Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Vanessa Devereaux
ISBN: 978-1-77130-801-4
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Kerry Genova
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To Uncle Freddy
RORY
Big Sky Cowboys, 3
Vanessa Devereaux
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Rory couldn’t figure out if the music was in his dream or not. Wherever its origins, it was persistent. He turned over in bed and suddenly recognized the tune.
It was his cell phone jingle.
He’d let his niece, Emily, pick it for him. She knew every word of the song. Funny how he’d loved it when she’d sung it to him, but right now, if he heard another note, he’d throw the damn thing out the window.
He slapped the bedside table, finding everything but the phone. He knocked the paperback he’d been reading earlier that night on the floor. Next the bedside lamp teetered, almost joining the book before he reached and caught it.
Still the jingle played on.
“Shit. That’s downright obnoxious. Note to self, pick another tune.” He swung his legs out from under the bed covers, and squinted at the clock, hoping he’d be able to see the time without having to find his reading glasses. The numbers were blurry, but he could just about make out that it was six minutes after midnight.
No one called with good news at this time of night. He hoped everything was okay with his mom. She’d had heart surgery three months ago, but according to the doctors she was doing just fine. He flicked on the light and tried to get his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness.
The tune continued. Whoever was calling wasn’t giving up which meant it had to be very important. He grabbed the phone and pressed the green button, his heart picking up tempo, silently praying that nothing had happened to his mom or another member of the Malone family.
“Hello.” Rory couldn’t help but yawn as he spoke.
“Can I speak to Rory Malone?”
It was a woman’s voice. One that he didn’t recognize which sent him into more of a panic, thinking it might be a doctor or even the police.
“Yes, this is Rory Malone.”
“This is Saint Patrick’s Hospital in Tacoma Washington.”
He went cold. Midnight and someone calling from a hospital. His initial inclination at been right, someone was sick. He tried to think if anyone he knew was in Washington State. Nope, all the family including his mother, Shane, Flynn and their families were safe in Timber Creek and hadn’t gone traveling.
“We found your name listed on the emergency contact number for Cassandra Perkins.”
Rory’s heart beat even faster. Cass. Something had happened to Cass. He stood and began pacing beside his bed. He’d told her to list him as her next of kin when she’d left town.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
Please let her be all right.
“She was brought into the ER tonight.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Anything serious?”
Dumb question to ask Malone. They didn’t take you there because of a paper cut.
“She was the victim of a hit and run driver.”
Holy shit. The poor girl. When would her bad luck end?
“Is she going to be all right?”
“It’s hard to say right now. She’s been rushed into surgery, so we think someone should be here for her.”
“Of course. I’ll check on flights and be there as soon as I can. If you’re able to talk to her, tell her Rory’s on his way, okay.”
“I’ll do that Mr. Malone, and thank you for your help.”
Rory pressed the end call button and didn’t know quite what to do next, pack or tell Flynn that he’d need him to take over running the ranch while he was gone. Tell the family about Cass. Book a flight was probably top priority. He tried to dial the number for the airline but was suddenly all fingers and thumbs.
What sort of person knocked someone down and then just left the scene? He tried to dial again, but gave up because his hands were shaking. Booking online would probably be better. He walked out of the bedroom and into the study where he fired up his computer.
He yawned again as he typed in the airline’s URL and checked on flights. They had one leaving Missoula at 8:00 a.m. He’d also need to hire a car once he arrived in Tacoma. He made a note of St. Patrick’s, just in case he forgot what hospital Cass was at. He’d need to leave around five to get to Missoula in time for the flight. If he got back to sleep straight away, maybe he’d get some shut eye for a few hours.
He stood and walked back to the bedroom. He got under the covers on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. While he was looking forward to seeing Cass again, he just wished it was under better circumstances.
****
Cass felt like she was sinking down into an abyss. Her mouth was dry, devoid of any saliva, and her throat felt like shards of glass were clinging to her tonsils. And her nose, well she was positive something had been shoved up both her nostrils. She raised her hand to try and clear the blockage, but intense pain shot through her arm and shoulder. She quickly lay still hoping it would go away, but it didn’t.
She wanted to cry.
Just where the hell am I?
Nothing seemed familiar as she focused on her surroundings. She heard people talking close by but didn’t recognize any of the voices.
“Hi Cass.”
It was a woman who’d spoken her name.
She turned toward the voice. She squinted, trying her best to get her vision in focus. Somebody in scrubs with a stethoscope hanging around their neck. Yikes, it was a nurse standing over her. Something had to be seriously wrong.
She tried to sit up, but a stabbing pain shot through every muscle in her legs and back.
“Cassandra, just relax because you’ve had surgery.”
Surgery…now it was slowly coming back to her. She was crossing the road, heading back to her apartment when a car had come from literally out of the blue. She recalled being hit, being thrown in the air and then hitting the blacktop. She remembered her body feeling like it had been broken into tiny pieces, and after that she must have blacked out.
“I can’t remember coming to the hospital.”
“You were unconscious when they brought you in.”
“When can I go home?”
The nurse shook her head. “You had surgery on your leg, it was broken in a couple of places and the surgeon had to put some pins in it. You have contusions on your head, face, and arms. We’re also monitoring you for a possible concussion.”
Cass eased herself back on the pillow. Jeez, could anything else go wrong. She wouldn’t be able to work, and the rent was due next week. No, she didn’t want to think about the other payment that was already overdue.
“But don’t worry because Rory Malone is on his way to be with you.”
Rory… He’d made her write his name and number on a sheet of paper under which she’d written call this number in case of an emergency, right before she’d left Timber Creek. She hadn’t seen him since then, and now he was on his way to be with her. What would he think of her in this mess?
“Can I have a mirror?” she asked.
“Sure, sweetie b
ut I warn you, your face is pretty battered.”
The nurse pulled open the drawer on the cabinet by the bed, got out a mirror and handed it to Cass. However, her fingers and wrist hurt too much to keep a grip on it.
“Here sweetie, let me hold it for you.”
The nurse held it in front of Cass’s face. Oh shit. Pretty battered was an understatement. The nurse had been downright diplomatic with her choice of words. Cuts and abrasions covered her face, and her hair looked like it hadn’t been combed or washed for days. At least the black eye she’d gotten before the accident blended in with the rest of the injuries. In fact, now she wondered if the car…no, they wouldn’t go that far. And whatever she did she couldn’t let Rory know about her little problem.
“Do you know when Rory will get here?” Cass asked.
“He called about thirty minutes ago to say the plane had landed, and he was on his way to pick up his rental car and then he’d be right with you.”
She sunk back in the bed. Out of all the Malone brothers; Rory was the one who reminded her most of Ryan. She fought back a tear. Seeing him again was going to open up wounds she’d done her best to seal.
Chapter Two
Rory wasn’t sure if Cass would be in the mood for food, or even be allowed to eat anything after surgery, so he’d opted to buy a bunch of flowers from the hospital gift store. He was dead on his feet. He hadn’t even had time to shave before he’d left the ranch. He caught sight of his reflection in the aluminum panel on the elevator door as he waited to go up to the fifth floor. He looked like shit. What would Cass think? He lifted his cowboy hat to check what sort of shape his hair was in just as he heard the ting of the elevator door opening. He nodded at two nurses as they got out and walked by him
“Beautiful arrangement. Someone’s going to be lucky,” said one of them.
He didn’t know much about flowers, but he’d obviously chosen well.
Rory pressed the button for the fifth floor and was there sooner than he’d have liked. His stomach did flips as he turned the corner, knowing he’d see Cass every soon. Downstairs at reception they’d told him she was in Room 569, and judging by the arrow, it seemed to be one of the rooms to the left of the nurses’ station.
One looked up from a computer screen as he walked by. She smiled. “Those are gorgeous flowers,” she said.
There were also a lot of them. He’d gone all out, hoping they’d brighten Cass’s day just a little.
He stopped suddenly when he saw 569 written on the door to his right.
He reached under his hat and straightened his hair as best he could. He knocked on the wood paneling, but when he didn’t get a response, he peeked inside. Cass was fast asleep in bed.
He crept in, hoping he wouldn’t wake her. He stood by the bed and looked at her. She was still beautiful despite the cuts and scrapes on her forehead and cheeks, and the black eye couldn’t even mar that pretty face of hers. Her arms were both bound with bandages, and her leg was in a cast and hung in a harness secured with a cord on the top of the bed post.
Pretty light pink polish, slightly chipped no doubt as a result of the accident, embellished her toenails. He sat and the chair creaked, causing Cass to open her eyes. She looked straight at him. Damn it, he’d disturbed her.
“Rory.”
Just the sound of her voice saying his name gave him warmth fuzzy feeling like a kid with a crush on a classmate.
“Yep, it’s me. I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.”
“I hate to think they got you to come all this way. I mean, I’m okay.”
“I know that, but I thought you’d like to have a familiar face around when you came out of surgery.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“Oh and these are for you.”
He lifted up the flowers.
“Rory, they must have cost you a fortune. It’s the biggest bunch I’ve ever seen.”
“I thought they’d be something nice to look at while you’re in here. Hospitals are never much fun.”
“You are such a sweetheart.”
Yeah, lots of people often told him that. To him it was just doing what came naturally, but hearing it from Cass somehow made it more meaningful.
She looked sad and pale as if every bit of color had been drained from her face. He reached over, grabbed her hand, but realized he’d done the wrong thing when she winced.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s okay, really it is.” She took his hand and squeezed it like she never wanted him to leave. They looked at one another, neither of them saying a word.
“They said it was a hit and run driver,” was the only thing he could think of to break the uncomfortable silence.
“I think I remember that it was a green car, but it was getting dark.”
“Have the police made a report?”
“The nurse said an officer will be stopping by later to take my statement.”
“Good. Shane’s already called the Tacoma Police Department to see what happening about finding the person responsible.”
“He really shouldn’t bother himself with my problems. None of you should. You’ve had to do too much of that before.”
Rory hung his head down, knowing what she was referring to. He had to change the subject for both their sakes. “Yeah, the same old Shane, sheriff through and through. He’s up for re-election next month,” he said.
A tear ran down Cass’s cheek, so he reached out for her hand again.
“What’s wrong honey? Do you need pain medication or something?”
She shook her head. “I just thought about how things used to be when Ryan was still alive.”
Rory swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. He couldn’t help but get emotional when his baby brother’s name was mentioned. God, he still missed him like crazy. They all did.
“So did they tell you how long you’ll be in here?” asked Rory, needing to change the subject.
“No, but I hope it’s a quick recovery because I have to get back to work to pay for my rent. Now it looks like I’ll have medical bills to cover because my insurance doesn’t have great coverage.”
“You have enough money to get by? If you don’t, I’m sure Shane, Flynn, and I could pull our resources together and help out.”
“No, you guys did enough for me when…”
Rory looked down. She was crying now. He’d come to the hospital with the sole purpose of cheering her up and here he was five minutes into the visit making her cry. He was fighting back the tears now too. He stood and gently sat his butt down on the bed, hoping the movement didn’t jar her leg. He held her hand.
“We’re still your family and I know I speak for my brothers and our mother when I say we’d like you to come back to Montana and stay there until you’re all healed.”
She shook her head, sending a tear splashing onto the pillow. “I don’t think I could. Just too many memories for me.”
“Well, if you change your mind, the offer will remain open indefinitely.”
She nodded. He guessed when she’d turned down the invite to both Shane and Flynn’s recent weddings, it wasn’t because she was being unsociable, but that Timber Creek was a source of pain for her. Maybe seeing any of the Malones was a source of discomfort. He hoped she didn’t feel that way about him coming to see her.
Her eyelids started to flutter and he sensed she was tired and needed to rest.
“I’m sure you want to get some sleep, so why don’t I come back in the morning and we can visit all day.”
“Rory, you really don’t have to do that.”
“I want to, okay?”
“Where are you staying?”
“I thought I’d find a hotel close by.”
“No, you’re not wasting money. If you can find my purse, take my door key and stay in my apartment.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I think the nurse put my bag in the cupboard there.”
She pointed to t
he left of the bed. He stood, walked over it and found the bag. Both straps and the front of the purse had been almost shredded, and he guessed it was a result of the accident.
“The key should be in the side compartment.”
He peeked inside, seeing a tube of lip gloss, a pen, and the key.
“Got it.”
“You still have my address?”
He nodded. “Anything that needs doing while I’m there, like water your plants or feed your cat?”
She shook her head. “Don’t have a cat, and the one plant should be fine for a few days.”
He sat on the bed again, seeing her eyelids getting heavier by the second.
“Okay, now you have a nice long sleep and I’ll be here in the morning. Maybe we can have breakfast together.”
She grabbed his hand and squeezed. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
“Sweet dreams, honey.”
She was asleep before he even got to the door. He looked back and then dimmed the lights in the room.
He walked outside into the corridor and took a deep breath. His feelings for Cass hadn’t changed, hadn’t really gone away. He’d always tried to fight them as much as he could. He walked toward the elevator. Ryan was gone so would it be so bad if he pursued her now?
Pressing the button to call the elevator he knew the answer to that. He was too old for her, and she’d loved his brother, not him.
Chapter Three
If he’d known Cass was living in this sort of place, he would have dragged her back to Montana, even if she’d screamed and cried all the way. He took off his hat and placed it on the kitchen table. The hallway to the apartment was a mess with threadbare carpeting, and an obstacle course of other tenant’s items like bikes and strollers that were obviously too big to fit into the apartments. He sat down on the one wooden kitchen chair. The leg wobbled, so he quickly stood, thinking he might break it.
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