Chapter 51
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
Wilder
The weariness I was feeling was bone deep, but that was what happened when you’d barely slept for seven nights straight because your girlfriend was in the hospital.
It would have been three or four, but Tally spiked a fever when her wound got infected.
I was ready to pull her out of there and put her in a facility that knew how to keep their patients safe.
Nash brought me down off the ledge, though, and said it was just one of those things that could happen anywhere.
It seemed, however, me and Tally’s mom were on the same wavelength.
As soon as she’d been told what had happened she did, as the guys said, suggested getting air lifted from their cruise.
Having talked her down she instead called the hospital every single day.
When Tally got the infection she insisted that she be moved to somewhere cleaner. Liam took charge of that call.
However, it didn’t matter any longer, Tally was now home, on her sofa free of the antiseptic smell that seemed to cling to you. Propped up with pillows and covered in a thick wool blanket that she was complaining was too warm.
“Don’t care, Brownie,” I told her, standing in front of her with my arms folded over my chest. “You’re keeping it on.”
“I’m fine, Wilder. I have no fever, and the doctor said my wound is healing nicely.” She lifted her arm which was now in a bright pink plaster cast, which had replaced the temporary blue one she’d originally had. She hated it. “The only thing holding me back from going back to work is this.”
“No fucking way.” I pointed at her. “You are not going back to work until that is out of the plaster. Dr. Bruce said if your physical therapy goes well that could be six weeks instead of eight. But, until then, you stay here on this damn sofa.”
“You’re not the boss of me. Gunner is and if he says he’s happy for me to go back to work, even if it’s in the office to help Ruth, then I will.
” I bit back the smile that the determined jut of her chin elicited and listened as she continued to rant.
“And you are not driving me to physical therapy, I can manage with one hand and if I can’t I’ll get an Uber.
You need to go back to work, you can’t rely on everyone else, and now you’re a man down since Glenn…
well we all know what happened with Glenn. If you think that I’m going to sit—”
“Damn it, Brownie, you talk far too much.”
With one hand on the back of the sofa, the other fisting into the seat cushion, I took her mouth with mine, encouraging her to open up.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed kissing her until her taste flooded my tongue, until her fingers dug into my neck playing with the hair at the nape.
As I increased the intensity of the kiss, her fingernails started to scratch, her fingertips grabbing and pulling at the ends.
My dick started to go hard, and I knew I had to pull the plug.
“No,” she whined as I pushed off the sofa. She grabbed the front of my t-shirt. “I need you, honey. Please.”
“Nuh uh. Not for a while.”
“And how long is a while?” She pouted. “It better not be until I get this cast off. That’s going to be weeks, maybe even months.”
“Be glad you didn’t have to have pins or a cage, that it was a clean break.
” She was damn lucky that Petey hadn’t trampled her and shattered the bone.
The doctor felt it was more likely the fall that had caused the fracture than Petey.
A shiver ran down my spine every time I thought about the what ifs. If I’d lost her.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Tally asked, reaching up to cup my cheek.
I shook my head of the demons and my waking nightmare—images of that bull charging toward her, of almost losing everything that mattered. “Nothing, I’m good.”
“I’m okay. I promise.”
The sweet sound of her soft voice, the smell of burning wood mixed with the lavender of the essential oils that Felicia had sent over with a burner, all served to calm me. She was home. She was safe.
“I know, but it won’t stop me fussing and worrying, you know that, right?” I raised an eyebrow, daring her to argue. “And I will be putting you under house arrest until the time comes when you get that cast off.”
Tally’s mouth dropped open, but it was clear she was picking her battles because she quickly closed it.
“Now, what do you want for lunch?”
She looked me up and down and licked her lips.
Chuckling, I walked away. “Not happening, Brownie,” I called over my shoulder. “Besides, your brothers will be here soon, and I do not want them seeing anything that could get me punched.”
After lunch, Tally, the sneaky little minx, had gotten her eldest brother on side and persuaded us to take her to see Dream Maker.
I knew she was desperate, seeing how much she’d missed him after two days at Thanksgiving.
Cole was on my side, but just like the natural order of things at The Last Creek Ranch, the eldest brother’s opinion trumped everyone else’s.
Seeing the brilliant sunshine smile and the softness in her eyes, I was glad she’d persuaded us. It was just what she needed. Didn’t mean I was going to admit it or back down about her going back to work.
“He looks incredible, Talls,” Liam said, clearly proud of his sister as he scratched Dreamy’s ear. “Seems this ranch has been good for both of you.”
Tally’s eyes slid to mine. “Yeah, it’s not a bad place to live.” When Dreamy’s velvet nose nudged against her palm, she gave him a wondrous smile.
“Where’s Nate’s development?” Cole asked. “Or is that a sore subject?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Nate is a good guy. The development is on the South side of the ranch, about a mile from here. We can go and see it if you’d like.” My offer was tentative because there were dark circles around Tally’s eyes, and I’d noticed her stifle a couple of yawns.
“Next time if that’s okay.” Cole slapped Liam’s back. “We should go bro. We’ve got that meeting with the hotel group.”
“Is that not all sewn up?” Tally asked.
“It is but they’re talking about future developments and want to know what we can do.” Liam looked at Cole. “For some reason they want him to design it, too.”
“Told you I was good.” Cole chuckled and held out his hand to me. “Great to see you again, Wilder and thanks for taking care of Talls.”
“My absolute pleasure.” Wouldn’t have wanted to hand the responsibility over to anyone else.
“I’ll walk you back to the driveway,” I offered.
Liam shook his head. “No need. We can find our way. I think you need to take Talls to see the bull and then make her take a nap.”
My heart stuttered. “See Petey?”
“Yep. She needs to otherwise she’ll be scared the longer you leave it.”
“I am here you know.” Tally looked at me and took a deep breath. “He is right, though, I do need to.”
Gunner had moved him to the branding shed for the day.
Rose the vet was finally coming to check him out after having to attend an emergency the day she’d originally planned.
Gunner felt loading him into the branding alley so he was confined would be better if he did have anger problems. It would be a little more difficult for Rose, but at least she’d be safe.
“Okay,” I said on a swallow. “Let’s do it.”
And so, we said goodbye to Tally’s brothers and made our way over there. When we turned the corner, Rose was already giving his ears a check. Gunner was next to her, and Ray was standing by with the tranquilizer gun and it all felt too fucking scary.
“You sure you want to do this, Brownie?”
Tally stayed silent but nodded, so I took her hand and led her to the animal who just a week ago had almost killed her.
As we got closer, I heard her breath hitch, but she kept her stride steady. Kept her head held high, while my heart was hammering against my ribs like the tolling of a bell.
“Tally.” Gunner seemed surprised to see us, but he would have no idea that I was probably more petrified by the meeting than she was.
“How is he?” she asked, and I could feel the trepidation tremble through her body like a small earthquake.
“He seems okay,” Gunner replied. “But Rose thinks she knows why he charged.
Rose flicked her long dark hair over her shoulder and frowned. “I found a huge welt on his hind quarters. Looks like he was whipped hard with a branch or maybe even a belt.”
“Oh my God,” Tally gasped. “That’s awful. Poor Petey.”
Gunner and I looked at each other. He looked worried, whereas I was in damn awe of her. She was more concerned about the bull who’d nearly killed her.
“He’s going to be fine, sweetie,” Rose told her. “I’ve treated it with some ointment, but it’s no wonder he charged.” She gave Tally a soft smile, motherly and soft and I kind of envied her teenage sons having that kind of love every day.
“I knew he wasn’t bad. He let me feed him an apple just before.”
“I agree,” Rose added, moving to the front of Petey, shining a light in his eyes. He didn’t flinch, didn’t even bellow or kick out a leg. “He’s been a complete gent. Haven’t you baby?” She scratched his nose, and I was convinced I saw him wink, Rose’s gentle voice seeming to calm the massive beast.
“He’s like a different animal,” I breathed out.
Gunner put an arm around my shoulder. “She’s safe, Wild. She’s safe.”
He was right but I was having a hard time accepting it.
Later that evening, sitting on Tally’s back porch while she slept, I looked up at the sky and the stars like scattered diamonds against the darkness.
Finally, I was starting to feel some peace slip back into my limbs.
The tightness in my shoulders, the stiffness of my spine for the last week was gradually disappearing.
That fear would always be there, though, I was convinced of that.
I had been so close to losing everything I’d been gifted with.
“Wilder?”
I turned to see Tally standing in the doorway, she was wearing some fleece pajamas and had a wool blanket wrapped around her shoulders. I moved to stand but she put out a hand to stop me.
“No, stay. I want to sit with you.” She walked toward me, her eyes and smile full of sleep, and a hint of her jasmine perfume.
Moving my arms to the side of the rocker, I invited her onto my lap and when she curled up against my chest my breathing evened out. The wooden rocker creaked softly beneath us as her breath whispered warm against my neck.
“Are you cold?” I asked, wrapping the blanket tighter around her, tucking it under her bare feet even though her skin felt warmer than it had in days.
“No, are you?”
I was wearing a sweater and my shearling jacket, my feet pushed into a pair of boots, the laces loose. “No, not now you’re here.” She snuggled closer, the night carrying the scent of pine and the fresh mountain air. “Was just looking at the sky you love so much.”
Tally lifted her chin and looked up. “It’s more than sapphire tonight, it’s navy, don’t you think.” She turned to me. “Funny how I often have my happiest, most peaceful moments looking up at that sky with you.”
Fuck. How the hell did she do that? Slay me with simple words.
“My happiest moments are with you period, Brownie.” I kissed her softly, careful not to put my hand near her wound. I didn’t care what she said, her eyes told me she still felt pain. “Life is going to be great.”
“Once I’m divorced. Once Glenn gets what he deserves.”
I could feel the slight tremor of exhaustion in her body as she laid her heavy cast against my chest. I didn’t care because I would carry any weight for her. For however long she needed me to.
“His trial date is set for next month according to the sheriff and your lawyer said your divorce papers finally came through, so we’ll get the good, Brownie. I promise you.”
She sighed and traced my profile with a cool fingertip. “If I’m with you I know I will.”
I could have been King of the world and wouldn’t have felt prouder than I did at that moment. I could have worn a golden crown littered with the most precious jewels and it wouldn’t have been as priceless as sitting on a porch watching a sapphire ocean with my girl and us loving each other.