Kessed watched as he wheeled away from the table and rolled down the hall.
“Well, that was interesting,” Laken whispered, and Kessed met her bewildered gaze.
“Yeah.”
“So…” Laken glanced to the table then back to Kessed. “What do you think?”
Kessed dropped her head in her hands. “I thought I knew, and now…”
Laken’s palm rested on Kessed’s head. “One day at a time. You’ll figure it out.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Kessed grumbled.
Laken gave a short laugh. “Love is never easy… but it always works itself out. You’ll see.”
Kessed sighed. “How do you choose between two great things?” Kessed asked, turning her head to make eye contact with her friend.
“You don’t. Mark my words… life will choose for you. Just walk the path.”
Kessed sighed.
That was easier said than done.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kessed all but avoided Sterling for the rest of the morning. As the afternoon approached, she was running out of excuses to be outside, or in the kitchen, or anywhere else.
Laken found her in the laundry room, folding the still-warm bath towels. “Kess, I gotta run to town. Can you make sure that Sterling doesn’t do anything stupid?”
Kessed tilted her head. “No guarantees.”
“Don’t I know it.” Laken shrugged. “Cyler will be home in about an hour or so, but I’m the only one authorized to pick up Sterling’s meds. Plus, I want to get a few odds and ends that will make his rehab a bit easier.”
“It’s who you know,” Kessed asserted. “He’s lucky his sister’s a nurse. You’ve got some connections.”
“Yup. Basically.” Laken picked up a few towels that were folded.
“When do you go back to HCEW?” Kessed asked, knowing her friend was passionate about her work with hospice care.
Laken’s face broke into a grin. “Next week. It’s been fun to take a break, but I really miss it.”
“I’m sure they miss you,” Kessed replied.
“I’ll just be happy to put my scrubs back on,” Laken spoke gently.
Kessed regarded her friend. Kindness radiated from her from the top of her blond head to her tanned bare feet. It took a special person to help grieving families say goodbye to loved ones, but Laken was a natural and had more compassion than anyone Kessed had ever known. “Those families are lucky to have you.”
“Ha, sure. I’m all but invisible, but that’s the point. Focus on the patient, on the family…” She shrugged. “I’m taking these to Sterling’s bathroom and then heading out. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Kessed replied with light cynicism.
And a little more fear.
When she heard the front door close, Kessed took a deep breath and walked to Sterling’s room.
“Hey.” She leaned against the door jam, watching as he lifted his gaze from his phone and gave her a heart-melting smile.
“Hey yourself. Keeping me company?” he asked, using his muscled arms to lift himself into an upright position on the bed.
“Not really. I’m here to make sure you stay in line.” Kessed grinned, feeling slightly more at ease.
“Tough job.”
“You have no idea,” Kessed teased back.
“Pull up a seat. Tell me what I’ve missed these past few months.” He waited.
Kessed sat on the edge of the bed, on the furthest corner from him.
“I’m not going to bite.” Sterling mock-glared.
“Pain meds do weird things to people.” Kessed’s tone was wary. “Not taking chances.”
“Why are you so scared of me?” Sterling leaned forward, his gaze intense as he regarded her.
“I’m not scared of you,” Kessed answered immediately, though she fought the instinct to inch away.
“Yes, you are.” Sterling’s sandy-colored brows furrowed over his expressive eyes. “Why?”
Kessed took a shallow breath, not sure how to even articulate. “It’s not that I’m scared. It’s that I don’t… I don’t know how to take this sudden change of heart. And honestly, I think you’re looking at me because I’m safe, known. Not because I’m me,” she answered then turned her attention to her hands as she folded them on her lap.
“Makes sense. I can follow that. It’s not true, but I can at least see your perspective.” He shrugged and leaned back. “So, what’s going on in your life?”
Kessed frowned as she glanced up, curious about the sudden change in topic, yet welcoming it. “I’m still at Starbucks, but I’m not exactly moving up. If anything, I’m being lowered on the totem pole.”
“That sucks.”
“Pretty much. Aside from that, I’ve…” She paused, a smile raising her lips. “I’ve learned how to use a fence stretcher and how to wade through a flash flood.”
“All good life skills, but not ones I would have pegged you to know.” Sterling chuckled. “I’m assuming you learned from Jasper?”
Kessed’s smile faltered at hearing Sterling say his name. “Yeah. He’s a… good teacher.” She found her smile once more.
“Tell me about him.” Sterling’s eyes narrowed slightly, but not in a suspicious way, seemingly only curious.
Kessed glanced to her hands once more. “He’s a vet and has a sister named Harper. You need to meet her. You’d like her. He totally gets my love for all things food and doesn’t give me judgment eyes when I order more than he does. He knows everything about a ranch, and it’s weird—almost instinctive for him. Second nature. He doesn’t even need to think about it, but just runs with it like it’s all he’s ever done. Which is probably the truth. He doesn’t let people push him around, but he’d totally give you the shirt off his back.” Kessed smiled, remembering how she’d driven away like a banshee when he’d worked without his shirt for the first time.
“Seems like a good guy.” Sterling interrupted her memory.
“He is.” Kessed met his gaze.
“But he’s not me.” Sterling lifted his lips into an uneven grin. “Now describe me, Kessed.”
Kessed swallowed, feeling her eyes widen at his request. “Well…” She took a breath. “You’re a pain in the ass. Stubborn, dedicated, and loyal to a fault. You have this need to save everyone around you, even at the cost of yourself. You phone your sister, even when it’s almost impossible, and aren’t afraid of anything. Fearless… to the point of stupidity,” Kessed finished, shooting him a quick grin.
“I like to think of it as badass, not stupidity,” Sterling corrected. “But it’s nice to hear that I’ve got some redeeming qualities too.”
“You do,” Kessed answered honestly.
“Why don’t you go and get me a deck of cards? We can play… unless you’ve learned chess since I’ve been deployed?” Sterling switched gears again.
Kessed shook her head. “Nope. Cards it is.”
As she left, her mind reflected on everything she’d just categorized of the two men. Why would Sterling ask those questions? What was his reason? It was baffling and didn’t clarify anything… for her.
As she walked back into his room, she tossed the Corona-labeled cards onto the bed. “What are we playing?”
“Hearts,” Sterling answered immediately.
Kessed began shuffling, wondering if the game had a double meaning.
But she was probably just reading into it.
“The loser has to play Truth or Dare,” Sterling stated, and Kessed glanced to him.
“Is that so? Says who?” she challenged.
“Unless you’re not brave enough…”
Kessed narrowed her eyes. “Fine. Be prepared to lose.”
“Nah, when it comes to hearts, I always win.” He shook his finger at her.
So maybe t
here is some symbolism to the game he picked.
“Deal.” Kessed handed him the deck and repositioned herself to face him as they played. It was a harder game to win with just two people, but as long as she upped her strategy, it was totally doable. As she arranged her cards by suit, she squinted her eyes as Sterling gestured to her.
“Ladies first.”
Kessed led with a high diamond, and soon they were going back and forth till Sterling played the three of hearts.
“Breaking hearts?” Kessed asked, holding onto her last diamond before she’d have had to do the same thing.
“You bet, except for yours. I’ll just keep that one for myself.” He arched a brow and waited.
“Don’t hold anything back,” Kessed replied, trying to joke while the stronger emotion was discomfort. Damn, Sterling can be a force when he wants to be, and it appears he is pulling out all the stops.
“Not in my nature,” Sterling retorted, waiting for Kessed to take her next turn.
In less than a few minutes, the game ended as Kessed tossed down her last card and did a little victory dance.
“Damn, I hate it when you do that,” Sterling teased as he leaned back on the bed. “So, hit me. I pick truth.”
Kessed’s smile faded as she glanced away, trying to hide her response. “Hmm…” A hundred questions filtered through her mind, but she chose a different direction than what she suspected Sterling wanted. “What are you most afraid of?”
Sterling blinked then pursed his full lips. “Not running.”
“Really?” Kessed asked, finding herself curious. “But the doctor said you’d make a full recovery. It would just take time—”
“He said I’d walk. And after time, I’d redevelop the muscles in my leg so that I could move better. He never said I’d run. I mean, I’m sure I’ll be able to jog a bit, but that’s totally different than knowing I could hike for several days, up hills and over the Cascade Mountains…” He lowered his gaze. “It’s being trapped by your own body.”
Kessed reached over and placed a hand on his bandaged leg. “You’ll get there. I don’t see you backing down from a challenge just because it’s going to take work.”
Sterling flashed her a smile. “You’re right.”
“Next?” Kessed dealt the cards once more.
Sterling won the hand quickly, a smug and satisfied grin on his face.
“What’s your choice? Truth or dare? I bet you’ll pick truth. You’re going to take the chicken-shit route,” he tested.
Kessed tossed her cards on the bed. He was right. She didn’t trust his choice of dare.
“C’mon, Kess, don’t be a coward.” He arched a brow.
“Fine. Dare.” Kessed immediately regretted her rash decision as a victorious grin lit up his face.
The front door opened, and Kessed stood from the bed, happy to dodge whatever Sterling’s dare was going to be, and stepped back toward the door. “I’d better say hi to Cyler. Laken wanted me to pass along a message.”
“Run away, Kessed. That’s fine… but you owe me a dare, and you’re not going to dodge it forever,” Sterling warned as she walked out into the hall.
Sterling was right. She was running away… but she wasn’t ready to face what he was forcing her to face.
She needed time.
The one thing Sterling wasn’t about to give her.
Cyler met her in the hall with a welcoming smile. “Hey. Laken home yet?”
Kessed shook her head. “Not yet, but she should be back soon.” She cast a furtive glance behind her, even though she knew Sterling wasn’t walking on his own yet.
“Well, thanks for being here. I’m going to go and check on the fences that you and Jasper fixed up and check off a few other things on the list. Can you let Laken know where I’m at?” Cyler asked as he set his keys on the side table beside the front door.
“Sure thing.”
“I’ll take Margaret out. It will be good for her.” He gave Kessed a parting pat on the shoulder and walked toward Sterling’s room.
Kessed turned but didn’t follow.
“Hey, man. You holding up?” Cyler leaned against the frame.
“Life could be worse,” Sterling answered.
“Good work staying positive. You’ll need it when your sister starts rehabbing your ass.” Cyler gave him a wry grin, and Kessed found herself smiling at the mental picture.
Laken would give him hell just to make sure he recovered completely.
“Believe me, I’m fully aware. But since I’ve lived with her torture longer than you, and I’ve survived so far, I’m pretty sure she won’t kill me.”
Cyler chuckled. “I’ll be back later. Text me if you need me to come save you from my wife.”
Kessed’s lips tipped into a smile at the obviously enamored way Cyler had said wife. It was sweet, and she was thankful her friend was so adored. Laken truly had an amazing capacity for love, and it looked like she had a perfect match in her husband.
Cyler gave a quick wave and headed out the back door.
As it clicked shut, Sterling called out, “You can run, but you can’t hide, Kess!”
“Hungry?” Kessed popped her head into the room, doing her best to distract him.
His eyes narrowed. “You’re stalling.”
“McDonald’s… or whatever Laken comes up with.” Kessed offered him the options. “I can call her to find out how close she is to being home, and then I can make a run for it.”
“Damn. You win round one. I want a Big Mac, fries—and if you get me anything but orange soda, I’ll hunt you down when I can finally move on my own.”
“Sure thing.” Kessed grinned, not even attempting to hide her thrill at victory.
“But you’re just postponing the inevitable,” Sterling mentioned as she turned to walk away.
“I’m not afraid of a little dare,” Kessed lied through her teeth.
“Yes, you are. But I won’t push you… this time.”
She walked away, texting Laken to find out when she’d be home. The door opened, answering Kessed’s question.
“I’m back!” Laken walked into the house carrying a few sacks and one box resting on her hip.
“Need help?” Kessed placed her phone in her back pocket and reached out to take the purchases from her friend.
“Thanks. I got the meds, a few random snacks that will cheer up Sterling, and a few stretching bands for later when he can move.”
“Sounds good. I actually just texted you. I’m going to make a run to town—”
“To get lunch, right?” Laken interrupted.
“Yeah. You want anything?”
“Nope. I’ll swipe a protein shake and then start to work on Sterling. And I already saw Cyler. He was walking Margaret out of the barn and filled me in.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you in a bit.” Kessed picked up her keys and slid past her friend. She walked outside and to her car, exhaling the tension.
As she drove to town, she tried to focus on anything but Sterling or Jasper. The whole ordeal was consuming too much of her world, but as much as she tried, she couldn’t keep the issue from her mind.
As she placed her order in the drive-through, she smiled at the memory of doing the same thing with Jasper.
And it struck her. When she thought of Jasper, she always smiled, always relaxed. It was natural, normal. Whenever she thought of Sterling… as much as there was such a history attached to him… she felt the tension rise.
She collected her food and headed back to the ranch, wondering if she had known the answer to the question of Sterling and Jasper all along.
Because with Sterling, it was a fight, a battle to win.
With Jasper, it was like finding out she was the winner all along.
And for the first time in days, her chest wasn’t
tight.
And that alone was her answer.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jasper peeled off his latex glove and tossed it into the dumpster just outside the barn. “Looks like you’re all set.” He offered his bare hand to James, the rancher who’d needed his heifer’s pregnancy checked.
“Happy for the good news.” James nodded, taking Jasper’s hand and giving it a firm shake. His gray hair peeked out from his John Deere cap, and his jeans were almost as dirty as Jasper’s.
“Come spring, you’ll have quite a few new additions.”
“The grandkids will love that. They always adore the babies.” James gave a gentle chuckle. “I’ll see you later.” He gave a quick wave and sauntered away.
Jasper took a deep breath and pulled out his phone. The heifer was his last appointment, but he’d felt a buzzing alert when he’d just finished up. Sure enough, he had an emergency call to a farm down the street.
Damn, he wished he had an assistant to nail down some kind of scheduling. His thoughts settled on Kessed as he took several long strides to his pickup. Would she be interested in the position? Should I offer it? Or should I wait? Only a few of the millions of questions that kept centering on that woman. He shook his head and turned the truck around. As he drove down the dirt road, he tried not to think about how Kessed hadn’t texted, called, or communicated at all that day. Of course, he’d told her he’d be busy, which he had been—but that didn’t stop the worry from spinning through his mind.
Thankfully, the emergency call wasn’t too difficult, and he was able to head home not long after treating a cow with milk fever. It was that time of year, and there were always a few per week that needed the potassium and glucose pumped into their system.
As he made his way toward his ranch house, he mentally checked off what he was going to do tomorrow. He didn’t fight the grin as he thought of seeing Kessed, but he also remembered the other important appointment would be to check on a barrel-racing horse for Harper.
Because Lady had been with foal, Harper hadn’t been able to compete for nearly a year, and while it had been necessary to take the break, he knew she missed the thrill. It was in her blood, and as she raced around the barrels, he’d seen her eyes match the smile on her face. But with Lady gone, it would be years before Rake could be a barrel horse, and Harper needed one to get back into the sport.
The Courage of a Cowboy Page 19
