Rustlers and Romance [Saddle Creek 1] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 12

  A raspy holler came from inside. “I’m coming. Keep your gawl dern shirt on.”

  The door swung open. “Lauren? Chase? What are you two doing here? How come you young’uns aren’t at the dance?” Doc Stevens flipped the porch light on. “Oh, I see,” he said, taking a good look at her face. “Well, don’t keep standing there, come on in,” he said, stepping aside so they could enter. “Honey, why don’t you lie down on this exam table so I can take a peek?” He turned on the big, round, bright light above the table and moved in close with a magnifying lens. “Doesn’t look like any bones broken this time, but I bet there’ve been some in the past. Am I right?”

  “Yes.” She turned her head away when she answered.

  “No reason to be ashamed or embarrassed, sweetie. You didn’t do the hittin’, did you?”

  “No,” Lauren muttered and tried to smile.

  Doc examined her, looked in her eyes for pupil differences, and asked numerous questions about headaches, blurred vision, and other telltale symptoms of a concussion while he cleaned and sewed the gash left by Clint’s fist.

  “There you go,” he said as he cut the thread for the last stitch. “Now all we need is a bandage, and you’ll be all set.” He soaked sterile white gauze with antiseptic and taped it over her wound. “I’ll write a couple prescriptions for you, one for an antibiotic and the other for pain.” Doc sat and swiveled the round stool to face his desk. “You ought to start on them both right away. Since the pharmacy is closed for the night, I’ll give you some samples. They should last until you can get the prescriptions filled.

  “That’d be great, Doc. When do I get the stitches out?”

  “We’ll make an appointment in about seven to ten days for you to come back so we can see the results of my handiwork. My mama was the seamstress in the family, but I don’t think I did too bad. In the meantime, use ice to keep the swelling down.” He opened the door of a small refrigerator and handed her an ice pack. “Also, you should rest as much as you can. It’ll speed up the healing process. Any other questions for me?”

  Lauren shook her head. “Uh-uh.”

  “What about you, Chase? Any questions?”

  “Nope. Thanks for all your help, Doc, and please send me the bill.” He shook the doctor’s hand.

  “Take care of this one, now, and make sure she gets plenty of rest.” Doc opened the door for them and shook Lauren’s hand. “See you next week.”

  Chase held Lauren’s arm as they made their way to the truck.

  Chapter 20

  Lauren laid her head back on the headrest of the truck. Relief! The burden of Clint searching for her, and worse yet, of finding her, was finally lifted from her shoulders. It was over. She felt lighter than a feather as her fears melted away.

  She held an ice pack to her wounded, thumping-with-every-heartbeat eye and cheek, hoping the cold would work in conjunction with the pain medication and alleviate some of the aching. She glanced at her knight in shining armor.

  Chase’s strong, bruised-knuckled hands gripped the steering wheel securely. At least she wouldn’t have to run anymore. Chase had come to her rescue. She could still see Clint lying in the dirt with blood dripping from his nose. She smiled. Now she could relax and enjoy life.

  Taking a deep breath, the pine forest scent of Chase’s cologne permeated her nostrils. She wanted to snuggle up to him, to thank him for rescuing her, but she couldn’t make her sore body move.

  A car passed going in the opposite direction with its high beams on. She closed her uncovered eye in agonizing pain as a dreadful headache began pounding in her ears. She leaned her head against the window and concentrated on the hum of the tires on the road. She folded her hands in her lap and relaxed.

  When they reached the outskirts of Saddle Creek, Chase slowed and turned left into a motel parking lot. He parked and turned off the ignition.

  “We’re going to stay here tonight so you can get right into bed. That way, we can pick up your prescriptions in the morning, before we head back to the ranch. Stay here, and I’ll be right back to get you after I check us in.” He didn’t wait for her to question his plans. He just opened the door and got out.

  Lauren kept her eyes closed and her head against the window, thankful Chase had, once again, thought of her comfort. Her body ached and the medications hadn’t kicked in yet. She was glad they’d stopped for the night. The long drive would’ve been unbearable. She couldn’t wait to lie down on a real bed.

  When Chase had seen the motel, he made the quick decision to spend the night in town. He couldn’t stand to see Lauren in so much pain. She needed a soft bed and some rest. He’d been in a few bar fights himself, and knew all about the mind-numbing pain that followed. He could relate, and he wanted to make her as comfortable as possible.

  He secured a room and went back to get Lauren. “Okay, it’s time to get you into a nice, soft bed.” He helped her out of the truck.

  “Thank you, Chase. You are so thoughtful and I’m so tired and groggy. I want to lay down and go to sleep.”

  They slowly walked, arm in arm, to the motel room. He unlocked the door. The smell of stale cigarette smoke and mustiness assailed his nose as he glanced around. But the room looked clean enough.

  “Sorry about the accommodations. There were only two vacancies left, a single and a double, with all the ranchers in town for the spring fling, so I sweet-talked the grandma-looking lady into giving us the room with a queen-sized bed.” He turned down the bedcovers and helped her out of her dress. After she crawled under the sheets, he covered her with an extra blanket.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked as he pushed her hair off her face.

  “I’ve felt worse. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but it still hurts.” She stretched her arms above her head, then shivered and pushed them under the covers.

  He strode to the air conditioner unit under the window. “I’ll turn this off. We won’t need it on during the night anyway, since it’s cooled off quite a bit outside. Just keep the ice on your face and in the morning, you’ll feel a lot better. I’m going to call Amos and fill him in. I’ll be right back.”

  Amos answered the phone on the third ring. “I’m a little concerned about the herd tonight, boss. It’s a full moon, and even the barn animals are restless,” he replied when Chase told him he wouldn’t be home until the morning.

  “Keep the patrols alert, and I’ll talk to the sheriff. Maybe he can spare a deputy to stay on watch out there.” Chase disconnected the call and punched in Mitch’s number.

  “Sheriff, it’s Chase Montgomery. I was hoping you’d have a spare patrol out at the ranch tonight. I didn’t want to jostle Lauren around in the truck during the ride home, so I’m staying in town tonight and can’t be in two places at one time.”

  “I can probably arrange for someone to get out there, but can’t promise, and don’t know for sure when,” Sherriff Mitch told him.

  “Is that the best you can do? I want my horses back, damn it, and I’ve already spent a boatload of money on fence-line and extra men. I really need your help, now.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. Don’t worry, we’ll catch them,” Sheriff Mitch said right before he ended the call.

  Lauren was asleep when he stepped back into the motel room. Chase picked up her dress from the bed, shook the dirt off, and hung it over the back of a chair. He stared at her lying in bed, half-dressed, and just a few feet from him. He imagined what it would be like to sleep with her, to feel her soft skin, her body warmth, beside him all night. And her scent. Dear god in heaven! He loved the smell of her, so clean, yet fragrant.

  How will I make it through the night without touching her?

  She needed her rest, though, and he’d sleep on the floor if he couldn’t control himself. The more she slept, the less pain she’d have to endure while she healed from Clint’s brutal attack.

  He slid his jeans over his erection, and then steadied the rickety chair as he sat to take off his boots and socks
. On the way to the bathroom, he pulled his shirt over his head and threw it on top of the little desk. In the shower, the cold water sluicing down him did little to cool his overheated body. When he finished washing and drying off, he put his boxers back on, combed his hair with his fingers, and headed for bed. He put his cell phone on silent mode and set it on the bedside table.

  He slowly pulled the covers down on the other side of the bed and gently lay beside her. Lauren looked beautiful and peaceful. Her warmth penetrated the sheets between them. He wanted to pull her into his arms. Instead, he crossed his arms behind his head to keep them away from her and slowly drifted off to sleep.

  During the night, he awoke to find Lauren on her side and curled up against him, her hand resting on his chest. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. She moaned and grimaced.

  If only I could take the pain away. I’d do that for her—only for her.

  Why? Why would I be willing to do that for her and not Edie or any of the other women I’ve known? What’s so special about this woman that I’d take her pain from her in a heartbeat if I could?

  He didn’t know what love was, but he’d never felt like this before.

  Am I falling in love with Lauren?

  Chapter 21

  Lauren stirred. Chase opened his eyes to the early morning sunlight shining through the blinds. He looked at her beautiful face. Though marred on one side, she was as flawless to him as the day he’d met her at Rosie’s Diner. Her hand moved on his chest and played with a patch of hair. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer, ran his hand through her luxurious hair, and pushed it behind her ear. She groaned but didn’t open her eyes.

  “How are you feeling this morning, sleepyhead?” He caressed her arm.

  “I hurt all over. I know he only hit my face, but I must have landed hard on the ground.”

  “You need to rest and let your body heal. Even Doc said so.”

  “Uh-huh.” She moaned as she wiggled deeper into the blankets.

  “We’ll have to get up soon and start back to the ranch. I’ll go get your prescriptions at the drugstore while you get a hot shower. You’ll feel much better then, I’m sure.” He attempted to sit up, but she held him close.

  “Do we really have to go? Can’t we stay here another day or so?” She slowly opened her good eye and stared at him.

  “We can’t. We have to get back to the ranch. I haven’t heard from Amos yet this morning, and I’m hopin’ he’s got some good news for me. We need to find the missing horses before they get too far away.”

  “I know, but I’m so cozy and warm. I…well, it’s just that I feel so safe with you. You’re strong and masculine.” She raised her arms and yawned, and he gently moved away from her.

  He sat on the side of the bed while he put on his shirt. The flannel blue plaid did nothing to ease the chill he felt leaving the warmth of Lauren’s arms. Then he stood to pull on his jeans. He reached for his keys and cell phone from the nightstand and leaned over to kiss her. It was a soft kiss at first but quickly mounted into something much more. When she pulled him closer, he dropped his knee onto the bed, and braced his hands on either side of her head to keep him from falling on top of her.

  He gently broke the kiss when he felt his cell phone vibrate in his back jeans pocket. He fumbled to get the phone out and it dropped to the floor. He got down on his hands and knees and searched among the bed sheets. “Ah, here it is.” He stood beside the bed and glanced at his phone. “That was Amos. I need to call him back. I’ll go pick up your prescriptions, get us some breakfast, and make that call. Why don’t you get a hot shower and get dressed while I’m gone, okay?” He turned and walked out the door, then hurriedly stuck his head back inside the door. He winked at her and closed the door behind him as he headed for his truck.

  He called the old man on his way. “Amos, what’s goin’ on? Good news, I hope.”

  “Yes, sirree, boss! Turns out, the deputy on patrol pulled over a rig last night hauling some of your herd. Once they got arrested for rustlin’, they began to sing like canaries, and you’ll never guess who’s behind the whole outfit.”

  Chase exhaled a huge sigh of relief. “Who?”

  “Edie Benner. That li’l scoundrel paid those fellers to steal your herd to increase her own. Her gran-daddy didn’t even know a thing about it. She thought she’d somehow trick you into joinin’ the two ranches—and joinin’ up with her in other ways, if ya know what I’m a-sayin’.”

  “What? She thought that would make me do what?”

  “Join your ranch with Duffy’s. She did it for her gran-daddy, she says, but I’m sure she had other motives.”

  “I don’t have much of a herd left, do I?” He ran his hand through his hair as he stood beside his truck.

  “Well, boss, you’ll have more real soon. Sheriff says they know now where your stock is, and those brands’ll make it easy enough to bring your horses back.”

  “So it’s over then, huh?” He opened his truck door and jumped inside.

  “Sure sounds that a way. Can you believe it was that sneaky gal all along?”

  “Amos, when it comes to Edie, I could believe almost anything. Anyway, I gotta go. I don’t know about you, old man, but I’m in dire need of a good, strong cup of coffee.” Chase started the truck and put it in reverse.

  “Okay. I’ll talk at you later, boss.”

  “We should be there within two hours at the most. Is Mitch still out at the Jack by any chance? I’d like to talk to him if he is.”

  “I’ll pass that along. Maybe he can stick around.”

  “Thanks, Amos. See you then.” Chase backed the truck out, and turned toward the street. He knew where he could get a hot cup of coffee and some warm, sticky donuts to put a smile on Lauren’s face and headed in that direction.

  Lauren eased out of bed, grabbed her clothes off the nearby chair, and went to the bathroom. She stripped out of her underwear and stood under the shower, letting the hot water relax her stiffened muscles. Her face still hurt, despite the painkillers and ice the night before.

  She grabbed a towel and dried off, then leaned on the sink to study her face in the mirror. Bandages covered the stitches above and below her eye socket. They reached almost to her hairline. She had a large rainbow of colors on her face. The doctor had assured her there’d be no scars, but still—she touched her cheek gently. Well, maybe he was right.

  Her stomach growled. She blessed the Lord her jaw wasn’t wired shut as it had been before when Clint had beaten her within an inch of her life.

  She heard the door open and close.

  Chapter 22

  “Lauren, I’m back,” Chase yelled from the other room.

  “Okay, I’ll be right out.”

  She quickly dressed and stepped outside the bathroom. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee and pastries almost sent her to her knees.

  Chase stood at the table where he’d placed the bag of goodies beside two steaming cups of coffee. He studied her from head to toe. “You look refreshed.”

  “And you look happy, even cheerful. What’s up?”

  “I called Amos back.” He pulled out a chair for her and took the lids off both cups.

  Lauren didn’t know what smelled better, the hot coffee or the sugary aroma coming from the bakery bag. She sat at the table and pulled a glazed donut from the bag. It was still warm. Oh, God. Her mouth watered so badly she had to swallow before she could ask. “So, what did he say?”

  While they shared donuts and coffee, Chase relayed the news from Amos.

  “That’s fantastic!” Her words came out through a mouthful of donut.

  Chase grinned. “Anyway, I want to get back to the ranch and talk to the Sheriff.”

  “Mm-mm.” Lauren swallowed the last bite of donut and washed it down with coffee. She wiped her hands on a napkin. “Let’s go. You can finish your coffee, but the donuts are coming with me.” She popped the lid back on her coffee and stood, grabbing the bag of donuts. “I wa
rn you, I may not share.”

  Chase laughed and finished his coffee. Lauren picked up her purse from the dresser and in minutes they were in the truck. A cloud of dust sprayed up past the windows as Chase hit the accelerator and headed them back toward the ranch.

  Lauren pointed at the Sheriff’s car parked near the barn and Chase pulled the truck alongside it. He got out and walked to the front of the truck to meet Lauren. They held hands as they walked toward the barn. Amos and Mitch walked outside.

  “Wow, what a beaut.” Amos’s eyes got big when he saw Lauren’s face. “I’d hate to see the other guy. I’m sure Chase took care of him for you, didn’t he?”

  Embarrassed, Lauren turned and looked at the ground.

  The sheriff exhaled. “I’m just relieved that woman-beatin’ son of a bitch is locked up.”

  Lauren stood by Chase, glancing around at their faces, while Amos and Mitch went over the details of the horse-rustling operation and what the consequences would be for Edie, as well as the other men involved. They discussed the murder victim, Hank Hardy, who’d been thrown from his spooked horse and had died of a broken neck, according to the coroner.

  She moved away from the men, made her way to the corral and leaned on the top rail. Lucy nickered and, when the horse neared, nudged Lauren’s hips, looking for pockets of treats.

  Lauren chuckled. “Ouch.” Her eye even hurt when she crinkled her cheeks. “Sorry, Lucy. I’m wearing a dress today. No pockets.”

  She didn’t know what she wanted her future to be now. Since Clint was out of her life for good, she was free to go wherever she wanted, with whomever. She could go back to Michigan, pick up her old job and friends just where she’d left off a month or so ago.

  That’d get Chase off the hook. He’d only asked her to marry him as a gesture of protection—not of love.

  She had no idea how she’d ever repay him for all he’d done for her. Besides, she wasn’t sure she wanted to say good-bye to him.