The Right Cowboy

by Rebecca Winters

  A lump had lodged in Cole’s throat. “You give me too much credit, gentlemen.”

  Holden moved over to his other side. “That’s not true and you know it. If you hadn’t sacrificed yourself to stake out the Ellsworth ranch and discover what was hidden in their barn, we might not have caught up to them for another year, maybe never.”

  “He’s right,” Norm muttered. “You could have gotten yourself killed, Cole. They were carrying a rifle. Gunfire was exchanged with Ezra before he was hit and brought in to the hospital. They’re treating the gunshot wound to his thigh before he’s put behind bars.”

  “There’s more,” Holden asserted. “Let’s not forget that you found the link to the diseased elk and cows that explained the motive for the arson. I’m only sorry we didn’t catch the Ellsworths until after they’d set your barn on fire. One of your stockmen told me he saw a forest service truck in the distance, but didn’t connect it to the fire. That was all I needed to hear.”

  “The Ellsworths were very clever,” Cole murmured.

  “Yup. But one of the guys on patrol spotted the truck returning to their ranch. Once it was pulled over and they exchanged gunfire, the gas cans provided the rest of the evidence. We can all thank God no lives were lost tonight.” Holden smiled. “Now we’ll get out of your hair. Someone outside is dying to get you to herself.”

  Cole sighed and lay back against the pillows while the nurse came in to check his vitals and record them in the computer. After she left the room, Tamsin rushed inside looking beautiful in that apple-green summer suit he loved. To his delight she’d left her glossy hair down so it brushed against her shoulders.

  “Cole—” She hurried over to the bed and gently caressed the side of his jaw. Her blue eyes traveled over his features. “Can I kiss you?”

  “Please.” He half groaned the word. She lowered her mouth to give him a tender kiss on the lips beneath the oxygen tube. “I keep thanking God you’re alive. Oh, darling—I love you so much.”

  He cupped the back of her neck with his right hand to give her another one before letting her go.

  “Mom and Dad will be here in a few minutes.”

  “That’s good. Now we can set the wedding date. Any time you say.”

  A troubled look broke out on her gorgeous face. She clung to his hand.

  “But you haven’t had time to tell Chief Powell you’re leaving. Or am I wrong?”

  “No. I plan to tomorrow.”

  She smoothed some tendrils of hair from his forehead. “I was standing outside the door waiting for the men to leave. When they came out, Commander Rich congratulated me for being engaged to a hero who has done a great service for the State of Wyoming.”

  “He had to say that.”

  “No, Cole. They all said it. He informed me that he expected me to be at your side when the governor awards you the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Medal of Valor. He said the ceremony would be held next month in Cheyenne for service beyond the call of duty.”

  “All the firefighters should get one.”

  Tamsin shook her head. “You never could accept a compliment, but this is one time when you’re going to have to!”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She kissed his cheek. “After he told me that, Chief Powell shook my hand and said you’re a role model for all the men and women who are eager to join the department. He’s thrilled you’re on the force and hopes you’ll be on it for many years to come.”

  Her eyes teared over. “They’re so proud of you. I am, too! After hearing their accolades, I don’t know how you’re going to tell them that you’re leaving the department.”

  “Tamsin,” he whispered, “I gave you my word that we would set the date as soon as the culprits were caught. That day has come.”

  “But—”

  “No buts, sweetheart,” he broke in on her. “After tomorrow, this will all be behind us. It’ll be a mere formality. No looking back. I wanted to marry you nine years ago and have waited long enough. This is it.”

  He heard a knock on the door. “That’s probably your parents. Tell them to come in.”

  She walked over and opened it. After hugging her, they moved to the end of his bed while Tamsin came back to his side and grasped his hand.

  “What a blessing that you are all right, Cole,” her mother said in a tear-filled voice. “Our hearts almost failed us when we heard you were in the hospital. The thought of losing you... You’ll never know what we went through.”

  Moved by her words he said, “Last night was a close call, but today everything’s perfect.”

  “We’re so proud of you, Cole.”

  “We are,” Tamsin’s father concurred in a solemn voice. “Word that the arsonists plaguing the ranchers in Wyoming for the last two years have finally been caught has gone out over local and national news. They’re praising the heroics of one local firefighter from Whitebark named Cole Hawkins who cracked the baffling case for law enforcement.”

  Tamsin’s mother put a hand on his arm. “You’re an amazing man, Cole. Tamsin has told us of your sacrifices to help your father years ago when you left to earn a living for the family. If your parents were alive, they’d be ecstatic to tell the world you’re their son. We’re overjoyed you’re engaged to our daughter and feel privileged that one day soon we can call you son.”

  Overwhelmed by her outpouring of emotion, Cole had to clear his throat. “Thank you. That means a lot,” was all he could get out when his heart was so full.

  “Whatever we can do for you.”

  He looked at Tamsin. “We want to plan our wedding, the sooner the better. How about three weeks from tomorrow? Will that give you enough time?”

  Tamsin’s father chuckled. “My daughter’s been ready forever,” he teased. “The question is, will you be recovered?”

  “I’m fine now.”

  “No you’re not!” Tamsin squeezed his hand.

  “What about that arm?” her mother asked.

  “The doctor says I have a second-degree burn. They’re filling me with painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infection. In three weeks I’ll be more than fit.”

  She looked at her husband. “Then I don’t see why we can’t have a wedding by then. How about Saturday, August 1? But we’re going to have to hurry to get the invitations printed and sent out in the next few days. Come on, Howard. We’ve got things to do. We’ll be back tomorrow to see how you are.”

  “I won’t be here,” Cole informed her. “The doctor said he’d release me in the morning. But I’d love you to come to the ranch whenever you can.”

  “We will, but you mustn’t try to do anything for a while.”

  “Don’t worry about that, Mom. I’ll be watching him like a hawk,” Tamsin said in that determined voice. “So will Louise.”

  “See you later.” As they left the room, the nurse came in carrying a foot-long red fire engine filled with a huge arrangement of red, yellow and orange flowers.

  “Oh, Cole—look what you’ve been sent!”

  With a smile, the nurse put the flowers on one of the side tables. “Compliments of the Whitebark Fire Department.”

  The flowers represented flames. How creative was that? Cole would have burst into laughter if his lungs and throat didn’t hurt so much.

  “They must love you a lot, Mr. Hawkins. I hear you guys are like brothers.” Before she left, she handed him the card so he could read the message.

  Did you have to go to so much trouble to get out of work? Don’t plan on joining the bull-riding circuit anytime soon, cowboy. We need you back, pronto!

  Wyatt had to have been the one responsible for all this. Cole had to admit the camaraderie with the crew was something he was going to miss. They went through a lot together every time they had to go on a run. Nothing got the adrenaline surging like the beeper going off. You never kne
w what was waiting for you, but one thing was always certain: the guys had your back.

  Much as Cole loved his work in the mountains, he’d learned to love firefighting when he’d first started out in Colorado. In his gut, he knew it would always stay with him. While he contemplated the step that would take him away from that career, exhaustion took over. He fought to stay awake for Tamsin’s sake, but it was a losing battle.

  * * *

  TAMSIN STAYED AT Cole’s side while he slept and studied the card for a long time. We need you back, pronto.

  She’d seen the expression in his brown eyes earlier and would never forget the look of loss and regret registered there. Right then his thoughts had been far away from her and she knew why.

  The nurse had spoken the truth. They were like brothers. Tamsin had felt it while she’d been outside the emergency room cubicle earlier listening to their banter. Cole had promised to give up firefighting so she would marry him. But she couldn’t shake off the feeling that he would be giving up something so important to him, it might affect him in ways she hadn’t considered.

  Tamsin stayed with him until evening. The nurse took out the IV and they ate dinner together. He was given soft foods he could tolerate. She knew his throat was sore. Tamsin didn’t encourage him to talk. Instead she turned on the TV to watch the news. Cole featured prominently, but the names of the arsonists hadn’t been released yet.

  “I can’t believe that the Ellsworths were the ones responsible. They were both really nice guys in high school.” Her body quaked. “I’m still trying to digest the fact that Ezra got shot trying to kill a state trooper.”

  “Their father lost too many cows to the disease and none of them could get over it.”

  “You wonder if his wife knew.”

  “Probably.”

  “How awful.”

  “First-degree aggravated arson means they’ll all do time in prison.”

  She moaned. “Commander Rich interrogated me this morning.” Cole looked at her with a startled expression. “He was trying to find out if my friend Heather was involved in any way because she’s been dating Silas. The idea was absurd, but it’s so sad. I can tell she really likes him. Now I know why she couldn’t meet me at the bridal shop on Thursday.”

  “What happened?”

  “She said Silas was leaving town and wanted to have an early dinner with her. To think he was planning to burn your barn before the night was over. I can’t comprehend it that they have set so many fires with no remorse.”

  “Including your father’s barn.”

  Tamsin nodded. That was a night she’d never forget, but that was because Cole had come home and the shock of seeing him again had brought her so close to a faint, she’d slumped against Dean.

  “Poor Heather’s going to be devastated when the police release their names to the press.”

  Cole sounded resigned when he said, “It wouldn’t do any good to ask you not to think about it, so I won’t. Your fears for me really came to fruition, didn’t they, sweetheart? But no more on that score from now on.”

  Somehow that didn’t make her happy. Not at all. She turned off the news and got up to kiss his lips. “You’re exhausted. I’m going to leave for the apartment so you can get your rest. We’ll text all night if you want. I’ll be here first thing in the morning and drive you home when it’s time.”

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  “Yes, you do. You just don’t want to hurt my feelings. It’s because that’s the way you’re made. But when the doctor came on rounds, he checked your burn, put on a fresh dressing and told you to get a lot of sleep. I heard him say he’s keeping you on oxygen until morning. That means it’s time for me to leave. Good night, my love. Sweet dreams.”

  “One more kiss.”

  Against her better judgment she pressed a quick one to his lips and hurried out of the hospital room. She drove home exhausted and eager for a shower. When she was ready for bed, she phoned Sally and they talked for at least an hour about everything, including the Medal of Valor Cole was going to receive.

  “Your husband-to-be has become a celebrity in every sense of the word. The news said he cracked the case. How did he do it exactly?”

  “I don’t know yet. All that smoke bothered his throat. Maybe tomorrow it’ll feel better and he’ll be able to tell me what happened behind the scenes. Mr. Selkirk praised him to the skies. That lets me know there’s a lot Cole hasn’t told me.”

  “He’s a dark horse, that one.”

  “If you want to know the truth, Cole is so impossibly honorable at times, it’s scary.”

  “That’s an odd thing to say.”

  “Not if you knew what I know.”

  “What do you know?”

  “A lot. There is one thing I could tell you, but it would be for your ears only. No sharing with your husband.”

  “You’re kidding—”

  “I knew it! You can’t keep anything from him, so I’ll say good-night.”

  “Tamsin—tell me. I swear I’ll never repeat it.”

  “Then I’ll trust you. When I told Cole I couldn’t marry a firefighter, he said he would give it up because he didn’t want to lose me. He promised that once the arson case was solved, he would turn in his badge. That’s why we’ve set the date for three weeks from Saturday.” A lump lodged in her throat. “That’s the kind of honorable I’m talking about.”

  For once, silence reigned on the other end. “Sally? Are you there?”

  “Yes,” she answered in a quiet voice.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I was just thinking how hard it might be for Cole to give up firefighting, but Lyle is just coming in,” she whispered. “I’ll have to talk to you tomorrow. Bye for now.”

  The line went dead.

  Tamsin hung up, then sent Cole a text telling him she loved him. Afterward she went to bed. He’d probably gone to sleep and that was why he didn’t respond.

  For most of the night she tossed and turned, troubled by her own thoughts and her sister’s comment about Cole giving up firefighting. At five in the morning, she sat up in bed with a gasp, recognizing what was wrong. Her unrest had started at the hospital when she’d heard the fire crew joshing with Cole in the emergency room. The strange feeling attacking her had never left.

  Instead it had grown much worse until she realized she had to do something about it. Sally’s silence had only put the punctuation point on it. Armed with a plan, Tamsin got up and took time to do her nails and curl her hair. She wanted Cole to take one look at her and fall in love with her all over again.

  After going to her closet, she found the summery dress she was looking for. It was a blue-and-white print with short sleeves and a scooped neck. She chose white high-heeled sandals to go with her outfit.

  For a final touch she wore the adorable little enamel bluebell-shaped earrings he’d given her in high school for Christmas. They’d stayed in her jewelry box all these years, her one keepsake from him she could never part with. Thankful that she hadn’t, she went in front of the bathroom mirror to put them on. They matched the color in her dress to perfection. Would he even remember them?

  By eight o’clock she was ready and drove to the hospital. She was so excited to see Cole, she was feverish. After reaching the fourth floor, she hurried down the hall to his room. She noticed the orderlies delivering breakfast trays. Her beloved was probably still on soft foods.

  But when she reached his door there was a sign that said Do Not Disturb. Nervous that something was wrong, Tamsin rushed down the desk to inquire about him. The charge nurse looked up.

  “The doctor should have taken the sign down after his rounds. You can go in.”

  Relief washed over Tamsin. She raced back to his door. When she walked in, she found him sitting up in his bed watching the news. The oxygen tube had been removed and he lo
oked wonderfully normal to her. Their eyes fused before he turned off the TV.

  “I thought you’d never get here.” His voice sounded stronger.

  “I was afraid to come any sooner and disturb you.”

  “You can always disturb me. Come here.”

  She ran around to his right side. He reached for her with his free arm. Once their mouths met, they kissed long and passionately.

  Tamsin heard him moan. He finally took a breath. “You smell and look divine. That must be a new dress. What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?” He smoothed a tendril behind her ear and she heard him draw in his breath.

  “You’re wearing the bluebell earrings I gave you. I didn’t know you kept them. They’re the color of your eyes.”

  “Your gift made my Christmas. I could never part with them. Don’t you know I loved you to death even then?” She kissed him harder. “The nurse told me the doctor has already been to see you. How’s the burn?”

  “Good. He has released me to your care and I’ve eaten breakfast. Are you ready to take me home?”

  “I think you know the answer to that question.”

  “Yeah. I do. I’ll ring the nurse.”

  Within a few minutes one of the orderlies appeared with a wheelchair for Cole. The nurse handed him a bag that held his belongings and some medication from the pharmacy. Tamsin reached for the flower arrangement. “I’ll carry this down.”

  “We’ll save the engine for our first boy to play with.”

  She laughed. “Girls like fire engines, too.”

  His smile disappeared as he stared at her. “Not all girls.”

  With those piercing words, her excitement faded because she was the person responsible for producing that remark from him.

  She tried not to show it, but by the time they got settled in her truck with the flowers put in the back seat on the floor, Tamsin knew it was time to have the most important talk of their lives. The muggy hot morning portending rain later on seemed to close in on her. Until she said what was on her mind, nothing would be right.