The Rancher's Christmas Match

by Brenda Minton

  Rebecca suddenly found it hard to breathe. She closed her eyes and forced air into her lungs.

  “Mom.” She started to cry. She hadn’t wanted to, but she couldn’t control the tears. She couldn’t pretend it was just a few drops, either; torrents of tears fell down her cheeks. A warm hand reached for hers, holding tight.

  “Mom, Allie...” she sobbed, and the words wouldn’t come.

  “Honey, is she okay? Rebecca, take a deep breath and talk to me.”

  “Mom, she’s on her way to the hospital in Grove. She’s having seizures. I’m so afraid for her.”

  “We’ll be there.” No hesitation. No condemnation. They would be there.

  “Please...” Rebecca begged, and she knew she didn’t have to. Her mother had already said she would be there.

  “Rebecca, of course. Now, you’re not driving yourself, are you?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Okay, we’ll see you there.”

  She nodded and clicked off. Isaac’s hand still held hers. He wasn’t letting go. But he would. Eventually. She knew that he was there for her, but that he wouldn’t let himself be more than a friend.

  For that moment a friend was exactly what she needed. But she worried that if he stayed too long in her life, she might want him to stay forever.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rebecca entered the hospital with Isaac at her side. The emergency room of the small hospital wasn’t crowded. She scanned the few people in the waiting room. Then her vision tunneled and for a minute everything went fuzzy as her father stood up. Tall with thinning dark hair, glasses perched on his nose and his customary suit... She remembered the last time she’d seen him. She’d always hated that suit. Always hated the way he’d studied her over the top of his glasses.

  Today she felt a mixture of emotions. Anger, hurt, relief. He put the magazine he held back on the table next to him and took a few steps in her direction. She was torn. She needed to check on Allie. But she needed to thank her parents for being there.

  “Rebecca.” He said it with his same firm voice. She remembered being a little girl sitting on his lap as he read to her, and he’d always had that voice. A preacher’s voice, she thought. As if God had known his calling and had given him the voice to match.

  “Dad.”

  He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. Maybe he’d thought he could be here and not actually see them.

  “Your mother went to find a vending machine. She needed water.”

  Some things never changed. Her mother always went in search of a vending machine and a bottle of water. Rebecca guessed it might be a nervous habit.

  Doors behind them opened. Carson approached and he looked calm. As if everything would be okay. That was a good sign, wasn’t it?

  “She’s okay. She had one more seizure. We’ve stopped them. She’s awake and wants her mom. And Jersey is having a difficult time allowing hospital staff near the bed. So you might want to do something with your dog, Isaac.”

  “I can take her home.”

  A moment of panic hit Rebecca. “You can’t leave.”

  “Okay, I won’t leave.”

  “I’m sorry.” She rubbed her hands down her arms. “You can go. I know you have things to do.”

  “I’m not leaving. Not right now. When I do go home, I’ll take Jersey. And I’ll get her now and take her for a walk. I’m sure you’re wanting to see Allie.”

  “I can take you back there.” Carson gave Rebecca’s father a curious look.

  She had to explain. “Dr. West, this is my father, Pastor Don Barnes.”

  “I see. Mr. Barnes, it’s good to meet you.”

  “Thank you, Dr. West. And my wife, Alice, is here, as well.” He looked back over his shoulder. “She’s off searching for a vending machine.”

  “Well, if you’d like to come with Rebecca...”

  He shook his head. “No, I think I’ll wait.”

  The hesitance in his voice didn’t surprise Rebecca. He’d spent nine years pretending he didn’t have a granddaughter. One night wouldn’t change that.

  “You go. I’ll see her soon.” Don Barnes took a step back and Rebecca let him. Because prayers could be answered, but it wasn’t a night for miracles. He was there. She could accept that as a place to begin.

  The door near the back of the waiting room opened and her mother hurried in, carrying a bottle of water and a candy bar. She saw them, rushed forward and hugged Rebecca tightly.

  “How is Allie?” she asked breathlessly.

  “She’s better. Dr. West was giving us an update. I’m going back to see her if you’d like to come?”

  Unlike her father, Rebecca’s mom didn’t hesitate. “Of course I want to see her.” She held up the chocolate. “I bought her a candy bar.”

  Rebecca looked to Carson and he nodded. “She can have it.”

  Isaac still stood there. “You should come, too,” Rebecca said.

  Carson led the three of them through the door to the emergency room. “I’m going to have her stay the night, just to make sure she’s past this. Tomorrow we’ll run some tests.”

  He pulled back a curtain and motioned them inside the cubicle. Allie looked small and fragile in the hospital bed. Her dark eyes seemed darker in her pale face. She was wrapped in a thin hospital blanket, her attention focused on the TV that hung from the wall. When they entered, she sat up, her glittery angel wings fluttering behind her, creased and smudged with dirt.

  “Mommy,” she cried out. She rarely called Rebecca that anymore. For the last couple of years it had been “Mom.” After all, she would be ten in the fall.

  Rebecca hugged her, crumpling the wings further.

  “We should take these off,” Rebecca said as she reached to unclasp the wings. “You’re okay, you know. Everything is going to be just fine.”

  “I hope I never see that man again,” Allie stated with a healthy dose of anger. “He said to tell you he’s going to get the money out of you...”

  She put a finger to Allie’s lips. “Shh, don’t worry about him.”

  Allie looked past her, her head cocking to the side and her eyes narrowing. She leaned close. “Who is that?”

  Rebecca whispered in her ear, “That’s your grandmother.”

  “Your mom,” Allie whispered back.

  Rebecca smiled and pulled her daughter close. “Yes. Oh, Allie, I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.” And then she raised her head to peek over the other shoulder. “And Isaac. He rescued me.”

  “Yes, he did. We should thank him, too.”

  Allie grinned. “Thank you, Isaac.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m going to take Jersey for a walk. But, Allie, if you need anything, you ring that buzzer of yours and tell them to come find me.”

  She nodded. “I will, Isaac.”

  He left with her dog, and Rebecca reached out to pull her mother close. “Mom, this is Allie. Your granddaughter.”

  Her mother began to sob. “Oh, Allie, you are just as beautiful as your mom. I have missed knowing you.”

  Rebecca could tell her daughter didn’t quite know what to say. Fortunately a nurse entered the room with a hospital gown for the young patient. And right after she’d changed Carson reappeared to tell them they would be going to a hospital room soon.

  Allie shook her head at the announcement. “I want to go home.”

  Carson pulled a stool close to the bed. “And you will go home. Tomorrow. Tonight you’re going to stay so we can keep an eye on you. Your mom can stay, too. We’ll put you in a room with two beds, one for each of you. And if your grandmother wants to stay, we can bring in a chair bed.”

  “Like a slumber party?” Allie asked.

  A nurse slipped into the room. “Exactly like a slumber party. We even have a DVD playe
r and you can watch movies. And if you’re hungry, we’ll have pizza delivered.”

  “You can do that?” Allie asked.

  Carson laughed. “I’ve learned that these nurses can make just about anything happen.”

  Allie leaned back on the pillow. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

  He patted her shoulder. “Thanks for agreeing. Okay, Nurse Jenkins, let’s take our patient to her room.”

  Allie sat back up. “Where’s Isaac and Jersey?”

  “I’m not certain, but I’ll go find them,” Carson assured her. “I’ll see that he says goodbye before he leaves.”

  “Does he have to leave?” Allie looked from Carson to her mother and back again.

  “He doesn’t have to,” Carson answered. “But he’s not the best at sleeping in a chair. He gets cranky.”

  And he has nightmares. Rebecca knew that he wouldn’t want to sleep in public, where others might be witness to one of his dreams or, worse, get too close when he woke up from one.

  He was an expert at not allowing people to get too close. Even though it appeared he’d been dragged, possibly against his will, into their lives.

  * * *

  Jersey led him all around the outside of the hospital. Isaac pretended it was about taking the dog for a walk, but he needed time to get his thoughts and emotions under control. He also needed to know that Greg wasn’t lurking anywhere near the facility.

  Finally, he went back inside. The cold air had helped clear his mind.

  Or so he’d thought. As he walked through the emergency waiting room, he spotted Don Barnes, Rebecca’s father. He approached the man, unsure what he should say. Yeah, he could think of a lot of things he wanted to tell the other man, but that was different from what he should say.

  “Have they updated you about Allie?” he asked, as he took a seat across from Mr. Barnes. He pointed and Jersey sat.

  “They’re moving her to a room and keeping her overnight.”

  “I’m sure you’re relieved,” Isaac said.

  “Yes, I am. If I may ask, exactly how do you know my daughter and granddaughter?”

  “They’re living at Mercy Ranch right now, owned by my father, Jack West.”

  “I see. Are you and Rebecca dating?”

  “No, we’re just friends. She has a lot of friends in Hope. She’s actually gone back to church.”

  Pastor Barnes took off his glasses and started cleaning them. “I’m a pastor, Mr. West, a Christian, a man of God. I’m not perfect. My only child made mistakes that I never thought she’d make.”

  “God’s children let Him down every single day.”

  “Yes, we do. I can’t undo the past, Mr. West. I can’t force my daughter to forgive me. I can only do my best going forward.”

  Again Isaac had to bite his tongue. He didn’t have a horse in this show, so he might as well back off and let this family fix their own mess. He just didn’t want Allie to be the one hurt.

  “I’ll leave you in peace.” Isaac stood.

  Rebecca’s father stopped him. “I’m glad she has good friends.”

  Isaac walked away, Jersey at his side. He didn’t have a plan. Maybe he’d find the cafeteria. Or a vending machine. After that he’d find Allie’s room and reunite her with Jersey. It had been years since he’d been to this hospital. The last time, he’d been twelve and had a broken arm after getting tossed off a green broke horse.

  If he remembered correctly, he had to make a right and then a left to get to the cafeteria. As he made the first right, he noticed a gift shop. The door was open and the lights were on.

  He entered and a lady at the counter glanced up. “We’re not open.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” He started to leave.

  “Nice dog.”

  “Thank you. She’s a service animal. Her owner is a patient in the hospital.”

  The lady came around the counter. “Can I pet her?”

  “Of course. Her name is Jersey.”

  “That’s...unique.”

  He laughed. “It’s the eyes. She has the eyes of a Jersey cow.”

  “Well, I guess she might. Was there something specific you were looking for?”

  He thought for a moment, then gave the easy answer. “Yeah, something for a little girl.”

  “Her owner?”

  “Yes.”

  “Stuffed animals, children’s books, drawing paper and colored pencils. Take your pick.” She gestured to a corner of the store.

  He thanked her and headed in the direction of the children’s gifts. On the way he spotted jewelry. A pretty bracelet caught his attention. It was the type that women liked, with beads and charms she could add. He studied the charms and found a dog, scissors, a cowboy hat. Too much. He put the hat back.

  Footsteps behind him warned that he wasn’t alone. He turned and saw Carson grinning at him.

  “That is a mistake unless you want to make a statement.”

  Isaac dropped the charms back in the tray. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “If you’re buying that bracelet for Allie, that’s a nice thing to do. But she might prefer a stuffed animal. If you’re buying that bracelet for her mother, you’d better mean it.”

  “Mean what?”

  “Jewelry, Isaac. Do I have to spell it out to you? I know you’re a bachelor for life and all that nonsense, but you do date. Don’t you?”

  “Seldom. Why date if you’re not interested in marriage? That just leads to complications. A date means ‘I think I might like to get to know you better.’ And don’t you look at me like I’m a foreign species.”

  “No, I think that’s admirable. Why lead someone on if you’re not interested in a relationship? But you’re looking at jewelry.”

  Isaac scrubbed a hand over his face and groaned. “Oh, man, I’m not sure what’s gotten into me.”

  His brother hit him on the back, hard. “Yeah, I think I might know. And if you’re not interested, even though you are, don’t buy the jewelry.”

  “You’re right.” He spotted a pretty pink diary and a set of colored pens. “I see something Allie would like.”

  “I’m going to head home, now that we’ve got her settled. Are you going home soon? If so, I could use a ride. Kylie is at home and Maggie’s asleep.”

  “Yeah, sure, just let me pay for this and I’ll take you home.”

  He paid, thanking the woman at the register. As he walked with Carson in the direction of Allie’s room, he changed his mind.

  “You know what? I’m not going home.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I can’t leave them here alone,” he explained. “What if Greg realizes she’s here?”

  “They have security,” Carson pointed out.

  “Yeah, one guy with keys that rattle. I saw him. If he’s not right outside their room, he can’t do a thing.” But maybe he wasn’t needed? “Is Mrs. Barnes staying?”

  “Rebecca’s parents left a few minutes ago. Isaac, I don’t think he is showing up here tonight.”

  He pulled his keys out of his pocket and handed them to his brother. Carson took them, looked at the keys, then at Isaac. “You don’t like to sleep near other people.”

  “So I won’t sleep. I’ll stay awake.”

  Rebecca stepped out of Allie’s room. “You have to sleep. Go home, Isaac. We’ll be fine.”

  She’d been listening. Great. “I’m staying.”

  “Because you think you need to.” She came closer and it was all he could do not to draw her into his arms and tell her he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Including himself. Which was why he shoved his hands in his pockets and backed up.

  “I’m staying because I want to stay. I love sleeping in hospital waiting rooms. Only a coldhearted woman would deny me the opportunity.”

  “As far as arguments go, that
one was top-notch. I’m almost convinced.” Carson shook his head. “Let him stay. He’ll be here if you need anything.”

  Rebecca eyed him. Then finally relented. “Okay then, stay.”

  “Thank you. And if you don’t mind, I have something for Allie.”

  She stepped to the side, giving him space to enter the room. He dropped Jersey’s harness. The dog immediately went to her mistress, standing on hind legs and placing her front paws and head on the bed next to Allie.

  “Jersey!” Allie leaned to hug her. “I missed you.”

  “No dogs allowed in the hospital.” The nurse who entered the room gave Isaac a look that pinned him as the guilty one.

  “Jersey is your patient’s service dog.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, then I guess we can make an exception for dogs named after cows. At least she isn’t a cow. I would have to draw the line at cows in the room.” The nurse winked at Allie, then continued, “What I do have is a DVD player, several movies and pizza that’s going to be delivered soon.”

  “Pizza?” Isaac glanced back at his brother.

  “Pizza is fine.” Carson leaned against the wall and watched his patient, her mother, and then Isaac.

  “I don’t remember ever having pizza in a hospital.”

  “Things change.” Carson glanced at his watch. “I’m going to head home, but I’ll be back in the morning. Allie, you are to relax and rest. I know you’re probably groggy and that’s normal. Don’t stay up and party too late.”

  She laughed at the warning. “Okay, Dr. West.”

  On his way out the door Carson gave Isaac another one of those deadly pats on the back, the kind that made a guy almost fall over. “Stay out of trouble, bro.”

  “Thanks for the warning.”

  Isaac moved farther into the room, closer to the bed, closer to Rebecca. It did him good to see Allie, to know she was definitely on the mend. Her eyes were bright and her skin had lost that pasty white-as-grandma’s-sheets look.

  “Do you want pizza?” Rebecca offered. “You have to eat.”

  “I’m good. I’ll get something from the vending machine.”

  “Nonsense,” she said. “Stay and eat.”

  He would stay. But he knew he was walking on dangerous ground. The kind that could swallow him up at any second. She could do that to him. It had to do with her smile. Or maybe the way she leaned into him as if she didn’t even realize she was doing it.