Chapter 23
Dax sat on the edge of the chair in his father’s hospital room. Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on his knees and kept his gaze fixed on Walter’s pale face. A machine beeped beside him, announcing his steady heartbeat and stable vitals.
But he still hadn’t opened his eyes.
Guilt burrowed into his stomach lining and refused to budge. Pops looked so small in the big bed, the thin blanket tucked around his slim frame. A small bump on his forehead showed where he’d hit his head, probably when he’d fallen at some point during the night.
While he’d been alone with no one to come to his aid.
Shoving his hand through his hair, he leaned back in the chair and rested his head against the wall. He’d become so consumed with Vanessa that he’d lost sight of his father’s needs. How could he be so selfish?
“How’s he doing?” Madden stood in the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest.
“About the same. He’s still not awake.” Dax sat up and rubbed his hands down his face. “I hate seeing him like this.”
Madden dropped into the chair beside him. He kicked out his legs and hooked them at the ankles. “You want to talk about it?”
“About what? How I messed up? How you were right, and I couldn’t handle things on my own? Sorry, but I feel bad enough already. I don’t need you shoving my mistakes in my face right now.”
“I meant how you were a dick to everyone when you got here.”
Irritation rippled through him. “Seriously? Dad’s lying right in front of us and you want to talk to me about how I spoke to your fiancée.”
“No, I want to discuss how you treated yours.”
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and Dax shoved to his feet. He glowered down at Madden. All the resentment and anger he hadn’t been able to let go of simmered at the surface. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Madden shrugged. “Maybe not, but I can’t help but think part of your bad attitude is my fault.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Needing to move, he stalked back and forth across the shiny linoleum floor. “And screw you. I was upset. I needed to find out what happened, and no one would tell me. Sorry if how I handled things ruffled a few feathers.”
“Sounds like you did more than that.”
“Maybe I did, but what does that have to do with you? Why do you care?” Stopping, he faced his brother.
“Because you’re taking on too much, including blame for Dad’s fall. And it sounds like you took it out on everyone around you.”
“I should take the blame,” he said, pounding the heel of his hand against his chest. “I told you I didn’t need help.
I told you I could handle it. I told you I was fine.
Then I left him. All alone in that house.
Who knows how long he laid there? If he was awake for a while, waiting for me to come back?
It makes sick to my stomach to think about. ”
Madden stood and rested a hand on Dax’s shoulder.
“And I bought into the bullshit. I told myself you were fine, and I wasn’t being a horrible son and brother.
I didn’t recommend help taking care of Pops because I didn’t think you could do it.
It was because I’ve been so busy with the business and planning for the wedding, I’ve neglected him.
Neglected you both. I wanted to help the only way I could without cloning myself. ”
“But I was fine. Pops and I were getting along just fine until…” He swallowed Vanessa’s name before he said something he’d regret. Pressure increased in his chest, threatening to split him in two.
“Until you were needed somewhere else,” Madden said, dropping his arm to his side.
“You had a job to do, and you met someone. Someone special, from what it looks like. Pops was happy you were spending time with Vanessa. He likes her—likes you two together. You didn’t do anything wrong by spending time with her. ”
“But if I’d been home, I could have stopped this from happening.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing I’ve learned over the past few years is you can’t stop living your own life. Can’t put things on hold for other people. No matter how well-intentioned.”
“So, I’m just supposed to abandon him?”
“Is that what you think I did?” Madden asked.
“No. You’re busy. You’re building a life, a business. But it’s different. You’ve been gone for years.”
Madden winced. “Does that make it better?”
“Damn it,” Dax said, squeezing the bridge of his nose. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just, Pops and I got into a good routine while you were overseas. When you came back to Cloud Valley, you never moved back in with us. It’s been him and me against the world for a long time.”
“Do you think that’s what he wants? For you to give up happiness with Vanessa—or anyone else—so you’re home with him every night?”
He squirmed under Madden’s unflinching stare, hating the mirror being held in front of his face. “No.”
“Do you think he wants to feel like a burden to his kids?” Madden pressed on.
“No, but he’s not. I love spending time with the old geezer.”
The side of Madden’s mouth lifted. “That doesn’t mean he’s the only one you should spend time with.
And, honestly, even without Vanessa, you’ve been busier than usual.
Your horse training has picked up and you’re taking on more responsibility at Sunrise Security.
He’s home alone quite a bit. He needs someone there.
A friend. Someone to keep him company and just to look out for him a little. ”
“I guess I never looked at it like that.”
“Maybe that’s because you never gave me the chance to actually have this conversation.”
Dax reclaimed the seat he’d abandoned and stared at Walter. “Let’s hope we didn’t have it too late.”
“He’s a tough old bird,” Madden said, sitting back down beside Dax. “No way he’s done with us yet. When he’s out of here, we’ll all discuss the best way to move forward. That’s what we should have done all along. I’m sorry I put such a burden on your shoulders.”
A little of the guilt eating away at him dissipated, replaced by shame and regret. “You were right about me acting like a dick earlier. I don’t know what came over me. I was drowning in self-blame and fear and… I really made a mess of things.”
“Yeah, Lily said it was pretty bad. You need to talk to Vanessa.”
“If she’ll talk to me after how I acted. Damn it. I just sent her with Ben and didn’t even tell her good luck. She must think I’m a total jerk.”
“Well, now she’s like the rest of us, but we all still love ya.”
The gravelly sound of his father’s voice shot him and Madden out of their seats.
Relief loosened the tension tying Dax up in knots. “Pops, you’re awake.”
Walter coughed, cringing with his eyes closed another beat before opening them again. “From the sound of it, good thing I am. Now I can slap you upside the head for screwing up already with that nice Kemp girl.”
Emotion pressed against Dax’s sinus cavity, and he struggled to keep from crying. If his dad could already joke, he’d be just fine. “Madden already did that. I’ll fix it. I promise.”
“What are you waiting for?” Walter asked. “Call the girl.”
Chuckling, he grabbed his phone and saw the text message he’d missed from her.
He let out a long breath. She must be willing to at least hear him out.
Either that or she wanted to give him a piece of her mind, which he more than deserved.
“She and Ben are on their way here. I’ll let them know you’re awake. ”
He brought up her contact information and hit the call button. The line rang in his ear until her voicemail message picked up.
“Weird. She didn’t answer.”
“I’ll try Ben,” Madden said.
Dax double-checked the time stamp on the text message. They should have arrived by now. While Madden dialed Ben, he tried Vanessa again. When voicemail picked up, he disconnected. “Still nothing.”
“Ben’s not answering either,” Madden said. “That’s unlike him. Especially when he’s on the job.”
Dax cringed. Vanessa was more than just a job. She was the woman he cared about, who he’d fallen head over heels for then tossed aside as soon as another hardship swept in to demand his attention.
“Something’s wrong. I can feel it. No way they both wouldn’t answer their phones.”
Madden frowned. “Maybe they’re in the waiting room. They could have arrived when I walked back here.”
“Pops, I’ll be back.” Praying his brother was right, Dax sprinted down the wide hall to the waiting area.
Lily stood when she saw him. “Is everything okay?”
“No, I can’t get ahead of Vanessa, and Ben’s not answering his phone. Have you seen them? She texted to let me know they were on their way. They should be here by now.”
Lily shook her head. “No. They’re not here.”
Dread curdled in his stomach, and he fought the urge to be sick.
Vanessa had been in danger since the minute she’d driven into town, and he’d sent her away without hesitation.
He might accept that his father’s fall wasn’t his fault, but if something happened to Vanessa, there was no way to escape the blame.
* * *
Mud smothered the windows, blocking Vanessa’s view as the vehicle continued sliding.
Her body jostled with each bounce, each bump, as it barreled downward.
With the truck on its side, she hung in the air, tossed around like a rag doll.
Images of the steep drop-off she’d viewed on the way up the mountain nearly paralyzed her with fear.
“Ben!” she yelled again.
Nothing.
A sudden thud stopped the vehicle and sent her flying forward.
The seat belt cut into her skin. She braced herself against the dashboard as her bones rattled.
The truck stopped, but the sound of raining rocks and mud beating against the outside of the vehicle continued.
She couldn’t see what had pinned them in place, but it didn’t matter.
She had to get out of there and find help.