Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
“ S ophie’s being taken to the county hospital.”
Reid clutched his cellphone and tried to comprehend the words Sheriff Decker Carson had just spoken, but his brain couldn’t. He removed his arm from around Sunny and got up from the couch. “What do you mean she’s been taken to the hospital?”
Sunny jumped up and stared at him. “Sophie’s hurt?”
He didn’t answer her. He was too focused on Decker’s reply.
“The ambulance is leaving the crash site now.”
Crash site? Reid felt like his heart dropped to his feet as fear knifed through him. “Is she okay?”
“She’s conscious, but pretty banged up.” Decker hesitated. “She was asking for you.”
“I’m on my way.” He hung up and headed straight for the door, thankful that earlier he and Sunny had made the trek to the Holidays and gotten his truck. Sunny hurried after him.
“What happened?”
Exactly what he’d been worried was going to happen. But he’d let Sunny talk him out of calling the police or going after her. He’d let her convince him that Sophie had just taken a little harmless joyride and would be back anytime. But it looked like Sophie hadn’t just gone on a harmless joyride. She’d gotten in an accident on the highway.
A serious accident.
He ignored Sunny’s question and got in his truck. He wasn’t in the mood for company, but she hopped into the passenger seat before he could stop her. Which wasn’t a good thing. When they passed the site of the accident and he saw Sunny’s totaled car being hooked to a tow truck, his composure snapped and fear had him lashing out in anger.
“Why would you leave your keys in your car? What the hell were you thinking?”
Sunny looked over at him in stunned shock. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would steal my car on the Holiday Ranch.”
“Why would you think that when you witnessed firsthand Sophie stealing my truck?”
“Sophie wasn’t there. If she had been, I wouldn’t have been there.”
He looked back at the road. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been.”
He knew it was a hurtful thing to say, but it was the truth. Sunny shouldn’t have been there. If she hadn’t been, Sophie wouldn’t be in the hospital right now. Of course, it wasn’t Sunny’s fault as much as his. He had worked so hard to get where he’d gotten with Sophie and he’d thrown it all away because he couldn’t keep his pants up.
And now Sophie was the one who would pay.
He fisted the steering wheel and tried to get a grip on his fear. “Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be blaming you. Not when it’s my fault. I was the one who started this. But you need to know that I can’t be the type of person who shirks his responsibilities just for a cheap thrill.”
“A cheap thrill?”
He glanced over at her. “Come on, Sunny. That’s all I was to you and you know it. You’ve made it perfectly clear you aren’t the type of woman who likes commitments. Are you saying that has changed?”
She stared at him for only a moment before she looked away, her lips pressed in a firm line. “You’re right. A cheap thrill was all it was.”
He didn’t know why her words hurt so much—especially when he had handed them to her on a silver platter. Maybe because he’d hoped she’d deny them and say she was staying. He should have known better. Sunny was a free spirit. No man would ever be able to hold her in one place. Not even her beloved brother could.
She had warned him about not being able to commit. And yet, he still couldn’t stay away from her. He now understood how his sister and mama had fallen for men who couldn’t commit. Sunny had his father’s carefree attitude about life. Maybe that was what had attracted him all along.
He’d been looking for his father’s love.
The pain of that epiphany mixed with his fear for Sophie had him spending the rest of the drive to the hospital in silent misery. Once there, a woman at the front desk of the emergency wing directed him to a room.
Reid didn’t realize Sunny wasn’t following him until he reached the room and glanced back to see her standing by the front desk, looking heartbreakingly sad. He knew her sadness had more to do with Sophie than the end of whatever they’d had together. He looked at her for one brief moment longer before he pulled his gaze away and walked into the room.
If he had thought he felt guilty before, it was nothing compared to what he felt when he saw Sophie lying in bed looking bruised and battered. Her face had multiple cuts and she wore a neck brace.
Emotion swelled in his chest.
He didn’t know how it had happened, but he loved this ornery teen. He loved her as much as he’d loved her mama.
“Hey, Soph.”
She jerked her gaze from the nurse who was adjusting her IV. Her eyes, eyes just like his, welled with tears. He didn’t hesitate to walk over and carefully pull her into his arms.
She melted against him and started to sob. “I’m—so—sorry, Uncle—Reid.”
He kissed the top of her head. “No, I’m sorry. I screwed up. But I’m not going to screw up again. I promise, Soph. I won’t screw up again.”
Thankfully, Sophie’s x-rays came back showing no broken bones or internal injuries. The cuts on her face from the flying glass didn’t even need stitches and when the doctor removed the neck collar, Sophie had no problems moving her head.
She was lucky, especially after hearing the details of the accident. She had been trying to pass a truck pulling a trailer hauling hay. When she’d seen a car coming in the opposite lane, she’d pulled back too quickly and clipped the bumper of the hay trailer. She’d spun out of control and hit a utility pole, causing the car to barrel-roll.
It was a miracle she had survived with only a few scratches and bruises.
Once she got her clean bill of health from the doctor and was released, Reid’s concern turned more to anger. He planned to give her a piece of his mind as soon as they were in his truck. But his plans had to wait. When they stepped into the lobby, he discovered it overflowing with Holidays and Remingtons.
Mimi, Darla, and the Holiday sisters clustered around Sophie, giving her hugs and words of sympathy, while the men showed their concern with gentle pats on Sophie’s back and hearty thumps on Reid’s. He could tell Sophie felt as overwhelmed as he did. She started to cry while he graciously thanked everyone for coming.
Or not everyone.
There was someone obviously missing.
He couldn’t help the disappointment that settled in his stomach as he looked around for Sunny. Of course, he couldn’t blame her for not being there. Especially after the way he’d talked to her. He had let his fear turn him into some kind of raving lunatic. He wanted to call her and take back all the things he’d said to her, but then realized it was probably for the best if he just left things the way they were. Even if she wasn’t leaving now, she would leave eventually. Starting something up with her was just a dead end road.
On the way home, he started to give Sophie a stern lecture, but when he glanced over at her, he couldn’t do it. Not when she looked like she’d been through hell. He figured postponing the conversation for another day wouldn’t be bad parenting. So once they got back to the trailer, he made her favorite frozen pizza and they ate it on the couch as they watched Patsy Cline do her obstacle course around the trailer.
After they finished eating, he collected their plates and took them to the kitchen. “You should probably go to bed, Soph. It’s been a long day and you need to get some rest.” He knew he needed sleep. He felt completely drained—both physically and emotionally.
She brought her glass to the sink. “Do I have to go to school tomorrow? Everyone will be talking about what happened and how stupid I am.”
It looked like they were going to have this conversation after all.
He shut off the water and dried his hands before he leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. “What you did was stupid. And reckless and immature and irresponsible. You endangered, not only your life, but others’. You’re lucky no one was seriously injured . . . or dead. And when you finally prove to me that you’re mature and responsible enough to get your license and drive—which isn’t going to be anytime soon—you’ll have to get a job and pay for your own insurance. With this accident on your records, it won’t be cheap.”
She looked down at the floor and nodded solemnly. “I know. You probably hate me for embarrassing you in front of the entire town.”
He lifted her chin and looked in her teary eyes. “I don’t hate you, Soph. I love you.” He’d failed to tell his sister how much he loved her before she passed. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake with Sophie. And he wasn’t just going to tell her. He was going to show her.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close.
Tears soaked into his T-shirt. “I love you too, Uncle Reid. I’m sorry for how I acted. Not just the accident, but for running away like a little kid when I saw you and Sunny.”
He really didn’t want to have this discussion, but he knew he had to. “I’m sorry you saw . . . what you saw. I don’t want you thinking that it’s okay to sleep around with people. Because it’s not. You should wait to share that with someone you really care about.”
She drew back, her eyes confused. “So you don’t care about Sunny?”
He’d stepped into that one. “I do care about Sunny. But last night was just . . .” Anything but a cheap thrill. At least for him. It had been the most amazing night of his life. He cleared his throat. “It just happened.”
“So you aren’t going to marry her?”
“Marry her? Why would you think that?”
“Because it’s obvious you really like her. You were so sad before and then Sunny showed up and you weren’t sad anymore. She makes you happy. And I wasn’t upset y’all were having sex.” She swallowed hard before she continued. “I was upset because I thought if y’all got married, there wouldn’t be any room in your life for me.”
Reid stared at her. “Why would you ever think that, Soph? You’re my family. There will always be room in my life for you.”
She stared at him. “Mama was your family too and you cut her out of your life.”
He heaved a sigh. “You’re right. I did. And I was wrong. Your mama was . . .” He searched for the right word. Sophie found it first.
“Chaotic?”
He smiled. “Yes. And I have never much cared for chaos. I wanted my life to be nice and neat and calm. I thought if I bought a ranch and lived out in the middle of nowhere with nothing for company but cattle and horses, I could avoid all the drama that comes with people and relationships. But then your mama called. And yes, it was painful to watch her die, but I wouldn’t trade those last few months we had together for all the ranches in Texas.” He reached out and tweaked her nose. “Nor would I trade you.”
“Even though I’m chaotic too?”
“You’re a teenager who just lost her mama and is stuck with a clueless uncle who doesn’t know the first thing about being a good parent. I think it’s understandable that you feel a little chaotic.”
She grinned. “You might have been clueless to begin with, but I think you’re doing an okay job now.”
He laughed. “Thanks. Now you need to go get ready for bed—just in case you change your mind and want to go to school.”
She started to turn, but then stopped. “It’s okay if you have sex with Sunny, Uncle Reid.”
His face heated. “Well . . . I don’t think we need to talk about that.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a kid. I can talk about sex. And you don’t need to worry about me running out and having sex with some boy just because you and Sunny do. I’ve figured out I’m not ready for that. But you’re old and old people should have healthy sexual relationships. It would be weird if you didn’t.” She hesitated. “If you ever wanted to marry Sunny, that would be okay with me too. I like her.”
Reid didn’t know why that made him feel like crying.
“I don’t think me and Sunny are going to work out. She’s not the marrying type. But maybe this old man can find someone else to date so his niece doesn’t think he’s weird.”
“They won’t be as much fun as Sunny.”
No, they wouldn’t be. No one was as much fun as Sunny. She was a light.
A light that couldn’t be held.
Once Sophie went to bed, Reid took a long, hot shower and then headed to his own room. He hadn’t been in it since that morning and seeing the sex-rumpled sheets was a sucker punch. All the images of the night before flooded back and he didn’t know how long he stood there staring at the bed before he shook himself and headed to the dresser to get a pair of boxers. On the way, he noticed the kitchen chair . . . and the sketchpad beneath.
Part of him wanted to take a peek inside and the other part wanted to burn it. Maybe he’d do both. Take a peek and then burn it. But when he opened it and saw the sketch Sunny had drawn of him, he was the one who felt burned. It wasn’t the obvious talent of the artist that took his breath away. It was the subject that left him feeling blindsided.
Reid almost didn’t recognize the man staring back at him. This man wasn’t a lone cowboy who avoided people and chaos. The man sketched on the paper looked like a man who lived life to the fullest. You could see it in the mischievous twinkle in his eyes and the slight tilt of his lips that he wasn’t the type of man who planned everything and worried about what tomorrow would bring. He was a relaxed, carefree man who lived for the moment.
The type of man who easily laughed . . . and easily loved.
Love shone from his eyes like a beacon.
Seeing that love so blatantly illustrated completely broadsided Reid. This was how Sunny viewed him? This was the man she saw when she looked at him? Or maybe this was the man he became when she was with him.
A better man.
He was still trying to process everything when his cellphone rang. He didn’t realize how much he wanted it to be Sunny until his heart dropped with disappointment when he saw Corbin’s name on the screen. He thought about not answering it. But then realized he had to. Corbin was his boss.
“Hey, Mr. Whitlock. Is there a problem at the ranch?”
“No. There’s another problem I’d like to discuss. Can you come over to my house?”
“Sure. I’ll be right there.”
It didn’t take him long to get dressed and drive to Corbin and Belle’s house. Corbin was waiting for him on the front porch. Which made Reid feel more than a little uneasy.
As soon as he stepped onto the porch, Corbin nodded at a chair. “Have a seat.”
Reid sat down. “If this is about Sophie wrecking Sunny’s car, I have already turned it over to my insurance and they said they’d take care of everything.”
“It’s not about Sunny’s car, Reid.” Corbin hesitated. “It’s about her heart.”
All Reid could do was stare at him. “Her heart?”
Corbin studied him. “I’d like to know why, today at the hospital, Sunny was so upset.”
“I’m sure she was just concerned about Sophie.”
“I thought the same until we found out Sophie was just fine and Sunny still looked like she had every time our parents dumped us off on another relative.” He stared Reid down. “Like someone she loves didn’t love her enough to want to keep her. I figured that someone was you when she raced off to the bathroom as soon as you and Sophie stepped into the lobby.”
Just the thought of Sunny loving him made his stomach feel like he’d just been tossed from a horse and was freefalling. Of course, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. “She doesn’t love me.”
“Are you sure about that? People think Sunny is just a frivolous carefree young woman who does things on a whim. But that’s not true. Before she makes any decision, she considers all the repercussions. Mostly because she doesn’t want her actions to hurt anyone. I’m sure she thought about painting the t on the Nothin’ But Muffins sign for weeks before she actually did it. She wouldn’t randomly fall in bed with a man—especially the foreman of my ranch and a young girl’s guardian—unless she had strong feelings.”
“But she’s leaving.”
Corbin smiled sadly. “Of course, she is. That’s how she protects her heart. She leaves before someone can leave her.”
It was like a huge light bulb went on in Reid’s head. He had thought the sketch Sunny had drawn that morning was of a man who could love. That was true. But Sunny wouldn’t have seen that love unless she’d been looking for it. Unless she loved him as much as he loved her.
“Holy shit,” he whispered. “Sunny loves me.”
Corbin sighed. “I think that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Reid didn’t know what to do with the revelation. He felt stunned and overwhelmed . . . and completely unworthy. “But how could she love me? I mean she could get anyone she wants.”
Corbin sent him a pointed look. “I think all Sunny wants is to be loved by someone who won’t ever let her go.”
Reid had done just the opposite. He was so upset about Sophie that he’d pushed Sunny away. When things got tough, he’d abandoned her without a backward glance. Just like he had done to his sister. Obviously, Sunny wasn’t the only one who pushed people away because they were scared of getting hurt.
“Shit.” He rested his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. “I’m such an idiot. I was so busy guarding my own heart that I didn’t realize I was breaking hers.”
“So you love her?”
He lowered his hands and looked at Corbin. “Yes. I love her. But I think it might be too late to prove it after how I treated her.”
“I thought the same thing with my wife, but I found out that it’s never too late to prove you love someone. Although, after all Sunny’s been through, it might take declaring your love on a New York Times Square billboard to get her to believe you.”
A Times Square billboard?
Reid smiled. “I think I might know of something that would work even better.”
All he needed was paint . . . and the nerve to take a step on the wild side.