Kessed nodded. “Well, at least you’ll have a pretty awesome scar. Chicks dig scars,” she added soberly.
Sterling started to laugh, his grin widening as his eyes relaxed into an amused expression. His white smile was powerful against his tan skin. Even in the watered-down hospital lighting, he was beautiful to watch.
“Thanks. At least there’s a silver lining. Leave it to you to find it.”
Kessed grinned, thankful she was able to at least make him smile for a moment. As she studied him, she felt a strange twinge, but rather than evaluate the origin, she simply stood from the bed and walked to the chair where her purse rested. “So, one more night, and we’re busting you out of here.”
“Praise God.” Sterling groaned. “Seriously, I’m going stir-crazy.”
Kessed arched a brow. “You? Never.”
“Whatever. If you were stuck in here, you’d be climbing the walls. I know how you work, Kess. You’d be just as bad as me. Now, enough about me. Tell me about what’s going on with you. I need some distraction, and your life is usually full of drama, so…” He waved a hand, waiting.
“My life is never filled with drama.” Kessed replied with heavy sarcasm. “And I want to point out that this is coming from the guy in the hospital bed because he just played Captain America.”
Sterling just folded his hands and waited.
“Gah, you’re impossible.”
He smiled sweetly.
“And annoying,” she grumbled.
He grinned wide enough to show off his white teeth and deep smile lines along his lips.
“Fine! I’m—”
Her phone buzzed loudly from the chair and then buzzed again, signaling that it was a call rather than a text. She reached in and pulled it out then slid across to answer Laken’s call.
“Yeah?”
She listened as her friend told her about an earlier flight they had caught. “We’ll be in by seven thirty a.m. and should be there no later than nine. The nurse made it sound like they’re already prepping the discharge papers, so we’ll head out shortly after.”
“Sounds great. I think Captain America is ready to get out of here.”
“Are you really going to call me that?” Sterling asked, his tone irritated.
“Yes,” Kessed answered.
“I second!” Laken shouted from the phone, and Kessed pulled it from her ear, grimacing.
“Thanks… I’m deaf.”
“I wanted him to hear,” Laken replied.
Kessed glanced at Sterling. “If he didn’t, I’ll be sure to pass it along.”
“China heard you, sis!” Sterling called from the bed.
“He got the memo,” Kessed added.
“Good. Are you staying there, or are you getting a hotel roo—” Laken asked, and the airport speaker sounded as she finished, drowning out her last word.
Kessed waited till the noise ended. “Not sure. I’ll text you when I know.”
“We’re going to grab some coffee, and I’ll text you when we’re in the air.”
“Yay, nothing like early-morning texts.”
“You love them.”
“Go,” Kessed answered, a grin forming on her lips.
“Bye!” Laken ended the call.
“So, they are getting in earlier?” Sterling asked.
Kessed lowered her phone and started to scroll through her texts.
“Yeah,” she mumbled distractedly as she read through Laken’s few messages and then one from Jasper sent over an hour ago.
Thanks for letting me know you’re there safe. Steers are good. Margaret got another sugar cube, and the ranch house is all set. See you soon but not nearly soon enough.
Kessed bit her lip, her chest burning with a warm glow as she slipped her phone back in her purse.
“Anything else I need to know?” Sterling asked, his eyes slowly closing as he leaned back on the pillow.
“Tired?”
“Too damn tired for doing jack-shit all day.”
“Your body is healing. That counts for something.” Kessed picked up her purse and walked to his bed. “I think I’m going to get a hotel room. That way, you can sleep without my snoring.” She winked as he opened his eyes slowly.
“Good plan.” He nodded, closing his eyes once more.
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yay.” He lifted his hand in a little fist-pump.
Kessed smacked his hand. “See you soon.”
She was almost to the door when Sterling called her name.
Turning, she waited.
“Kess, thank you. I know you dropped everything to get here and check on my sorry ass. It was really nice to see a familiar face.”
His steel-gray eyes met hers, sending a fluttering to her belly. Silently, she nodded then all but ran down the hall.
Damn.
Her reaction shamed her, yet at the same time it was Sterling! It was utterly involuntary to react to his smile, his gaze… everything about him.
Yet her heart whispered the truth that followed her long into the night.
How do I move on to the future when my heart is stuck in the past?
She didn’t know.
And honestly, she was scared as hell to find out.
Thankfully she fell asleep around one a.m. in her small hotel room on the base. Her alarm chirped at six, but she awoke far too alert to have slept hard. Her thoughts lingered on Jasper as she changed into her other set of clothing and twisted her hair up into a bun.
Picking up her phone, she sent off a quick text.
How’s Rake?
Her grin reflected in the phone’s glossy screen as a tiny bubble immediately appeared.
Living up to his name. He bit me yesterday. Sorry cuss. Of course, I was giving him a vaccination…
Kessed giggled at the mental image his text created.
Serves you right. Shots suck.
The bubble appeared then disappeared. Her face squeezed into a slight frown just before her phone screen lit up.
“Hey,” she answered, anticipating his deep baritone.
“Hey yourself. How are you, sunshine?” Jasper’s voice was soothing, secure, and everything she needed after a night of confusion. Life always made more sense during the day.
“Better now.”
“Listen to you, trying to sweeten me up. Seriously though, are you doing all right? How’s Sterling?” Jasper asked, his tone sobering.
Kessed shrugged as she tossed her dirty clothes into her suitcase. “Annoying, like a caged tiger and ready to bust out of the hospital on his own in a wheelchair.”
Jasper’s deep rumble of a laugh echoed on the phone, warming her from the inside out. “Sounds about right. Poor guy probably has been seeing those four walls for longer than anyone could handle.”
“Pretty much. Laken and Cyler got an earlier flight, so we’ll all actually be at the ranch by midafternoon,” Kessed added. “I didn’t get the rundown from the nurse yesterday. Pretty sure they wouldn’t release any medical information to me anyway, but it will be nice to know what kind of a road he has ahead.” Kessed sighed, wondering how Sterling was going to adjust.
It was going to be hell.
“Yeah, they’re pretty tight-lipped about disclosing information. It’s a good thing though. Protects people in the long run. But I can understand that you’d be anxious to find out.” Jasper’s voice faded slightly, then he shouted something at Harper.
Kessed’s brow furrowed. “How is she?”
You could almost hear a shrug on Jasper’s side. “She’s still processing. Crazy woman made me dig a hole the size of China with our dilapidated tractor, just to bury the damn horse,” Jasper mumbled softly, probably so that Harper wouldn’t overhear.
Giggling, Kessed spoke through her am
usement. “You damn well should have buried that horse on your property. It was only right.”
“You’re worse than she is.” Jasper let out an amused chuckle. “Well, not quite, but you’re still right. As much as it was a pain in the ass to do, it was good for Harper to have that closure.”
“Closure is important.”
“Over a horse.” Jasper sighed.
Kessed shook her head. “All this coming from a vet…” she taunted.
“You’re on fire this morning. Sleep well?”
Kessed sobered then zipped up her suitcase with a pinched brow. “No, not really.”
Jasper took a deep breath, the sound speaking louder than his words.
Curiosity.
Confusion.
Because from the start, she knew he’d always known her heart belonged to Sterling.
But that was before, and damn it all, they needed to have a serious conversation when she finally got home.
But it wasn’t the time.
Not now.
And Jasper must have sensed the same, because he simply changed the subject. “So, when do I get to see you next?”
Kessed relaxed. “Probably this afternoon, if you’re lucky.”
“I’m a pretty lucky guy, just sayin’,” Jasper answered.
“Then may the odds be ever in your favor,” Kessed quoted, earning a laugh from Jasper.
“Thanks, I think.” He sighed. “Well, get your cute ass in gear. Hurry home and drive safe. Do me a favor?”
Kessed nodded then answered, “Yeah?”
“Call me when you leave. Just so I know. I don’t want to be one of those demanding and controlling asses, but well… even the best of us have our moments.”
“Fine. I was going to anyway.”
“Good girl.”
“Not a pet.”
“You’re much higher maintenance.”
“Hey!” Kessed placed her hand on her hip and glared at the bed.
Jasper’s deep laugh echoed across the line. “I’m just messing with you. Take care, sunshine.”
“Okay. See you.” Kessed waited till he echoed the goodbye then ended the call. As she tossed her phone on the bed, her lingering smile faded as she glanced at the clock. Laken and Cyler would be landing soon, and she needed to head to the hospital to check on Sterling.
It was going to be a long, hard day.
She only hoped she kept her heart in line.
Jasper deserved better than a confused heart.
But she was afraid she didn’t have anything else to offer. At least not yet.
Damn, life was complicated.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jasper stared at his phone as it sat on the old dinner table. His brow furrowed and his lips twisted. He couldn’t get a solid read on Kessed, but something felt off. He hoped to hell that it wasn’t what he thought; yet deep in his gut, he knew the truth.
Conflicted.
If there was one word that could summarize Kessed’s tone, that was it. And it was the last thing he wanted her to feel. He was all in, and it sucked to know that she wasn’t there.
At least not yet.
And damn it all, it was even worse waiting to find out if she’d ever get there. But what other choice did he have? None, not unless he wanted to slink away and not take the risk. He’d damn well take that risk every day… but that didn’t make it easy.
Or pleasant.
“You’re trying to move the phone with your mind?” Harper asked, bumping a hip on the table and startling him from his concentration.
“What? No.” Jasper shook his head and grabbed his phone. He slipped it into his pocket.
“What’s with the deep frown face?” Harper asked, not letting go of the topic.
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“Nothing that I want to discuss with you right now.”
“Ah, there’s the truth I know and love,” she replied sarcastically. “Spill. You don’t have any appointments for the next hour, and I’m good at listening.”
Jasper sighed, studying his sister. Her slight frame was a stark contrast to the hugely stubborn and kind heart that lived within, and from experience, he knew that if he walked away without spilling his guts, she’d nag him to death till he did. “Fine.”
“Good boy.” Harper winked.
“Not helping,” Jasper groaned.
“Wasn’t trying to. Spill.” His sister pulled out one of the ancient chairs; the sound of it scraping along the wooden floor filled the dining room.
Jasper grabbed a chair as well, only he straddled it backward, leaning against the high back. “It’s Kessed.”
“Figures. It’s always a girl.”
“You’re a girl,” Jasper pointed out dryly.
“Which is why I can unabashedly call myself an expert.”
“Great.” Jasper twisted his lips.
“So…?” Harper asked, leaning forward slightly.
Jasper hesitated, then the words flowed like that flash flood he and Kessed had waded through. He finished with the heart of the matter. “Sterling is the guy she’s always been in love with, and I’m scared as hell she’ll remember that, meaning she’ll walk away from me.” He shrugged then rested his chin on his hands as he leaned against the front of the chair. “Let your wisdom pour forth.”
Harper twisted her lips, her expression thoughtful. “Honestly, there’s nothing you can do. But it’s good that she is at least going to find out.”
“Not helpful.” Jasper sighed.
“No, really. It’s better for her to figure this out now, and this is a perfect opportunity. Plus, how do you even know that this Sterling guy likes her?”
“How could he not?” Jasper flipped the question. “Granted, the man’s had his head up his ass for years concerning Kessed, but he’s going to start reevaluating everything, and Lord knows, the first thing he’s going to see is her.”
Harper sighed. “You may have a point. But that was before you guys were together, right? I mean, she is…” Harper paused, narrowing her eyes. “You’re like, in a relationship, right? You had that discussion…”
Jasper’s gaze dropped to the floor. He’d meant to, but it never seemed like the right time. Something had always come up. “Not exactly… yet.”
“Damn it. Jasper!”
“I know!” he answered. “But it’s a little late now. Besides, I think it’s safe to say that even if we didn’t officially communicate it, there’s something there.”
“Men.” Harper groaned. “So, it’s not the ideal situation, but it could be worse.”
“Sure. The woman I love is playing nurse to the wounded warrior that she’s been in love with for years. Yup. Nothing could go wrong in that scenario.” Jasper closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Give her some credit. You just might be surprised. And until then, you need to let her figure this out. You don’t want to pressure her and then learn later that she never really gave you her heart. But honestly, Jas, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Have a little faith in her.”
Jasper took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I’m trying.”
“Love is a bit irrational, huh?” his sister asked with a lopsided grin.
“Irrational as hell,” he conceded.
Harper gave a small laugh then stood and walked over to her brother. She placed a warm hand on his shoulder, and Jasper relaxed at the contact.
“One day at a time. Don’t assume anything till you hear it from her. Okay? Many men have made themselves jackasses by jumping to conclusions. Don’t be one of them. Good talk.” His sister smacked his shoulder once then walked away, the sound of her cowboy boots tapping against the floor as she walked to the door. “I’ll be out with Rake if you need me.”
Jasper grinned a
t the mention of Rake’s name—the damn horse. The chair groaned as he leaned back then stood, swinging his long leg over the seat as he twisted the chair back to front facing so he could tuck it neatly under the table. As much as he hated to admit it, Harper was right.
He was jumping to conclusions, making assumptions, and as a result, acting like an ass. Kessed deserved more than his suspicions. It was difficult as hell to do that, not just say he was going to do it. But actions spoke louder than words.
Odd how he’d always been the one to act rather than speak.
And he was flipping that coin.
His phone buzzed, and he welcomed the distraction. A farmer had texted, needing assistance with AI, artificial insemination, for his heifer herd. With a deep sigh, Jasper pulled his truck keys from his pocket and made the drive to Thorp to help out Jason with his Holsteins.
From that point on, each appointment bled into the other, causing the day to progress quickly. But it didn’t stop him from glancing at his phone as he left one appointment to get to the next and wondering if Kessed had left for home yet, or if she had texted.
By four in the afternoon, his phone battery was dying, and he still hadn’t heard from Kessed. By four fifteen, his cell shut itself off as he was heading to his last appointment, just down the road from the Elk Heights Ranch. As he finished up with the vaccinations for the piglets, he tossed his worthless communication device into the passenger seat. After a moment of debating, he pulled out onto the highway and then took the ranch’s drive. If Kessed, along with everyone else, hadn’t arrived yet, he needed to check on Margaret and the cattle. It was the neighborly thing to do, but it would also satisfy his curiosity in wondering if they had made it back from Seattle. As he drove up to the house, no cars were parked in the drive, signaling that they still hadn’t made it home. Jasper pulled into his usual place and killed the engine.
The crickets chirped in the shadows of the slowly setting sun as the dust settled from his truck. As he opened the barn door, Margaret nickered a welcome, causing him to grin. “Hey, ol’ girl. You hungry?” he asked, petting her soft nose.
She huffed impatiently against his hand, earning a chuckle from Jasper. He walked around the stall and flaked off a portion of Timothy hay then tossed it into the stall to a very interested mare. She took a large mouthful and raised her neck, making eye contact as if conveying her gratitude.
The Courage of a Cowboy Page 16
