Chapter Thirteen
“H as Luke left for school already?” Hayden asked as he sat down to have breakfast. Only Becket’s dogs were lying near him, as always. Jessie was nowhere to be seen. They’d all been up since early this morning. It was Monday, two weeks since he’d installed the doggie door for Laura—two weeks of restless nights and endless days thinking about her.
It was the last week of March. The spring equinox had come and gone, but the weather was moody. Some days it was warm and gentle, followed by angry winds and dark skies—kinda like his own mood. They had just experienced another heavy snowfall with freezing temperatures. Outside, the ground was becoming sodden and heavy. The brief periods of above-freezing temperatures only aggravated the problem of weight of snow on the many roofs on the ranch. On a ranch the work never stopped.
“Don’t you remember?” Isabella pulled out a chair and sat down with a mug of coffee. “It’s school break this week.”
“Of course.” Feeling like an idiot, Hayden shook his head. He should know what was going on in his son’s life, damn it.
Becket slapped him on the shoulder as he got up. “You’re in a filthy mood, bro. I don’t know what your problem is, but you’ve moved from grumpy to downright insufferable. Everyone, even Ricardo, is complaining about your temper. I’m tired of trying to explain your behavior.”
“Mind your own damn business,” Hayden growled.
“You are literally our business,” Coop said mildly, as he also got up. “It’s about time you admit what is bugging you so that we can get on with the business of ranching. I want to show you something in the barn, Becket.”
Both his brothers left the kitchen.
Isabella also got up.
Hayden glared at her. “You also have a complaint?”
“I agree with your brothers,” she said stiffly before she also left the kitchen.
“What about you?” he snarled at Willow.
“Oh, I know what your problem is. We all do.”
“Yeah? And what is that?”
“You’ve got a thing for the lovely Laura, but you’re too stubborn to admit it or…”
“Damn it, I’ve admitted it. I’ve told her. She’s not interested.”
Willow’s eyes widened. “Really? What exactly have you told her?”
Fed up, Hayden crossed his arms. “I’ve tried to be honest. There is no future in whatever is between us, but I thought we could spend time together.”
Groaning out loud, Willow rolled her eyes. “Good for her for blowing you off. You don’t tell a woman like Laura, ‘Hey babe, let’s have a fling for a while.’ Who does that? You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Muttering under his breath, he rubbed his face. “I wasn’t the one who called it a fling. She used the word. I don’t see what’s wrong with spending time together. Anyway, it’s a moot point. She’s not interested.”
Willow shook her head. “Look, I am the last person to talk about relationships. You know I can never have one. But you feel something for her. I have an idea it’s not the kind of feeling that will just go away and a fling isn’t going to ‘cure’ you, if that’s what you’re thinking. You feel deeply, Hayden. You always have. It’s not going to go away after a few kisses.”
“I’ve discovered that.”
“Ah, so you’ve kissed her?”
He glared at her. “Don’t you know these things?”
“Not everything, but I do know what you’re feeling right now isn’t temporary.”
He got up quickly. “Well, it’ll have to be. I can’t go through losing someone again.” The words were out before he’d thought about it.
“And there you have it.” Willow nodded as she stood up. “The reason why you’re running scared. Understandably so. It’s not the only reason, of course.” She shrugged. “I’m just glad you’ve told Laura there’s no future for you two. I was wondering why she’s dating just about every single guy in town over the past two weeks. Now it makes sense.” And with a wave of her hand, she walked out of the kitchen.
Stunned, Hayden stared after her. Laura was dating? Somehow, the thought hadn’t entered his mind. But now… Indignant, he stormed out of the kitchen. A fling with him was out of the question, but she was dating other men?
Outside, he gulped in the cold air. The weather suited his mood. He missed Laura with a fierceness that staggered him.
From the direction of the barn came the sound of Luke’s laughter and Jessie’s barking. Since Laura had taken over from Mrs. Denton, Luke had lost the gloomy and sad air that had become part of him over the past two years. He was happy and laughing. The only problem was, he never stopped talking about Laura.
The past two Sundays during lunch with his mother, Luke had disappeared. When he’d returned, he’d been all smiles. He’d seen Miss Anderson and played with Molly, he’d told them, beaming from ear to ear.
Trudging through the sodden, muddy snow toward the barn, Hayden rubbed his chest where a huge hole had opened up, one that was growing bigger by the day.
Surely, there was an expiration date for whatever it was that kept Laura in his thoughts and dreams? He couldn’t go on like this.
As he entered the barn, he saw Willow with Luke. They were deep in conversation. As he neared them, Luke saw him. His smiled slipped and he moved closer to his aunt.
Sighing, Hayden held out a hand to his son. “I haven’t seen you this morning.”
“Are you gonna yell again?” Luke asked.
Willow’s lips twitched.
“No, I…” Sighing, he crouched down. “Come here.”
Warily, Luke glanced up at his aunt. Only after she’d nodded did Luke walk closer to him.
Hayden pulled him closer and combed his hair out of his face. “I’ve forgotten there’s no school this week. What about you and I drive into town a little bit later this morning and go get ourselves a hot chocolate from Copper Mountain Chocolates?”
“Do you have time?” Luke asked.
“I’m making time. Especially if you help me with the chores before we go?”
For the first time, a smile lit up Luke’s face. “Yes! Come on, Jessie, let’s go!” He ran outside, Jessie on his heels.
As Hayden and Willow walked out of the barn, a truck parked near the entrance.
*
Monday morning, just after nine, Laura closed the front door behind her. The fire in the living room was warm and cozy, but she seemed unable to get warm. Maybe she should try to clear her head before she tried to warm up.
It was freezing outside, but she was wrapped up for the cold, with the scarf she’d finished knitting around her neck. Her house seemed strangely small since the school break. It was time to get outside. Even though the last two weeks had been extremely busy as she had tried to catch up with everything at school, she missed Hayden with every breath she took.
It also didn’t help that she saw his son, who had his father’s eyes, every day. Luke didn’t miss much. On Friday he’d given her a fierce hug and said he hoped she wouldn’t be sad anymore when he saw her again.
Why couldn’t she stop thinking about Hayden? Yes, he was attractive, but she’d dated other attractive men, and as soon as they’d parted ways, they’d disappeared from her mind as well. But this time, he seemed to be stuck there and just about everything reminded her of him.
“Come on, Molly. I know it’s cold, but let’s take a quick walk around the block.”
Molly barked as she skipped down the steps. For the first few days, Molly had been unsure of her surroundings, shivering and cowering at the slightest loud sound. The little dog was already much better, but Laura had learned to speak softly and be very gentle with her. Getting Molly to use the doggie door was difficult—and not only because the poor thing was scared to go through it initially. Even the freaking doggie door reminded her of Hayden.
The sky was gray, with Copper Mountain hiding behind thick, dark clouds, but she simply couldn’t stare at the walls for one more second. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have enough to do. There was a long list of things she didn’t get to during school term.
The house wasn’t quite hers yet, but the process had begun. Although the place was in mint condition, there were smaller changes she’d like to make. She’d like more cupboards in the kitchen. Arlene would probably know a cabinetmaker in town she could recommend.
But…somehow, she was struggling to focus, because... Groaning out loud, she walked down the steps. Because she kept thinking about Hayden Weston.
She hadn’t seen him since he’d left her house two weeks ago. Over the last ten days, she’d said yes to every guy who’d asked her out on a date. There had to be at least one other man who could wake up the butterflies in her tummy, she’d convinced herself. It turned out, though, nobody else had any effect on her tummy or any other part of her body.
Some were nice, some were dull, some were funny, others so boring she wanted to cry in her food. After two weeks she had to admit there was only one guy who heated her blood, but all he wanted was a fling.
Deep in thought, she and Molly reached the sidewalk in front of her house. Molly was happily sniffing and in no big hurry.
A fling. She’d never thought of herself as a let’s-have-a-fling kind of gal, but over the last few days she’d been wondering if maybe there was something to be said for the idea.
Maybe Hayden was right. Get naked and sleep together… well, sleeping was obviously not going to do the trick. Have sex.
Vivid images of Hayden’s naked upper body—the one she hadn’t even seen yet and probably never would—popped into her mind.
Oh, my goodness, this wasn’t helping. Inhaling shakily, she looked up and down the street. Which way would they go?
*
“It’s Tim Higgins,” Willow said as they walked toward the truck. “Do you want me to call Dawson?”
Just then, Hayden’s two brothers appeared from behind the barn. Thank goodness Luke was gone for the moment. “It’s fine. Coop and Becket are here as well.”
Tim got out of his truck, clearly looking uncomfortable.
“Higgins,” Hayden said curtly.
After a glance in Cooper and Becket’s direction, Tim looked at Hayden. “I wanna talk to you.”
“So talk.”
“In private.”
His siblings stepped closer. “This is as private as it’s going to get,” Hayden said.
“No complaint has been filed against me, Dawson O’Dell tells me.”
“Not yet.”
Higgins sniggered. “No evidence, I take it.”
“You’d be wrong.”
“What? If you ask me, all you have is your crazy sister’s…”
Both Cooper and Becket stepped closer to Higgins.
Staggering backward, he pointed his finger toward them. “You’re all crazy. The lot of you. I don’t know how, but you’re using my land for grazing for your cattle. I just know it. That’s why we’re having problems. This ridiculous grazing system you’re promoting is BS and I’ll prove it. You’ve taken what’s mine, so don’t think I’m done with you.”
This time Hayden moved forward. Tim quickly got into his truck. As he drove away, Luke and Jessie came running around the corner.
For an excruciating moment, everything happened in slow motion. Higgins’s truck swerved to the left, toward the boy and his dog. Because of the angle they were standing, Hayden couldn’t see whether Tim’s car had hit Luke, but he heard his little boy’s cries.
He was running even before Tim’s truck stopped. “Luke!” he roared, with the sound of his siblings’ shouts behind him.
They all reached Luke simultaneously. His son was on his knees next to Jessie, crying. The dog was lying very still.
“I’m sorry…” Tim was saying behind them. “I didn’t mean it, I was just so…so angry.”
“Get the hell off our ranch,” Becket said.
“But I’m so sorry…”
Hayden ignored Tim. His only concern was his son.
“I didn’t mean…” Tim’s voice again. “Is the boy okay?”
“Just go, please?” Willow’s voice.
“Sorry…” Tim muttered as he walked back to his truck.
“I’m phoning Dawson.” Becket had his phone out.
Hayden shook his head. “Leave it. I’ll talk to Tim when I know Luke is fine.”
“That man hurt Jessie!” Luke cried and moved to pick up Jessie.
“Don’t touch him,” Cooper stopped Luke as he and Willow crouched down next to Jessie. Cooper put his hands on the dog.
Hayden was on his knees in front of Luke. “Are you okay?” Fear still clutching his throat, he ran his hands down his son’s arms. “Have you been hurt?” Luke was deathly pale and he was shivering.
“Not me…Jessie,” Luke sobbed as he turned back toward his dog.
Tim’s truck pulled away.
Becket put his phone away. “Damn it, Hayden, I don’t know why you don’t want to phone Dawson. This time ’round, you have to press charges. Where does he get the idea our cattle graze on their land?”
His heart still racing, Hayden got up. “They’re struggling.”
“I know you’re sorry for his wife, but he’s clearly unstable,” Becket said.
Ignoring his brother, Hayden took Luke’s hand. He’d talk to Tim when he knew his son was okay. “Come on buddy, I’m taking you to the hospital…”
“No!” Luke cried, his eyed wide with fear.
Willow quickly stepped closer. “What if Dad takes you to Doctor Vivian’s house where she sees patients?”
Hayden swallowed. Of course. The last time Luke had been to Marietta Regional Hospital was the day before Madeline had passed away. “Good idea. Will you please phone her?” he asked Willow.
Willow nodded, her phone already in her hand. “Of course. Drive safely.”
“What about Jessie?” Luke cried, turning back to where Cooper was still sitting next to the dog.
“The vet is on his way,” Cooper said, putting his phone away. “I think Jessie is going to be fine. We’ll do everything we can, I promise.”
“Come on, Luke. Let’s get you out of those wet clothes before we leave.”