry tone.
Piper took a step back. “Not in the least. He loves her—”
“Loved . . . loved. Past tense. And, yes, he probably still cares about her, but he wasn’t asking for Maggy.” Stefanie’s voice broke. “He wants you.”
“Stefanie, are you all right?” Piper barely resisted touching her on the shoulder. But the woman had recently arm locked her. She wasn’t taking any chances.
“No, I’m not all right.” Stefanie covered her face
with her hands, and Piper wondered if she might fall apart right there in the hall. Maybe they should go back to the chapel.
“What’s the matter? You’re scaring me. Is it Cole?”
Stefanie gave her the most mournful look she’d ever seen. “He needs a liver transplant. And Nick is the one giving it to him.”
Piper absorbed that information. Nick would do that because he was a hero, right down to his bones. “Of course he is. He’s his brother. He’s not going to let Cole die.”
Stefanie stared at her as if she’d grown an extra ear. “How did you know that?”
Hmm. Good question. “It’s a long story.” Piper rubbed her tired eyes. “When is it scheduled?”
“They’re already in surgery.”
“What?” Piper reached out to brace herself against the wall.
“Nick had me running around the hospital searching for you, but I couldn’t find you before they took him away.” She touched Piper’s arm. “He wants you there when he wakes up.”
Piper leaned her head back against the wall. Oh, Nick.
Stefanie breathed out a long sigh of pent-up worry. “My brother is falling in love with you, Piper. And I don’t know how you feel about him, but please stay until he gets out of surgery.”
Stefanie looked at her with such pleading, Piper couldn’t speak. So, she did the only thing she could . . . she nodded.
CHAPTER 19
MAGGY STOOD in the empty hospital room, hearing the quiet beating of her heart tapping a rhythm of hope. She didn’t know what to do, where to go. It felt almost . . . disrespectful to sit with Stefanie Noble as she worried about her brother. Yes, they were in this together, but Maggy felt that in a way she’d stolen something from them—not once, but twice.
Starting with Nick’s son.
She couldn’t tell him about CJ. Not now. She could forgive him for not returning for her ten years ago—honestly, a colossal part of her had been relieved. Nick embodied her girlhood fantasies, but he was pure adrenaline, pure passion. She needed faithfulness. Someone to stand beside her.
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