Her hands and lips quivered. But she stopped fussing over Rory and nodded. “This place is nothing like I remember,” she muttered, glancing around for the first time as Colt lifted Rory and wrapped him in the quilt that was on the bed. “It almost feels as if someone’s been living here.”
“You’re kidding. It’s cold as a well-digger’s knees in here.”
“I guess. Oh, Coltrane, why isn’t he talking or hugging me? How in heaven’s name did he get all the way up here?”
Colt shook his head grimly. “People have been known to have superhuman survival instincts during accidents. Rory could’ve fallen from his horse. Maybe the gelding panicked and kicked Rory and Lancelot. Rory could have a concussion. We’ll get details after a doctor examines him.”
“You’re right. It’s just…”
“Unreal? I know,” Colt agreed, completing her sentence. “Can you carry Lancelot? I know you’d feel better holding Rory, but I’m stronger. The less we jar him, I think, the better.”
“Please, let’s just hurry.” Her plea sounded ragged.
“Right.” Colt left Summer to refasten the door while he attended to the difficult task of climbing into the saddle without jostling Rory too badly. “Once you two are safely settled in the hospital, I’ll return to the ranch. Trace and I will finish flushing cattle from the gorge. Virgil told me that according to the news, there’s a second storm on the heels of this one.”
“My mind’s quit operating. I’ve really dropped the ball with this roundup, haven’t I? There’ll be major calf losses if we don’t get the heifers out before another storm hits.”
“Don’t worry. You concentrate on Rory.”
“My debts to you keep mounting, Coltrane.”
“Summer, I—now isn’t the time to get into this…but after Rory’s seen to, you and I need to talk.”
Summer let Colt’s deep, low-spoken words swirl inside her addled brain. He sounded so serious, perhaps she ought to be concerned. Her stomach involuntarily constricted. But too much of her mind focused on Rory. Frankly, she was glad Colt had taken the lead, leaving her to trail them in blessed silence.
The descent and the trek across the flats took less than a third of the time they’d used to reach the cabin. Trace was already at his appointed place. He exited the truck and hailed them the minute he saw them. A weak sun was trying to struggle out, and places on the road already looked slushy. The men bundled Summer and Rory into the warm truck. Colt hung back as he closed them inside, so he could speak to Tracey alone.
“Uncle Marley phoned,” Trace murmured, following Colt around the pickup bed. “He’s anxious to connect with you. Said you’d know why. Something about a deal Gabe faxed him yesterday.”
Colt stopped abruptly. His argument with Gabe seemed to have taken place in another lifetime. “I’ll call him after I transport Rory and Summer to Emergency.”
“That’s another thing. Frank Marsh is on the warpath. He’s been with the searchers, but will probably meet you at the hospital with his lawyer.”
“He’d better watch out if he tries to accuse Summer of anything,” Colt snarled, yanking open the driver’s door.
“Trouble?” Summer glanced up worriedly.
“Trace thinks Frank plans to meet us at the hospital.”
“If any good comes of this incident, maybe it’ll be to shake Frank into being a better father.”
Colt pulled out onto the highway, keeping his thoughts on the subject of Frank Marsh to himself.
A mile down the road, Rory moaned and opened his eyes. “Mama?” His voice was thick and indistinct, but Summer kissed him fervently, “Thank heavens you know me!” she cried.
Colt smiled, also relieved. “Must have helped to warm him up.”
“The…bad man…t-took me up th-there,” Rory said in fits and spurts. “I tried to run. My teacher said never go with strangers. Not even if they say your mom or dad sent them to p-pick you up.”
The small amount of color Summer had regained after their ordeal drained from her face. “What are you saying, Rory? A man took you to the line shack? Who?”
“Don’t know,” Rory said. “Ooh. My head hurts.”
“Colt?” Summer turned frantic eyes his way. “A kidnapping attempt? Why? I have no money to speak of.”
“Now, Summer. Take it easy. Rory has a goose egg on his head. He probably has a concussion. Virgil would have mentioned a ransom demand.”
“Was so a man,” Rory interjected. “He left me all alone. When Lancelot woke me up, I was scared it was the man coming back.”
“Rory, look at me,” his mother instructed. “Tell me you aren’t making this up.”
“I’m not! He grabbed Blaze. I fell. The man called my name. He said Daddy sent him to take me to town.”
“Oh, my God.” Summer clutched her son to her heart. “Frank, what have you done?”
“Daddy didn’t send him,” Rory declared, his voice muffled against her breast. “’Cause I didn’t wanna go, and he threw me in his Jeep, but he didn’t go to town. I tried to jump out, and—and he grabbed my neck. I don’t ’member what happened then. ’Cept I got scared. I was so cold. I never seen him before, Mama.”
Summer stiffened in her seat. She sent Colt a searing frown.
Feeling the heat, Colt flicked his eyes from the road. “He’s clearly off-kilter, Summer. Surely you don’t buy that ludicrous story?”
“Phil Eubanks saw you in the park with a man, Coltrane. A stranger. Phil said he had the look of a developer. I should’ve known your appearance in my life was too convenient. Why? I thought you were different, but you’re no better than Frank.”
Colt jerked as if he’d been slapped. If she believed him capable of such treachery, she might as well plunge a knife into his heart. Dammit, he’d slowly been falling in love with her. Couldn’t she tell? Although…how did he explain Gabe without accusing Phil of lying? God, he couldn’t explain anything. Not yet.
The air between them crackled ominously. “Well, deny it if you can,” Summer ordered.
Colt couldn’t fight his way out of the descending darkness. “I…did meet someone. But not why you think. I’d never mistreat Rory. Either you trust me or you don’t, Summer.” Colt waited for her reply. Years ago, he’d placed his faith in one woman who didn’t have faith in return. There’d be no repeating that mistake. Gritting his teeth, he turned anguished eyes back to the road.
“Strangers aren’t that plentiful in Callanton. Trust goes two ways, Coltrane. What am I supposed to think when you lead me straight to Rory? Either explain this to my satisfaction or drop us at the hospital and go collect your gear from my ranch,” she said, her voice cold and deliberate. “Then consider yourself fired. You and Tracey, leave addresses where I can mail your last paychecks.”
“Like hell. I’ll leave when I’m ready, and not before. I’m not budging until Rory sees a doctor and I know he’s okay.”
“Easing your guilty conscience?” she accused bitterly. “I never want to set eyes on you again, Coltrane Quinn. If you have the sense God gave a gnat, you’ll leave Callanton before I forget you did lead me to Rory and I bring in the sheriff.”
“It wasn’t Colt,” Rory whispered. “Mama, I love Colt. Don’t send him and Trace away. He bought me this belt, and he teached me to rope. I want him to stay.”
“Shh. This is my worry, sweetie, not yours. Lie still, please.”
“Yeah,” Colt said, his voice far from steady. “I’m not going anywhere until the doctor checks your head.”
Rory slumped against Summer. No other words passed between the adults. The minute Colt pulled under the awning at the hospital, before he set the brake or could disembark and help Summer out, she scrambled from the cab. Alone and stoic, she lugged Rory into the emergency room.
Colt dropped his head on hands he’d wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. What a wholesale mess he’d made of things. He loved Summer Marsh, but if he un-burdened himself now, and word got out to alert Frank and
Adams, it’d ruin any hope he had of saving the Forked Lightning for Summer and her son.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
IT TOOK COLT TIME TO LOCATE a parking space. He walked back into the emergency room and saw Frank Marsh looming over Summer, shouting, “Where were you when my son was thrown from his horse in a blinding snowstorm?”
“I told you, Frank. I was bringing a herd out of the gorge.”
“Cattle always come first with you, Summer.”
“That’s not fair. Those cattle pay the bills, Frank. But we’ve been over and over this. We’ll never see eye to eye on the ranch—or anything else, apparently.” Brushing him aside, she marched to the counter juggling a clipboard and Rory’s sagging weight.
“Daddy,” Rory said plaintively. “My head hurts.”
“Where’s a damned doctor?” Frank yelled, pounding on the counter.
“Please, Frank, you’re causing a scene,” Summer admonished.
“I wouldn’t of fallen off Blaze if that man hadn’t said you sent him to get me.”
“What man? What’s he talking about?” As far as Summer was concerned, the blank look on Frank’s face ruled out his involvement in Rory’s kidnapping. She looked quickly over at Colt, who gazed stolidly back.
He didn’t say so, but Colt now felt all the more certain the whole story had been a figment of a frightened child’s imagination. Although…there were fresh tire tracks, and the cabin had been a long way from where Rory fell off his horse. He still had a niggling suspicion that Frank Marsh was acting.
A harried-looking doctor dashed up. “Mrs. Marsh? I’m Dr. Madison. I’ll see Rory in room three. Nurse,” he called, “bring in a portable X ray. I’ll want head films STAT.”
Colt saw Summer losing her tenuous hold on Rory as she attempted to comply. He crossed to her in two strides, relieving her of her burden at the same time Frank grabbed for his son, yelling, “For God’s sake, Summer! Stop treating the kid like a calf you’re about to brand.”
His face still devoid of color, Rory shied from his dad and clasped Colt around the neck. “Colt, make Daddy stop yelling at Mama. Will you go with me?”
“Could you two put your battle on hold until after the doctor examines your son?” Colt snapped.
Frank sneered. “Who in hell are you to tell me anything regarding my family?”
Ignoring Frank, Colt edged past the doctor and deposited Rory gently on the examining table. “I’m not going anywhere yet,” he murmured, smoothing back a blood-encrusted lock of blond hair that drooped over an ugly abrasion on Rory’s forehead.
Summer bustled in at his heels. Insinuating herself between Colt and Rory, she lowered her voice. “I want you gone, I said.”
“And I said, after a doc sees Rory.” Colt’s tone sounded mild, but there was no mildness in his eyes.
Rory called fretfully for Colt again.
“I’ll allow you to stay because it’s obviously what Rory wants. The second his exam’s over, I demand you leave Callanton. If you don’t, I’ll call Sheriff Morse.”
Colt might have protested that he’d never do anything to hurt Rory or her, but all he offered instead was a withering glance.
Frank reappeared with a charge nurse. His charm and his smile were firmly in place. “I’m the boy’s father. That man’s bothering my wife and son.”
“Ex-wife,” Summer quickly inserted. “Rory asked Colt to stay.”
“Well, if he’s implying that I sent some guy after my son, he’s lying.”
“I said nothing of the kind,” Colt returned coldly. “I think Rory’s confused because of the blow he took to his head. If not, you should be hunting for an unknown kidnapper.”
Summer spun on Colt. “Don’t add to your sins, Coltrane. Why, oh why, couldn’t you have been for real?” Her voice broke on the last word.
The truth hovered on the tip of Colt’s tongue. He might have dumped all his cards on the table, saying to hell with SOS, had a young woman in blue scrubs not entered just then, rolling an X ray machine.
“Get that cowpoke out of here,” Frank insisted. “I already phoned the sheriff. He’ll be here any minute. My lawyer, too. I want my ex-wife’s neglect documented, Doctor.”
“Not because you give a damn about Rory,” Colt raged. “Your sole interest is greed. You’ll say or do anything to force Summer into selling the Forked Lightning. If she agreed right now to accept Ed Adams’s deal, I’ll bet Sheriff Morse and your lawyer would disappear like that.” Colt snapped his fingers.
“Quiet, or I’ll eject you all.” Dr. Madison included each adult in his warning. “Now, Rory,” he said calmly. “Please let our X ray tech take a picture of your head. Tell me in your own words how you got this nasty bump.” The man conducted his exam of Rory’s heart, lungs and bones as Rory recounted his escapade.
Frank grew quieter. Colt managed to ignore him, until at one point Frank took up Summer’s earlier refrain, suggesting Colt had a hand in ordering Rory grabbed and stashed in the cabin.
“I didn’t even know the cabin existed,” he muttered angrily. “Not until Virgil mentioned it as a place Summer and Rory might take refuge from the storm. Ask yourselves—who did know of its whereabouts?”
Summer placed a palm on Colt’s chest and one on Frank’s, applying enough pressure to back them both to the door. “Stop! When I learned Rory had gone missing, I promised God that if he was alive, I’d give up the ranch. As much as I love the Forked Lightning, I love Rory more. Frank, unless your deal’s changed from the one you presented to Larkin Crosley, I have the Adams offer. Coltrane,” she said, “if, as I suspect, you landed on my doorstep for the same purpose, walk out now without another lie, and I’ll give your proposal the same consideration I give Frank’s. One more remark from either of you, and I’ll sic Sheriff Morse on you both. I’m sure Dr. Madison will back me up.”
The doctor’s scowl totally supported Summer.
Colt hadn’t the vaguest idea who—other than Frank—would be behind Rory’s disappearance. But in order to buy Gabe time to draw up a deal, Colt agreed. “Rory, do what your mom and the doctor say,” Colt said, smiling at the child. Then, clenching his jaw tight, he brushed by Frank. Colt had to return Marley’s phone call, anyway, which he’d do from the privacy of his pickup. Afterward, he’d come back and find out the final verdict on Rory’s injuries, or he wasn’t going anywhere at all.
He’d just stepped outside when Frank caught up to him and grabbed his arm. “What did Summer mean? You’re submitting a proposal to buy the ranch?”
“She’s mistaken. I can’t afford a spread like that.” Colt glared at the pale fingers Frank had clamped around his arm.
Marsh turned him loose at once. Issuing a nervous laugh, he waved Colt away. “It wouldn’t matter if you were as rich as Midas. Any sale requires my okay. The Adams offer—it’s a done deal, cowboy. So you’d be smart to head on out of Callanton as my wife suggested.”
“Ex-wife,” Colt retorted before gaining a choke hold on his temper.
“Ah, so that’s it? Funny, I never would’ve figured you for the type to want a woman who insists on wearing the pants in the family.” The words had barely left his mouth when Frank’s feet flew up and he skidded on his butt across an icy sidewalk. Scrambling up again, he smoothed the wrinkles where Colt’s hands had clenched his lapels. He lunged at Colt. Then, as if thinking better of it, he abruptly drew back.
Pasting a false smile on his too-pretty face, Marsh dug a pristine handkerchief out of his pants pocket to dab moisture from his brow. “Whatever,” he muttered, folding the handkerchief before tucking it back in his pocket. “I’ll admit it Quinn—you were right about me. There’s been one thing in my mind since the day I heard Bart Callan hoped to marry off his daughter—selling the Forked Lightning. Summer can’t or won’t see how the land her great-granddad bought for pennies an acre has become worth a fortune. You’re welcome to her, pal. Just don’t interfere with the deal I’ve got pending.” Frank cocked his thumb and finger at Colt
, mimicking a pistol. Turning carefully, he picked his way through patchy snow and ice.
Colt wished he’d had a tape recorder. But as he watched Frank climb into a low-slung car and peel out of the parking lot, his fury at the man cooled. The issue wasn’t whether or not Summer believed Frank had married her to get his hands on the ranch. She did and he had. The issue that mattered to Colt was that she’d suddenly lumped him in the pot with Frank.
As he hurried to his pickup, he mulled over her last words. If she really was willing to give up the ranch, he could drive off, collect his gear and leave negotiations in Gabe’s capable hands with a semiclear conscience. There were other parcels of land that needed rescuing from developers.
In his heart, however, Colt didn’t believe Summer wanted to sell the Forked Lightning. Because he’d seen the truth in her eyes. And because he was someone who had also spent five long years making deals with God. If you deliver me from my captors today, I’ll… Fill in the blank on any given day. Summer’s trade-off happened to be all her worldly possessions in exchange for her son’s life. An understandable bargain.
He glanced up and saw Sheriff Morse pull his marked SUV into a slot designated for emergency vehicles. Colt considered intercepting Dane and informing him that he had no connection whatsoever with the man Rory insisted had kidnapped him. But Colt had little doubt that Dane would eventually question him. He decided to return Marley’s call first. Maybe he’d out and out refused the proposition Colt had presented to Gabe. In that case, he’d have to talk fast and change Marley’s mind. Sliding into his truck, he punched in D.C.
“It’s Colt. Glad I caught you at your desk. Tracey said you’d phoned. Sorry for the delay—the past few days have been wild around here.”
“So I hear. I just spoke with Tracey again. I’m glad you found the Marsh boy. I hope he’s all right.”
“The doctor’s with him now. He’s woozy from a knock on the head. Minor, really, when you consider the near whiteout search conditions, and the vastness of the territory we had to comb.”
Wide Open Spaces (Harlequin Super Romance) Page 22
