Birdie
God, I needed to wake up. Wake up out of this dream filled with dark, numb, nothingness.
It was wrong. My life was bright. My body normally felt good, and strong. Right now, I felt detached from everything…and I knew something was wrong.
Was I at work? That same welcoming sting of antiseptic that had become a comforting smell in my career was making my stomach ache.
I felt awful. Whatever had happened, I must have been put into wet concrete, because that’s how heavy my body felt. I wasn’t even sure if I could feel my hands and feet…
Focus. I could tell someone was near me. Pressing down on my arm. Did they have their head by me? Hair tickled across my skin…
I forced my body to listen to me. Just one eyelid. I only needed to move one eyelid, and then I’d know who was beside me. What awful thing had happened to me.
On my second attempt, I did it. My lashes fluttered, and muted light streamed into my eye. For a moment, it was too much, and I had to force my body to listen to my command to blink. But slowly, things came into focus.
And I was right. Someone was lying next to my arm. I tried to clear my throat; the noise was barely there, but it was enough to startle him.
Beau.
“Chickadee.” My name was nothing more than a whisper of disbelief on his lips. He looked tired. There were days’ worth of stubble on his face, dark circles under his eyes.
“Cowboy…” I licked my lips. They were cracked. Aching. Before I could try to form the words, his hand was in front of me, a cup with a straw being brought to my lips.
The water was room temperature, but it might as well have been directly from a glacier with how my body reacted to it. I felt the liquid run from my mouth all the way to my stomach.
“It’s water from the springs. I’ve had Ma or someone else in the family bring it down every day, for when you were strong enough to finally have some. Ma says it can keep for a few days, but I wanted it fresh.”
“You don’t believe—”
“No. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t some truth to it. And I’d sell my soul for a handful of healing dirt straight from the North Pole if it had even the slightest chance of bringing you back to me.”
“No dirt.” I smiled, my dry lips cracking from the sudden movement. “Where am I?”
“The ICU at Dallas Gen.”
I looked around the room. “My mom? Lainey?”
“Lainey’s been here. She was hysterical the first time. I had Colt drive her home once we knew you’d made it out of surgery. She’s been back every day. But visiting hours…only one person could stay.”
I closed my eyes and tried to nod. “Greg?”
“No. That asshole hasn’t been with her.”
“My mom?” I asked again.
“I called her. Left a message telling her what happened.” His eyes told me everything I needed to know. “She hasn’t called back. Lainey tried, too.”
I felt a tear slip out and run down my cheek before a calloused finger was there, wiping it away.
“But Mom and Dad have been here every day. Same with Hayes, Colt, Vi, Jessie, and Hawk. Nate’s even been here a few times. We’re rotating the kids around as best we can.”
His hand came up and brushed some of my hair off my face. “Do you remember what happened?”
I nodded, an unfamiliar feeling of tightness in my neck and shoulder.
“You’re so fucking lucky, Birdie. I’m so fucking lucky. I don’t know what you were thinking…jumping in front of me like that, but don’t you ever do that again. I protect you. That’s my job. That’s my privilege. I die for you. You live for me.”
“Couldn’t let Juniper grow up without her dad,” I whispered.
“Fuck that. She’s not losing another mom. I’m always going to make damn sure of that.”
“Is she okay?”
He nodded. “Ma brought her down today so I could see her, but I didn’t want her around the germs for too long. And I asked, but they wouldn’t let her into the ICU.”
“How many days?”
“You were shot four days ago. Surgery took a long time, and then you were here. I thought I might never get to see those beautiful blue eyes of yours. Never get to hear that beautiful voice say my name ever again.”
He rested his head back down on my leg before pressing his lips against the fabric keeping me warm.
And when his eyes met mine again, I saw the tears shimmering against his lashes.
“You woke up yesterday for the first time, but you didn’t say anything.
Just tried to focus your eyes a few times, and then went back to sleep. ”
I blinked back the searing heat of tears as I lifted my hand, brushing away the droplets that ran down his face.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Beau.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You were being exactly the woman I’ve loved my whole life.
Strong. Protective. Giving every last bit of yourself to take care of those you love.
But maybe—just for a while until my heart doesn’t feel like it’s about to fucking crumble in my chest—you can let me be all those things for you. ”
I touched the ladybug closest to me on his arm. “I can do that.”
“She’s doing okay?” I asked Jessie. It had been three days since I really woke up.
I was enjoying my first day in my regular patient hospital room.
No more ICU for me. Which was good. Two or three more days, a few more pokes and prods, and proving I could get around okay with my sutures and my arm in a sling, and I’d be breaking free from this hospital.
I couldn’t wait to get home and cuddle Juniper.
“She’s great.” Hawk chuckled.
“You’re sure? Because I’m trying to get Beau to go home, just for the night, but he’s refusing.”
“I’m not leaving your side, Chickadee. You can chirp at me all you want.
It’s not happening.” His hand was back on my head, running over my hair.
The man had brushed it for what felt like hours, spraying in dry shampoo before pulling it low into my favorite braids.
I always loved that brand of dry shampoo, but as soon as it was in the air, it overwhelmed me.
I couldn’t smell him anymore, and it felt like the ground had shifted beneath my feet.
I managed to stay calm until he climbed back into bed with me, but I was sure he was going to ask me why the hell I suddenly became so clingy. He didn’t, of course. Because he was truly okay with just being there for me, however I needed him to be.
“They’re going to release me in a few days,” I whined. “You can go be with her. Come back to me in the morning.”
“Our daughter will want both of us there when we come home. She’s in good hands right now. Right, Jess?”
Jessie nodded. “Juniper is absolutely fine. The most important thing is that you are here, getting better, so you can get home one day soon.”
“But she has to be missing her dad.” I knew my arguing wasn’t going to get me anywhere.
And I was grateful. Although I was healing better than anyone expected, I still felt weak.
And I knew that Beau had clocked that so fast. There was no way he’d leave my side again, but I had to try for Juniper.
I couldn’t help but feel like I’d stolen such precious time from them being together.
“Stop. I can see the guilt literally steaming out the top of your head right now.” Beau sighed, picking up my black and blue hand, pressing his lips lightly over my skin.
The nurses removed my IV earlier in the morning, and I was almost off of all monitoring.
It was starting to feel like after a very long week, we were actually going to make it to the other side of things.
“I think she’s missing both of us. Her mom and dad.
But Jessie’s right. The priority right now is on you being healed enough to go home. ”
“And trust me when I say she is in good hands.” Jessie shook her head and rolled her eyes. “When we dropped her and Beckett off with Vi and Colt, she was giggling and drooling up a storm, watching Connor bump into everything with his new walker. I’m sure she’s having a blast with her cousins.”
A sharp knock sounded at the door, and I moved my head to see who was there.
“Can we help you?” Beau gently removed his arm from around me and stood, positioning himself between the mysterious man and my hospital bed.
“I’m looking for Bernadette Calloway. I was told this was her room.” His eyes never lifted from my face.
The stranger held out his hand, but Beau simply crossed his arms over his chest and stared him down. “Who are you?”
“I’m Rory Buchanan.”
Buchanan…Just hearing the name again set me on edge. The heart rate monitor beeping picked up. Beau looked over his shoulder at me, and I tried to give my best ‘I’m okay’ stare.
“Sorry, I’m not following,” I admitted. “But I’m Birdie. You’re looking for me, why?”
“Birdie.” He nodded, as if he agreed my nickname suited me better. “I am so sorry for what’s happened.”
“Are you…related to him?”
“I…am. My family and I learned a few days ago what my brother and mother did. We don’t have the words to say how sorry we are. I’ve been in town trying to get everything settled with Ellianna’s custody. Now that it’s wrapped up, I was hoping we could speak before I take her back to Montana.”
“Alexis’s daughter?” I asked. “You’re going to take custody of her?”
“I’m her uncle.” He nodded. “And it seems Alexis’s family doesn’t have an interest in stepping up.”
“Why did you want to speak with Birdie?” Beau asked.
“Because I can’t believe what he’s done. What he’s taken from this world. I feel responsible as his family to make it right. Our father wants to make sure that whatever damages you may seek against him are all settled outside of the estate, as well.”
“Estate?” Hawk asked.
Rory nodded. “My family has a large ranch in Montana, over one hundred and ten thousand acres, where we run our cattle ranching operation from. We is a loose term—I’m not a part of that operation, so I can’t speak to anything beyond what I know just from growing up there, but my father is aware of what Sawyer’s actions could bring against the estate and our land holdings.
Even if he and our mom have been estranged from our family for years. ”
Rory held out the blue folder in his hand to Beau.
“The estate’s lawyers have outlined a tentative agreement between…
Birdie…and the Buchanan estate. A good faith effort to close any civil actions Ms. Calloway might take against my brother or my family in seeking coverage for the damages she incurred. ”
“She almost died,” Beau seethed, his fingers gripping the folder so tightly I could see the pages inside bending under the force.
“And I think you’ll see numbers inside of that document outline our understanding of the severity of everything Birdie has been through because of my brother.”
“Please, stop talking about me like I’m not here,” I groaned. Jessie took a step closer to my bed, her hand squeezing my ankle.
“Chickadee…”
“He’s not his brother, Beau. And I appreciate that he’s here. Let me see those papers.”
“It’s not something you have to look through today, or even get back to me about right away.
We understand you’re recuperating, and are beyond thankful for that.
The offer is made in good faith until you are ready to move forward formally one way or another.
Like I mentioned, I am not affiliated with my family’s business any longer, but I did nudge them in the right direction on several of the points outlined.
If you have any questions, or you’d like to counteroffer, my information is inside the folder.
My father has given me discretion to discuss things on his behalf. ”
“Thank you,” I managed to say, swallowing around the nerves as the folder grew heavier in my hands.
“I’ll leave you to look things over. There isn’t any time pressure, Birdie. We know it’s going to take time to recover and process what happened. All my family asks is that before you take any legal or public actions, you give us the opportunity to make things right in private.”
I nodded, unable to form a sentence. Rory extended his hand to Beau, who returned the gesture. “I truly am so sorry for what my brother did. To you. To Alexis. To my niece…”
“You’re really taking her back to Montana with you?” I whispered.
Rory nodded. His hands raked through his hair and for a moment, I saw through the calm exterior.
I saw the sadness in his eyes. The same worry that filled Beau’s face the night he met Juniper.
“I own a bar, back in Goldfinch Falls. Live above it. I honestly have no idea how I’ll make it work, but I will.
She deserves the best life. And I’m going to do everything I can to right the wrongs of my brother. ”
“You’ll do right by her,” I said, feeling the smile grow on my face as Beau looked at me. “I have a good sense of outcomes when fatherhood is dropped on someone’s lap. You’ll be just fine.”
Rory’s eyes went wide for a second before he smiled back at me. “Thank you.”
As Rory left the room, I felt the weight of everyone’s glare resting back on me. “Jeepers, guys. I’m really not that interesting.”
“No,” Hawk smirked, “but that envelope in your hands is.”
“Hawk!” Jessie’s hand landed sharply on his arm. “That’s their business, not ours.”
“It’s fine. I’m curious to see what it says, too.” I slipped my finger under the glued edge, popping open the flap before several pieces of paper came out and laid in front of me.
I wasn’t a lawyer, and some of the words on the first page were confusing, but when my eyes landed on a dollar sign with several zeros after it, I couldn’t hold in my shock.
“What does it say?” Jessie gasped as I dropped my head and closed my eyes.
“They’re going to cover all of my medical expenses.”
“As they should,” Beau grumbled.
“And…”
“And?” His eyes met mine the instant I found the strength to open them.
“And, they’ve offered me a settlement if I agree to not seek further damages.”
“How much?” Jessie asked.
“Thirty-five million dollars,” I whispered.
“What?” Beau choked as he grabbed the papers from my hand. “Oh my God. Holy shit. That doesn’t seem real.”
“It’s got to be. The Buchanan Group is the sole owner of Whispering Winds Ranch in Goldfinch Falls. They’re worth billions. I knew that last name sounded familiar.” Hawk slipped his hand over Jessie’s.
“We’ve driven by that ranch a bunch when we go up to visit Nash and Lacy.” Jessie’s eyes went wide. “Holy shit, Birdie. What are you going to do?”
Lord, help me. “I’m going to work on getting discharged, and back home to Juniper.
I’m going to figure out what the hell life is supposed to look like now that I never want to step foot inside a hospital again.
And I’m going to try to find a way to honor Alexis, too.
Because no matter what anyone says, there was more I could have done for her. This offer doesn’t change any of that.”