Fletch
Damn, the woman can cry.
My shirt is still damp from the first bout when she turns and does another face plant in my chest.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” Ama mutters uneasily over Nella’s sobs.
Nella finally broke down after we left the doctor’s office. I’d been waiting for it. The woman is so buttoned up, those emotions she’d been keeping a tight hold on had to burst free at some point. I led her to a quiet corner in the waiting room and let her cry it out. I’m sure fear, stress, and fatigue had her resistance understandably low. Since I was the only one there, it stands to reason she’d turn to me.
She’d been embarrassed when Sheriff Ewing walked in to get our story and avoided looking at me long after he left.
This time it was Ama who triggered this outburst. Unwittingly, she simply came to offer support, but I guess it’s not something Nella is used to.
What shocks me is that instead of crying in Ama’s arms, she picks mine again.
“You’re fine,” I tell Ama. “It’s not you, it’s just been a tough day.”
“I can only imagine.”
“I’m sorry,” Nella sniffles in my shirt. “It’s me; I’m a mess.”
She lifts her head and makes a futile attempt to wipe at the wet spots on my shirt until I still her hands with my own.
“Leave it. It’s fine.”
She lifts her face and it strikes me she’s no less pretty with a blotchy face and shiny eyes. For a moment, I let my gaze linger until Ama hands her a box of tissues she grabbed from a table.
“I want you to know I’ve made up the bed in one of our cottages. You can stay as long as you want. It comes fully equipped with your own bathroom and kitchen.”
I close my eyes at Ama’s words. I shouldn’t be surprised she’s making arrangements for Nella, Ama looks after everybody. What is a bit disconcerting is the fact my new neighbor will be a woman I’m already starting to find more difficult to resist.
“That’s very kind but not necessary,” she responds. “I can check with Martha Crandall at the Sandman to see if she has a vacancy.”
“Nonsense,” is Ama’s predictable reaction. “Last thing you need is to worry about a motel room. Besides, you’d be hard-pressed to find any vacancies with the general hunting season opening up just days from now.”
Shit. I’d almost forgotten about my bighorn tag. Only four days left on the bow hunt and I still have nothing to show for it.
“Surely there’s something I could find closer to the hospital? Somewhere I could walk to? My van is still on the mountain.”
Oh boy. Here it comes.
“Nope. Fletch already had the boys pick it up. It’s parked at the ranch,” Ama volunteers.
Nella flicks me a look. “You never mentioned that.”
I shrug. “Didn’t really have a chance.”
Her eyes narrow. “Why park it at the ranch? Why not here at the hospital? That would make more sense.”
I’m still trying to figure out how to respond to that—I don’t really have a good answer—when she seems to come to a realization.
“Wait? How is that even possible? I have my keys in my…” She shoves a hand in the pair of yoga pants Ama leant her, coming up empty. “Shit. Where are my keys?”
I dig into my pocket and fish out the keyring I rescued when I stuffed her dirty clothes into the makeshift laundry bag Sully took with him.
“You left them in your jeans.”
“Oh. But how am I going to get around?”
“Fletch will drive you,” Ama offers, a sly smile on her face. I get the sense I’m about to get tossed under the bus. “His truck is parked right outside.”
Nella’s eyes dart from Ama to me, her eyebrows drawn close.
“You planned this?”
Before she can grill me for explanations, a nurse walks into the waiting room.
“Family for Fillippa Freling?”
Nella launches to her feet, my manipulations momentarily forgotten.
“I’m her sister.”
“If you’d like you can see her now,” the nurse tells her gently before taking note of Ama and me. “But I’m afraid only one person at a time and we have a fifteen-minute time limit.”
Nella turns to me, her eyes unsure.
“Go ahead. I’ll wait right here,” I encourage her before giving her a little nudge in the small of her back.
When the nurse leads her through the double doors, I turn back to Ama.
“Stirring up trouble,” I accuse her.
She doesn’t seem fazed at all. Not much gets to Ama.
“Pffft. I’m helping, you just can’t see it yet. You’re the least communicative person I know—hell, you’re worse than my James—but I’m telling you it’ll trip you up eventually. You can ask my husband. Doesn’t matter your incessant need to protect and control everyone and everything comes from a noble place, it wreaks havoc on relationships. Women don’t like being managed.”
Only one word sticks from what she just said.
“Then I have nothing to worry about, ’cause there is no relationship. Not sure where you got that idea.”
She barks out a laugh. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because instead of being out hunting that bighorn, you’re here comforting a crying woman? Or the fact you had her curled up against you in the saddle like she belonged there? Do I need to go on?”
Fucking James. He’s as much of a busybody as his wife.
“She’s just a friend.”
Ama snorts. “Newsflash: you don’t have any friends other than the team, and no way in hell you’d give up a bighorn for them.”
I sit down and fold my arms over my chest. There’s no arguing with this woman so why waste energy trying.
“Fine. I’ll leave you in peace, I’ve gotta get home, but I’ve got a big pot of stew back at the ranch. You both need to have a proper meal and some rest. You look like shit and she doesn’t look much better.”
Easier said than done. I doubt Nella will leave willingly but before I can tell Ama that she’s already on her way out.
All I can do is wait for Nella and make the suggestion.
As a last resort, I can always pick her up and toss her over my shoulder.
Pretty sure that’ll kill the rumors about any relationship.
Nella
She looks tiny.
Her face is almost as white as the sheets covering her, and the hand I’m holding in mine feels small and fragile.
Where is my strong, capable sister? The one who can take apart and rebuild any engine blindfolded, who could run like the wind, climb mountains, laugh without holding back, and who didn’t take shit from anyone. A woman larger than life, despite her modest five foot four.
It kills me to see her like this.
The incessant beeping of the monitors she and some of her neighbors are hooked up to grate on my nerves and part of me wants to run out of this room, from the sound, from this woman I don’t even recognize. But instead I sit here, holding onto her limp hand, praying silently for her eyes to open and her mouth to twitch into that lopsided smile of hers. I’d give anything to hear her customary, “Hey, Sis.”
Maybe I should talk to her, but it feels awkward in this otherwise empty cubicle. It’s not like she can hear me, and besides, what do I say? I love you? She doesn’t need me to tell her that, she already knows.
“I’m sorry…”
I startle in my seat when the same nurse from earlier sticks her head around the curtain.
“I gave you a few extra minutes but I’m afraid visiting time is over. You should probably get some rest. If you follow me to the nurses’ station, I’ll take down a number where you can be reached. If there is any change, I promise to call you right away.”
It’s hard to let go of Pippa’s hand when I get to my feet, but I bend over her prone form and press a kiss to her forehead.
“Fight, Sissy. Fight like only you can,” I whisper, before following the nurse from the room.
Fletch is right where I left him when I get back to the waiting room, but I don’t see Ama. By the time I reach him, he’s on his feet.
“She had to leave. They have a teenage daughter still at home.”
It’s a little unnerving Fletch apparently guesses where my mind wanders.
“Of course. It was nice of her to come,” I mumble.
I feel bad. I never even thanked her in person.
“That’s Ama for you. She mentioned saving us some dinner back at the ranch. Did you leave your number with the nurse?”
“I did, but I think I’ll stay here. I don’t want to keep you though. You should go.”
“You can’t even stand straight, you need rest,” he grumbles.
I don’t bother denying it, I can feel myself teetering on my feet, my ribs hurt, and my eyes are gritty, but I can’t bear to think of something happening to Pippa and me not being here.
“Look,” he says in a softer tone as he puts a warm hand on my shoulder. “You did everything you could. Hell, you almost killed yourself trying to find your sister—but you did it. You found her. She’s in good hands here. Best thing you can do right now is look after yourself. Make sure you’re well-rested for when she wakes up. If anything happens, I can have you back here in minutes.”
His dark brown eyes are almost mesmerizing and I find myself getting lost in their warmth and his deep, raspy voice.
“Please, Nella.”
A warm meal, maybe a shower, and a bed sound so good right now.
“Okay,” I finally agree after an internal battle between guilt and self-preservation.
“Good.”
He grabs the bag of medication I’ve thus far ignored, and drapes an arm over my shoulder, steering me firmly toward the exit doors.
“Nella, we’re here.”
I blink my eyes at the sound of Fletch’s voice. I must’ve dozed off.
We’re parked in front of a cute little cabin. A small covered porch in front, and one window on either side of the front door. Someone left a light on inside.
“Where are we?” I ask, expecting the ranch.
“Your home for now,” he says. “Don’t think you’re ready for the main house tonight. We’ll worry about introductions tomorrow morning. Get yourself situated, grab a shower or whatever, and I’ll go pick up dinner.”
A few days ago, I thought this to be the most unpleasant man I’d ever met, and although he’s still mostly bossy and overbearing, he is also surprisingly insightful and considerate. Never mind ridiculously handsome, even with those circles under his eyes.
It’s not exactly proper etiquette to eat and crash somewhere without at least introducing yourself to the owners, but I’m frankly too tired to concern myself with manners.
“That sounds good.”
He looks almost startled by my compliance, but then quickly exits the truck and comes around to my side. I let him help me down and welcome his hand at my elbow as we walk up the flagstone path.
“Wait. Where is my van? I’ll need some of my things,” I point out when we step onto the small porch.
It’s just wide enough for the two, side-by-side utilitarian chairs. A nice spot for morning coffee I guess. I’ll have to check out the view in daylight. I can’t see much tonight.
“Over there.” Fletch points to the left of the cabin where I see the outline of a second cabin sheltered under a few tall trees. “It’s parked on the other side. That’s my place.”
It’s only about a hundred yards from this one. A little shiver of awareness pebbles my skin when I realize how close he’ll be.
Fletch pushes the door open—I guess they don’t keep it locked—and nudges me inside.
“Go have a shower. We’ve got good pressure out here and plenty of hot water. I’ll go grab your bags and drop them just inside the door before I head over to the main house.”
Before I have a chance to thank him, his long legs already have him halfway to his truck. I shut the door, turn around, and lean my back against it as I take in the space.
In the far-left corner of the open space is a small, L-shaped kitchen with a full-sized fridge and stove. An old square kitchen table with two chairs stands in the middle of the room, and to my immediate right is a sitting area with a love seat and an easy chair in front of a wood burning stove.
It’s a bit more rustic but about the same size as my apartment, and surprisingly cozy.
My legs are heavy when I push away from the door. I’d love to sink down in that comfy couch but I’m afraid I won’t be able to get up again if I do. Instead I push open the first door to my right and find the bedroom. Ama left a couple of towels folded at the foot of the bed and I grab those.
A light knock on the front door has me turn around as Fletch reaches in to drop my bag just inside the bedroom.
“Thank you,” I call out.
He glances up and our eyes meet. For a second it looks like he’s coming inside, but then he turns his head and grumbles, “Be back in ten,” before he pulls the door shut.
I let out a deep breath and duck into the bathroom. I’m too tired to examine what just happened, but it feels like something did. Not that I’m all that experienced, but that glance he threw me sure looked smoldering.
True to his word, he’s back by the time I come out of the bedroom, dressed in my own comfy lounge pants and slouchy T-shirt. I couldn’t bring myself to put on proper clothes and these at least have me covered. I wouldn’t want to give off the wrong signal and walk out in a nightie.
He’s sitting at the table, two steaming bowls of something that smells delicious. A slight shiver tickles down my back as I take a seat across from him. The tension is thick. Trying to avoid his burning gaze, I tuck my damp hair behind my ear and sniff the fragrant stew.
“This looks so good,” I comment, picking up the spoon he laid out.
“Ama’s a great cook.”
“Does she always cook for you?” I ask as I take my first bite.
I’m trying to make small talk but can barely keep from groaning when the taste hits my palate.
“For me? No. I mostly look after myself, but she does a lot of the cooking for the others. Among other things.”
“You mean your team?”
“Among others. There’s Jonas, Alex—that’s his girlfriend—his father, Thomas, who all live at the ranch. Sully lives in the cabin closest to the big house and will eat at the big house most days as well. Dan, one of our ranch hands, and his mother, Gemma, have the cottage between this one and Sully’s.”
I can’t imagine what that would be like, living alongside the people you work with. They must all get along really well. Funny, because Fletch strikes me as a loner, not that different from me.
Other than when I was growing up, and since then a short stint with my sister after our parents died, I’ve always lived alone and barely know my neighbors.
“Wow, I had no idea you all lived here.”
“Not Bo, or Ama and James. They have their own places.”
“You didn’t want a place of your own?”
Fletch lowers his spoon and looks at me. The brief pause makes me uncomfortable and I wonder if I said something wrong.
“Don’t need it,” he finally responds. “I’m good where I am and everyone leaves me be.”
Is that supposed to be some kind of warning? It’s not like I forced him to follow me on the mountain, or to stay with me at the hospital. That was his choice.
“Then I’ll make sure not to disturb you,” I tell him, a little prickly, before focusing on my stew.
“Look. I didn’t—” He stops mid-sentence and grunts something unintelligible before bending down to his own dinner.
We quietly eat, the tension in the cabin suddenly of a different nature. Fletch is done first and immediately gets up.
“Get some rest,” he says gruffly as he takes his bowl to the sink and quickly rinses it.
Even his back looks tense and I’m starting to feel bad for being snippy. I may have overreacted a tad but I’m about at the end of my rope.
He’s already walking past me on his way to the door when I jump into action.
“Wait!”
His hand lets go of the knob and he turns around as I rush over.
“Thank you.” I step up to him and awkwardly slip my arms around his waist. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you,” I ramble in his shirt. “And I’m sorry if I was being nosy, and maybe bitchy—”
My weak apology is cut off when he lifts my face with a finger under my chin. His face is much closer than I expected and his eyes are dark with heat.
“Oh, fuck it,” he mutters as his mouth closes over mine.