by Zoe Matthews
Stephanie did as he suggested, holding the blanket around her shivering body and closing her eyes. Bridger sat next to her, shivering and looking at the hot spring with longing.
When she finally relaxed into sleep, he quickly slipped back into the hot spring and warmed his body up. He then dressed and sat next to her while she slept.
God, please be with Stephanie. I know she’s scared, so am I. I’m starting to develop feelings for this woman, and the future is scary.
Chapter 11
Stephanie stirred in her sleep and he used his fingertips to brush some strands of hair off her forehead. “Do you feel better?”
“Much. How long did I sleep?”
“A couple of hours.” When she made to get up, he stopped her and cupped her jaw. “Lie still.” He searched her eyes and then lowered his head towards her own.
Stephanie stopped him with a hand upon his chest before he could complete their kiss. “Bridger, please don’t.”
“Why?” he asked, the chemistry between them palpable.
“Look, I can’t do this until I know what I’m dealing with. I can’t handle anything else. I don’t want to think about this right now.”
“Steph, I know you have feelings for me.”
Stephanie nodded. “Yes, but I need to wait until I get back from Denver.” If I have MS there is no way I could saddle you with a handicapped wife for the next twenty years.
“Stephanie, I want a relationship with you.”
She looked into his eyes and silently echoed his words. She had never been so attracted to someone, and it wasn’t just a physical attraction. They got along fabulously, and in different circumstances, she could see herself settling down and marrying someone like Bridger. But circumstances weren’t different.
Bridger watched her for a moment and then captured her lips with his own, despite her feeble attempt to prevent the contact. When she immediately relaxed and returned his kiss, he knew he hadn’t crossed a line. It was a perfect kiss and he let the sweetness of it sweep over them both.
After several minutes, he broke away and told her reluctantly, “We should probably head back.”
Stephanie licked her lips and then nodded back at him. She let him help her to her feet and then watched from the table while he packed their stuff away on the horses.
“Do you think you can sit on your horse without falling off?” he asked before helping her up into the saddle.
“I think so. I’m feeling a lot better.”
“Okay. If you start to feel weak or dizzy, tell me immediately.”
Stephanie smiled at his concern and agreed to do just that. She was able to lift herself into her saddle, but immediately started to tip sideways. “Uhm, maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
Bridger pulled her back off the horse and then seated her on his own. “That’s okay, you can ride with me. Hold on for just a minute.”
He quickly tied her own horse behind his, and then mounted behind her. He wrapped one arm around her middle and held the reins in his other.
As they reached the main house again, he asked her, “So, I know Spencer offered to fly you up to Denver, but it’s my father’s birthday next week and I was going to drive up there anyway. Want to tag along with me?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it and let you know.” Stephanie placed her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her off the horse’s back.
Bridger stood her in front of him and then kissed her once more, taking her lips with his own in a sweet and tender kiss that had her melting against him. Putting a little distance between them, he turned her towards the main house. “Take it easy tonight and stay out of hot baths.”
Stephanie turned and looked at him with a smile. “Thank you for taking such good care of me today.”
“It was my pleasure. Thanks for coming with me. Let me know about that ride to Denver.”
“I will.”
****
Her family was driving her crazy. She had refused to discuss her potential condition with anyone, and tried to accept their caring questions and comments with grace. She didn’t want to discuss it with anyone until after her appointment with the specialist.
She continued to keep everyone organized and dealt with the few minor problems as they came up, all the while avoiding Bridger. Completely.
Three days after the horseback ride, Spencer approached her. “So, are you up for flying to Denver for your appointment?”
“No. Thanks, but Bridger is heading to Denver anyway, and I’m going to catch a ride with him.” She’d just made her mind up and had yet to tell Bridger of her decision, but now it was made. Even if she should keep avoiding him, deep down she knew she wanted to go with him. After all, he was going to Denver for his father’s birthday anyway. Why make Spencer take her when she could hitch a ride with Bridger?
Spencer looked at her and then shrugged. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Spencer, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you learn to fly when dad was adamantly against it?”
“I’ve always liked planes.”
“I know that. You were always making model planes when we were kids. And boring the rest of us with your immense knowledge about planes and such.”
“Yeah, I remember that.”
“So, why learn to fly?” she asked again.
“It was just something I needed to do.”
Stephanie nodded her head, and then she asked Spencer something that had been bothering her since her visit to the doctor. “Did you know that dad was ill?”
“What?” Spencer looked shocked at her words.
“Well, the doctor I went to in Pinedale was Dad’s doctor. He wanted to know if dad was in a lot of pain at the end. He said something about dad having a terminal illness, but I couldn’t find out anything more without letting on that none of us even knew he was sick.”
“That would explain a lot,” Spencer said, almost as if he was talking to himself.
“Explain what?” she asked curiously.
“Look, Stephanie. You know dad was a good pilot. He was really careful with safety and such. I don’t buy that it was only an accident.”
“Really?” Stephane felt shocked, but she also felt there had been something else going on with their father.
Spencer shook his head. “Don’t say anything to the others, but I’m doing a little investigating on my own.”
“What do you think happened?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but I aim to find out. Let’s just keep this conversation between us for now.” Stephanie nodded her head in agreement. Everyone had enough to worry about without adding this to the list.
Chapter 12
The next week, Bridger and Stephanie headed out early for Denver. His father’s birthday celebration was later that evening, and his mother had told him to invite his guest to stay at the family residence.
“So, my mother has offered up the guest room for you to use while we’re in Denver.”
“That’s nice, but I couldn’t impose like that.” She had planned to check in a hotel nearby his family’s home.
“You wouldn’t be imposing. Besides, I would really like to know that you weren’t alone. Just in case you get sick again.”
“Are you sure?” Stephanie asked, watching as the houses rolled by. Even though she didn’t want to impose, she wasn’t sure she really wanted to be alone.
Moments later, Bridger pulled his truck into a driveway and she watched as two older people came out of the house and embrace him warmly. Stephanie watched the reunion with curiosity. She could tell where Bridger got his good looks. His father looked like an older version of Bridger. She watched as his mother hugged him and then patted his cheek as she said something to him.
Bridger came around and opened her door, helping her out before introducing her. “Mom. Dad, this is Stephanie Collingsworth.”
“Stephanie, welcome to our home. We’re so
happy you agreed to stay here.”
“It’s nice to meet you both, but I don’t want to be any trouble.”
Bridger watched as his mother wrapped her arms around Stephanie’s shoulders and ushered her into the house. “It’s no trouble at all.”
Bridger saw his dad watching him and raised an eyebrow. “What is that look for?”
“You like her.”
“Yeah, a lot. But she’s going through a lot of stuff right now.” He had told his parents that he was bringing her because of the doctor’s appointment.
“Then just be there for her and be patient, son. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
Bridger nodded his head. “Thanks, dad.” His father was always giving out advice that more often than not was circular in nature. “I’ll remember that.”
The birthday party was a resounding success. Stephanie was even seen laughing along with everyone else, and Bridger watched her across the room, enjoying the sparkle in her eyes and the smile upon her beautiful face.
Tomorrow she will see the specialist, and he only hoped that afterwards she would find something to smile about again.
****
“Stephanie, I don’t know if there’s any easy way to say this, but I do believe you have MS. Now, I can see from the look on your face that you’ve been doing some research and I want you to remember that MS is as individual as the people who have it.
“It affects everyone differently. I want to do an MRI of your brain and spine so we can get a feel for how advanced the disease is. I also want to start you on some medications that have proven very helpful in keeping the symptoms at bay. In some people, it can lengthen their time in remission, but at this point everything is worth trying,” the doctor concluded.
Stephanie tried to keep her emotions in check and nodded, “Doctor, I’m willing to try anything you think will help. I am sure I don’t have to tell you that this has totally taken me by surprise and I’m still trying to work through how this is going to change my life going forward.”
“That’s completely understandable. I would like you to think about getting into a regular exercise routine as well. The latest studies have shown that it helps keep the symptoms at bay,” the doctor suggested.
Stephanie finished up with the doctor and then exited the office to find Bridger waiting for her on a bench outside. She put on a brave face, not ready to admit that her worst fears were being realized.
“Did everything go okay?” he asked, concern evident in his voice and expression.
“He wants to run some more tests.” It was all she was willing to say at this point.
“Okay.” Bridger took her hand as they walked towards his truck. It was only 11:30 a.m. and they had the rest of the day together. “So, you lived here for a while. What shall we do with the rest of the day?”
Stephanie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.” Something that will take my mind off the news I just got from the doctor.
“How about the Natural History Museum?” Bridger suggested.
Stephanie smiled. “You know, I’ve never been there.”
“But didn’t you live in Denver for a few years?”
“I did,” she told him, “but I never took time to play tourist.”
“The museum it is,” Bridger told her, helping her into his truck and then dropping an easy kiss on her cheek.
Stephanie watched him jog around the truck and resisted the urge to touch the place where he’d kissed her. The more time she spent with him, the more she was falling in love with him.
She’d been hoping for good news from the doctor today, but instead, the news had been a death strike to any sort of normal future. The additional tests and time would help determine the type of MS she had, but the end result of all of them was the same. She definitely had MS.
At some point, she would be disabled and have to rely on others for her care, just like her friend’s mother had needed. How on earth could I ever think of burdening someone with that? Even the family! How can I tell my siblings, knowing that they will feel obligated to take care of me?
Chapter 13
They first ate lunch and then went to the museum. The museum was wonderful and Stephanie wondered why she’d never made time to visit it while she’d been living in the city. She now regretted she had spent all of her time working. She had done so because she felt she needed to show her boss she was a good employee and would do more than what was expected of her, but in the process she felt like she had lost a few years of her life. She made a promise to herself that she would make sure she spent some time doing things she enjoyed, along with her work that she would be doing on the Dude Ranch. She was learning that life was too short to be working all the time.
“How about a visit to the Planetarium?” Bridger asked as they descended to the main floor three hours later.
“That sounds like fun,” Stephanie told him, really not wanting the day to end. They would be spending another few days with Bridger’s parents since she had tests scheduled for the next two days, and she knew that once she found herself alone again, worry would consume her.
“Great. Stay here and I’ll go get us some tickets.”
Stephanie waited on a bench outside the gift shop, watching a mother with two little girls trying to convince them they didn’t need one of everything in the store.
She smiled when the two girls finally gave in and dutifully chose only one item. She refused to think about the fact that she might never have children of her own. It hadn’t really been a grave concern of hers until now.
At the age of twenty-eight, she’d thought she still had several years before she’d have to really think about settling down.
“Ready? The next show starts in fifteen minutes. If we hurry, we’ll make it with a few minutes to spare.”
“Sounds good,” Stephanie told him.
Bridger pulled her up, tucking her arm into his own and then guiding her towards the back of the museum complex. “How are you doing with all of this walking around?”
Stephanie stiffened slightly, offended that he was already treating her like an invalid. “I’m fine.”
Bridger felt her stiffen and stopped her in the hallway, pulling her off to the side and forcing her to look at him. “Don’t get offended. I’m concerned about you and don’t want to do anything that might set you back.”
Stephanie could see the sincerity in his eyes and immediately regretted jumping to conclusions. “I’m sorry I overreacted. This is all so new, and I haven’t even had time to process everything.”
Bridger pulled her to his chest and hugged her briefly, “No worries. Whenever you’re ready to talk about it, I’ll be here ready to listen. Let’s go look at some stars and constellations.”
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, as did the next two days. In between the scheduled tests her doctor had ordered, she made sure she took some time and purchased a couple of sacks full of colorful yard for Annie.
Stephanie arrived at the prescribed times for her additional testing. She hated doing the MRI test. She had never enjoyed being in enclosed spaces and it was all she could do to hold still and not panic. Each day only seemed to further confirm the positive MS diagnosis.
When she had her final appointment in the doctor’s office, a part of her wished she’d allowed Bridger to accompany her to this final meeting.
He’d offered. Several times in fact. She’d declined because she didn’t want to worry about how she was going to react. A small part of her was still hoping for a miracle and that there had been some mistake.
“Stephanie, I wish I had better news, but all of the additional tests just confirmed my first diagnosis. You do have MS. I’m going to be sending copies of my notes to your doctor in Pinedale, and I would like you to come see me again in six months’ time. That should give us a better understanding of which type of MS you have.”
Stephanie sat there, not sure if she wanted to cry, or scream. She had MS! There was no mistake. It hadn’t been
the stress and it wasn’t going to go away.
“Do you have someone here with you?” the doctor asked a few minutes later.
Stephanie nodded. “Yes.” She shook herself and cleared her throat, “Thank you for everything doctor.”
“If you have any questions your local doctor can’t answer, don’t hesitate to call the office and speak to my nurse.”
“I won’t. Thanks.”
Stephanie finally worked up the nerve to leave his office, only to find Bridger pacing the reception area as he waited for her.
Stephanie tried to put on a brave front, but she just didn’t have it in her. Bridger picked up on her tenuous control and instead of leading her to his truck, he took her hand and led her across the street to a city park.
He didn’t ask what the doctor said, he simply was there. After walking together for a while around the park in silence, he suggested they turn back and find the truck. “Mom’s cooking dinner for us this evening.”
Stephanie looked at her watch and then scowled at Bridger. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“There’s no hurry, we still have plenty of time to get there.”
“I’m sure your mom needs help in the kitchen.”
“She’ll be okay.”
“Are we heading home tomorrow morning?” Stephanie asked.
“I’d rather wait and go home the day after tomorrow. I have a shipment of plumbing fixtures coming in, and if we wait one more day, I can take them back with us.”
“That sounds fine. Another day won’t matter that much.” Another day where I won’t have to tell everyone back home what the future holds in store for me.
Chapter 14
The next day Bridger went off by himself to pick up various supplies around town. Stephanie stayed with his mom and helped her in the garden.
