“You want to see them now? Bess is getting them ready for bed, but they’re still awake.”
“Oh, yes!” Kayla exclaimed with excitement, and they followed Art into the house.
When Bess saw them walk through the door, a soft smile touched her lips. She was sitting on the sofa, a baby in each arm.
“Darlin, it’s so good to see you, and awfully nice of you to come all this way to help.”
“Oh, no problem Bess, it’s the least we could do,” Corey said, while he watched Kayla pick up one of the twins.
“We heard they’re identical. Which cute little sweetheart do I have here?” Kayla asked, smiling down at a precious angelic face.
Art walked up to her with a grin. “Just look at their ankles.”
Kayla gently lifted the left leg of the baby’s pajama, found a nametag around her ankle, and her face spread into a smile. “So this is Allison,” she said softly. She lightly placed her finger in Allie’s hand. “My goodness, she has such a tight grip for a tiny newborn.” She looked up at Art, who’d been admiring them both over her shoulder.
“Corey, would you like to hold Angie?” Bess asked.
“I don’t think so.” He shook his head and slowly backed away.
“Chicken,” Kayla said.
“You’ll need the practice, Corey,” Art added.
“Oh no, not for a while yet,” he said, and laughed lightly.
“Well, it’s time for these little angels to go to bed,” Bess said, and carefully stood.
Kayla followed her into the bedroom and gently laid Allie into the crib with Angie. She looked up and found Bess staring at her intently.
“When are you due, Kayla?”
“What makes you think I’m pregnant?”
“Those rosy cheeks and the look in your eyes,” she said with a smile. “I can read it all over your face.”
“I don’t know, Bess. I haven’t even been to the doctor yet. We’ve only been trying for a few months, but I’m pretty sure I am,” she whispered excitedly.
“Oh sweetheart, that’s wonderful,” Bess said and gave her a hug. “You let us know the minute you find out. It’s been so nice to hear from you now and then.”
“I definitely will. However, I think I’d best tell my husband first,” Kayla whispered with a giggle.
Art stuck his head in the doorway. “Come on girls, we’re going to start a bonfire. We’ll roast hot dogs and marshmallows.”
“Let’s go, honey. You’d better get used to this roasting marshmallow thing. You may have to do this quite often in the next twenty-some years.” A grin on their faces, they left the bedroom, with their arms wrapped around each other’s waist.
Chapter Twenty-six
Officer Hutchinson arrived and sat down with them in the hospital waiting room. He’d gone over everything that the police department knew, of the kidnapping and the details of the accident. They didn’t know why Anya had taken Nicky and probably never would. She died on impact.
When the doctor entered the room, he pulled out a chair and turned it to face them, then sat and began to explain Nicky’s condition. “Thrown from the vehicle had caused a bad break to his left arm. We needed to take x-rays, run a CT scan and place a cast on his arm for a multiple fraction from direct trauma. The CT scan was to make sure no other bones had been broken that might not have shown up on the x-rays. We’d also like him to stay here overnight, to keep a close watch on him, in case of emotional shock following this stressful event. We’ll see how he’s doing in the morning.”
One of the nurses led Nick and Mariah to a private room at the end of the hallway where they would wait for him. Mariah looked around. It was pleasant, with Walt Disney pictures on the walls, perfect decoration for the pediatric unit. Nick stood next to her at the window, and together they enjoyed the view of Huntington Park, with trees, grass and park benches located in the center and a sidewalk leading to a playground. Children were riding their bicycles and skateboards on the biking trail while their parents strolled along behind them.
Mariah turned toward the door when they heard the soft click-click of a wheelchair. They knew it was Nicky coming, and they quickly walked over to the doorway and glanced down the hall. Mariah rushed to meet them, her arms outstretched toward her little boy.
“Hi Mommy,” Nicky said quietly. He was groggy from the pain medication. Mariah held his head in her hands and kissed his face.
“I missed you baby.”
“Let’s get him to his bed, Mrs. Colburn. Then you can spend time with him where he’ll be a bit more comfortable.”
“I’m going to be staying the night,” Mariah told the nurse.
“That’s fine. I'm sure he’ll like that.” She smiled at Nicky when he attempted to take his mother’s hand then found it to be too painful. He had many bruises covering his entire body.
“Hey, cowboy. How ya doin’? You’re a very tough guy. You know that, don’t you? We’re so proud of you, buddy.” Nicky’s eyes opened for a few seconds, and he tried to smile at his daddy.
Once settled in his bed, he had a hard time staying awake, and though they could see that he desperately wanted to keep his eyes open, he fell into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Nick leaned over and kissed his forehead. With a look of concern, he gently lifted Mariah’s chin with the palm of his hand. “Will you be comfortable?” he whispered.
“I’ll be fine. They told me I could sleep in the extra bed if I’d like, but I’m not going to leave his side. He’s safe now, and I don’t want to take my eyes off of him.”
“I know, sweetheart. I feel the same way, but I’m going to head out now. I spoke to Bess, and she said the twins are sound asleep. She was just about to go to bed herself. I’ll be back early in the morning. The doctor said if he makes it through the night with no problems, he’d be able go home tomorrow. I love you Mariah.”
“I love you too. Please give my thanks to Bess and Lillie for all of their help.”
“I will.”
Mariah looked very drawn out. The past three days had been so stressful. It showed in her eyes, and he hoped she’d be able to take a nap while Nicky slept.
“Try to get some sleep, honey. You’ll need your energy when he comes home. He’s going to require a lot of care, physically and mentally. I spoke to the doctor a moment ago, and he wanted us to bring him in to meet with a pediatric psychiatrist for counseling beginning next week, if possible. He gave me a business card. We’re to call the doctor’s office tomorrow to set up a few appointments.”
He gave her a gentle hug, dimmed the overhead light and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
* * *
“What did the doctor have to say?” Art asked when he entered the office.
“That he’s very mature for his age. He seems to be handling it much better than other five-year olds or even older children, for that matter. He wanted to see him once a week for one month, just to make sure he isn’t disturbed, holding it all inside, afraid to let anyone know. He told us not to question him, that he’d tell us everything, if and when he’s ready.”
“Has he told you anything at all?”
“Only that the lady was mean, that she never hit him, but she was scary.”
“Poor kid.”
“We let him know that he’s such a brave boy, and we’re very proud of him. That made him smile, although he didn’t say anything else. The doctor said he’d probably tell us more, eventually. Perhaps he’ll open up after a few additional meetings.
“There had been a guardian angel watching over him, Art. Thrown from the car and landing in a pile of hay with only a broken arm and minor bruises was a miracle in itself. His kidnapping, being tossed around in a speeding automobile, and Anya not abusing him physically was miraculous. She ended up hurting herself in the end.
“I’ll tell you one thing for sure; Mariah and I discussed this last night. Once Nicky starts to heal and feel well, we’re going to take a ride up to that motel/resta
urant where the nine-one-one call came from. It’s a family-owned business. The father runs the motel, and his son manages the restaurant. They both recognized Nicky and called the police. We decided to give him one of our colts, or a thousand dollars in cash. It’ll be his choice. It’s the least we could do for the rescue of our son.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“How has Jake been handling all of this?” Nick asked.
“He apologized over and over again. I let him know it wasn’t his fault, but he felt responsible. He started working with the new men yesterday. We’ll be getting the first three horses from the Minnesota Horse Rescue Team tomorrow. It’s kept him busy, and his mind away from the way Anya had turned his life upside down.”
“I’ll speak with him later today. If you see him, ask him to come to my office before he leaves this afternoon.”
“Okay. Will Mariah need any additional help from Lillie? If so, she’s available.”
“No, Bess is here. They should be fine. Oh, one more thing I meant to tell you. The new veterinarian will be arriving tomorrow. His name is Billy Jackson. He’ll be working with the rescue team. I’ll let Jake know when I meet with him.”
“Okay, I’m out of here. There’s a lot of work to be done today.” He stood up and laid an arm across Nick’s shoulders. “I’m glad everything turned out as well as it did, Nick.” He grabbed his hat from the desk and left the office.
* * *
“Hi Nick. You wanted to see me?”
“Sit down for a bit, Jake.” He waited for him to pull a chair up to his desk. “I just wanted to find out how things are going for you and the new men. What do you think of them?”
“I can tell they’re going to make a great team by their background. They’re all hard workers, and have plenty of experience in animal rescues.”
“That’s good. The new veterinarian will be here tomorrow. His name is Billy Jackson. He retired six months ago and then decided he was too bored not to be working. He thought the plan of rescuing abandoned and neglected horses was a good idea and he was glad to come aboard.”
Jake grinned. “That’s great. I’m sure we’ll keep him busy.”
“The rescue team is going to be his top priority. If our other doctor should need assistance with our own horses, Billy will be around to help, rather than our having to call another veterinarian to make a trip out here.
“So, how are things going for you, Jake?”
“I’m thankful for this management position. Staying busy keeps my mind away from everything Anya had done to you, Mariah and Nicky.” He looked down into his lap, then back up. “She probably hadn’t even thought of the fact that she was driving a car that people would know from the news stories and the Amber Alert. I feel responsible for everything she’d done to you and your family.”
“We aren’t blaming you, Jake. You have enough problems of your own to worry about.”
Jake nodded, “Yeah, with Anya deceased, the bills are my responsibility. I still owe for the lawyer too. He did a good job. Anya ended up being responsible for all the maxed-out credit cards, however, now they're back in my lap. I’ll most likely have to file for bankruptcy.”
Nick could see that he was deeply troubled. He leaned his chair against the wall behind him, his thumbs hitched in his belt loops, as he watched Jake.
“Hopefully, your thousand dollars per month increase in salary will help you out,” he said quietly.
Jake raised his head in surprise, took in a deep breath, and blew out his cheeks, wholly taken aback. “Are you serious?” He blinked in astonished silence.
Nick sat forward and drummed the desktop with his pen. “You’re a very hard worker, and you always have been. You’ve taken on a big job as manager now, which holds quite a bit of responsibility. I believe you can handle it. You’ve gone through a lot of pain in the past couple of years. I hope this will help you out.”
Jake stood and they shook hands. “Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate this. I can assure you that you won’t be sorry.”
He turned to leave, and when he opened the door Nick held up his hand to stop him.
“Wait. There’s one thing I insist on.”
Jake stopped and looked over his shoulder. “What’s that?”
“No more mail-order brides or you’re fired,” he said with a smile, then waved him out the door.
* * *
Nick walked slowly to the house and paused on the deck. He leaned his forearms on the top rail. The sun hung low on the horizon, and a calm breeze soothed his nerves. He gazed at the unforgettable flaming orange sunset, and knew in his heart that things would improve.
He turned and pressed his back against the rail. Facing the window, he watched as Mariah entered the kitchen. He stood and admired her. What an incredible woman. She reached for a coffee cup on the table, and raised her eyes with a look of pleased surprise when she became aware of him watching her. He noticed as a blush of pleasure rose to her cheeks, and with a feeling of happiness, he opened the door and stepped inside.
Chapter Twenty-seven
“If I go back to school today, will you be okay, Mommy?”
“Oh, I think your sisters are going to keep me very busy, but I’ll miss you. All of your friends at school will want to write their name on the cast. You be very careful not to hurt your arm on your first day back.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.” He carefully climbed into his car seat and Mariah fastened his seatbelt. “Besides, daddy said that the mean lady went away and won’t be back. So don’t worry, Mommy.”
“I’ll see you in a few,” Bess told her, then drove away.
“Mariah!” Nick called out from the corral. She looked up, and her mouth split into a wide grin. Loose tendrils of hair softened her face. She waved at him and was acutely conscious of his athletic physique as he hurried toward her.
“What’s up?”
“Are you ready to practice your routine for the horse show? It’s only two weeks away.”
“Yes, the twins are napping at the moment, and Bess will be back shortly.”
“Okay, I’ll have Precious Angel ready and waiting.” Mariah decided to enter her in this year’s Brockenridge County Horse Show. They were both excited. This will be Precious Angel’s first judged exhibition.
“I’ll be down as soon as she returns,” she said, and brushed a few strands of hair from her cheek.
He stepped back, and stroking his chin, he regarded her carefully. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to handle it? You’ve had an awfully rough summer.”
“I’ll be fine, Nick. I need to get back into riding. Bess will be here with the twins. Stop your worrying.” With a grin, she stood on her tiptoes, placed a kiss on his nose, and his smile spread from one side of his face to the other. He gave her a love pat on the backside then went back to the corral.
* * *
Mariah had just returned from a relaxing ride. Nick appeared at the stall and watched, while she brushed Angel.
“So, my beautiful lady, how did it feel to get back out there?”
“Wonderful, plus a great way to unwind, however, I’ve decided not to have Precious Angel in the race. I only want to enter her in the Western Pleasure Show. I’d also like to start a Western Trail Class here at our ranch, Nick. With Precious Angel as the lead horse, I'd be able to teach students the correct way to train a horse, to show behavior and moves that would assure a pleasurable ride. Precious Angel gives me such a smooth and refreshing ride for many miles across our property. She’d be the ideal horse to demonstrate to students the appropriate way their horse should be trained.”
“That’s a good idea, honey.”
“It would be fun. I want to be the instructor, Nick.”
“Think you can handle it? Your hands have been pretty full these days.”
“When Bess moves in permanently, it’ll all work out.”
“I need to get back to the books. It does sound like a great idea. We can go over so
me plans later tonight.”
“Okay, dinner will be ready around seven.” She finished with Precious Angel and looked up with a smile as she watched him walk away. Lord, he’s sexy. His profile spoke of power and ageless strength from living the life of a rancher. She felt so thankful to have him. Her eyes followed him until he turned the corner leading to his office, and then she walked happily back to the house.
PART II
Chapter Twenty-eight
“Sarah, you’re not going to believe this.”
“Try me,” she said.
“Remember Natalie from high school?”
“Of course I do. The three of us were good friends all through senior high. We called her Nattie. What about her?”
“She and her husband moved into the Miller’s old house.”
“Really? When?”
“I don’t know. I just heard about it from Nick. He’d been checking the fencing at the north end of our property when he noticed someone had moved in there. One of the ranch hands told him their names. When I looked Natalie up online, I found her married name as Larson, and bingo! It really is her. I’m going to stop by to welcome them.”
“Well let me know how she’s doing. Perhaps the three of us could get together.”
“Definitely – it would be just like old times. Nick’s calling me. I’ll talk to you later.”
* * *
“What’s the matter, honey?” Nick asked as he reached for the salt and pepper. “You look troubled. Did something go wrong in your class today?” He set the shakers back down on the table.
“No, my class went just fine. It’s probably nothing.” She paused and took a sip of her iced tea, then looked at him. “Have you heard anything about the people who bought the Millers’ house?”
“Only that they moved here from Minneapolis. Why, are they having problems?”
“No… well maybe, I’m just not sure of what to make of them. The wife’s name is Natalie. When I went to their house to welcome them, Carl answered the door. He told me that Natalie was sleeping, although I could see her sitting in the dining room, apparently working on a puzzle.”
Love on the Horizon (A Northern Woods Novel) Page 12
